5 Big Yields That Could Be Slashed: Income Investors Beware

Income investors beware of these five stocks, as their dividends may be in danger. Whirlpool, Kraft Heinz, Conagra Brands, Dow, and T. Rowe Price all present warning signs that could lead to cutbacks in payouts.

Whirlpool suspended its dividend entirely, with shares plummeting 61% over the past year. The company's earnings per share (EPS) have been negative in both Q1 and Q2 of 2026, and free cash flow was consumed by approximately $1.1 billion in expenses. Net debt reached $5.8 billion, with interest expenses anticipated to be around $350 million.

Kraft Heinz maintained its $0.40 quarterly dividend, but this payout has remained flat since 2018, a sign of brand-value erosion. GAAP net loss in Q2 was $5.46 billion on $6.26 billion in revenue. Full-year adjusted EPS is expected to be between $2.03 and $2.09, while organic sales are projected to decline 0.5% to -2.0%.

Conagra Brands reduced its quarterly dividend from $0.35 to $0.175 per share. FY27 adjusted EPS is forecasted between $1.40 and $1.50, with a net debt of $7.05 billion and EBITDA at 3.83x. Organic net sales are guided to decline 1% to -3%.

Dow trimmed its quarterly dividend from $0.70 to $0.35, beginning on August 29, 2025. Shares have risen 28.34% year to date, but a five-year return remains negative at -36.93%. Q1 2026 delivered a GAAP net loss of $445 million, with Q2 rebounding to $802 million on a 30% surge in polyethylene prices. Management aims to prioritize deleveraging with excess cash, but a cyclical chemicals business with a heavy capex plan leaves less room for dividend safety.

T. Rowe Price stepped up its quarterly dividend to $1.30, with adjusted diluted EPS of $2.57 in Q2 FY26 comfortably covering it. However, the firm saw $1.9 trillion in assets under management and $6.5 billion in Q2 net outflows. The effective fee rate has dropped to 38.1 basis points, and management expects further challenges in the second half of the year. The near-term payout looks safe, but a market drawdown could compress AUM, fees, and earnings simultaneously.