 A Message From Stansberry Research Dear Reader, Last year I ran for Mayor of New York City. And lost to a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist. Now I'm convinced what's starting in New York will spread across America. Just for starters:
- The new mayor wants to spend $70 million of taxpayer money just to study whether government-run grocery stores are a good idea.
- He's threatening a 9.5% property tax hike on every homeowner in the city.
- And he wants to raise taxes on every corporation and high earner.
This isn't just a New York story. Nearly 40% of Americans now have a "positive" view of socialism. But what nobody's talking about is WHY this is happening... and where it's all headed. I have my MBA from Harvard and spend my time in correspondence with billionaires like Warren Buffett and Bill Ackman. I've spent 30 years on Wall Street. And there's a specific term for what's unfolding in America right now... one that points to an economic event unlike anything we've seen in over 100 years. I'm not running for office again. But if you care about your wealth, your family, and your future, you need to understand what's really coming. I've put together a free analysis explaining exactly what I see, and the specific steps I recommend you take with your money today. I strongly encourage you to check it out here. Regards, Whitney Tilson
Editor, Stansberry Investment Advisory
Former Hedge Fund Manager
Co-Founder, Teach for America
Harvard MBA P.S. What's happening today will reset the financial system in a way most of us can't imagine. If I'm even half right, it's going to have a huge impact on your money and your future. Get the details here...
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Exclusive Article from MarketBeat
Lockheed Martin, Interactive Brokers, AEP Hike Dividends on Strong GrowthReported by Leo Miller. Published: 10/26/2026. 
Key Points
- Lockheed Martin, Interactive Brokers, and American Electric Power all raised dividends recently while maintaining forward payout ratios near or below 60%.
- Lockheed Martin boosted its dividend 4.4% to $3.60 quarterly, backed by a record $292 billion backlog and a four-times book-to-bill ratio.
- Interactive Brokers raised its dividend more than 70% to 15 cents quarterly, and analysts see the most upside for the stock among the three companies.
- Special Report: By the time this looks obvious, it may be too late
Stock market giants across several key sectors recently announced notable dividend increases. The group includes a defense behemoth, a leading financial services company and one of the largest players in the utilities sector. Furthermore, even after raising their dividends, all three companies have manageable payout ratios, indicating solid dividend sustainability and leaving room for future increases. Lockheed Martin Ups Payout as Backlog Hits New RecordLockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is one of the world’s largest players in the defense industry, with a market capitalization of nearly $140 billion. The stock has delivered a strong return of about 25% in 2026, with shares jumping 7% the day after its latest earnings report.
The company beat estimates for both sales and earnings per share (EPS), while its backlog soared 63% year over year (YOY) to a record $292 billion. Lockheed Martin also highlighted its four-times book-to-bill ratio, showing that orders far exceeded revenue and supporting future sales growth. Lockheed Martin also recently increased its dividend by 4.4%, lifting its quarterly payout to $3.60. The company plans to make its next payment on Dec. 31 to shareholders of record as of the Dec. 1 close. The stock’s forward dividend yield now stands near 2.5%. Notably, this is one of the highest yields among aerospace and defense stocks in the S&P 500 Index. Lockheed Martin is also in a strong position when it comes to dividend sustainability. The company’s payout ratio is approximately 51%, meaning its earnings comfortably cover its dividend payments. Analysts also expect this ratio to improve meaningfully, falling below 42% based on next year’s earnings estimates. Interactive Brokers Issues Massive Dividend IncreaseInteractive Brokers Group (NASDAQ: IBKR) is a major player in the financial services sector, with a market capitalization near $140 billion. Shares of the trading platform and brokerage have gained more than 25% in 2026. The company reported strong account growth in its latest quarter, up 35% YOY, with total accounts increasing to 5.58 million. Meanwhile, pretax profit reached a record $1.45 billion, and Interactive Brokers posted a pretax margin of 78%. Interactive Brokers cited these factors in its decision to issue a huge dividend increase of more than 70%. The company’s quarterly payout will increase to 15 cents per share, with the next payment scheduled for Dec. 14 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 1. The increase lifts the stock’s forward dividend yield to approximately 0.7%. While this is a relatively low yield, Interactive Brokers’ low payout ratio gives it ample room for further increases. Even after the boost, the company’s payout ratio is just 23% based on the last 12 months' earnings. American Electric Power’s Yield Hits 3% as Data Center Demand SoarsLast up is American Electric Power (NASDAQ: AEP). With a market capitalization just under $70 billion, AEP ranks among the five most valuable stocks in the S&P 500 utilities sector. AEP shares are up more than 10% in 2026, and the company’s dividend lifts its total return to nearly 15%. The AI buildout has been a boon for AEP, helping lift the company’s contracted large-load capacity additions to 69 GW through 2030. The company notes that around 90% of this demand comes from data centers and crypto customers. As a result, AEP expects operating EPS to grow at a solid compound annual growth rate of more than 9% through 2030. AEP has also issued a modest 2% dividend increase, lifting its quarterly payout to 97 cents per share. The next dividend is payable on Dec. 10, with a record date of Nov. 10. This increase supports AEP’s already sizable yield, which now stands at approximately 3% on a forward basis. Additionally, the company’s dividend sustainability remains on solid footing. Its payout ratio based on the last 12 months' earnings is approximately 65%, and analysts expect this figure to decline to 55% based on next year’s estimates. Analysts Eye Solid Gains for Interactive Brokers, Founder Dismisses Dividend CutLooking ahead, analysts project the most upside for Interactive Brokers among these companies based on 12-month price targets. The MarketBeat consensus price target of $103 implies upside of more than 25%. One key item for investors to consider is Interactive Brokers’ dividend policy. The company generally follows a guideline of paying a dividend between 0.5% and 1% of its market value. With shares up more than 100% over the past two years, the company’s latest increase helped it “catch up” with this guideline. As a result, further increases will be somewhat tied to the stock’s future appreciation. Additionally, when asked whether a decline in the company’s value could result in a dividend cut, founder and chairman Thomas Peterffy said, “I don't think that we will ever cut the dividend, at least not in any situation that I can imagine sitting here right now.” This statement suggests that Interactive Brokers is maintaining a floor for its dividend while preserving upside for future payout increases. . |
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