24/7 Wall St. Insights

• It’s been confirmed that the Federal Reserve will start lowering interest rates this month.
• Dividend stocks will gain in popularity as rates are lowered over the next two years.
• Passive income is simple: own quality dividends that pay you for doing nothing. Don’t miss out on our brand-new “7 Things I Demand in a Dividend Stock” report. It includes two A++ dividend stocks and how to spot future dividend winners that can put your returns on hyperdrive. Access 2 legendary, high-yield dividend stocks Wall Street loves.

At 24/7 Wall St., we have focused on dividend stocks for over 15 years because, despite the ups and downs that always accompany the stock market, the reality for many people is the need to have solid passive income streams that accompany income from employment or other avenues.

The more passive income can help cover costly and rising costs like mortgage, insurance, taxes, and other expenses, the easier it is for investors to put away money for future needs as they build to retirement.

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), passive income generally includes earnings from rental activity or any trade or business in which the individual does not materially participate. It can also include income from limited partnerships and other similar enterprises where the individual is not actively involved.

We screened our 24/7 Wall St. passive income database, looking for solid dividend-paying stocks based outside the United States. We focused on Europe and found five top companies everyone knows but likely was not aware that they pay big and dependable dividends. All five are rated Buy at many top Wall Street firms.

BP

This company is a premier European integrated oil giant, paying shareholders a hefty 5.63% divided. BP PLC (NYSE: BP) engages in the energy business worldwide.

It operates through four segments:

• Gas & Low Carbon Energy
• Oil Production & Operations
• Customers & Products
• Rosneft

BP produces and trades natural gas, offers biofuels, operates onshore and offshore wind and solar power generating facilities, and provides de-carbonization solutions and services, such as hydrogen and carbon capture, usage, and storage.

The company is also involved in the convenience and mobility business, which manages the sale of fuels to:

• Wholesale and retail customers
• Convenience products
• Aviation fuels
• Castrol lubricants
• Refining, supply, and trading of oil products
• Operation of electric vehicle charging facilities

In addition, it produces and refines oil and gas and invests in upstream, downstream, and alternative energy companies, advanced mobility, bio and low-carbon products, carbon management, digital transformation, and power and storage areas.

British American Tobacco

This European giant continues to print money and pays a massive 9.57% dividend. British American Tobacco PLC (NYSE: BTI) offers:

• Vapor
• Tobacco heating
• Modern oral nicotine products
• Combustible cigarettes
• Traditional oral products, such as snus and moist snuff

The company sells its products under these familiar brands:

• Vuse
• Glo
• Velo
• Grizzly
• Kodiak
• Dunhill
• Kent
• Lucky Strike
• Pall Mall
• Rothmans
• Camel
• Natural American Spirit
• Newport
• Vogue
• Viceroy
• Kool
• Peter Stuyvesant
• Craven A
• State Express 555
• Shuang Xi brands

Mercedes-Benz

The German luxury car giant pays investors a strong 8.24% dividend. Mercedes-Benz Group AG (OTC: MBGAF) is an automotive company in Germany and internationally that combines luxury with performance across its full line of models, including luxury sedans, SUVs, coupes, roadsters, convertibles, and more.

It operates through three segments:

• Mercedes-Benz Cars
• Mercedes-Benz Vans
• Mercedes-Benz Mobility

The company develops, manufactures, and sells cars and vans under the Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and G-Class brands, as well as related spare parts and accessories.

It also provides:

• Financing
• Leasing
• Car subscription and rental
• Fleet management
• Insurance Brokerage
• Mobility services
• Digital services for charging and payment

The company, formerly known as Daimler, changed its name in February 2022. Founded in 1886, Mercedes-Benz Group has its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.

TotalEnergies

This French-integrated giant is another excellent way to play the energy sector from the European side, sporting a hefty 4.91% dividend and offering a solid total return proposition for investors. TotalEnergies S.E. (NYSE: TTE) is an integrated oil and gas company worldwide.

The company operates through four segments:

• Exploration and production
• Integrated Gas
• Renewables and power
• Refining and chemicals and marketing and services

The company’s Exploration & Production segment involves oil and natural gas exploration and production activities in approximately 50 countries.

The Integrated Gas, Renewables & Power segment engages in:

• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) production
• Shipping, trading, and regasification activities
• Trading of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petcoke and sulfur, natural gas, and electricity
• Transportation of natural gas
• Electricity production from natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and biogas sources
• Energy storage activities; and development and operation of biomethane production units, as well as provides energy efficiency services

The TotalEnergies Refining & Chemicals segment refines petrochemicals, including olefins and aromatics, and polymer derivatives, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and hydrocarbon resins. It also converts biomass and processes elastomers. This segment also trades and ships crude oil and petroleum products.

Its Marketing & Services segment produces and sells:

• Lubricants
• Supplies and markets petroleum products, including bulk fuel, aviation and marine fuel, special fluids, compressed natural gas, LPG, and bitumen; and fuel payment solutions

The company also operates approximately 15,500 service stations.

Volkswagen

Trading at a ridiculously cheap 4.4 times estimated 2024 earnings, this European automobile legend could be a massive home run while also paying a huge 9.34% dividend. Volkswagen AG (OTC: VWAPY) manufactures and sells automobiles in Germany, other European countries, North America, South America, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally.

Volkswagen manufactures and sells automobiles in:

• Germany
• Europe
• North America
• South America
• Asia-Pacific
• Internationally

The company operates through four segments:

• Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles
• Commercial Vehicles
• Power Engineering
• Financial Services

The Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles segment develops vehicles, engines, and vehicle software; produces and sells passenger cars and light commercial vehicles and related parts; and offers motorcycles.

The Commercial Vehicles segment develops, produces, and sells trucks and buses and offers parts and related services.

The Power Engineering segment offers large-bore diesel engines, turbomachinery, and propulsion components.

The Financial Services segment provides dealership and customer financing, leasing, direct banking and insurance, fleet management, and mobility services.

It sells products under these brands:

• Volkswagen Passenger Cars
• Koda
• SEAT/CUPRA
• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
• Audi
• Lamborghini
• Bentley
• Ducati
• Porsche
• Scania
• MAN
• Volkswagen Truck & Bus
• Navistar commercial vehicles
• Bugatti brands

Five Dividend Kings Provide Perfect Passive Income Streams for Retirement

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