10 Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Andreas Halvorsen’s Viking Global

In this article, we discuss the dividend stocks to buy according to Andreas Halvorsen’s Viking Global.

Ole Andreas Halvorsen is a Norwegian-born hedge fund manager. In 1999, he co-founded Viking Global, a Connecticut-based hedge fund, with David Ott and Brian Olson. Halvorsen is one of the most famous and successful investors, with a real-time net worth of $6.6 billion, as reported by Forbes. Having a military background, he gained a degree in Economics after he came to New York and started honing his skills as an investor. He landed jobs with some of the biggest names such as Morgan Stanley and Tiger Management Company.

Viking Global invests in companies after a disciplined valuation and analysis to develop a diversified portfolio. The hedge fund covers publicly-traded companies as well as private businesses with exceptional teams. The firm seeks to deliver higher risk-adjusted returns while evaluating investment opportunities across the globe. Currently, the hedge fund manages over $47 billion of capital. In its first business year, the fund delivered a return of 89% and its performance remained stable in the years to come. Between 2005 and 2010, the firm returned 119%, the time when Ott was serving as the CIO of Viking Global. In 2017, the firm’s main hedge fund gained 12%.

However, in 2021, the hedge fund lost about 4.5%, as reported by Business Insider. The hedge fund did not fail on all accounts as its Global Opportunities Hybrid Fund, which invests in both public and private companies, gained 20% in 2021, Bloomberg reported.

As of Q1 2022, Viking Global holds a 13F portfolio value of $24.7 billion, down from $34.7 billion in the previous quarter. The hedge fund’s major investments are in the technology, healthcare, and finance sector. Some of the major notable stocks in Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio in Q1 2022 are Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN).

Our Methodology: 

In this article, we discuss the top dividend stocks in Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio. For this list, we collected data from Viking Global’s 13F portfolio for Q1 2022.

10 Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Andreas Halvorsen's Viking Global

Ole Andreas Halvorsen of Viking Global

Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Andreas Halvorsen’s Viking Global

10. Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44

Dividend Yield as of May 23: 1.14%

Viking Global’s Stake Value: $86,451,000

Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) is an American chain of variety stores that operates over 18,000 stores in the US. On March 17, the company announced a 31% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.55 per share. The company has been increasing its dividend consistently for the past 7 years, becoming a Dividend Challenger. The stock’s dividend yield, as of May 23, stood at 1.14%.

In its fiscal Q4 2022 results, Dollar General Corporation generated revenue of $8.65 billion, presenting a 3% year-over-year growth. In April, BMO Capital presented a positive outlook on the company and lifted its price target on the stock to $265, with an Outperform rating on the shares. The analyst also sees an opportunity for the company to return to its 10% EPS CAGR from current levels.

However, like Mastercard Incorporated, Microsoft Corporation, and Amazon.com, Inc., Dollar General is also under pressure in 2022, having lost about 17% of its value in 2022 so far.

Dollar General Corporation was the new addition to Viking Global’s portfolio. The hedge fund held shares worth over $86.4 million in the company, which represented 0.34% of Andreas Halvorsen’s 13F portfolio.

By the end of December 2021, 44 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Dollar General Corporation, down from 46 in the previous quarter. The total value of these stakes is over $2.2 billion, compared with $1.9 billion worth of stakes held by hedge funds in Q3 2021.

LRT Capital Management mentioned Dollar General Corporation in its Q3 2021 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

Executive Summary

At LRT Capital Management we are continuously searching the market for great investment opportunities. Our favorite finds are companies with moats and growth opportunities that justify a higher price than what the stock is trading for. One of our holdings (approximately 1.5% of our long exposure) is Dollar General (DG), so today, we wanted to tell you a bit about this great company.

Company Overview

Dollar General is a discount retailer with the largest brick-and-mortar presence in the United States by store count. The company’s largest concentration of stores can be found in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern parts of the United States.10 Dollar General was founded in 1939 by J.L. Turner, who originally named the company “J.L. Turner and Son, Wholesale”.  As the name suggests, the company began its life as a wholesaler, but quickly turned to a retailer of general store goods. By the early 1950s, the company had annual sales of $2 million per year,12 which is the equivalent of $22.95 million in 2021 dollars when adjusted for inflation.

The first Dollar General store opened on June 1st, 1955 in Springfield Kentucky. The simple concept was that no item in the store would cost more than one dollar. The company changed its name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968 when Dollar General became publicly traded. At the time of its initial public offering, the business generated more than $40 million in annual sales. The company’s common stock was publicly traded from 1968 until July 2007, when it was taken private by KKR. The company went public again in November 2009, under the ticker DG.

Today, Dollar General is an evolved, and phenomenal business with more room for growth. Annual sales reached a record $33.7 billion in fiscal year 2021 after consecutively growing the top line for many years. The company’s main products are every-day necessities and consumables purchased by lower income consumers on tight budgets…”

9. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 96

Dividend Yield as of May 23: 1.18%

Viking Global’s Stake Value: $39,222,000

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is an American multinational healthcare and insurance company that also offers healthcare products to shareholders. Viking Global started building its position in the company during the first quarter of 2022, with stakes worth roughly $40 million. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated accounted for 0.15% of Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio.

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, Eagle Capital Management held the largest stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated in Q1 2022, worth $1.48 billion. Overall, 96 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database held stakes in the company in Q4 2021, up from 95 in the previous quarter. These stakes hold a consolidated value of over $13.6 billion.

In June 2021, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated announced a 16% hike in its quarterly dividend to $1.45 per share. The company has been paying annual dividends to shareholders since 1990 and maintains an 11-year track record of consistent dividend growth. The stock’s dividend yield, as of May 23, stood at 1.18%. This April, BMO Capital lifted its price target on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated to $600, with a Market Perform rating on the shares, as the company initiated its value-based care initiative.

Baron Funds mentioned UnitedHealth Group Incorporated in its Q1 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a leading diversified health and wellbeing company whose divisions include insurance arm, United Healthcare and healthcare services arm, Optum, which offers care delivery and other services. Shares increased 1.8% on good fourth quarter results with revenues up 12.5% year-over-year, operating margins of 7.5% and EPS up 78% while also reaffirming its 2022 guidance. We believe UnitedHealth leads the health care industry in innovation and execution as evidenced by its strong value proposition leading to Medicare Advantage share gains, strong cost controls, and its leadership position in the shift to value-based care.”

8. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 61

Dividend Yield as of May 23: 1.27%

Viking Global’s Stake Value: $167,498,000

Deere & Company is an American manufacturing company that specializes in agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery and related products. In April, DA Davidson stated that the current crop prices indicate strong growth for the major crops through 2023. On account of this, the firm lifted its price target on the stock to $480, with a Buy rating on the shares.

In 2021, Deere & Company pays a quarterly dividend of $1.05 per share, after growing it by 17% in 2021. The stock’s dividend yield, as of May 23, was recorded at 1.27%. In the past five years, Deere & Company has increased its dividend at a CAGR of 11.03%, coming through as one of the best dividend stocks in Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio.

In its fiscal Q2 2022 report, Deere & Company posted a GAAP EPS of $6.81, beating analysts’ expectations by $0.12. The company’s revenue for the quarter stood at $13.3 billion, showcasing an 11% year-over-year growth. At the end of Q1 2022, Viking Global held shares worth over $167.4 million in Deere & Company, which represented 0.67% of its 13F portfolio.

As per Insider Monkey’s data for Q4 2021, 66 hedge funds held shares in Deere & Company, up from 61 in the previous quarter. These stakes hold a collective value of over $2.12 billion.

ClearBridge Investments mentioned Deere & Company in its Q1 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

“Industrials holding Deere (NYSE:DE) was also a strong contributor to performance during the quarter. Through its unmatched 5,000 dealer network across 160 countries, Deere is a major global player in agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, with a particularly dominant position in U.S. agriculture. Deere’s moat around its core equipment capabilities, coupled with years of substantial investments in technology and innovation, further extends its competitive advantage into precision agriculture, which allows for higher farm yields with lower use of fertilizers, pesticides and water, thereby improving farmers’ bottom lines while reducing their environmental footprint. In addition to drought conditions in Latin America, the war between Russia and Ukraine, two major exporters of corn and wheat, is further disrupting the global agricultural commodities market and pushing prices even higher. This should mean higher farmer revenues and greater demand for Deere’s equipment, which is further supported by some of the lowest levels of inventory of new and used equipment on record.”

7. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41

Dividend Yield as of May 23: 1.42%

Viking Global’s Stake Value: $383,555,000

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. is an American insurance company that provides services in risk management, talent management, and investment advisory. The company suffered a decline in the hedge fund interest in Q4 2021, as 41 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database held stakes in the company, down from 48 in the previous quarter. The total value of these stakes is over $1.74 billion. With shares worth roughly $400 million, Diamond Hill Capital was the largest shareholder of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. in Q1 2022.

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.535 per share, after raising it by 15% in 2021. The company maintains a 13-year streak of consistent dividend growth, with a 5-year dividend CAGR of 9.49%. As of May 23, the stock’s dividend yield stood at 1.42%.

In May, Wells Fargo presented a positive stance on Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and appreciated the company’s quarterly organic growth of 10%. The firm expects the company to see strong organic revenue growth through 2022 and 2023 and lifted its price target on the stock to $183 while upgrading the stock to Overweight from Equal Weight.

Viking Global renewed its investments in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. during the fourth quarter of 2020, after dumping its entire stakes from the company in 2017. In Q1 2022, the hedge fund increased its position in the company by 79% and held shares worth roughly $384 million. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. accounted for 1.55% of Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio.

6. Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32

Dividend Yield as of May 23: 1.88%

Viking Global’s Stake Value: $419,384,000

Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) is an American pharma company that is the largest buyer of pharmaceutical royalties and provides funding across the biopharmaceutical industry.

Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) started paying dividends in 2020 and has raised its dividend by 25% since then. Currently, the company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share, with a dividend yield of 1.88%, as of May 23. In May, Scotiabank initiated its coverage of Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) with an Outperform rating and a $53 price target.

As of the end of Q1, Viking Global held shares worth roughly $420 million in Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX), after increasing its position in the company by 5%. The company accounted for 1.69% of Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio. The hedge fund also holds positions in Mastercard Incorporated, Microsoft Corporation, and Amazon.com, Inc..

The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey holding stakes in Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) grew to 32 in Q4 2021, from 21 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is over $1.78 billion.

5. Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
Dividend Yield as of May 23: 2.04%
Viking Global’s Stake Value: $898,195,000

Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) is an American manufacturing company that specializes in motion and control technologies. The company has operations in over 50 countries across the world.

Parker-Hannifin Corporation announced its fiscal Q3 2022 results on May 5 and posted an EPS of $4.83, surpassing analysts’ expectations by $0.18. The company generated revenue of over $4 billion, up 9% from the prior-year quarter. Following the strong quarterly results, Stifel set a $338 price target on Parker-Hannifin Corporation, with a Buy rating on the shares.

Along with Viking Global, Diamond Hill Capital was one of the major shareholders of Parker-Hannifin Corporation in Q1 2022, holding shares worth over $444 million. Overall, 39 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey remained bullish on the company in Q4 2021, the same as in the previous quarter. These stakes hold a collective value of $1.3 billion.

In April, Parker-Hannifin Corporation announced a 29% increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.33 per share. The company maintains a 66-year streak of consecutive dividend growth. Parker-Hannifin Corporation has been paying dividends consistently for the past 286 quarters. The stock’s dividend yield, as of May 23, stood at 2.04%.

Viking Global increased its position in Parker-Hannifin Corporation by 4% during the first quarter of 2022, equaling shares worth roughly $900 million. The company constituted 3.63% of Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio.

4. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 78
Dividend Yield as of May 23: 2.55%
Viking Global’s Stake Value: $659,163,000

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), an American multinational telecommunications company, recently announced a joint venture with Charter to develop a next-generation streaming platform, which will be available on 4k streaming devices and smart TVs. This will provide consumers with a world-class user experience and navigation.

Viking Global pulled its entire stake from Comcast Corporation in 2013 and started reinvesting during 2019, purchasing shares worth over $13 million, at an average share price of $44.5. At the end of Q1 2022, the hedge fund held shares worth roughly $660 million in the company, which represented 2.66% of Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio.

In January, Comcast Corporation announced a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share, after increasing it by 8%. The company has increased its annual dividend for the past 14 years, with a 5-year dividend CAGR of 12.34%. As of May 23, the stock’s dividend yield came to be recorded at 2.55%.

Acknowledging the broadband business of Comcast Corporation, Rosenblatt, in April, initiated its coverage on the stock with a Neutral rating and a $51 price target. The analyst further noted that the company derived 55% of its sales from cable in 2021 and believes that it should focus on expanding its broadband business further.

Insider Monkey’s Q4 2021 data shows that the hedge fund interest has slightly declined in Comcast Corporation, as 78 hedge funds held stakes in the company, down from 80 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is $7.1 billion.

ClearBridge Investments mentioned Comcast Corporation in its Q4 2021 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

“Weakness among our holdings in the communication services sector was the other detractor to performance. Comcast was hurt by tepid subscriber growth in its broadband business but demonstrated strong growth in free cash flow, positioning the company for accelerated capital return going forward.”

3. Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 28
Dividend Yield as of May 23: 2.72%
Viking Global’s Stake Value: $97,046,000

Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) is an Irish-registered pharmaceutical company, that derives 70% of its net sales from the US healthcare system.

In February, Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, an 8.3% increase from the prior dividend of $0.24 per share. The company has been growing its annual dividend consecutively for the past 19 years. Moreover, in the past five years, Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) has raised its dividend at an annual average rate of 12.34%.

Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) is one of the latest holdings of Viking Global. The hedge fund started building its position in the company with shares worth over $97 million, which made up 0.39% of Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio.

In Q1 2022, Camber Capital Management was one of the leading shareholders of Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO), with shares worth over $96 million. Moreover, 28 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database held a $502 million worth of stake in the company in Q4 2021.

Heartland Advisors mentioned Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) in its Q4 2021 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

“Shares of many Health Care companies were down as the continuing threat of COVID-19 dampened demand for elective medical procedures and health care providers struggled to maintain adequate staffing in the face of burnout and resistance to vaccine mandates. The Fund’s holdings performed in line on a relative basis but detracted from absolute results.

Instead of trading on every new wrinkle in the ongoing pandemic, we’ve taken the long view by focusing on owning businesses that we believe are well positioned to drive consistent growth when the shadow of COVID-19 fades.

Perrigo Company PLC (PRGO), a pharmaceutical business and leading maker of private-label over-the-counter products, is one such opportunity. While the company is lumped in with more volatile pharma companies, we view it as a consumer-packaged goods business that offers a one-of-a-kind product platform characterized by a stable, growing, and valuable cash flow stream.

A new management team with a strong track record was hired in late 2018 to rectify stumbles made by previous leadership. We’ve been pleased with the strides taken and believe recent supply chain issues and reduced demand for its cold and cough products are directly related to COVID-19 and are, therefore, temporary. With shares trading at close to stated book value and 13X next year’s estimated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), the team views Perrigo as a compelling opportunity for the quarters to come.”

2. MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
Dividend Yield as of May 23: 3.14%
Viking Global’s Stake Value: $95,733,000

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) is an American insurance company and is the largest provider of insurance and employee benefit programs. The company was popular among hedge funds in Q4 2021, as 39 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database held stakes in the company, up from 36 in the previous quarter. These stakes hold a consolidated value of $945.5 million.

MetLife, Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, having raised it by 4% in February. The company maintains an 8-year track record of consistent dividend growth, with a 5-year CAGR of 6.35%. As of May 23, the stock’s dividend yield was recorded at 3.14%.

Viking Global initiated its position in MetLife, Inc. during the first quarter of 2022, with shares worth over $95.7 million. The company accounted for 0.38% of Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio. In April, JPMorgan appreciated the company’s strong balance sheet, ongoing share repurchases, and improving sales. On account of this, the firm lifted its price target on the stock to $75, with an Overweight rating on the shares.

1. Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30
Dividend Yield as of May 23: 3.42%
Viking Global’s Stake Value: $35,847,000

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM), an American insurance company, has been raising its annual dividend for the past 13 years. In 2021, the company raised its quarterly dividend by 5.3%, which now stands at $0.30 per share. The stock’s dividend yield was recorded at 3.42%, as of May 23.

At the end of December 2021, 30 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on Unum Group, up from 28 in the previous quarter. These stakes hold a consolidated value of over $323.5 million.

Unum Group is the latest holding of Viking Global. The hedge fund initiated a position in the company with shares worth over $35.8 million, at an average share price of $27.9. The company represented 0.14% of Andreas Halvorsen’s portfolio.

You can also take a look at 10 Best Pharmaceutical Stocks to Buy in 2022 and 10 Best Metaverse ETFs To Buy

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This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.