8 Dividend Giants with Lowest Short Interest in 2024

3. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)

Short % of Float as of September 22: 1.35%

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is an American telecommunications and media conglomerate that offers related products and services to its consumers. The stock is down by nearly 7% since the start of 2024 because the company wasn’t able to impress investors and analysts with its earnings in the second quarter of 2024. It faced difficulties in its Studios and Theme Parks division, with declines of 27% and 10.6%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. Overall, the company’s quarterly revenue totaled $29.6 billion, reflecting a 3% year-over-year decrease.

Despite facing challenges, several segments of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) showed growth. The media division returned to Adjusted EBITDA growth, driven primarily by Peacock, its streaming service, which recorded its best year-over-year performance since launching in 2020. Peacock was a standout in Comcast’s second-quarter results, with a 38% increase in streaming subscribers, reaching 33 million, while quarterly losses narrowed to $348 million from $651 million in Q2 2023.

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) also delivered strong cash generation during the quarter, a positive sign for income-focused investors. The company reported $4.7 billion in operating cash flow and $1.3 billion in free cash flow. It remained committed to shareholder returns, distributing $3.4 billion through dividends and share buybacks.

On July 23, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share, which fell in line with its previous dividend. The company’s dividend growth streak spans over 16 years. The stock has a dividend yield of 3.04%, as recorded on September 22. With 1.35% of its float sold short, CMCSA is one of the best dividend giants on our list with the lowest short interest.

According to Insider Monkey’s database of Q2 2024, 61 hedge funds owned stakes in Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), down from 63 in the preceding quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $3.66 billion.