Global stocks are gaining, if not at the pace of domestic equities. While the S&P 500 has risen 17% year to date, the EAFA index of large- and mid-cap stocks based in countries other than the U.S. and Canada has gained 9.5%. Over the past five years, the performance gap has been wider, with the S&P 500 advancing 94% compared to a 32% gain in EAFE. But the underperformance has given global stocks a valuation advantage, particularly in the area of dividends. Consider that the EAFE dividend yield of 2.9% is 170 basis points higher than the comparable S&P 500 dividend yield. We think global dividend stocks now offer opportunity, particularly given the endless speculation over the direction of interest rates in the U.S., which has created market-timing headaches for equity income investors, who have endured recent wide swings in prices for rate-sensitive equity in areas such as utilities, REITs and MLPs. In our view, investing in international income stocks is one way to increase portfolio diversification while reducing sensitivity to volatile U.S. interest rates. Investing in overseas stocks carries its own set of risks, including the impact of currency exchange and geopolitical turmoil. But there are also a number of positives in this asset class for U.S. investors, including a wide selection of companies that pay dividends, robust industry diversification, and, as we have mentioned, higher yields and lower valuations. Argus has recently boosted its global coverage, and recommends the following international dividend stocks, each of which has at least a long-term BUY rating from an Argus analyst. Note this list of approximately 25-30 companies offers exposure to eight of the 11 major industrial sectors. The list includes companies from 10 countries.

Unilever is a diversified personal-care (52% of 2022 sales by value), homecare (14%), and packaged food (34%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemmé haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years; notable purchases include Paula’s Choice, Liquid I.V., Horlicks, Garancia, and The Vegetarian Butcher.

Unilever plc is a leading international consumer goods company and one of the largest providers of personal care products. Leading brands include Dove, Lifebuoy, Hellman's, Knorr, and Ben & Jerry's. The company is based in the U.K. and has approximately 128,000 employees worldwide.

The board is green. Stocks are making a strong comeback after a wild ride this week. The Mag7 are split, some up, some down. The big driver today is inflation data that is showing progress on prices continuing to track lower. The Personal Consumption Expenditures index came in at 2.5% in June, slightly below the 2.6% in May. Core PCE printed at 2.6% for June, unchanged from May. Next week is a biggie. The July Jobs report is due on Friday, four more of the Mag7 report - Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, and oh, and there's a Fed rate meeting - though no rate move is widely expected.