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FOOT LOCKER, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS

FOOT LOCKER, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Yahoo29-05-2025
• Total Sales Down 4.6% Year-over-Year and Comparable Sales Down 2.6%• GAAP EPS Loss of $3.81 and Non-GAAP EPS Loss of $0.07• Continued Store Modernization Efforts with 69 Refreshes• Launched New Champs Sports and Kids Foot Locker Mobile Apps
NEW YORK, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL) today reported financial results for its first quarter ended May 3, 2025.
Mary Dillon, Chief Executive Officer said, "We are continuing to execute our Lace Up Plan strategies as we look forward to the successful completion of our transaction with DICK'S Sporting Goods. As we noted at the time we reported preliminary first quarter results, we experienced softer traffic trends globally that impacted our performance. During the quarter, we remained focused on the rollout of our Reimagined and Refresh programs to elevate our in-store experience, enhancing our digital offerings, deepening customer engagement through our FLX program and leveraging our strong brand partnerships to generate excitement for our customers. As we have executed these and other initiatives to further advance our strategy, our teams have also remained nimble to navigate the uncertain macroeconomic environment, including managing our promotional levels, inventories, and expenses and remaining disciplined with our cash flows."
First Quarter Results
Total sales were down 4.6%, to $1,788 million, as compared with sales of $1,874 million in the first quarter of 2024. Excluding the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations, total sales for the first quarter decreased by 4.5%.
Comparable sales decreased by 2.6%, with comparable sales in the North American region decreasing by 0.5%. Comparable sales in the Company's international businesses decreased by 8.5%, led by softness in Foot Locker Europe. Please refer to the Sales by Banner table below for detailed sales performance by banner and region.
Gross margin decreased by 40 basis points as compared with the prior-year period. Merchandise margins decreased by 10 basis points, while occupancy as a percentage of sales increased by 30 basis points as compared to the prior-year period.
SG&A as a percentage of sales increased by 100 basis points as compared with the prior-year period, due to underlying deleverage on the sales decline and investments in technology which more than offset the cost optimization program and ongoing expense discipline. Compared to the prior year, SG&A dollars were down 0.7%.
Net loss was $363 million, as compared with net income of $8 million in the prior-year period. On a non-GAAP basis, net loss was $6 million for the first quarter, as compared with net income of $21 million in the corresponding prior-year period.
First quarter loss per share was $3.81, as compared with earnings per share of $0.09 in the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP loss was $0.07 per share in the first quarter, as compared with non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.22 in the corresponding prior-year period.
Non-GAAP net loss and net loss per share exclude non-cash impairment charges totaling $276 million and primarily reflect a $140 million charge related to a tradename and a goodwill impairment charge of $110 million. Additionally, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets and deferred tax costs related to certain of the Company's European business totaling $124 million, which is excluded from non-GAAP results.See the tables below for the reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures.
Balance Sheet
At quarter-end, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $343 million, and total debt was $445 million.
As of May 3, 2025, the Company's merchandise inventories were $1,665 million, 0.4% higher than at the end of the first quarter last year. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, merchandise inventories decreased by 0.7% as compared with the first quarter of last year.
Store Base Update
During the first quarter, the Company opened 9 new stores and closed 56 stores, including its stores that operated in South Korea, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Greece, and Romania. Also during the quarter, the Company remodeled or relocated 11 stores and refreshed 69 stores to our updated design standards, which incorporate key elements of our current brand design specifications.
As of May 3, 2025, the Company operated 2,363 stores in 20 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, 236 licensed stores were operating in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Our licensed operations include the Greece and Romania business that was sold to our license partner in April 2025.
Agreement to be Acquired by DICK'S
As previously announced on May 15, 2025, Foot Locker and DICK'S Sporting Goods have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which DICK'S will acquire Foot Locker.
In light of the pending transaction with DICK'S, Foot Locker will not be holding its previously scheduled conference call to discuss its first quarter 2025 results and will not be providing or updating previously issued financial guidance.
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Other than statements of historical facts, all statements which address activities, events, or developments that the Company anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, such things as future capital expenditures, expansion, strategic plans, financial objectives, dividend payments, stock repurchases, financial outlook, and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors, which are detailed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
These forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and judgments and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of us or DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. ("DICK'S") to terminate the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among us, DICK'S and a wholly owned subsidiary of DICK'S ("Merger Sub") pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub would be merged with and into us (the "Transaction"); the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us, including with respect to the Transaction; the possibility that the Transaction does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory or shareholder approvals or other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all; reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of our customers, employees or other business partners; the diversion of our management's attention and time from ongoing business operations and opportunities due to the Transaction; and any other factors set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2025, filed on March 27, 2025. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Foot Locker, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)Periods ended May 3, 2025 and May 4, 2024
(In millions, except per share amounts)First Quarter2025
2024Sales$
1,788
$
1,874Other revenue
65Total revenue
1,7941,879
Cost of sales
1,2801,335Selling, general and administrative expenses
458461Depreciation and amortization
5151Impairment and other
27614(Loss) income from operations
(271)18
Interest expense, net
(2)(1)Other income (expense), net
3(4)(Loss) income before income taxes
(270)13Income tax expense
935Net (loss) income$
(363)
$
8
Diluted (loss) earnings per share$
(3.81)
$
0.09Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding
95.395.3Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to reporting the Company's financial results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company reports certain financial results that differ from what is reported under GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures that will be presented will exclude (i) gains or losses related to our minority investments, (ii) impairments and other, and (iii) certain tax matters that we believe are nonrecurring or unusual in nature.
Certain financial measures are identified as non-GAAP, such as sales changes excluding foreign currency fluctuations, adjusted income before income taxes, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share. We present certain amounts as excluding the effects of foreign currency fluctuations, which are also considered non-GAAP measures. Where amounts are expressed as excluding the effects of foreign currency fluctuations, such changes are determined by translating all amounts in both years using the prior-year average foreign exchange rates. Presenting amounts on a constant currency basis is useful to investors because it enables them to better understand the changes in our business that are not related to currency movements.
These non-GAAP measures are presented because we believe they assist investors in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core business or affect comparability. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are useful in assessing our progress in achieving our long-term financial objectives and are consistent with how executive compensation is determined.
Foot Locker, Inc.
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
(unaudited)Periods ended May 3, 2025 and May 4, 2024
(In millions, except per share amounts) We estimate the tax effect of all non-GAAP adjustments by applying a marginal tax rate to each item. The income tax items represent
the discrete amount that affected the period. The non-GAAP financial information is provided in addition, and not as an alternative, to
our reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The various non-GAAP adjustments are summarized in the tables below.
Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results:First Quarter2025
2024Pre-tax (loss) income:
(Loss) income before income taxes$
(270)
$
13Pre-tax adjustments excluded from GAAP:Impairment and other (1)
27614Other income / expense (2)
(4)2Adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP)$
2
$
29
After-tax (loss) income:
Net (loss) income$
(363)
$
8After-tax adjustments excluded from GAAP:Impairment and other, net of income tax benefit of $39 and $3 million, respectively (1)
23711Other income / expense, net of income tax expense of $- and $- million, respectively (2)
(4)2Tax valuation allowance and deferred tax cost write off (3)
124—Adjusted net (loss) income (non-GAAP)$
(6)
$
21First Quarter2025
2024Earnings per share:
Diluted (loss) earnings per share$
(3.81)
$
0.09Diluted per share amounts excluded from GAAP:
Impairment and other (1)
2.480.11Other income / expense (2)
(0.05)0.02Tax valuation allowance and deferred tax cost write off (3)
1.31—Adjusted diluted (loss) earnings per share (non-GAAP)$
(0.07)
$
0.22
Notes on Non-GAAP Adjustments:(1)
Included in the first quarter of 2025 impairment and other caption were non-cash impairment charges of $140 million to write down the WSS tradename and $110 million of goodwill, as a result of a triggering event due to a reduction in the Company's stock price and resulting market capitalization, coupled with general macroeconomic factors. Additionally, the Company recorded $15 million in non-cash impairment charges of long-lived assets and right-of-use assets. In connection with the previously announced global headquarters relocation and the shutdown of the businesses in South Korea, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, we recorded accelerated tenancy and lease termination charges of $8 million. The Company has closed all stores operating in those regions as it focuses on improving the overall results of its international operations. Finally, the Company recorded $3 million of reorganization costs primarily related to the announced closure and relocation of the Company's global headquarters and the shutdown costs.For the first quarter of 2024, impairment and other included a loss accrual for legal claims of $7 million and a $7 million impairment of long-lived assets and right-of-use assets related to the Company's decision to no longer operate, and to sublease, one of its larger underperforming stores in Europe.
Foot Locker, Inc.
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
(unaudited)Periods ended May 3, 2025 and May 4, 2024
(In millions, except per share amounts)Notes on Non-GAAP Adjustments (continued):(2)
For the first quarter of 2025, other expense / income included a $5 million gain on the sale of the Greece and Romania businesses, partially offset by $1 million of our share of losses related to equity method investments.For the first quarter of 2024, other income / expense consisted of $2 million of our share of losses related to equity method investments.
(3)
In the first quarter of 2025, it was determined that due to recent weakness in market conditions, the ability to utilize the entirety of our European deferred tax asset was less likely than prior periods. Accordingly, the Company recorded a $117 million valuation allowance on all the deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards and deferred interest deductions related to certain of the Company's European business. The Company will continue to monitor the recoverability of deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. Additionally, in connection with this assessment, the Company wrote off certain deferred tax costs of $7 million.
Foot Locker, Inc.
Sales by Banner
(unaudited)Periods ended May 3, 2025 and May 4, 2024
(In millions)First Quarter2025
2024
ConstantCurrencies
Comparable SalesFoot Locker$
735
$
759(2.6)
%
(0.9)
%
Champs Sports
261267(2.2)0.5Kids Foot Locker
183183—3.4WSS
160160—(4.6)North America
1,3391,369(1.9)(0.5)EMEA
346394(13.2)(10.2)Foot Locker
6672(4.2)(0.8)atmos
3739(7.7)(6.4)Asia Pacific
103111(5.4)(2.8)Total$
1,788
$
1,874(4.5)
%
(2.6)
%
Foot Locker, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
(In millions)May 3,
May 4,2025
2024ASSETSCurrent assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$
343
$
282Merchandise inventories
1,6651,659Other current assets
359414
2,3672,355Property and equipment, net
908910Operating lease right-of-use assets
2,0992,175Deferred taxes
41114Goodwill
661760Other intangible assets, net
230392Minority investments
115150Other assets
13791$
6,558
$
6,947
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITYCurrent liabilities:
Accounts payable$
504
$
515Accrued and other liabilities
433389Current portion of long-term debt and obligations under finance leases
55Current portion of lease obligations
499496
1,4411,405Long-term debt and obligations under finance leases
440441Long-term lease obligations
1,8901,984Other liabilities
179231Total liabilities
3,9504,061Total shareholders' equity
2,6082,886$
6,558
$
6,947
Foot Locker, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
(In millions)Thirteen weeks endedMay 3,
May 4,($ in millions)2025
2024From operating activities:
Net (loss) income$
(363)
$
8Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Tradename intangible asset impairment
140—Impairment of goodwill
110—Deferred income taxes
69(5)Depreciation and amortization
5151Impairment of long-lived assets and right-of-use assets
237Share-based compensation expense
66Gain on sales of businesses
(5)—Change in assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories
(110)(158)Accounts payable
118151Accrued and other liabilities
—(3)Pension contribution
(20)—Other, net
(22)1Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
(3)58From investing activities:
Capital expenditures
(58)(76)Proceeds from sales of businesses
6—Net cash used in investing activities
(52)(76)From financing activities:
Shares of common stock repurchased to satisfy tax withholding obligations
(2)(4)Payment of obligations under finance leases
(2)(2)Proceeds from exercise of stock options
—5Net cash used in financing activities
(4)(1)Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
42Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(55)(17)Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year
430334Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period$
375
$
317
Foot Locker, Inc.Store Count and Square Footage
(unaudited)Store activity is as follows:February 1,
May 3,
Relocations/2025
Opened
Closed
2025
RemodelsFoot Locker U.S.
677—1266520Foot Locker Canada
84—3811Champs Sports
383163781Kids Foot Locker
369—53642WSS
15111151—Footaction
1——1—North America
1,6652271,64024EMEA (1)
60871859739Foot Locker Pacific
96——9616Foot Locker Asia
11—11——atmos
30——301Asia Pacific
137—1112617Total
2,4109562,36380
Selling and gross square footage are as follows:May 4, 2024
May 3, 2025(in thousands)Selling
Gross
Selling
GrossFoot Locker U.S.
2,3864,0492,3053,902Foot Locker Canada
257423254416Champs Sports
1,5082,3731,4432,274Kids Foot Locker
7761,2957451,258WSS
1,4581,7571,5781,900Footaction
3636North America
6,3889,9036,3289,756EMEA (1)
1,2102,4591,1592,378Foot Locker Pacific
246371254381Foot Locker Asia
5298--atmos
28482847Asia Pacific
326517282428Total
7,92412,8797,76912,562(1)
Includes 7 Kids Foot Locker stores, and the related square footage, operating in Europe for both February 1, 2025 and May 3, 2025.
Contacts:
Kate Fitzsimons
Investor Relations
ir@footlocker.comLeigh Parrish
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
lparrish@joelefrank.com
mediarelations@footlocker.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/foot-locker-inc-reports-first-quarter-2025-financial-results-302467610.html
SOURCE Foot Locker IR
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  • USA Today

How Trump's personal aesthetic is redefining White House décor: 'I picked it all myself'

The president's personal design choices are clear as the Oval Office and the White House grounds get a makeover. 'It keeps my real estate juices flowing,' he says. WASHINGTON - Donald Trump once said real estate runs in his blood. In the late 1970s, he made a splashy entrance into the New York City real estate scene with the glitzy transformation of the crumbling Hotel Commodore into the Grand Hyatt on Fifth Avenue. When he bought Mar-a-Lago, the South Florida estate built for socialite Marjorie Merriweather Post, he added a 20,000-square-foot ballroom. In Washington, D.C., he turned the city's historic Old Post Office into a luxury hotel. Now 50 years on, he has a new pet project: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Six months since he moved back into the White House, Trump's Oval Office is bathed in a sea of gold and gives a glimpse of his maximalist design approach. Gold-colored appliqués on the fireplace, gilded mirrors and ornate Rococo-style 18th and 19th century dessert stands and flower vases from London and France sit on the mantle. The walls are choc-a-block with paintings of former presidents in heavily ornate gold frames. The Cabinet Room has been outfitted with new ceiling medallions and a grandfather clock. 'I picked it all myself," he said. "I'm very proud of it." There's even a painting of Trump by an 87-year-old artist who said he was surprised to find out his work was being showcased in the West Wing. Meanwhile, Trump has also ripped up the sod in the Rose Garden in favor of a 'gorgeous stone' patio − work paid for by the same nonprofit that funded the Washington Monument's restoration work after a 2011 earthquake − and announced plans to build a ballroom in the White House. He recently erected two 88-foot-tall flagpoles on the south and north lawns of the White House. To be sure, presidents for decades have put their own personal touches on the Oval Office and the White House. President Franklin D. Roosevelt built an indoor swimming pool for physical therapy while coping with polio and President Richard Nixon installed a one-lane bowling alley at the White House's adjacent Old Executive Office Building. The Oval Office often gets new carpet and other furnishings for new presidents. Under Joe Biden, it sported a decidedly muted and understated look. Swedish ivy that has been in the Oval Office for decades graced the fireplace mantle, busts of famous Civil Rights leaders sat on desks and a few gold-framed portraits of past presidents hung on the walls. But for Trump, the work feels far more personal. 'It keeps my real estate juices flowing,' he told a reporter in February. Penchant for gold One common thread that runs through most of the interior redecoration efforts: a penchant for gold. During a recent meeting in the Cabinet Room, Trump waxed poetic about 'gold-leafing' the trims, the need for decorative ceiling medallions around hanging lights and finding the right frames for the new portraits of presidents that adorn the room's walls. Barbara Res, a former vice president at Trump Organization who oversaw construction, has long been familiar with Trump's fascination with the color gold. While working on projects such as the Trump Tower and Plaza Hotel, he had been adamant about incorporating polished bronze and brass which can give the appearance of gold, she said. Public areas such as atriums, ballrooms and restaurants were awash with polished bronze or brass on door frames, railings, elevators and ceilings. 'He used the word 'class' a lot, and it was a high-class thing for him,' Res told USA TODAY. 'It conveyed an illusion of taste and wealth, and that's why he wanted to gild everything.' For his Trump Tower triplex apartment in the early 80s, he hired the famed design veteran Angelo Donghia to do up the place. Taking into consideration Trump's favorite color and after trying to reason with him ("that's the worst thing you can do with Donald," said Res), Donghia introduced subtle gold touches throughout. 'It wasn't normal, but it was almost normal,' Res said with a laugh. Trump's sensibility for 'highly polished metals' went into overdrive after he visited Russia in the late 1980s, touring such places as the Hermitage State Museum and the Winter Palace, Res said. 'He came back, and he changed everything,' she said. 'He hired a guy who was a decorator for the high-roller suites in casinos. They have a lot of gold and mirrors everywhere.' After the apartment was done, Res, who then worked in the 58-story Midtown Manhattan building, said Trump brought her up to show her the remodeled place and asked her what she thought of it. 'I said 'how can you sleep here?,' she said. 'He was highly insulted by it.' Trump has always had an eye for design details. On his recent presidential visit to Qatar, he admired the white marble in a palace, saying it was 'very hard to buy.' 'As a construction person…this is perfect marble. This is what they call 'perfecto',' he said. Decorating the White House Now, as commander-in-chief, Trump has access to the White House Vault. A treasure trove of silver and bronze gilded objects he may have marveled at in palaces and museums around the world is now at his disposal. And he is not wasting his chance to play decorator. During the June Cabinet meeting, he said he had been spending a lot of time there, scooping up pieces he might call perfecto. 'The vaults are where we have a lot of great pictures and artwork,' he said, before offering insights into his obsession with right-sized and right-looking frames. 'I'm a frame person. Sometimes, I like frames more than I like the pictures,' he said. During Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to the White House in May, Trump sought to highlight his efforts. 'You see the new and improved Oval Office as it becomes more and more beautiful with love,' he said. 'You know, we handle it with great love and 24 karat gold.' Other than gold, the president also favors patriotic touches as design flourishes. A copy of the Declaration of Independence occupies pride of place in the Oval Office, placed behind two blue velvet curtains that hang from a gold-colored rod. There are also some bright and cheerful-looking design elements such as colorful military campaign ribbons on the flags. A painting of Trump flanked by fellow Republican presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan hangs in the corridor close to the Oval Office by artist Dick Bobnick. When USA TODAY tracked down Bobnick, the 87-year-old artist based in Burnsville, Minnesota, said he had no idea his work was gracing the walls of the West Wing. He said he'd sent a photo print to the White House but never heard back. The artist, who is a Trump supporter, said he wanted to portray 'three of the strongest, most influential presidents this country has ever had at some of the most tumultuous times.' Bobnick, who has never visited Washington D.C., said he was 'flattered' the print had made an impression. 'I still have the original,' he said. Trump also believes the White House grounds are in need for improvement. The installation of the flagpoles on the White House lawns in June cost about $50,000 each, which Trump said he'd paid for himself. Congress gives every new president an allowance of $100,000 to refurbish the private residence and the Oval Office, for things such as furnishings and curtains. Work is currently in progress on the Rose Garden, which is located just outside the Oval Office, and where bilateral meetings with world leaders and news conferences are often held. The manicured lawn was ripped up to make way for a stone patio, like the one in Mar-a-Lago. Trump said he reached the decision after watching women in high heels at events struggling on the muddy lawn. The foliage, including the 200 rose bushes planted during a 2020 renovation overseen by First lady Melania Trump, will not be disturbed. "President Trump is a builder at heart, and he wants to help make the White House as exceptional as possible for generations of Americans to come," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told USA TODAY. The Rose Garden project, which is slated for completion in August, is funded by the Trust for the National Mall, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has sponsored more than $75 million in restoration projects with the National Park Service since 2007. Some projects they have led include $22 million for the design and construction of the U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Education Center on the National Mall in 2023 and a $7.5 million restoration of the Washington Monument after a 2011 earthquake. Julie Moore, a spokesperson for the nonprofit, said it accepts private donations to support the National Park Service's projects at the White House gardens not supported by federal funding. Moore said the project will not use taxpayer dollars but declined to name donors saying they have chosen to remain anonymous. Moore said the funds for the project had already been secured. A White House ballroom? Trump's next project, if it gets off the ground, promises be a grand one — and one that he has, offered to pay for himself. Trump first floated the idea for a ballroom, like the one in Mar-a-Lago, during his first run for president in 2016. The Obama administration confirmed to USA TODAY in 2016 that Trump had offered to spend $100 million on a new White House ballroom, but that the offer was quickly rejected. Back then, Trump derided White House events for foreign dignitaries held in tents, saying that was an inappropriate way to entertain them. State dinners are generally held in the East Room, which at 3,000 square feet is the biggest of the state rooms and the only one that runs the entire width of the executive mansion. It's also where dances, receptions, concerts and news conferences are held. During an executive signing in the East Room in February, Trump recalled his offers to both Obama and Biden. 'This was going to be the reception room,' he said referring to his idea for a revamped East Room that would have served as the entrance to the ballroom he proposed. He said the East Room felt "too crowded." In June, Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he had 'inspected" the site, which according to a White House official, is located on the east side of the White House. Trump also highlighted his construction and real estate credentials in the post, saying no president before him had "any knowledge or experience in doing such things." Leavitt said "discussions about how to execute this plan (for a ballroom) are ongoing." Trump's day job may have changed to more weighty subjects, but passion projects from his former life are still what bring him joy, he recently mused on Truth Social. "These are the 'fun' projects I do while thinking about the World Economy, the United States, China, Russia, and lots of other Countries, places, and events," he wrote. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal

The Smartest Dividend Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now
The Smartest Dividend Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

The Smartest Dividend Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now

Key Points Dividend stocks that reliably increase their dividends are the perfect pick for income investors. Buying reliable dividend stocks when they have historically high yields is ideal. Universal Health Realty Income Trust's 7.4% dividend yield is near the highest levels of the past decade. 10 stocks we like better than Johnson & Johnson › If you are a dividend investor looking to maximize the income your portfolio generates, you will want to do a deep dive on Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE: UHT). It has a historically high 7.4% dividend yield and a great track record of dividend growth to back it up. The dividend stock won't be right for every income investor, but for a select few it could be the smartest dividend stock to buy right now. What makes a dividend stock attractive? One of the first things that income investors look for is dividend yield. Universal Health Realty Income Trust has that factor pegged, with a huge 7.4% dividend yield. But some reference points will help. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has an itty bitty yield of 1.3%. The average healthcare stock has a yield of 1.8%. And the average real estate investment trust (REIT) has a yield of roughly 4.1%. Very clearly, Universal Health Realty is more attractive on the yield front. But yield has to be considered along with reliability. For example, one of the most reliable dividend-paying healthcare stocks is Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), with 63 years of annual dividend hikes behind it. Next up is Becton, Dickinson (NYSE: BDX), with 53 years of hikes. Those two companies are Dividend Kings, an elite status that Universal Health Realty simply can't claim. That said, Johnson & Johnson's yield is 3.4% and Becton, Dickinson's yield is an even smaller 2.4%. Universal Health Realty's dividend has been hiked annually for four decades. That's a pretty good streak, even though it isn't yet a Dividend King, when you add in the real estate investment trust's huge yield. A $1,000 investment will get you around 24 shares of the healthcare-focused REIT. Universal Health Realty Trust is for income right now So a lofty yield and a strong dividend history make Universal Health Realty Trust attractive. It is extra attractive right now because the yield is near the highest levels of the past decade, suggesting the stock is on the sale rack. But there's just one small problem: Dividend growth has never been a big selling point here. As the chart above highlights, both JNJ's and Becton, Dickinson's dividend growth has been far superior to that of Universal Health Realty Trust. The goal for Universal Health Realty Trust isn't rapid dividend growth, it is reliable growth. It is a slow and steady tortoise, and that is likely all it will ever be. And that brings up the second big issue that investors need to know about. Universal Health Realty Trust is externally managed by Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS), the REIT's largest tenant. There are very clear issues with conflicts of interest that have to be considered. However, the 40-year track record of slow and steady dividend growth is an indication of what Universal Health Services is doing here. More attractive than it was, not for all, but smart for some The interesting thing here is that prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Universal Health Realty's dividend yield was a tiny 2.1% or so. At that point, investors were way too optimistic about the REIT given the tortoise-like nature of the dividend. But, today, with the yield at 7.4%, this healthcare stock is a lot more attractive. It won't be right for every dividend investor, given the management structure and that tortoise-like dividend growth. For dividend growth investors, JNJ or Becton, Dickinson will be more appropriate. However, if you are trying to maximize the income you generate from your portfolio today and you are looking for a healthcare investment, Universal Health Realty Trust could be perfect for your portfolio if you have $1,000 or $10,000 to invest. Should you invest $1,000 in Johnson & Johnson right now? Before you buy stock in Johnson & Johnson, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Johnson & Johnson wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $652,133!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,056,790!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,048% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025 Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Smartest Dividend Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. 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