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Market volatility has rattled portfolios in 2026, with broad indexes pulling back as slowing growth weigh on sentiment.

Southern Co. is nearing eligibility for the Dividend Aristocrats index, and steady earnings growth plus a 3% yield could drive solid returns.

Abbott Laboratories has declined over 16% since my last review, which was previously rated a HOLD, as the valuation was a little rich. The acquisition of Exact Sciences adds a solid piece to a company with a long, proven track record. The segments were kind of a mixed bag in the most recent earnings report, and I'll be monitoring the struggling areas to see where they might go.

Nike (NYSE: NKE) just delivered its latest quarterly dividend of $0.41 per share, paid on April 1, 2026, marking 24 consecutive years of dividend increases.

Realty Income is a core income buy in my portfolio. The net lease REIT's massive total addressable market allowed it to source a record $121 billion in 2025. Realty Income heads into 2026 with over $4 billion of dry powder on its balance sheet.