Media

12/26/2018
3 Dividend Stocks to Buy in January (U.S. News & World Report)
U.S. News & World Report turned to Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Blockforce Capital, for his thoughts on where dividend investors should turn in 2019. Using data from Blockforce Capital’s proprietary dividend rating methodology, DIVCON™, Kian identified Domino’s (DPZ) among key dividend growth stocks to watch in the New Year.

12/20/2018
Can China and Blockchain Work? (MarketWatch)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, appeared in a video for MarketWatch’s SectorWatch series discussing the blockchain technology landscape in China. Eric explained why China’s blockchain economy is poised for tremendous long-term growth, and identified a few ways investors can play this space.

12/13/2018
Bitcoin Trends 2018: Weathering the Storm (Investing News)
In Investing News Network, Blockforce Capital CEO Eric Ervin offered his expertise on the biggest bitcoin trends during 2018. Eric noted two significant cryptocurrency developments this year were the SEC’s increased clarity on regulation as well as accelerated institutional investor interest in the space.

12/10/2018
Eight Tips Every Cryptocurrency Investor Must Know (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, penned an article for Forbes outlining key tips for novice cryptocurrency investors. Eric explained where to find opportunity in the cryptocurrency markets and how to navigate potential volatility surrounding this asset class.

11/30/2018
3 Dividend Stocks to Buy in December (U.S. News & World Report)
In U.S. News & World Report, Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Blockforce Capital, discussed top dividend growth stocks for the month of December. Kian identified UnitedHealth Group (UNH) as one of the healthiest dividend payers among large-cap U.S. companies based on solid fundamentals, including levered free cash flow and strong earnings growth.

11/20/2018
7 Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Holidays (U.S. News & World Report)
Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Blockforce Capital, spoke with U.S. News & World Report about dividend growth stocks investors should consider ahead of the holiday season. Kian highlighted Estee Lauder (EL) and Nvidia (NVDA) as two companies with strong expected dividend growth based on the firm’s proprietary dividend health rating system, DIVCON™.

11/19/2018
Breaking the Peg: Every Stablecoin Has Its Points of Failure (Cointelegraph)
In a Cointelegraph article, Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, discussed why stablecoins show the most promise for mass adoption of cryptocurrency usage in everyday transactions. Eric explained that stablecoins are easy to understand, decrease settlement times and remove many, if not all, intermediaries, such as payment processors.

11/14/2018
Asset Managers Respond to Top Regulatory Challenges (Money Management Executive)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with Money Management Executive about the regulatory challenges present when investing in international markets. Eric spoke to Chinese markets, specifically, and explained how the country’s new Stock Connect program impacts asset managers looking to access this region.

11/14/2018
What Triggered Bitcoin’s Sharp Price Plunge? (Forbes)
Forbes called upon Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, to help explain yesterday’s 10 percent bitcoin price drop. While Eric attributed the price drop to technical developments, he believes that the drop will help push the market to a bottom and ultimately allow it to bounce back.

11/3/2018
Top Analysts Look At Past Bitcoin Price Cycles To Predict the Return of Volatility (CryptoGlobe)
CryptoGlobe called upon Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, for insight on whether the cryptocurrency bear market will persist. Using data from previous market cycles, Eric predicted the current cryptocurrency bear cycle could continue for several more months with a potential bull market on the horizon as institutional adoption increases.

10/30/2018
3 Dividend Stocks to Buy in November (U.S. News & World Report)
In a U.S. News & World Report article, Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Blockforce Capital, offered his expertise on top dividend stocks investors should consider during November. Kian mentioned Visa (V) as one potential stock to buy given the company’s strong dividend growth potential and continued innovation in the payment processing space.

10/25/2018
Biderman: If Rates Keep Rising, Stocks Will Keep Falling (Money Life)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, joined host Chuck Jaffe on the Money Life Show podcast to provide an in-depth look at the firm’s proprietary dividend health rating methodology, DIVCON™. Eric explained the benefits of a dividend growth strategy in today’s market and even outlined several stocks’ DIVCON™ scores.

10/16/2018
Blockchain Update: Q3 2018 in Review (Investing News)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with Investing News Network about blockchain and cryptocurrency trends that characterized Q3 as well as what’s ahead for the sectors in Q4. Eric noted that cryptocurrency volatility came down dramatically last quarter, and ICOs and private market transactions increased significantly. Looking ahead, Eric opined that institutional money will continue to flow into crypto-related assets for the remainder of 2018 and beyond.

10/16/2018
Eric Ervin, CEO and Founder of Blockforce Capital (ValueWalk)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with ValueWalk’s ValueTalks host Raul Panganiban to discuss his background in finance, overall investment philosophy and Blockforce Capital’s involvement in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.

10/16/2018
Is The Correlation Between Stocks And Bitcoin Real? (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, discussed whether there is a significant correlation between cryptocurrency and equity markets in Forbes. Based on Blockforce Capital research comparing the S&P 500 to bitcoin, Eric concluded there is not a significant correlation between the two asset classes over the long term.

10/15/2018
Fidelity Moves into Crypto Space with Custodian Services (Fund Action)
In a recent Fund Action article, Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Blockforce Capital, offered his perspective on Fidelity’s announcement to launch a cryptocurrency trading and storage platform.

10/15/2018
The 5 Best Dividend Growth Stocks for the Rest of 2018 (Kiplinger)
Kiplinger turned to Blockforce Capital’s Senior Analyst Kian Salehizadeh for the top five dividend growth stocks to consider in the fourth quarter. Kian identified Estée Lauder (EL), Nike (NKE), Nvidia (NVDA), UnitedHealth Group (UNH) and Visa (V) as companies most likely to grow their dividends in the next 12 months based on the firm’s proprietary dividend health rating system, DIVCON™.

10/11/2018
During a Stock-Market Selloff, How Would You Invest $100,000? (MarketWatch)
Following abrupt stock market volatility, Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with MarketWatch about where investors should allocate extra cash. Eric recommended investors should seek out high-quality dividend growth stocks, which historically outperform the S&P 500 in both bull and bear market environments.

10/10/2018
XRP Has Fallen 40% From Its September High (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with Forbes about the factors driving recent price fluctuations of XRP, the digital token created by Ripple. Eric explained that investors shouldn’t be surprised by short-term volatility in the cryptocurrency markets as the industry continues to grow.

10/5/2018
Bitcoin Price Volatility Falls To Lowest Of 2018 (Forbes)
Forbes cited Blockforce Capital research to showcase the downward trend of bitcoin volatility in recent weeks as the spread between high and low bitcoin prices has tightened to its lowest level of 2018.

9/27/2018
Crypto Meets Wall Street as Bitcoin Mining Giant Bitmain Files for IPO (Wall Street Journal)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with The Wall Street Journal after Bitmain, a Bitcoin mining company based in China, filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Eric noted this is the first major instance representing the assimilation of the traditional capital market and the burgeoning cryptocurrency market – a trend he expects to continue over time.

9/25/2018
XRP: Profit Taking And Herd Mentality Fuel 40% Losses (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with Forbes to analyze short-term activity in the cryptocurrency markets. Eric zeroed in on what’s driving price fluctuations in XRP, Ripple’s digital currency.

9/18/2018
XRP Price Surge: ‘Buy The Rumor, Sell The News’ (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with Forbes about factors contributing to XRP’s recent price rally. Eric noted the price surge is largely attributable to Ripple’s impending launch of xRapid, a platform aimed to help banks expedite transactions.

9/10/2018
Will Bitcoin Reach $96,000 By 2023? (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, offered his outlook on bitcoin prices over the next five years in Forbes. With Bitcoin representing just 0.1 percent of the world’s money supply, Eric predicted the cryptocurrency’s market capitalization still has ample room for growth and said a $100,000 per coin valuation is certainly feasible.

9/6/2018
Bitcoin ETFs, NYSE Bakkt and Goldman Sachs Were Key Market Drivers Last Month (CryptoGlobe)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with CryptoGlobe about how institutional interest in cryptocurrencies drives coin activity.

8/31/2018
Bitcoin Prices Continue To Enjoy Bullish Trend (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with Forbes about his outlook on bitcoin prices and factors driving the cryptocurrency’s upward trend.

8/29/2018
Know Blockchain? You’re Hired. (SHRM)
As blockchain grows in popularity, SHRM turned to Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Blockforce Capital, to discuss the vast career opportunities resulting from this technology. Kian compared blockchain’s growth potential to the internet boom, and explained what type of talent garners the most attention from companies on the cutting edge of blockchain innovation.

8/24/2018
The Fed’s ‘Super Dollar’: How Much Longer? (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, spoke with Forbes about how the strong U.S. dollar is impacting the Fed’s interest rate decisions, and what it could mean for investors moving forward.

8/24/2018
Bitcoin Prices Unfazed By Latest ETF Rejections (Forbes)
Amid the SEC’s decision to reject several proposed bitcoin ETFs, Forbes turned to Eric Ervin, CEO of Blockforce Capital, to discuss potential implications for cryptocurrency investors. Eric reassured investors that interest in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets will continue to grow, no matter the outcome of the SEC’s review.

8/16/2018
Blockchain Technology Set to Revolutionize Global Stock Trading (Forbes)
In his latest Forbes column, Reality Shares CEO Eric Ervin discussed how blockchain technology is poised to disrupt stock market trading across the globe. As stock exchanges continue to adopt blockchain technology, Eric believes settlement of trades will accelerate drastically, financial information will be transferred quickly and securely and costs passed on to the end investor will ultimately be reduced.

8/15/2018
5 Dividend Standouts (Barron’s)
Barron’s called upon proprietary research from Reality Shares to identify five stocks with both attractive yields and strong dividend growth. Based on data from Reality Shares’ dividend health rating system, DIVCON™, Starbucks, AbbVie, Broadcom and others were named among the top choices for investors looking for a combination of income and growth.

7/25/2018
5 Stocks With Fast-Growing Dividends (Barron’s)
Barron’s utilized data from DIVCON®, Reality Shares’ proprietary dividend healthy rating system, to identify which companies have exhibited the highest dividend growth rate over the last five years compared to the average S&P 500 payout.

7/25/2018
How to Benefit from the Blockchain Job Boom (U.S. News & World Report)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, spoke with U.S. News & World Report about a new wave of exciting blockchain-related career opportunities he’s observing as the technology continues to proliferate.

7/16/2018
Blockchain Update: Q2 2018 in Review (Investing News)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, spoke with Investing News Network about blockchain and cryptocurrency trends he observed during the second quarter of 2018 as well as his outlook on the industries for the remainder of the year.

6/20/2018
4 Stocks About To Slash Their Dividends (Forbes)

6/14/2018
8 Stocks That Should Strengthen From a Weak Dollar (U.S. News & World Report)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, spoke with U.S. News & World Report about stocks that could potentially strengthen from a weakening dollar. Eric explained why companies that leverage blockchain technology and have a broad global reach, like Microsoft, are less susceptible to changes in currency valuations.

6/13/2018
What are the New Tech Stocks of 2018 and Beyond? (Kiplinger)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, wrote an article for Kiplinger examining where investors can find opportunity in the technology sector. In order to capitalize on the future growth potential of emerging technologies, Eric advised investors to turn their attention to three key areas of the market – blockchain technology, semiconductors and high-quality, dividend-paying companies. Eric also offered resources – such as Reality Shares’ proprietary Blockchain Score™ methodology – that investors can use to identify leading companies in this space.

6/4/2018
Top Dividend Raises For May 2018 (Seeking Alpha)

6/4/2018
How Blockchain Investing Can Access Technology Without the Volatility of Cryptocurrencies (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, authored an article in Forbes discussing why investors should consider blockchain technology as a less volatile investment alternative to cryptocurrencies. In the article, Eric explained the transformational potential of blockchain and how investors can gain diversified exposure to the technology through indexes, such as the Reality Shares Nasdaq Blockchain Economy Index.

5/8/2018
IBM Stock Is at Computing’s Crossroads (U.S. News & World Report)
Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Reality Shares, offered his long-term outlook on IBM’s stock in U.S. News & World Report. Though IBM is often misrepresented as a stolid company, Kian argued its innovation in the blockchain space will help reinvigorate the business. Further, Kian also discussed how the stock exhibits strong dividend growth potential based on Reality Shares’ proprietary research.

5/7/2018
Top Dividend Raises For April 2018 (Seeking Alpha)

4/17/2018
Are Dividend Stock Kings a Royal Opportunity? (U.S. News & World Report)
In a U.S. News & World Report article, Reality Shares CEO Eric Ervin cautioned against using investment strategies based on dividend kings and dividend aristocrats, which are selected using historical data only. Instead, investors should utilize forward-looking metrics to identify stocks with the highest potential to grow their dividends, such as Reality Shares’ proprietary dividend health rating system, DIVCON.

4/9/2018
Top Dividend Raises And Cuts For March 2018 (Seeking Alpha)

4/3/2018
Not Convinced This is the Start of a Raging Bull Market: Reality Shares (CNBC)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, called in to CNBC to discuss his market outlook as we kicked off the second quarter of the year. Eric cautioned investors to trim the “junk” out of their portfolios, and instead focus on high-quality dividend growth companies with strong fundamentals.

3/28/2018
Growth in S&P 500 Will Come From Tech Stocks, Says Investor (CNBC)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, called into CNBC’s live international markets show to explain why there’s great opportunity for investors in the technology sector. Eric pointed to the innovation in this sector, such as the adoption and commitment to blockchain technology, as the main reason why it’s ripe for growth.

3/26/2018
Investors Should Focus on Quality, Growth: Reality Shares CEO (FOX Business)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, joined Fox Business live to discuss where investors can find value in today’s market. Eric explained that investors should zero in on high-quality, innovative companies, such as those increasing dividends, as they hold the most growth potential.

3/8/2018
Top 5 Dividend Growth Stocks For 2018 (Forbes)

3/7/2018
Top Dividend Raises And Cuts For February 2018 (Seeking Alpha)

2/28/2018
Dow Closes 380 Points Lower, Snaps Longest Monthly Win Streak Since 1959 (CNBC)

2/27/2018
What’s The Difference Between Blockchain, Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency? (Seeking Alpha)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, authored an article in Seeking Alpha discussing why investors should be educated about the distinct difference between blockchain and cryptocurrency.

2/8/2018
Top 5 Blockchain-Related Stocks For 2018, And A Few To Avoid (Forbes)

2/6/2018
Top Dividend Raises And Cuts For January 2018 (Seeking Alpha)

1/10/2018
SD 500: Michael Rosen (San Diego Business Journal)

1/9/2018
When’s the Tax Break Party for Retailers? (TheStreet.com)

1/9/2018
Is Your Dividend Growth Strategy Stuck in the Past? (Kiplinger)

12/14/2017
Will Bitcoin Futures Legitimize Cryptocurrencies? (U.S. News & World Report)12/14/2017
Overstock CEO Weighs Company Sale to Fund Blockchain Project (Cryptovest)

12/13/2017
Bitcoin Points Way to ‘Massive Change’ for Commodity Businesses (Bloomberg)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, was featured in Bloomberg discussing how blockchain technology is transforming and streamlining business processes.

12/12/2017
Top Dividend Raises And Cuts For November 2017 (Seeking Alpha)

12/8/2017
Canada Poised for Blockchain Listing Boom, GMP Capital Chief Says (Cryptovest)

12/1/2017
How Will Corporations Spend Their Tax Cuts? (Marketplace)
As the GOP moves closer to its massive tax overhaul, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, joined NPR’s Marketplace to discuss how U.S. corporations will use their potential tax savings. Eric explained shareholders will likely demand extra cash to be paid back to them in the form of dividends.

11/13/2017
There Could Soon Be a New Way to Bet on the Rise of Blockchain (Business Insider)

11/9/2017
We Weren’t Playing Around With Mattel (Or Mosaic) (Seeking Alpha)
Reality Shares contributed an article to Seeking Alpha evaluating how the firm’s proprietary dividend health rating system, DIVCON, predicted dividend cuts from two global companies – Mosaic and Mattel. By analyzing seven quantitative factors such as dividend history, free cash flow and Bloomberg fundamentals, DIVCON correctly forewarned investors that both of these companies were susceptible to future dividend health risks. Dividend investors should take note as they potentially could have avoided losses associated with these dividend laggards.

11/6/2017
Top Dividend Raises And Cuts For October 2017 (Seeking Alpha)

10/31/2017
Taking a Bite out of Apple Earnings Ahead of the iPhone X Launch (Cheddar)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, appeared live on Cheddar to dissect Apple’s upcoming quarterly earnings announcement. He explained that Apple’s intersection of hardware and software is driving customer loyalty and will ultimately bolster the company’s revenue.

10/30/2017
5 ‘Safe’ Dividend Stocks in the Energy Patch (Investopedia)

10/27/2017
This Dividend Strategy Can Win in the Fourth Quarter (Forbes)
The end of the year is approaching, which means it also might be time for investors to reassess their portfolio allocation. In his latest Forbes column, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, explored how a dividend growth investing strategy may give investors an advantage with a changing market landscape ahead.

10/23/2017
Dividend Fears Take Toll on GE Shares (Wall Street Journal)
As General Electric continues to face headwinds, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, spoke with The Wall Street Journal about the company’s potential dividend cut. Eric explained that dividend growth provides a measurement of a company’s overall health and that Reality Shares has historically avoided including GE in the firm’s portfolios because of the stock’s weak earnings growth, free cash flow and other factors.

10/23/2017
8 Best Dividend Growth Stocks for a Bear Market (Kiplinger)
Kiplinger turned to Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, to discuss why dividend growth stocks can be more resilient in bear markets. Eric explained dividend growers historically outperform the broader market because they represent healthier businesses with strong fundamentals, such as free cash flow and sound corporate management.

10/21/2017
High-Energy Payouts (Barron’s)
Utilizing Reality Shares’ proprietary dividend health rating system, DIVCON, Barron’s identified Exxon Mobil (XOM), Valero Energy (VLO), Cabot Oil & Gas (COG), Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Phillips 66 (PSX) as five safe dividend-paying energy stocks.

10/11/2017
If Things are Booming, Does the Economy Need Tax Cuts? (Marketplace)
After President Donald Trump tweeted that tax cuts would help grow the stock market, NPR’s Marketplace sought insight from Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, about tax reform’s impact on market returns and investors. Eric noted that if Trump’s proposed tax cuts were passed, companies would have more cash left over on their balance sheets after paying their tax bill. He argued this would boost company earnings and add value to shareholders, thus attracting more investors to the market.

10/10/2017
Top Dividend Raises For September 2017 (Seeking Alpha)

10/7/2017
Why ETFs Should Be in Your 401(k) (TheStreet.com)
TheStreet called on Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, for his thoughts on how 401(k) participants may benefit from utilizing ETFs for their retirement savings. Eric noted that ETFs provide flexible, intraday trading options, making them an ideal fit for a wide variety of 401(k) investors. He also forecasted that the advent of ETFs will cause traditional mutual funds to go extinct.

9/22/2017
This Will Make You Rethink Your Dividend Investing Strategy (Kiplinger)
In his latest Kiplinger column, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, explained why investors should reconsider their dividend investing strategy. Despite the allure of high-dividend yields, Eric advises investors to position their portfolio toward dividend growth plays, which historically outperform the broad equity market.

9/21/2017
10 Dividend Growth Stocks For September 2017 (Seeking Alpha)
Data from Reality Shares’ DIVCON dividend health rating system was featured in a Seeking Alpha article about the top 10 dividend growth stocks from September 2017. The author turned to Reality Shares because of the firm’s proprietary, quantitative methodology for assessing and ranking dividend-paying stocks in the S&P 500 and identifying those most likely to grow or cut dividends in the next 12 months. Hormel Foods (HRL), TJX Companies (TJX) and T. Rowe Price (TROW) were among the names that made the cut.

9/18/2017
7 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2017 (U.S. News & World Report)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, was featured in U.S. News & World Report discussing top dividend stocks for the remainder of the year. Eric identified Cisco Systems (CSCO) as one dividend-growing stock to keep an eye on as the company undergoes a business model transition, which will likely bolster CSCO’s growth and free cash flow in the long term.

9/15/2017
5 Dividend Stocks for Anxious Investors (Investopedia)

9/9/2017
Five Solid Payout Plays (Barron’s)
Barron’s called upon Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Reality Shares, to gather his thoughts on the top five stocks for investors looking for both yield and safety. Based on research from Reality Shares’ proprietary dividend health rating system (DIVCON), Kian spotlighted Texas Instruments, CVS, PNC, Medtronic and Sysco as five healthy companies with strong fundamentals and the greatest potential to grow their dividends in the future.

9/8/2017
Data Reveal Russell Wilson Most Likely to Become ‘Next Tom Brady’ of NFL Quarterbacks (Business Wire)

9/8/2017
Top Dividend Raises And Cuts For August 2017 (Seeking Alpha)
Seeking Alpha utilized research from Reality Shares to identify dividend growers and weed out dividend laggards from August 2017. The results were compiled from the seven fundamental factors analyzed in the firm’s proprietary dividend health ranking system (DIVCON).

9/7/2017
These Sectors Will Feel the Sting of Rising Rates (U.S. News & World Report)
Ahead of the September Federal Reserve meeting, U.S. News & World Report turned to Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, for his expert opinion on how rising interest rates could impact bond-proxy trades. Eric noted sectors such as utilities, telecommunications and REITs are highly debt-driven, so higher rates could result in decreased earnings.

9/7/2017
Do Fantasy Sports Make Us Better Investors? (Forbes)
In a recent article written for and published by Forbes, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, discussed the parallels between fantasy sports and online stock trading. Eric listed three key factors that overlap between the two industries – performance metrics, growth picks and lineup/portfolio construction – and examined how they can help investors analyze the quality of their investments, and sports fans understand the importance of data analysis.

9/1/2017
The Safest Payouts in Retailing (Barron’s)
Kian Salehizadeh, Senior Analyst at Reality Shares, spoke with Barron’s about why investors should focus on high quality retail stocks with the ability to grow their dividends. Kian acknowledged the intense competition in the retail sector and identified which retailers are generally Amazon-resistant by evaluating key financial health metrics, such as earnings and cash flow. Kian noted company fundamentals, as opposed to dividend payment history, are key to understanding which companies will grow their dividends in the future.

8/18/2017
One of the Ugliest Stores in Retail is Crushing its Competition (Business Insider)
After earnings from Ross Stores (ROST) beat expectations, Reality Shares CEO Eric Ervin spoke with Business Insider about why the brick-and-mortar retailer has managed to stay successful while the rest of the traditional retail sector struggles with the e-commerce revolution. Eric attributed the store’s success to a loyal customer base that appreciates high-quality products at a discounted price. ROST is rated a DIVCON 5 by Reality Shares’ dividend health rating system, meaning the stock is one of the healthiest dividend growers in the U.S.

8/15/2017
The Great American Housing Boom Continues (CNNMoney)
After Home Depot (HD) topped second-quarter earnings expectations, Reality Shares CEO Eric Ervin spoke with reporter Paul La Monica of CNNMoney about the home-improvement retailer’s success. Eric noted Home Depot has managed to stay resilient in the age of Amazon because of the in-store experience it offers to customers and professional builders.

8/14/2017
This Will Make You Rethink Your Dividend Investing Strategy (Seeking Alpha)

8/10/2017
Look to Tech Stocks for Big Dividends (U.S. News & World Report)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, was quoted in a U.S. News & World Report article discussing the dividend growth potential of large-cap tech stocks. Eric named the tech companies he believes are poised for dividend growth based on strong fundamentals, and he also provided what he thinks will be the implications of repatriation tax reform on the tech sector.

8/7/2017
Top Dividend Raises For July 2017 (Seeking Alpha)

8/4/2017
CNBC Live Blog (CNBC)
After Activision Blizzard (ATVI) reported second-quarter earnings, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, provided thoughts to CNBC.com’s live markets blog about why the company beat expectations. Eric noted ATVI’s strong online and mobile initiatives as factors contributing to the company’s overall health, which Reality Shares monitors closely via DIVCON, the firm’s proprietary dividend health rating system.

8/3/2017
These Sectors Should Gain From Rising Rates (U.S. News & World Report)
In a U.S. News & World Report article, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, discussed which market sectors will benefit from rising interest rates. Eric noted the financial sector will be one obvious winner when the Federal Reserve decides to hike rates, but he also mentioned materials and industrials will likely benefit from increased infrastructure spending as the U.S. economy improves.

7/26/2017
Bull or Bear: 5 Stocks With Rising Dividends (Investopedia)
Investopedia named five stocks with the potential to grow their dividends based on quantitative data from DIVCON, a rules-based dividend health rating system created by Reality Shares. The article further explained Reality Shares’ investment strategy of focusing on dividend growth as opposed to yield when assessing the health of large-cap U.S. companies.

7/25/2017
3 Winners and 4 Losers for Dividend Stock Investors (Kiplinger)

7/21/2017
Take Stock Dividends Over Buybacks (Forbes)

7/17/2017
Top Dividend Raises And Cuts For June 2017 (Seeking Alpha)
Seeking Alpha turned to Reality Shares’ proprietary dividend health rating system, DIVCON, to assess and rank companies that increased their dividend payouts during the month of June 2017. DIVCON analyzes dividend-paying stocks according to seven fundamental factors to determine the likelihood they will grow or cut dividends in the next 12 months.

6/30/2017
S&P 500 and Dow Close Higher, Nasdaq Posts Best First Half Since 2009 (CNBC)
CNBC.com turned to Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, for his expert commentary on the market’s reaction to the Federal Reserve’s bank stress tests.

6/30/2017
Bank Stress-Less Tests (Seeking Alpha)
After the 2017 Federal Reserve bank stress tests concluded, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, authored an article for Seeking Alpha analyzing how the test results impacted dividend growth of S&P 500 banks and how dividend-focused investors could benefit.

6/28/2017
Don’t Stress, Bank Stocks Should Raise Their Dividends (Forbes)
In a bylined article for Forbes, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, shared his expectations for the Federal Reserve’s stress tests and what the results could reveal about the future dividend growth of bank stocks. Based on quantitative analysis from DIVCON, the firm’s dividend-health rating system, Eric named bank stocks the ‘protagonist’ of the market’s dividend growth story.

6/21/2017
Why FedEx May be the Unlikely Beneficiary of the Amazon-Whole Foods Deal (Cheddar)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, appeared live on Cheddar to discuss FedEx’s strong quarterly earnings as demand for shipping continues to increase in today’s subscription-based economy. Eric explained that FDX is one of the S&P 500’s strongest dividend growers as measured by DIVCON, Reality Shares’ dividend health rating system.

6/14/2017
What Fantasy Sports and Stock Picking Have in Common (Forbes)
With the 2017 Major League Baseball season well underway, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, drew a comparison between picking the right stocks for your portfolio and picking the right players for your fantasy team. Eric said investors should look at a company’s dividend growth potential to assess high-quality stocks, just as fantasy league members should assess a player’s quality based on stats and analytics.

6/13/2017
Mosaic Dividend Cut – How We Predicted It (Seeking Alpha)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, wrote an article that was published in Seeking Alpha explaining how Reality Shares predicted the Mosaic (MOS) dividend cut before the company’s announcement, using the firm’s proprietary dividend health rating system, DIVCON.

6/10/2017
Headwinds or Tailwinds? How US Tax Reform Could Impact Bitcoin’s Price (CoinDesk)
U.S. tax reform may not produce tailwinds for Bitcoin, but it could for dividends, according to Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares. In a recent CoinDesk article, Eric explained that if legislation is passed to reduce the corporate tax rate, S&P 500 companies could repatriate millions in overseas cash and put it toward increasing their dividend payments.

6/5/2017
Top Dividend Raises & Cuts For May 2017 (Seeking Alpha)

5/30/2017
Finding The Best Retail Stocks Amid Broad Declines (Forbes)
Though the retail sector has hit a rough patch because of cautious consumer spending coupled with Amazon’s dominance, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, made the case in his latest Forbes column that there are some winners in that sector. He employed Reality Shares’ proprietary dividend-health rating system, DIVCON, to help investors separate the retail winners from the losers.

5/19/2017
Mosaic Dividend Cut . . . DIVCON Saw It Coming, Did You? (Seeking Alpha)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, contributed an article to Seeking Alpha explaining how investors could have avoided Mosaic’s (MOS) significant dividend cut by paying attention to the company’s fundamentals analyzed by DIVCON, Reality Shares’ proprietary dividend health rating system. DIVCON research has shown that focusing on higher-quality companies with the ability to grow their dividends is likely a smarter, safer play in the long run.

5/15/2017
3 Health Care Stocks to Own for 2017 (TheStreet.com)
With health care spending expected to escalate, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, spoke with reporter Chris Ciaccia of TheStreet to discuss which health care stocks hold the most opportunity. Eric identified Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson and Cardinal Health as companies with strong fundamentals based on their balance sheets, ability to grow dividends, free cash flow and other factors.

5/12/2017
Too Early to Tell Impact of Trump’s Tax Plan (U.S. News & World Report)
Reality Shares CEO Eric Ervin and Senior Analyst Kian Salehizadeh spoke with U.S. News & World Report regarding how President Donald Trump’s proposed tax reform would impact stocks’ dividends and their shareholders. Though it remains to be seen whether the president’s plan will materialize, Eric and Kian explained that a reduced corporate tax rate will likely significantly increase dividend payouts from U.S. companies.

5/11/2017
Is Your Dividend Stock Portfolio Ready For Rising Rates? (Forbes)
As the economy improves, interest rates are likely to increase, but what does this mean for dividend investors? Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, wrote his latest Forbes column about why investors should focus on dividend growth instead of yield in a rising rate environment. Eric explained that while high-yield dividend stocks are sensitive to economic policy changes, dividend growers are historically resilient and represent the true quality of a company.

5/7/2017
Top Dividend Raises & Cuts For April 2017 (Seeking Alpha)
Reality Shares’ proprietary DIVCON rating system was cited in a Seeking Alpha article about dividend cuts and hikes from April 2017. In addition to analyzing a company’s current dividend increase/decrease and stock yield, investors should consider its forward-looking DIVCON score for a glimpse into the company’s expected future dividend growth.

5/2/2017
Why Apple’s Dividend Could Have Been Higher (CNBC)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, appeared live on CNBC hours after Apple reported second-quarter earnings. During his interview, Eric discussed the company’s 10.5 percent dividend hike, which now makes Apple the largest dividend payer in the world. Eric noted Apple could have increased its payout even more considering its stockpile of cash, but forecasted that the company is poised for dividend growth ahead given their innovation, profitability and loyal customer base.

4/28/2017
This Dividend Strategy May Save You On Next Year’s Taxes (Forbes)
The deadline for filing 2016 tax returns has passed, but it’s never too early for taxpayers to plan ahead for next year. In his latest Forbes column, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, explained how dividend growth ETFs provide a tax-efficient strategy for investors looking to reduce their 2017 tax bill.

4/22/2017
Seeking Safe Dividends? Check the Payout Ratio (Barron’s)
Barron’s reporter Lawrence Strauss published an article advising investors to look past high yields when searching for dividend safety. Lawrence referenced Reality Shares’ proprietary DIVCON methodology as a solid way to measure dividend-paying companies’ health.

4/13/2017
Q1 Market Update: Dividend Growth Outpaced the S&P 500 (Forbes)
In his latest Forbes column, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, discussed how dividend growth investing can cut through the noise in an uncertain market environment. Eric noted dividends are a tangible means of identifying quality companies with good fundamentals regardless of unpredictable market activity.

4/13/2017
Which Stock Is Better: Nike or Under Armour? (U.S. News & World Report)
U.S. News & World Report asked Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, which popular athletic apparel brand – Nike or Under Armour – is the better buy. As a top dividend-growing stock in the S&P 500, Nike is better positioned in the long run compared to its competitor, Eric noted.

4/4/2017
How Trump’s Travel Ban Could Cost U.S. $18 Billion (DAL, AAL) (Investopedia)
Investopedia asked Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, how President Donald Trump’s temporary travel ban could impact the U.S. tourism industry. Eric predicted that tourism-driven companies, such as Marriott, will likely be negatively affected by the policy.

4/4/2017
Dividend Raises & Cuts For March 2017 (Seeking Alpha)

3/31/2017
Health Care Investments After AHCA’s Failure (U.S. News & World Report)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, spoke with U.S. News & World Report about ways to invest in the health care sector after the American Health Care Act failed to replace the Affordable Care Act. In light of upcoming volatility in the sector, Eric said investors should seek dividend-growing health care stocks that have healthy balance sheets.

3/29/2017
What Do March Madness And Dividend Growth Factors Have In Common? (Forbes)
As the NCAA men’s basketball tournament gets closer to determining the eventual champion, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, drew a comparison between March Madness and dividend growth investing. If basketball fans want a winning bracket, they should use objectivity when determining which teams will move forward rather than guessing on a whim. Similarly, Eric said investors should rely on statistical, quantitative factors to better predict the dividend growth of companies.

3/28/2017
8 Winners and Losers in a Rising Interest Rate Environment (U.S. News & World Report)
Amid continued uncertainty surrounding how much interest rates will rise in 2017, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, shared his thoughts on the potential losers of a rising rate environment with U.S. News and World Report. Eric, who recommends investors gravitate toward dividend-growth stocks, singled out high-yield stocks as an area investors should avoid.

3/26/2017
5 Can’t Miss Dividend Hikes Coming This Spring (Forbes)
In his recent Forbes column, Brett Owens argued that an investor’s portfolio should be comprised of dividend-growth stocks instead of companies with fixed dividend yields. To prove his point, Brett cited Reality Shares’ proprietary research, noting that companies able to increase their dividends generally outperform the remainder of the S&P 500.

3/15/2017
Lessons From Michael Lewis’ ‘Moneyball’: Building Your Dividend-Growth Stock Portfolio (Forbes)
In his most recent Forbes column, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, applied lessons from Michael Lewis’ famed novel Moneyball to the investing world. Eric explained that, similar to how a professional baseball franchise should assemble a team based on predictive sports analytics, investors should assemble their dividend portfolio based on forward-looking research, such as the Reality Shares DIVCON® rating system, which predicts dividend growth from companies instead of relying on past or current dividend yields.

3/11/2017
In Retail, Few Payouts Are Certain (Barron’s)

3/10/2017
Identifying the Dividend Growth Leaders (Seeking Alpha)

3/2/2017
Dividend Raises & Cuts For February 2017 (Seeking Alpha)

3/1/2017
Markets Rally After Trump Address, Despite the Lack of Policy Details (Marketplace)
After markets hit new highs the day after President Donald Trump’s first speech to Congress, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, spoke with NPR’s Marketplace about why investors were so optimistic. Despite the lack of specificity in Trump’s speech, Eric noted that markets were enthusiastically trading on expectations of change, but cautioned that the investing landscape could change substantially once more details of Trump’s economic plan are revealed.

2/28/2017
The Do’s And Don’ts Of Dividend Investing In 2017 (Forbes)
In his latest Forbes column, Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, explained what a successful dividend investing strategy should look like. Eric explained the value of incorporating high-quality, dividend-growing stocks and funds in investors’ portfolios and emphasized the importance of not chasing high-yield investments.

2/25/2017
Six Energy Dividend Payers That Could Run Out of Gas (Barron’s)
Barron’s reporter Jack Willoughby utilized Reality Shares’ DIVCON research to provide investors a window into the health of dividend-paying energy stocks. The article highlighted the factors Reality Shares analyzes to determine the likelihood a company will increase or decrease its dividends, and identified energy companies that may be most at risk for future dividend cuts.

2/21/2017
7 Dividend Stocks to Benefit From Trump Tax Changes (U.S. News & World Report)

2/14/2017
3 Companies That Could Slash Their Dividends (The Motley Fool)

2/13/2017
Top 5 Dividend Stocks for 2017 (TheStreet.com)

2/11/2017
Rating Dividends’ Health (Barron’s)

2/7/2017
Top Dividend Raises & Cuts For January 2017 (Seeking Alpha)

1/31/2017
How Bond ETF Investors Position as Rates Rise, Risks Linger (ETF Trends)

1/26/2017
If These 4 Stocks Declared Dividends in 2017, It Could Mean Billions in Payouts (Forbes)

1/18/2017
ETF Virtual Summit Brings Conference Setting to Advisors’ Laptop (ETF Trends)

1/17/2017
Top 5 Dividend Stocks For 2017 (Forbes)

1/3/2017
Dividend Raises & Cuts For December 2016 (Seeking Alpha)

12/29/2016
Dividend Growth Investors May Be Able to Keep the Holiday Spirit through 2017 (Forbes)12/22/2016
Is the Trump Rally Losing Steam? (FOX Business)

12/20/2016
Never Throw in the Towel on Nike: Expert (CNBC)

12/13/2016
Can Trump’s New Tax Policies Lead To Higher Dividend Growth? (Forbes)

12/9/2016
Best Places to Get Investment Advice (Kiplinger)

12/5/2016
Is Dividend Investing Dangerous? (ETF Daily News)

11/30/2016
Sir Isaac Newton Would Approve (Forbes)

11/19/2016
As Bonds Fade, So Does Consumer Staples’ Allure (Barron’s)

11/18/2016
The Stock Market Is Poised to Move Lower, This Indicator Reveals (TheStreet.com)

11/14/2016
5 Favorite Dividend Growers; Nike and MasterCard Top List (Barron’s)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, shared his top five dividend growing stocks with Barron’s Income Investing columnist, Amey Stone. Eric observed that investors are moving out of stocks with high dividend payouts, and into ones with potential for strong dividend growth.

10/29/2016
FBI’s October Surprise Rocks Stocks (Barron’s)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, was featured in a Barron’s article following the FBI’s reinvestigation of Hillary Clinton’s email server. Eric said the threat of rising interest rates, earnings reports and merger news were other factors in that day’s market volatility, and noted that bond-proxy sectors were overplayed in a rising bond yield environment.

10/25/2016
Corporate Gravity May Bring Utilities Back Down to Earth (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, authored an article for Forbes comparing the concepts of physics with those of dividend investing. Eric explained how stocks that traditionally pay high dividends may no longer be able to fight the gravitational pull of weak earnings and that investors should use research and tools, such as Reality Shares’ proprietary dividend rating model, DIVCON®, to select dividend-growth stocks.

10/19/2016
How Can Falling Buybacks Foreshadow Future Dividend Growth? (Forbes)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, authored an article for Forbes about corporate buybacks. In the piece, Eric observed that reduced share buybacks gives companies the ability to increase their dividend payouts.

10/17/2016
3 ETFs to Buy if You Think Johnson & Johnson Will Beat Earnings (TheStreet.com)
Eric Ervin, CEO of Reality Shares, was quoted in TheStreet discussing his outlook for Johnson & Johnson, noting that though its DIVCON® score is on the higher end, he would still like to see the stock’s growth improve.

10/12/2016
Utilities Lost 2 Years’ Worth of Dividends When the Sector Tanked (TheStreet.com)

10/9/2016
8 Steps to Be a Better Investor (Kiplinger)
Kiplinger referenced data from Reality Shares in an article on best investing practices, noting that stocks in the S&P 500 with rising dividends have higher expected returns than companies with static or no dividends.

10/8/2016
The Key to Bigger Payouts: More Free Cash Flow (Barron’s)

10/5/2016
Banks and Energy Companies Lead Stocks Higher (Associated Press)

9/27/2016
Is the Reach For Yield Over? (TheStreet.com)

9/21/2016
Dividend Stock Investors: Don’t Underestimate Disney (The Motley Fool)

9/19/2016
Why Investors Should Love Monthly Dividend Stocks (U.S. News & World Report)

9/14/2016
Will Viacom Slash Its Dividend Thursday? (Barron’s)

8/30/2016
Flash Crashes, ETFs & An Arbitrage Trader’s Dream (Forbes)

8/30/2016
9 Dividend Investments to Buy Now (U.S. News & World Report)

8/18/2016
Why Leveraged ETFs Are Horrible Investments (U.S. News & World Report)

8/17/2016
Get Away From Utility Stocks Before They Topple (MarketWatch)

8/16/2016
Why Apple (AAPL) Needs to Double Its Dividend Immediately (U.S. News & World Report)

8/15/2016
How to Invest for Income in a Low-Yield World (PBS NextAvenue)

8/9/2016
These 5 Companies Will Probably Increase Their Dividends Soon (TheStreet.com)

8/9/2016
These 3 Companies’ Dividends Are in Danger (TheStreet.com)

8/6/2016
Materials Stocks: A Group That Offers Allure and Perils (Barron’s)

8/3/2016
4 Big Dividend Cuts: What to Do Next (Forbes)

6/25/2016
Searching for Yield in a Post-Brexit Europe (Barron’s)

6/7/2016
How to Pick Winning Dividend Stocks (CNBC)

5/17/2016
An Interview with Kian Salehizadeh, Reality Shares’ Manager of the Drone Index (DRONELIFE.com)

5/14/2016
Special Payouts: Rare but Welcome (Barron’s)

5/7/2016
Nike, TJX, and Others Likely to Raise Payouts (Barron’s)

4/28/2016
Reality Shares Creates First Drone Stock Index (DRONELIFE.com)

4/20/2016
These 10 Companies Are Primed to Boost Their Dividends Soon (TheStreet.com)

4/5/2016
Looking for Dividends Amid an Uncertain Interest Rate Environment (TheStreet.com)

3/25/2016
Equal Weight Does Not Mean Equal Risk (WealthManagement.com)

3/10/2016
These 5 Companies Will Probably Increase Their Dividends This Year (TheStreet.com)
These 5 Companies’ Dividends Are in Danger (TheStreet.com)

3/2/2016
11 Dividends in Serious Danger (Forbes)

2/8/2016
The Stock Market’s Technical Picture Is Getting Even Gloomier, This Indicator Shows (TheStreet.com)

2/6/2016
Consumer Discretionary Triggers Bearish Signal, Solidifying Negative Technical Trend (Seeking Alpha)

1/30/2016
Reality Shares Advisors Launches Market Strength Forecasting Tool (CIOReview)

1/12/2016
Why Dividend Growth Stocks Are a Solid Strategy for Falling Skies and Rising Rates (TheStreet.com)

1/11/2016
Quick, Easy and Accurate: Reality Shares DIVCON Ratings for Dividend Growth Seekers (Seeking Alpha)

12/29/2015
5 Stocks at Risk of Dividend Cuts in 2016 (Kiplinger)12/22/2015
One More Thing To Worry About: Dividends (WealthManagement.com)

12/21/2015
Here Are 5 New Additions to the ‘Highest Dividend Scorers’ List (TheStreet.com)

12/16/2015
The Next Kinder: 10 Dividend Stocks to Sell (Forbes)

12/2/2015
Apple May Be Better Off Returning Cash to Investors (TheStreet.com)

12/1/2015
5 Stocks Likely to Boost Their Dividends (CNBC)

11/18/2015
5 Stocks Most Likely to Boost Dividends (TheStreet.com)

11/2/2015
Guardian Gauge Predicts Bear Market (KSTP)

10/27/2015
Telecommunications Triggers Bearish Technical Indicator, Despite Market Rally (TheStreet.com)

10/26/2015
4 Stocks With Most Elite Dividend-Grower Status (TheStreet.com)

10/20/2015
Bob Dochterman Joins Reality Shares as Executive Vice President (PR Newswire)

10/17/2015
Small Companies, Big Dividends (Barron’s)

10/14/2015
3 Big Dividend Cuts Coming Soon (Forbes)

10/14/2015
Technology Stocks Trigger Technical Warning, Solidifying Negative Market Trend (TheStreet.com)

10/1/2015
Health Care Sector Turns Negative, Solidifying Bearish Stock Market Trend (TheStreet.com)

10/1/2015
Opinion: Get Ready for a ‘Destruction of Wealth’ As Stocks Head Toward a Bear Market (MarketWatch)

9/28/2015
4 ETF Platforms That Every Millennial Must (and Financial Advisors Should) Know (WealthManagement.com)

9/17/2015
The Stock Market Is Headed for a Big Decline — Here’s Why (TheStreet.com)

9/16/2015
Stocks Climb as Traders Await Thursday’s Rate Decision (FOX Business)

9/14/2015
What to Do With Corporate Cash? (WealthManagement.com)

8/24/2015
Reality Shares Launches Dividend Health Strategy Indices (ETF Strategy)

8/22/2015
Intuit Slims Down and Fattens Payout (Barron’s)

8/20/2015
How to Know Whether the Dividends on Your Stocks Are Safe (TheStreet.com)

8/19/2015
Reality Shares Launches DIVCON Dividend Health Indexes (PR Newswire)

8/17/2015
Top Portfolio Products: New Socially Responsible Funds From TIAA-CREF (ThinkAdvisor)

8/13/2015
Investors Should Proceed With Caution as Market Sectors Turn South (TheStreet.com)

8/13/2015
Reality Shares Launches New Guardian Market Strength Indicator (PR Newswire)