Written by Student Journalism Winner: Sriya Tallapragada

Written by Student Journalism Challenge Winner: Isabella Caruso

Extreme weather resulting from warming ocean temperatures are becoming a top challenge for shipping industry executives. While the extreme weather can influence port activity and result in lost or damaged cargo, the environmental impact of shipping on the ocean temperatures cannot be ignored. With more than 55,000 merchant ships that trade internationally, maritime shipping accounting for about 3 percent of all global CO2 emissions. For most companies, supply chains typically have the biggest environmental impact of any part of a business, and beginning this year, there are two new regulations designed to make the shipping industry more environmentally friendly.

It seems like bad news is inescapable these days. For much of last year, even good news about the economy was bad news for markets. Yes, 2022 was a terrible year for financial markets. In fact, it was the worst year ever for bonds (by a landslide) and the seventh worst for U.S. stocks (S&P 500) on record. Although we’re still not out of the woods with inflation or the Federal Reserve’s historic rate-rising campaign, long-term investors have several reasons to be optimistic about the market outlook.

United Parcel Service has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel, signifying a stock with above-average ”DividendRank” statistics including a strong 3.5% yield, as well as being recognized by prominent asset managers as being a socially responsible investment, through analysis of social and environmental criteria. Environmental criteria include considerations like the environmental impact of the company’s products and services, as well as the company’s efficiency in terms of its use of energy and resources. Social criteria include elements such as human rights, child labor, corporate diversity, and the company’s impact on society — for instance, taken into consideration would be business activities tied to weapons, gambling, tobacco, and alcohol.

Food stocks have been hit hard this year—and we contrarian dividend shoppers can no longer ignore the bargains on offer!