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Just For You
3 Quiet Outperformers Boosting Dividends as Markets RetreatBy Leo Miller. Published: 4/6/2026. 
Key Points
- Elevated volatility has seen the S&P 500 lose around 5% from its highs, while the ongoing tech selloff has seen the sector fall around 10%.
- However, across food and retail, three inconspicuous names are providing significant gains to investors as risk-on assets continue to lag.
- These stocks are also substantially increasing their dividends, and two are engaging in considerable buyback spending, which comes as a vote of confidence for investors.
- Special Report: Elon’s “Hidden” Company
While the broader market—and tech stocks in particular—have stumbled recently, three under-the-radar names are outperforming the major indices. Each is showing clear operational improvements, and investors are taking notice. At the same time, these companies have boosted dividends, giving income-focused investors more to like. That combination of share appreciation and rising yields makes all three attractive candidates for portfolios seeking some defense against further downside in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Smithfield Foods Announces Massive Dividend Boost, Yield Well Above 4%
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Smithfield Foods (NASDAQ: SFD) is a large producer of meat and livestock products, with a heavy emphasis on pork. The company went public in early 2025 and has performed impressively since—shares are up about 40% from the IPO price of $20. Including dividends, the stock’s total return since the IPO is near 50%, well ahead of the S&P 500’s roughly 11% return over the same period. The stock rallied sharply from late March into early April, gaining about 20% over roughly two trading weeks after the company reported its Q4 2025 earnings. Smithfield beat analyst expectations on sales and significantly exceeded estimates for adjusted earnings per share. Looking ahead, the company’s guidance suggests another solid year. Smithfield expects sales growth to moderate but forecasts continued margin expansion, driven by a shift toward higher-margin, value-added products and operational improvements. Smithfield also announced a substantial 25% dividend increase. Its quarterly payment will rise to 31.25 cents, or $1.25 annually. The company expects to pay the next quarterly dividend on April 21 to shareholders of record on April 7, giving the stock an indicated dividend yield of roughly 4.4%. TJX Companies Issues 13% Dividend Increase as Store Expansion ContinuesTJX Companies (NYSE: TJX) is a leading off-price retailer that operates chains such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods. This partially defensive stock has done well over the past 52 weeks, delivering a total return near 30%. Year to date in 2026, while the S&P 500 has slipped several percentage points, TJX is up roughly 5%. Sales grew 7% year over year in 2025, a clear acceleration from the 4% growth posted in 2024. The company plans to open 146 new stores in fiscal 2027 (calendar 2026), underscoring management’s confidence in continued growth. TJX has also boosted shareholder returns. The company announced a 13% dividend increase, raising its quarterly payout to $0.48 per share and lifting the indicated yield to about 1.2% (compared with the S&P 500’s ~1.1%). The next quarterly dividend is scheduled for June 4 to shareholders of record on May 14. Additionally, TJX plans $2.5 billion to $2.75 billion in stock buybacks for 2026. At the midpoint, that would equal just under 1.5% of the company’s roughly $180 billion market capitalization. While not massive, the repurchase program should provide a meaningful tailwind to metrics like adjusted EPS. Signet: Shares, Buybacks, and Dividends Are on the RiseSignet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG), the world’s largest diamond jewelry retailer, operates brands such as Kay, Zales and Jared. The stock has been a strong performer over the past 52 weeks, gaining about 40%, and jumped nearly 14% after reporting Q4 results for fiscal 2026 (FY2026). Sales of $2.35 billion matched expectations, while adjusted EPS beat at $6.25. Free cash flow rose about 20% year over year—Signet’s strongest FCF growth since 2021 and well above the 4% growth seen in 2024. The company also supported its shares through buybacks in 2025, repurchasing roughly 7% of outstanding stock via $205 million in repurchases—an almost 50% increase year over year. With about $518 million of remaining buyback capacity, Signet is positioned to continue returning capital. Management noted in the latest earnings call that it still views “shares [as] attractive,” a view reinforced by the recent boost to the stock’s yield. Signet announced a more than 9% dividend increase, raising its quarterly payout to $0.35 per share and pushing the indicated yield to just under 1.7%. Despite occasional variability in results, the company has consistently raised its dividend; since fiscal 2022 (roughly calendar 2021), its dividend has grown at a compound annual rate of about 21%. Analysts Eye Further Upside in SIGAmong this group, Wall Street analysts appear most bullish on Signet. The MarketBeat consensus price target of $112 implies more than 25% upside from current levels. Recent price-target updates following the earnings report sit slightly lower, around $107. It’s worth noting, however, that Signet has relatively light analyst coverage compared with many larger stocks, which makes the consensus a less robust gauge. |
