12 Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now

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2. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 165

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is a California-based payments technology firm. Visa has a commendable track record of increasing its dividends for 17 consecutive years. As of January 2025, the company offers an annual dividend of $2.36 per share, yielding approximately 0.73%. The dividend payout ratio stands at 24.25%, indicating a prudent balance between rewarding shareholders and retaining earnings for future growth. In earnings for the fourth quarter of 2024, the company achieved a 10% year-over-year increase in revenue, totaling $9.5 billion, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $9.34 billion. Visa reported an EPS of $2.75 during the time, exceeding the projected $2.66. The net income for the quarter was $5.1 billion, reflecting a 5% rise from the previous year.

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