Hello, Thanks for signing up for MarketBeat Daily Ratings—we’re excited to have you on board. Every weekday, you’ll get a curated summary of new “Buy” and “Sell” ratings from Wall Street’s top-rated analysts, the latest stock news, and bonus investing content—all delivered straight to your inbox. You’re just two quick steps away from completing your sign-up: 1. Make sure our emails go to your inbox Gmail users:
Mobile: Tap the three dots (…) in the top right and select Move to Inbox or Move to Primary
Desktop: Click the folder icon at the top and select Move to Inbox or Primary Apple Mail users:
Tap our email address at the top (next to From: on mobile), then select Add to VIP Other providers:
Reply to this message and add newsletters@analystratings.net to your contacts 2. Confirm your subscription Click this link to confirm your subscription. This verifies your account and ensures you receive your newsletters without interruption instead of getting stuck in your spam filter. Confirm your subscription here. After you confirm, feel free to download our popular free report, "7 Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever" with this link. Thanks again for subscribing—we look forward to being part of your investing journey. 
Matthew Paulson
Founder and CEO, MarketBeat. P.S. If you didn’t mean to subscribe, no problem—you can unsubscribe here.
Just For You 3 Dividend Stocks Defying the Market Downturn Amid the Iran ConflictAuthored by Nathan Reiff. Originally Published: 4/3/2026. 
Key Points - While the S&P has dropped modestly since the start of the Iran war, some individual standouts have risen over the last month or so.
- Crescent Energy and Viper Energy are two lesser-known stocks in the energy sector with potential to stand out thanks to their domestic operations.
- Unum Group is unrelated to the conflict as a disability and life insurer, but it still draws interest for its dividend strength and growth potential.
- Special Report: The Biggest IPO Ever: Claim Your Stake Today
The S&P 500 has fallen nearly 5% in the past month — roughly the same span since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict — yet some stocks have moved higher during that period. Certain industries, like airlines, have been hit harder because of anticipated service disruptions and higher energy-related costs. Still, a few companies — including dividend-paying names that provide income as well as upside — could have room to run despite the challenging backdrop. Investors seeking momentum plus passive income might consider Crescent Energy Co. (NYSE: CRGY), Viper Energy Partners LP (NASDAQ: VNOM), and Unum Group (NYSE: UNM). Crescent Energy's Domestic Position Wins Analyst Support Higher oil prices can benefit parts of the energy sector — the benchmark Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA: XLE) is up more than 3% in the past month — but geopolitical tensions don't guarantee any single energy firm will prosper. Crescent Energy, a Permian Basin-focused explorer, has recently attracted Wall Street attention. Since the conflict began, the company received a ratings upgrade from JPMorgan Chase, higher price targets from Wells Fargo and Piper Sandler, and multiple reiterated Buy-equivalent ratings. Analysts point to Crescent's strong domestic shale footprint as a potential advantage if Middle East oil shipments decline. Its financial position and geographic focus may help it stand out during volatile markets. Those benefits would add to Crescent's recent operational gains. In the latest quarter the company boosted production to about 268,000 BOE/d and reported roughly $239 million in levered free cash flow. Annual cash flow from its new royalties operation is expected to be at least $160 million, putting Crescent at a pivot point to become a larger domestic player. Its dividend yield of about 2.5% is an additional attraction that should be easier to sustain as cash flow expands. Viper's Royalty Focus Sets it Apart in the Energy Sector Viper Energy is a royalties company — it doesn't produce oil and gas directly but holds royalty and mineral interests. Like Crescent, Viper concentrates on the Permian Basin, which can be an advantage relative to more internationally exposed peers. Viper has also drawn recent analyst attention, including several price-target increases that lift the company's consensus price target to $52.60, roughly 15% above current trading levels. The royalty model limits direct operational exposure, helping shield the company from production risks and volatile commodity cycles. That lower-risk profile can appeal when costs and prices are in flux. Over the past year Viper positioned itself for 2026: in 2025 it acquired roughly $8 billion of mineral interests while strengthening its balance sheet. The result is a dividend yield near 3.3% and a major new share repurchase program. Big Growth Possible for an Insurer Separate From the Iran Tensions The only non-energy company on this list, Unum Group is a life and disability insurer that has benefited from the sell-off in financial stocks tied to the U.S.-Iran tensions. Because Unum's core business is fundamentally disconnected from the conflict, recent market moves have made it stand out relative to its sector. Management expects earnings per share (EPS) and core operations to grow 8%–12% and 4%–7% year-over-year for 2026, respectively. Coupled with steady profitability and shareholder returns — including a dividend yield of 2.49% and nearly two decades of consecutive dividend increases — it's easy to see why analysts favor the company. Unum also shows upside potential near 30%, which may appeal to investors seeking growth that isn't directly tied to the current geopolitical moment. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment