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How Utility Dividends Get Squeezed by Rising Short-Term Rates
Description
The yield curve is steepening again in June 2026, which is supposed to be great for dividend stocks. So why are utilities and consumer staples getting hammered? In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the mechanics of a steepening curve driven by short-term rate hikes, not long-term inflation. Using Realty Income, Verizon, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola as case studies, they show how a 9-basis-point jump in the 2-year yield shifts the math for income investors. They explain why high-yield stocks with bond-like duration get repriced, why dividend growth suddenly matters more than raw yield, and how the curve steepening of June 2026 is fundamentally different from what markets saw in 2023 or 2024. Essential context for anyone holding O, VZ, PG, or KO and wondering why they're down while the S&P 500 is up.