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GE Aerospace’s stock falls as the full-year outlook was kept mostly intact despite a big first-quarter earnings beat.

Few things matter more to long-term investors than a company that keeps paying (and growing) its dividend year after year.A VanEck report states:“Dividend investing can provide steady income and long-term growth but requires careful selection to avoid unsustainable payouts and dividend traps.”As dividend payers tend to maintain solid balance sheets and stable cash flows, they make good defensive investments. That context matters right now, especially for shareholders of International Business Machines , a Dividend Aristocrat and a Dow 30 member, that has one of the most durable income track records in all of tech.IBM’s enviable dividend growth historyInternational Business Machines (IBM) is expected to announce another dividend increase this month. If it does, it will mark the company’s 27th consecutive year of dividend growth, a milestone that puts it in elite company.Related: Is IBM stock in the dividend bargain bin?The expected new quarterly payout is $1.6875 per share. That would represent a 0.45% increase from the current $1.68 quarterly distribution. It’s a modest raise, but consistency counts for income-focused investors.IBM last declared a dividend of $1.68 per share in January 2026. It raised that payout last April by 0.6%, moving it from $1.67. Key dividend metrics for IBM stock:Current quarterly dividend: $1.68 per shareExpected new quarterly dividend: $1.6875 per shareExpected annual dividend: $6.75 per shareAnnual dividend yield: approximately 2.5%Five-year dividend growth rate: 1.53%20-year dividend growth rate: 11.2%Annual dividend expense (NTM): $6.27 billionFree cash flow (2026E): $15.65 billionDividend payout ratio: 40%Consecutive years of dividend growth: 26 (heading to 27)The payout ratio of about 40% means IBM is returning a meaningful share of earnings to shareholders while still keeping enough to invest in growth.A focus on IBM’s Q1 earningsIBM’s Q1 2026 earnings report is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22. The timing makes this a pivotal week for the dividend-paying tech stock.Analysts expect IBM to post earnings of $1.81 per share and revenue of $15.6 billion for the quarter. In the year-ago period, it reported EPS of $1.60 per share and revenue of $14.54 billion. IBM’s most recent quarterly earnings data showed the company reported $4.52 earnings per share for Q4, beating the consensus estimate of $4.29 by 5.30%. Wall Street is forecasting current-year revenue of $71.18 billion, with full-year normalized EPS of $12.35, up from $11.59 in the prior year.Analysts broadly expect IBM to beat Q1 estimates, with AI, hybrid cloud, automation, and cybersecurity highlighted as the key drivers to watch in the April 22 report.Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and maintained a $340 price target on IBM, signaling strong analyst conviction that IBM’s AI and hybrid-cloud strategy can drive upside. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives has also noted he sees roughly 35% upside as enterprise customers move from AI pilots to large-scale deployments.IBM is a top dividend stockIn recent years, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna has shifted the company’s focus toward software, artificial intelligence, and hybrid cloud. 

IBM is expanding its software revenue baseRiccardo Savi/ Getty Images

When Krishna took over in 2020, software accounted for roughly 20% of total revenue. By the end of 2025, that figure had climbed to around 45%.Its Red Hat business, acquired for $34 billion in 2019, is now generating nearly$2 billion per quarter in revenue, up dramatically from $3.4 billion annually at the time of the deal.IBM’s mainframe business also posted a record year in 2025. And management has guided to revenue growth exceeding 5% in 2026, along with free cash flow of approximately $15.7 billion, allowing it to raise dividend payouts and target accretive acquisitions. More on dividend stocks:Costco quietly bumps its quarterly dividend by 13%How much to invest in Best Buy stock for $1,000 in 2026 dividendsEarly SCHD ETF investors now earn a 12.5% dividend yield on costIBM generated approximately$14.7 billion in free cash flow during 2025. This cash generation supports continued investment in research and development, strategic acquisitions, and shareholder returns through dividends and share repurchases.Citigroup described IBM as an AI survivor and enabler, a characterization that reflects the broader Wall Street view that IBM has successfully navigated the AI disruption narrative rather than falling victim to it.With earnings due April 22 and a potential dividend hike likely to follow, income investors have good reason to keep a close eye on IBM this week.Related: IBM CEO sends blunt message on AI and quantum computing

Michael Burry is making an uncomfortable call, and he is no stranger to such calls. He is making his opinion known while people are steering clear of software stocks.The investor who is most famous for “The Big Short” is getting into a part of the market that is under a lot of pressure. He says that the recent problems may have less to do with businesses going bankrupt and more to do with technical stress spreading through the system.That is a sharp break from what is going on in Wall Street right now.Right now, the market is obsessed with artificial intelligence winners, mega-cap momentum, and anything connected to the prospect of increasing computing power. Meanwhile, older software and payments names are struggling to make an impression. These legacy names struggle to hold attention, let alone investor confidence in today’s market.Burry thinks that disconnect will help make money.He opened a roughly 3.5% position in PayPal (PYPL), kept holdings in Fiserv (FI), Adobe (ADBE), Autodesk (ADSK) and Veeva Systems (VEEV), and said he planned to add Salesforce (CRM) and MSCI (MSCI).That shopping list is not random.It is a targeted bet that select companies have been hit by fear, forced selling and broad skepticism rather than any issue with the actual fundamentals. If Burry is right, this is not your regular dip-buying movement. It is a warning that Wall Street is misreading an entire segment of the stock market. “I do not believe the technical pressures brought on by the private credit/software debt issues are big enough to affect these stocks for much longer,” Burry wrote.Michael Burry says the software selloff has gone too farBurry’s core argument is simple. He believes a “reflexive positive feedback loop” is the principal reason why software stocks are trending lower. The drop in share prices, the stress from debt connected to software companies, and the nervous positioning all seem to have fed into each other, making the selloff worse.That matters because it changes the entire read when it comes to these stocks.If software stocks are going down because sales are going down, customers are leaving, and competition is cutting into profits, then investors should stay away. But if prices are going down because of technical pressure and fear-based selling, that’s a whole different story. In that case, investors who are willing to get in early may be buying strong companies at prices that are more affected by fear than by the company’s fundamentals.That seems to be exactly where Burry sees value.His list includes companies that still occupy important positions in payments, design software, enterprise workflows and data analytics. These are not speculative investments. These are well-known companies that have fallen out of favor as investors have moved away from businesses that are seen as mature, slow-growing, or vulnerable to disruption and toward the most exciting artificial intelligence trades.Related: Legendary skeptic delivers 6-word verdict on Palantir’s hot streakPayPal is perhaps the biggest and most striking name on this list. The company has spent years trying to regain its footing with investors after there was universal acclaim as one of fintech’s clearest long-term winners. Growth cooled. Competition intensified. The market began to question whether PayPal still had the same sting it was once famous for. Burry’s move suggests the momentum might have swung one way too much.

Michael Burry makes huge claim about battered software stocksPhoto by Astrid Stawiarz on Getty Images

PayPal could become the clearest test of Burry’s contrarian betIf Burry’s thesis is correct, PayPal is more than just undervalued.It is a test case for whether Wall Street is too quick when it comes to discarding quality software stocks when they are no longer attracting the attention they were once getting. However, the key issue here is that PayPalcontinues to generate meaningfulcash flow, retain major customer reach, and operate in categories that remain essential.That does not mean Burry is bullish on software across the board.He makes a clear distinction between companies he thinks can handle the shift to artificial intelligence and those he believes might be hurt badly by advanced large language models. He said that some companies are really feeling the heat from these technologies, but not the ones he has chosen.That makes the investment a much more disciplined bet than a simple “buy the dip” trade.Burry doesn’t claim that all software stocks face unfair punishment. He claims that certain businesses have experienced a larger washout, despite their fundamentals not justifying the same level of damage. That difference is crucial, especially in a market where investors are eager to group old software names together and move on.More Tech Stocks:Morgan Stanley sets jaw-dropping Micron price target after eventNvidia’s China chip problem isn’t what most investors thinkQuantum Computing makes $110 million move nobody saw comingThat is what makes PayPal so fascinating here.Burry is going in the opposite direction of the market, which is looking for the next big thing in artificial intelligence. He is buying a stock that a lot of investors have given up on, which means that the market may be confusing temporary damage with a permanent drop.If that view starts to catch on, PayPal and the other names on Burry’s list may not stay beaten down for long.Why Burry’s software bet carries a bigger message for investorsBurry’s latest move is not solely about PayPal.It also provides a more general perspective on how investors should approach software equities in a market transformed by AI euphoria, economic stress, and aggressive repositioning. Some names will definitely stop being important. Some business concepts will have to deal with a lot of stress. Some stocks will fall in value.But Burry seems to be stating that investors are making a different kind of mistake when they think that every software firm that isn’t doing well is flawed.That’s when contrarian investing really works.The best contrarian calls are unpopular. They are based on the idea that the audience is paying attention to the wrong signal. Burry seems to think that the market is too focused on technological harm and too quick to forget that some of these companies may still have strong businesses and room to grow.That might be a big change for PayPal.The stock has been struggling for a long time to show that it still belongs in debates about meaningful growth and value. Burry’s move alone won’t fix it. But it does show that one of Wall Street’s most watched contrarians sees something the rest of the market might not.That alone is enough to make you look again.In this industry, a second glance can reveal the true story, especially since fear and fashion often move quicker than the facts.Key takeawaysMichael Burrydisclosed a roughly3.5% position in PayPal.He said he maintains holdings at Fiserv, Adobe, Autodesk and Veeva.He also plans to add Salesforce and MSCI.Burry argued that technical pressures tied to private credit and software debt helped drive the selloff.He said some software companies face real artificial intelligence risk, but not the ones he selected.PayPal is now the clearest test of Burry’s contrarian software thesis.Related: Palantir stock caught in a battle over pension billions

More than $160 billion in tariff refunds are due for U.S. importers.

The government on Monday began accepting requests for tariff refunds.

Aave (AAVE), up 1.9% from Monday, joined Stellar (XLM) as a top performer.

Brand trust is everything these days. When you’ve got it, you need to prioritize holding on to it above almost everything else. When you’re at risk of losing it, you must take strategic, honesty-based actions to reinstate it.

Personal finance expert Suze Orman has years of experience guiding people on how to make the most of their money. She focuses on debt reduction and the emotional side of money, and you may be able to better your finances by digging into her resources.
Like most personal finance gurus, not every rule Orman encourages will make sense for you. Here are four of her rules — two that make sense for most people, and two you may want to reconsider.

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2 rules to follow
1. Make sure you have an emergency fund
Orman is a big fan of establishing an emergency fund that can cover your monthly expenses should the unexpected happen, like you lose your job or face a surprise medical bill.
Financial advisors typically recommend having enough money in a liquid account, like a high-yield savings account, to cover your expenses for three to six months. But it depends on your circumstances: If you have unpredictable income streams or often incur medical or vet bills, you may want to save a bit more.
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2. Maintain solid credit
Orman suggests prioritizing your credit score, which can impact how likely you are to be approved for loans and how much you’ll have to pay in interest. A high credit score makes it easier to get good terms on loans like mortgages and auto loans.
FICO scores (the most commonly used credit scores) of 670 to 739 are generally considered good, while 740 to 799 is considered very good and 800 to 850, excellent. Checking your credit report for errors, paying bills on time, having a mix of types of credit and getting a credit card are all ways to possibly boost your credit score.
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2 rules you may want to rethink
As the name implies, personal finance is personal. It’s important to consider whether Orman’s next two rules actually make sense for you.
1. Avoid leasing a car
A house is likely the most expensive purchase you will make, but a car may be the second-largest purchase. Orman recommends never leasing a car since it requires that you make monthly payments on a car that you’ll never own. She said on CNN in 2023 that it was a “waste of money.”
Like with most financial decisions, it’s not black and white. Leasing a car may make sense for some people. The advantages include that you can drive a higher-priced car than you may be able to otherwise afford, and that you won’t have to go through the trouble of reselling. But on the flip side, you’re pouring money into something that’s depreciating in value and you risk facing charges if you want to get out of the lease early.
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2. Rely on debit, not credit
Orman suggests keeping your credit card usage to a minimum to avoid credit card debt. She says to rely on debit cards, and only use a credit card for one or two recurring charges you can put on autopay.
The thinking is that you want to avoid credit card debt, which comes with high interest rates. But if you can pay your credit card in full each month, there are perks to using credit. The rewards programs that come with credit cards can help you save on travel, groceries and gas, for example. Plus, using a credit card helps you build credit, and they tend to offer better protection should someone get a hold of your card than debit cards, since they’re not linked directly with your account.

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In March, sales at U.S. retailers posted the biggest gain in three years, but the increase was driven by higher gasoline prices and rising inflation, both of which could sap the economy if they don’t ease soon.

Amazon evolved from one of the world’s largest online retailers into a tech powerhouse and a hyperscaler.  Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud computing platform, became the most important part of its business thanks to the artificial intelligence boom.The backbone of Amazon’s AI strategy is its custom-made Trainium AI accelerator chips, designed in partnership with Marvell (MRVL).Amazon reported its Q4 earnings on Feb. 5. The stock took a dip, closing 5% lower on the next day, according to Yahoo Finance.What alarmed some investors was Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy’s statement in the earnings release. “With such strong demand for our existing offerings and seminal opportunities like AI, chips, robotics, and low earth orbit satellites, we expect to invest about $200 billion in capital expenditures [capex] across Amazon in 2026, and anticipate strong long-term return on invested capital.”The investors weren’t the only ones to react negatively to the earnings. Bank of America lowered its Amazon stock price target.Amazon’s outlook for Q1 2026:Net sales are expected to be in the range of $173.5 billion to $178.5 billion.Operating income is expected to be in the range of $16.5 billion to $21.5 billion.
Source: Amazon earnings report
Amazon will report its Q1 2026 earnings on April 29. The company recently made some key moves to improve its cloud services and AI strategy.Amazon’s key AWS dealsAmazon joined OpenAI’s latest funding round in February.The company has pledged up to $50 billion of investment in OpenAI, starting with $15 billion.Its FORM 8-K reveals that the deal has the following caveats: “Amazon Sub is obligated to purchase all remaining Commitment Shares upon the earlier to occur of (i) OpenAI meeting specified milestones, and (ii) OpenAI directly or indirectly consummating an initial public offering or direct listing of equity securities in the United States (a “Public Listing Transaction”), in each case subject to certain terms and conditions.”More Tech Stocks:Bank of America resets Nvidia stock forecast after meeting with CFOGoldman Sachs resets Broadcom stock forecastBank of America resets Microsoft stock forecast ahead of earningsInvesting in OpenAI isn’t without risk and raises questions about circular financing. The companies have also expanded their existing $38 billion agreement by $100 billion over eight years. OpenAI has committed to consuming approximately 2 GW of Trainium capacity through AWS infrastructure.The company also improved its regional infrastructure.In a similar deal, Amazon expanded its partnership with Anthropic.Amazon said it will invest $5 billion in Anthropic and up to an additional $20 billion in the future. Anthropic will secure up to 5 gigawatts of current and future generations of Amazon’s Trainium chips to train and power its AI models.This means Anthropic has committed to spending more than $100 billion over the next 10 years on AWS technologies.AWS improved its Amazon Elastic VMware Service (Amazon EVS). EVS now offers Microsoft Windows Server licensing entitlements. This enables its users to migrate or create new virtual machines (VMs) running Windows Server OS in EVS and obtain Windows Server licensing entitlements for those VMs from AWS.

Bank of America estimates Amazon will report Q1 revenue of $178.4 billion.Hapabapa/Getty Images

Bank of America raises Amazon stock price targetBank of America analyst Justin Post and his team updated their opinion on Amazon stock ahead of earnings.The team estimates Q1 revenue and EBIT of $178.4 billion and $21.4 billion, respectively, which they note is above Wall Street consensus at $177.1 billion and $20.7 billion, respectively. Analysts raised their year-over-year growth estimates for AWS to 28%, above the Wall Street consensus of 25%. They added that expectations could reach 29%, driven by Anthropic-related revenues.Related: Goldman Sachs resets Broadcom stock forecastPost said AI revenues may be dilutive to overall margins, which is a risk for the quarter, but January layoffs and strong core AWS margins could offset. The team expects the company to provide revenue guidance for Q2 of $185 billion to $190 billion and operating income guidance of $17.5 billion to $21.5 billion.In a research note shared with me, Post reiterated a buy rating for Amazon stock and raised the target price to $298 from $275, based on his sum-of-the-parts analysis that values AWS at 9x 2027 sales estimates, first-party retail at 1.0x, third-party retail at 2.5x, and advertising at 5.0x.Downside risks for Amazon:Increasing competition from offline and local retailersMarket share loss to cloud competitors with advanced AI technologyElevated AWS investment needs that could pressure marginsAnalysts also noted that the stock has been subject to significant volatility in the past, and that volatility could increase amid economic uncertainty.Related: Bank of America revamps AMD stock price target