My Top 5 Dividend Picks For August

I present my August top 5 dividend picks: PRGO, MZTI, NEE, TROW, and VICI, all rated Buy or Strong Buy for rising income and appreciation. Each pick trades at a significant discount to fair value (average 21.5%), offering an expected 5-year compound annual total return of ~12.5% and a 5.22% yield. PRGO, MZTI, and VICI stand out for deep undervaluation and robust dividend growth, with VICI offering a projected 15.8% CAGR and strong inflation-linked lease structures. I emphasize strong balance sheets, dividend coverage, and resilience to economic cycles, targeting patient investors seeking above-average income and capital gains.

I look for dividend-paying companies that are trading below my estimated fair market value with good dividend coverage and double-digit average annual total return prospects. I put this group together with the This article was written by Mark Bern, CFA 15.89K Followers Follow Founder of Bern Factor LLC, an independent research and publishing firm located in Virginia. Author of "Making Wall Street Irrelevant - Successful Investing Made Simple." I have more than 40 years of investing and analysis experience. I am a former CPA (1990 -2017) and became a CFA charter holder in 2000. I consider myself an expert in Quantitative and Qualitative analysis and have extensive experience in Technical Analysis. I also have a deep interest in stock market history and hold degrees in Economics (BS) and Management Information Systems (MBA). I have been actively involved with investment analysis since 1985 but have been a student of investing since the 1960s. I owned my first individual stock position while still in high school. I am a student of Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett. I have achieved a uniquely diverse experience from multiple careers that has allowed me to develop a broad perspective enabling me to look at the big picture of macroeconomics all the way down to the detail of a retail unit or factory floor. In my youth I was in retail, then served in reconnaissance during my tours in Vietnam. I have been a blue collar, union worker in a factory and a manager in services, hospitality and transportation as well as a manager of professional staffs. I have more than 20 years of experience each in both the public and private sectors. I have personal points of reference that many analysts will never have. I bring more to the table than just the theories and models I have studied or built.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of PRGO, TROW, MZTI either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

DISCLAIMER: This analysis is not advice to buy or sell this or any stock; it is just pointing out an objective observation of unique patterns that developed from our research. Factual material is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but the poster is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results of actions taken based on information contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer to buy or sell securities or to give individual investment advice. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors t...