CNBC’s daily Stocks @ Night roundup highlighted the main themes investors are watching ahead of the next trading session. The focus was on rising U.S. Treasury yields, weakness in dividend-focused funds and sharp moves in several major stocks.
On Thursday, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 5.225%, its highest level since June 2007. Against that backdrop, dividend-paying ETFs remained under pressure. The First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) is down 9% from its 52-week high and has fallen 6.5% over the past month. The State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) is 7.7% below its July high and down 7% over the same period.
Top dividend payers in the S&P 500
According to the CNBC Stock Screener, among S&P 500 companies with a market capitalization of at least $10 billion, VICI Properties ranks among the top dividend yield names at 7.78%. Its stock is down 13% over the past month.
UPS has a dividend yield of 7.13%, while its shares have fallen 11.7% in September. General Mills offers 7.01%, with the stock down 15.5% in September. Kraft Heinz is paying 6.71%, and its shares have slipped 7% in September. Edison International is yielding 6.68%, while the stock is down almost 30% in a month.
Fresh lows and fresh highs
In the consumer sector, Clorox and Hormel both hit new lows not seen since 2013. Clorox is 36% below its February high, while Hormel is 25% below its June peak.
At the same time, Moderna and Meta Platforms both reached new highs. Meta Platforms is trading at levels not seen since September 2025 and is up 50% from its March low. Moderna has climbed to levels last seen in January 2023, with the stock up 775% from its November low.
Technology and cybersecurity names
Advanced Micro Devices also hit a new high, with the stock up 306% from its September 2025 low. CrowdStrike and Fortinet set new highs as well. CrowdStrike is up 203% from its February low, while Fortinet has gained 142% from its January low.
Investors are also watching the U.S. August durable goods report, due at 8:30 a.m. ET on Squawk Box. The Dow Jones consensus forecast calls for a 0.3% decline.
