We got what we expected last week, as the consumer price index and producer price index came in again at levels not seen in 40 years. One thing that is almost a certainty now is that things could get much worse before they get better. Next week, the Federal Reserve will meet and another 75-basis-point increase will be announced. Fortunately, it looks like the 1% increase that was being tossed around is off the table. While rates are still low on a historical basis, the reality is that rising rates combined with inflation are slowing the economy.
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While retail sales surprised to the upside last week, and gasoline prices have finally come down some, the stock market remains volatile and likely will for the rest of the year. So what should investors do now? Seek out companies that can continue to do business as usual, that will not get stung by inflation, that pay big dividends and that have stocks rated Buy by top Wall Street firms.

We found seven that make good sense now. While all are rated Buy, it is important to remember that no single analyst report should be used as a sole basis for any buying or selling decision.

Altria

This maker of tobacco products offers value investors a great entry point now as it has been hit as cigarette sales have slowed. Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) is the parent company of Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), UST (smokeless), John Middleton (cigars), Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Philip Morris Capital. PMUSA enjoys a 51% share of the U.S. cigarette market, led by its top cigarette brand Marlboro.

Altria also owns over 10% of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer. In 2008, it spun off its international cigarette business to shareholders. The stock was pounded recently, as last month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the ban of all sales of Juul vape pens. This decision was made after pleas from government officials and public health institutes that say Juul is focused on selling its nicotine products to teenagers. A court has granted Juul’s request for a stay on the ban, allowing the company to still sell the products while an appeal is made on the decision.

While this gets sorted out, it is a good bet that Altria stock investors will still receive an 8.38% dividend. Deutsche Bank has a $46 target price, and the consensus target on Wall Street is even higher at $52.33. The shares closed on Tuesday at $42.96.

Antero Midstream

With shares trading under $10 apiece, this very well-run company offers a huge total return package. Antero Midstream Corp. (NYSE: AM) owns, operates and develops midstream energy infrastructure. It operates through two segments.
The Gathering and Processing segment includes a network of gathering pipelines and compressor stations that collects and processes production from Antero Resources’ wells in West Virginia and Ohio.

The Water Handling segment delivers fresh water and offers other fluid handling services, such as wastewater transportation, disposal and treatment, as well as high-rate transfer services.
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Investors receive a 9.05% distribution. Wells Fargo recently lifted its $12 target price on Antero Midstream stock to $13. The consensus target is $10.71, and shares closed on Tuesday at $9.95.

AT&T

The legacy telecommunications company has been going through a long restructuring, has lowered its dividend and has sold off or merged underperforming assets. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) provides telecommunications, media and technology services worldwide.

The Communications segment offers wireless voice and data communications services and sells handsets, wireless data cards, wireless computing devices with carrying cases and hands-free devices through its own company-owned stores, agents and third-party retail stores.

The company also provides data, voice, security, cloud solutions, outsourcing and managed and professional services, as well as customer premises equipment for multinational corporations, small and midsized businesses, and governmental and wholesale customers. In addition, it offers broadband fiber and legacy telephony voice communication services to residential customers.

The company markets its communications services and products under the AT&T, Cricket, AT&T Prepaid and AT&T Fiber brand names. The company’s Latin America segment provides wireless services in Mexico and video services in Latin America. This segment markets its services and products under the AT&T and Unefon brand names.

AT&T stock comes with a 5.34% dividend. The Goldman Sachs price objective is $23, and the consensus target is $23.23. The stock closed at $20.80 on Tuesday.

Devon Energy

This may be one of the best value propositions in its sector, as it uses a variable dividend strategy. Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN) is an independent energy company that primarily engages in the exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) in the United States and Canada. It operates approximately 19,000 wells.

The company also offers midstream energy services, including gathering, transmission, processing, fractionation and marketing to producers of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate through its natural gas pipelines, plants and treatment facilities.
Production is weighted toward crude oil while growth opportunities are liquids focused, anchored by the Delaware Basin, SCOOP/STACK, Eagle Ford Shale, Canadian Oil Sands, and the Barnett. Devon also owns equity in the publicly traded midstream MLP EnLink.

Shareholders receive a 6.29% dividend. The $100 Truist Financial target price is well above the $79.17 consensus target. Devon Energy stock closed almost 5% higher on Tuesday at $57.21.
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Franchise Group

This way-off-the-radar idea could be a total return home run for investors. Franchise Group Inc. (NYSE: FRG) owns and operates franchised and franchisable businesses.

The Vitamin Shoppe segment operates as an omnichannel specialty retailer of vitamins, minerals, herbs, specialty supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products under the BodyTech, True Athlete, The Vitamin Shoppe, ProBioCare, Fitfactor Weight Management System and Vthrive The Vitamin Shoppe brands.

The Pet Supplies Plus segment operates as an omnichannel retail chain and franchisor of pet supplies and services that includes premium brands, proprietary private labels and specialty products, as well as offers grooming, pet wash and other services.

The Badcock segment operates as a specialty retailer of furniture, appliances, bedding, electronics, home office equipment, accessories and seasonal items in a showroom format. It offers multiple and flexible payment solutions and credit options through its consumer financing services.

The American Freight segment operates a retail chain that provides in-store and online access to furniture, mattresses, new and out-of-box home appliances, and home accessories. It also serves as a liquidation channel for appliance vendors.

The Buddy’s segment operates as a specialty retailer of consumer electronic, residential furniture, appliances and household accessories through rent-to-own agreements.

The Sylvan segment establishes and grows as a franchisor of supplemental education for Pre-K-12 students and families in the United States and Canada.

Investors receive a 7.38% dividend. B. Riley Securities has set a $63 target price. The consensus target is $61.14, and Tuesday’s last trade came in at $33.86, up just shy of 4% on the day.

New York Community Bancorp

This somewhat off-the-radar company pays a huge dividend and is an attractive idea for investors also looking to own financials now. New York Community Bancorp Inc. (NYSE: NYCB) operates as the bank holding company for New York Community Bank, which provides banking products and services in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida and Arizona.

The company accepts various deposit products, such as interest-bearing checking and money market, savings, non-interest-bearing and individual retirement accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. Its loan products include multifamily loans; commercial real estate loans; specialty finance loans and leases; and commercial and industrial loans; acquisition, development and construction loans; one-to-four family loans; and consumer loans.
New York Community Bancorp also offers annuities, life and long-term care insurance products and mutual funds; cash management products; and online, mobile and phone banking services. It primarily serves individuals, small and midsize businesses, and professional associations through a network of 237 community bank branches and 340 ATM locations.

Shareholders receive a 7.08% dividend. The BofA Securities $10 price target is less than the $12 consensus target on New York Community Bancorp stock. Shares closed at $9.61 on Tuesday.
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Pioneer Natural Resources

Many Wall Street analysts love this stock as a pure crude oil play and, the company also is looking to employ variable dividends. Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (NYSE: PXD) operates as an independent oil and gas E&P company in the United States.

The company explores for, develops and produces oil, NGLs and natural gas. It has operations in the Midland Basin in West Texas. As of December 31, 2021, the company had proved undeveloped reserves and proved developed non-producing reserves of 130 million barrels of oil, 92 million barrels of NGLs and 462 billion cubic feet of gas, and it owned interests in 11 gas processing plants.

Pioneer production services are supported by 100 well-servicing rigs, more than 100 cased-hole, open-hole and offshore wireline units, and a range of advanced coiled tubing units.

Pioneer is a huge player in the Permian basin and the Eagle Ford in Texas, and the company owns more than 20,000 locations in the world’s second-largest oil reservoir in the Midland Basin. With a stellar balance sheet, the company is poised to remain a top player in the Permian, as it expects to deliver solid production growth in 2022 and beyond.

The 8.13% dividend may vary from quarter to quarter. The Pioneer Natural Resources target price at Barclays is $339. The consensus target is just $299.53, and Tuesday’s final trade was reported at $214.47.

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While a few of these companies are somewhat off the radar, all the stocks offer investors outstanding entry points, some of the biggest dividends, and have a reasonably strong moat around their businesses. Buying stocks that will pay dependable dividends until the current economic mess is sorted out makes total sense now.

Note that Devon and Pioneer Natural Resources are using variable dividend programs, so their big dividends could be lower at some juncture. The other five will pay consistent and, in most cases, well above average dividend yields that are very dependable.

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