Targa Resources, Inc. (NYSE:TRGP) announced a significant increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.25 per share, up 25% from its previous $1.00. The dividend will be paid on May 15th to shareholders of record as of April 30th, resulting in an annualized yield of 2.1%. Despite recent insider selling, analysts project strong earnings coverage for the increased dividend, with a forecasted payout ratio of 41.2% next year.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) has announced a quarterly dividend of $0.9525 per share, representing an annualized dividend of $3.81 and a 3.3% yield. The company has a strong dividend track record, having increased its dividend for 23 consecutive years, with a payout ratio of 68%. WEC also reported strong quarterly earnings, beating analyst estimates with $1.42 EPS and $2.54 billion in revenue, and provided FY2026 guidance of $5.51–$5.61 EPS.

State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT) announced first-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations due to record revenue growth across its diverse business segments. The financial services firm reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.84, exceeding the consensus of $2.62, with total revenue reaching a record $3.8 billion, a 16% year-over-year increase. The strong performance, driven by significant increases in fee revenue and net interest income, led to a 2.18% rise in the company's stock in pre-market trading.

Abbott (ABT) stock has seen a significant pullback in 2026, dropping 19.22% year-to-date, trading at $100.69 near its 52-week low. Despite headwinds from declining COVID-19 testing and nutrition softness, 24/7 Wall St. gives Abbott a "buy" recommendation with a 90% confidence level and a price target of $125.10, representing a 24.24% upside. This optimistic outlook is driven by strong FreeStyle Libre CGM sales, the pending $21 billion Exact Sciences acquisition, a robust pipeline of FDA-approved devices, and a 54-year dividend growth streak.

Alphabet, through a subsidiary, has signed a long-term energy supply agreement with Indiana utility NiSource to power a large-scale data center in northern Indiana, with energy delivery expected to start in summer 2026. NiSource also expanded its existing agreement with Amazon Data Services to energize Amazon sites across the state, aiming to protect residential customers from cost increases while supporting growth. Google, Alphabet's main subsidiary, is developing two data center campuses in Indiana, though the specific facility tied to this power agreement was not disclosed.

Xperi has launched DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium, an advanced radio intelligence tool providing real-time listening analytics to radio stations. This premium service offers competitive station rankings, expanded music charts, and granular insights into audience behavior, leveraging data from over 16 million vehicles globally. It aims to help broadcasters of all sizes make smarter programming decisions, strengthen audience connections, and find new monetization opportunities.

Roof Eidam Maycock Peralta LLC recently purchased 5,510 shares of Waste Management (NYSE: WM) valued at approximately $1.21 million, establishing a new position in the company. Waste Management has a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating from analysts with an average price target of $255.64, and the company recently increased its quarterly dividend to $0.945 per share. Other institutional investors have also adjusted their holdings in WM, and insider activity shows recent sales by company VPs.

Merit Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 12.3% in the fourth quarter, now owning 158,043 shares valued at $16.64 million. Despite significant insider selling over the past 90 days, Merck continues to perform well, beating quarterly earnings and revenue expectations and offering a quarterly dividend. Analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating with price targets around $128-$140.

Roof Eidam Maycock Peralta LLC has acquired a new stake of 13,075 shares in Merck & Co., Inc. during the fourth quarter, valued at approximately $1.376 million. This purchase is part of a broader trend where several other institutional investors have increased their positions in Merck, which now sees 76.07% institutional ownership. Despite some insider selling, analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating for Merck with an average price target of $128.47, following strong Q4 earnings, positive guidance, and a recent dividend declaration.

Merit Financial Group LLC reduced its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) by 8.0% in the fourth quarter, selling 11,931 shares and retaining 137,747 shares valued at $22.10 million. Concurrently, CEO Jacek Olczak and CFO Emmanuel Babeau also sold significant portions of their holdings in February. Despite these sales, the company reported strong Q4 earnings, matched analyst estimates, and announced a quarterly dividend, maintaining a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating from analysts.