Avient Lifts Dividend for 16th Straight Year, FT Says

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTonight's debate: Avient. The Financial Times reports the specialty materials company announced its sixteenth consecutive annual dividend increase. Vera, you're up.

2. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSixteen years, Hank! Sixteen! That is a company that wakes up every year and chooses generosity. I respect it more than most of my relatives.

3. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorOr it's a company terrified of breaking a streak, Vera. Like a man still going to the gym because he paid for the whole year.

4. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe editor's angle says it signals confidence in specialty materials demand amid economic uncertainty. Confidence, Dale. Look it up. Probably not in your bunker.

5. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorConfidence is just fear wearing a tie, mate. Sixteen raises means sixteen chances to get it wrong, and one day the cheque bounces.

6. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFor the record, the S and P is up point five eight percent tonight and the ten-year sits at five point two six nine.

7. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorFive percent on the ten-year, and a dividend raise still shows up to work. That's a company with abs, Hank. Corporate abs.

8. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAbs. Vera, a ten-year at five point two six nine means a boring bond now pays you better than your hunches ever have.

9. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorMy hunches pay in joy, Dale. And a dividend is a little thank-you note from the company, delivered quarterly, unlike your Christmas cards.

10. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHere's my analogy. A dividend raise is a clown car getting one more clown. Impressive, until you ask where they all sleep.

11. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorMine is better. Sixteen raises is a sourdough starter. You feed it, it grows, and you never let it die. Dale would kill it.

12. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorEnough.

13. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBoth of you are comparing a materials company to bread and clowns, and I have a beans portfolio, so I'm in no position to judge.

14. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorDesk verdict: Avient is a golden retriever that learned to tip. Good boy, suspicious generosity, and nobody checks the leash.

15. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThat is not a verdict, Hank. That is a fever dream with a ticker. I want it noted that I was right.

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