It’s not a conspiracy theory anymore.
The GENIUS Act passed the House. A government-issued digital dollar is no longer a question of if — it’s a question of when. And when it arrives, every dollar in your bank account becomes a dollar the government can freeze, flag, or restrict based on how you choose to spend it.
Find out how Americans with $50,000+ in retirement savings are getting out ahead of it.
Think that sounds extreme? The infrastructure is already being built. Digital currencies issued by central banks give governments the ability to program money — to set expiration dates on stimulus, to block purchases they deem unacceptable, to turn off your access with a switch. No court order. No appeal. No warning.
Your bank account today is already one executive order away from a freeze. A digital dollar makes that permanent and invisible.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about who controls your retirement.
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Inside you’ll discover:
— What the GENIUS Act actually authorizes — and why your bank account isn’t what you think it is
— The only assets that exist completely outside the digital financial system — ungovernable, unprogrammable, yours
— The IRS-approved method to move your IRA or 401(k) into physical assets without penalties or tax consequences
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P.S. — The digital dollar debate is moving faster than most people realize. By the time it becomes front-page news, the window to reposition quietly will already be closing. This guide is free and takes 60 seconds to request. Don’t wait for the headline.
3 Overlooked Dividend Stocks for Choppy Markets in 2026
Authored by Nathan Reiff. Posted: 2/18/2026.
At a Glance
- Three lesser-known dividend players—Hancock Whitney, NewMarket, and Horace Mann Educators—all have dividend yields of at least 2%.
- These smaller companies could provide growth opportunities that larger dividend names may not, in addition to offering the benefit of passive income.
- Each has recently seen notable earnings performance, including a combination of top- and/or bottom-line growth, shareholder value boosts thanks to share buybacks, and more.
Choppiness in the S&P 500 has produced frequent ups and downs, lacking the clear upward trajectory that characterized much of late 2025. If investors fear a market correction—the popping of an AI bubble, for instance—they may turn toward safer, defensive plays such as dividend stocks.
Within dividend plays there is wide variety. Many investors immediately think of long-time favorites or globally recognized brands often favored by investors like Warren Buffett. A less obvious group includes firms off the beaten path that still pay healthy dividends and may offer more room for growth than the stalwarts. Three relatively obscure companies worth considering are Hancock Whitney Corp. (NASDAQ: HWC), NewMarket Corp. (NYSE: NEU), and Horace Mann Educators Corp. (NYSE: HMN).
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The company provides commercial and retail banking as well as wealth-management services through Hancock Whitney Bank branches.
The firm pays an attractive dividend yield of 2.53% and has a sustainable payout ratio of about 31.7%. The company's latest earnings report for Q4 2025 was mixed: it beat analyst expectations for earnings per share (EPS) by $0.01 but missed revenue expectations by a notable margin.
Still, several factors make Hancock Whitney compelling in early 2026. The company recently completed its bond portfolio restructuring, which is projected to add roughly 7 basis points to net interest margin (NIM) and about $0.23 to EPS annually.
Loan growth is improving, and the firm's strong capital position has funded share buybacks—repurchasing about 3% of outstanding shares in the fourth quarter alone. That capital cushion also supports continued dividend payments, making Hancock Whitney a relatively stable dividend play for investors seeking to manage risk.
Even With Market Softness, NewMarket Remains an Attractive Dividend Play
NewMarket is a chemicals company specializing in lubricants and petroleum additives. Its shares have fallen about 14% year-to-date following the company's latest earnings report.
One key driver was a decline in net income and EPS in 2025 due to a higher effective tax rate. Fourth-quarter petroleum-additives shipments were down roughly 6% year-over-year amid a softer market.
Conversely, NewMarket's specialty materials business has performed well recently, helped by the firm's October acquisition of aerospace propellant maker Calca.
Specialty materials are expected to remain central to NewMarket's strategy in 2026; the company has committed $1 billion to grow this segment.
Despite a Hold rating from Wall Street, NewMarket remains a solid dividend play. The firm continues to generate cash, returning $183 million to shareholders last quarter through a mix of buybacks and dividends.
NewMarket offers a dividend yield of 2.01%, a payout ratio just above 27%, and a multi-year record of dividend increases.
Wins Across Multiple Categories Strengthen Horace Mann's Dividend Profile
Horace Mann Educators is a retirement-services and property-and-casualty insurer that tailors products to school employees across the United States.
The company has posted several strong quarters, including its latest, which beat EPS estimates by $0.03 and helped produce a record full-year EPS of $4.71. 2026 EPS forecasts align with the company's 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) target.
Horace Mann's gains are due in part to improvements in its property-and-casualty business: the combined ratio improved and core earnings more than doubled last year.
Growth in both individual supplemental products and group sales is helping the company diversify revenue streams.
An early retirement program has generated annualized savings of $10 million, putting Horace Mann on track to hit its targeted expense-ratio reduction of 100 to 150 basis points over the next three years.
Those savings should free up cash for additional share buybacks—on top of $21 million repurchased in 2025—and support the company's dividend, which currently yields 3.25% with a payout ratio of about 35.9%.
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