We do think there's an opportunity for companies outside the MAG 7, outside of IT.

That doesn't mean the IT sector will not do well.

We think a dividend growth strategy is a core equity exposure makes a lot of sense in a portfolio.

Hello and welcome to the Barron Streetwise podcast.

I'm Jack Howe, and the voice you just heard is Matt Quinlan.

He's a portfolio manager with

Franklin Templeton and in a moment we'll hear from him on dividends. Growing ones. He'll share

some of his favorite stocks with rising payments. Before that, we'll say a few words about the

broad stock market and whether valuation should be making

our knees wobble. Is that clear that's a metaphor for fear or concern, Alexis? I mean,

wobbling knees, that's a universally understood. I think so. People aren't going to be thinking

like a medical issue or something like that, right? Okay.

Listening in is our audio producer Alexis Moore. Hi, Lexus.

Hey, Jack. The stock market hit record highs in August. Now it's September. Now it's

serious season. Kids are back to school. We're moving into, you know, cold weather in the

northeast. It's

time to get somber and serious about what is next for the stock market and whether it's too

pricey. I've got the S&P 500 at just over 24 times this year's projected earnings. And that's

high. I would say that's halfway between kind of high and crazy

high. We're not a crazy high yet, but we're pushing those levels. And that gets me concerned about

whether we're headed for a drop. And it's very difficult to say I get different perspectives on it

every day. Let me share two that came in just in recent days.

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