UPS expects 2026 to be the inflection point in its multi-year turnaround effort.
Enterprise Products Partners generates reliable cash flows by charging fees for the use of its energy infrastructure.
If you are looking for dividend stocks right now, consider United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) and Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD). If you own either one, you might even think about doubling up on the position. Here's why you'll like this turnaround stock and this North American midstream energy giant.
Parcel delivery service UPS has been working on a major business overhaul. It has been cutting staff, closing older facilities, and investing in new technology, all of which require material upfront costs. It has also been shifting away from high-volume, low-margin customers, thereby reducing revenues. Quarterly earnings have been unpleasant, but there are green shoots appearing.
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Notably, despite an overall decline in the company's U.S. revenue, revenue per piece has been increasing. That is exactly what you would expect to see given the company's efforts to become a smaller and more profitable business. At this point, management expects 2026 to be an inflection point, with the second half of the year showing improvement over the first half.
That said, the dividend yield is a very high 6.7%, and the company has signaled that it expects to maintain the dividend at its current level this year. If you can handle a turnaround stock, UPS could be a good dividend pick for your portfolio as it nears a business upturn. Still, more conservative income lovers will want to keep close tabs on the dividend payout ratio, which is currently hovering around 100%.
The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has oil prices surging. Enterprise Products Partners isn't really affected because it charges fees for moving oil and natural gas around the world. Its fee-based business is built on a massive portfolio of energy infrastructure assets, including energy pipelines. That's the toll-taker business that backs Enterprise's giant 5.8% yield.
Notably, the distribution has been increased annually for 27 consecutive years regardless of the direction oil prices are heading. That's basically as long as Enterprise has been a public entity, showing both a commitment to returning value to unit holders via distribution growth and the resilience of the business through the energy cycle.
Distributable cash flow covered the distribution by 1.7x in 2025. And the master limited partnership also has an investment-grade-rated balance sheet. It is a rock-solid income stock, and that won't likely change when oil prices come back down to earth again. If you are looking at the energy patch for opportunities, Enterprise stands out on the income front.
The downside of Enterprise is that it is a slow-and-steady tortoise. The bulk of its growth comes from gradually increasing fees. Above that, it needs to build or buy energy infrastructure, which is time-consuming and costly. This is the type of income investment you need to buy and hold for the long term to see the biggest benefit. And the yield will likely make up the lion's share of your return over time.
UPS will interest investors willing to take on a bit more risk, given its turnaround. However, if the company is right about the inflection point coming in the second half of 2026, buying now will get you in just before the business shows real signs of improvement. Enterprise, meanwhile, is a slow and boring income investment in an industry known for volatility. Investors drawn to energy because the sector is in the news may prefer it over an oil producer, given its ability to generate consistent cash flows regardless of where energy prices are heading.
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Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends United Parcel Service. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.