Markets face headwinds from rising inflation (3.8% YoY), elevated bond yields (10-year Treasury at 4.631%), ongoing Iran conflict, and upcoming NVIDIA earnings. The article recommends high-dividend stocks with 5%+ yields and 20%+ upside potential as defensive positions, highlighting Columbia Banking System and T. Rowe Price Group as examples of financially resilient companies with strong dividend histories.

The article recommends three dividend stocks for investors seeking passive income: Vici Properties (a casino REIT with 6.19% yield and 100% occupancy), PepsiCo (4.1% yield with strong Q1 2026 earnings growth), and T. Rowe Price Group (4.9% yield approaching Dividend King status with solid financials and low debt).

T. Rowe Price Group announced a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share payable June 29, 2026. At its annual meeting, stockholders elected 13 directors, approved executive compensation through advisory vote, and ratified KPMG LLP as the independent auditor for 2026.

Despite Wall Street analysts being predominantly bearish on T. Rowe Price (33% sell ratings), the article argues it remains an attractive dividend stock with a 5.64% yield, 40 consecutive years of dividend increases, a strong balance sheet with no long-term debt, and $2 billion in free cash flow. The stock is down 10% year-to-date due to market weakness and Q4 outflows, but its active management approach could benefit in uncertain market conditions.

Amid market volatility from Middle East tensions, dividend stocks offer stability for investors. VICI Properties, a gaming-focused REIT, offers a 6.44% yield with strong profitability and 100% occupancy across its properties. T. Rowe Price, nearing Dividend King status, provides a 5.67% yield with healthy financials and a 40-year dividend increase streak. Both stocks have recently declined with the broader market, making their yields temporarily more attractive.

Corporate Insight's latest research reveals that retirement plan recordkeepers are increasingly modernizing sponsor site homepages with task management tools, data visualization, and customization features. Fidelity, Principal, T. Rowe Price, TIAA, and Voya Financial received Excellent ratings, while Empower, Lincoln Financial, Merrill, Nationwide, Transamerica, and Vanguard earned Good ratings. Half of the 14 firms evaluated now offer homepage customization, with leading providers using interactive visualizations and action item surfacing to improve plan administration efficiency.

With stock market declines creating higher dividend yields, five high-quality dividend stocks currently offer yields above 5% for passive income investors. EPR Properties (7.1%), Enbridge (5.3%), Realty Income (5.3%), T. Rowe Price (6%), and Verizon (5.7%) are highlighted as strong candidates with conservative payout ratios, solid balance sheets, and consistent dividend growth histories.

Robert W. Sharps, CEO and Chairman of T. Rowe Price Group, has joined the Board of Directors of Longeviti Neuro Solutions, a neurotechnology company developing AI-enabled brain health platforms including the FDA-cleared ClearFit AI™ Acoustic Brain Interface. Sharps brings three decades of experience in global asset management and corporate governance to support the company's strategic growth and expansion of its clinical and commercial initiatives.

The article recommends three dividend-paying stocks for long-term wealth building: Pentair (PNR), a Dividend King with 50 years of consecutive dividend increases but low yield; Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), a midstream energy company with a high 5.9% yield and 27 years of distribution growth; and T. Rowe Price Group (TROW), a financial services company offering a balanced 5.3% yield with 40 years of dividend growth.

The article recommends three dividend-paying stocks for low-stress wealth building: American States Water (longest dividend growth streak at 70 years), T. Rowe Price Group (higher yield at 5.3% with improving payout ratio), and PepsiCo (53-year dividend streak with mixed 2025 results but promising Q4 momentum).

T. Rowe Price Group announced a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share, representing a 2.36% increase from the previous $1.27 per share. The dividend is payable on March 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 16, 2026. This marks the firm's 40th consecutive year of regular annual dividend increases since its IPO.

Oak Hill Advisors served as Administrative Agent and Lead Left Arranger for a private unitranche financing supporting Majesco's acquisition of Vitech Systems Group and concurrent refinancing. Majesco, a Thoma Bravo portfolio company, provides cloud-native software for insurers, while Vitech offers pension and benefits administration software. OHA is the largest holder of the new debt facility.