Key takeaways:

• With the macro outlook deteriorating, investors gravitate towards recession-proof stocks covering the food, energy, and defence industries 

• A number of large dividends will come from the bank sector in November 

A strong rebound for equities throughout October has gained momentum as the month has gone on. Here are some of the stocks that have been a talking point throughout October, as well as a preview of key dividends coming up in November.

Major Movers in October

1. WA1 Resources (ASX: WA1) - up 441.9% this month

One of the biggest movers over recent weeks, shares in WA1 Resources started the month around 16 cents a piece, but have quickly skyrocketed to as much as 84 cents per share at the time of writing. 

The stock delivered a 400% gain in one session alone, with the catalyst being the discovery of a mineralised carbonatite system at the Pachpadra prospect within its West Arunta project. As part of its maiden drilling campaign, the company has submitted individual samples for each metre of its drill hole, with further results to be announced in due course.

2. Pineapple Energy (NASDAQ: PEGY) - up 332.5% this month

In the US, little-known company Pineapple Energy has outperformed the rest of the market to take top honours this month. A provider of photovoltaic solar energy systems to residential homeowners, the stock has taken off thanks to its popularity among retail investors. It is likely that the stock leverage to the renewable energy theme has been influential in driving increased interest of late.

Honourable Mentions:

• Cettire (ASX: CTT) - up 123.5%

• Elmo Software (ASX: ELO) - up 107.6% 

• Cabaletta Bio (NASDAQ: CABA) - up 163.0%

52-Week Highs

1. McDonald (NYSE: MCD) - up 19.0% this month

Household name McDonald is on a roll at the moment, with the fast-food franchise seemingly a beneficiary in an inflationary environment. As consumers, particularly low-income consumers, look to make savings in the face of soaring food prices, the company has recorded positive traffic in the US, even though it has passed on its own price hikes.

2. Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) - up 26.8% this month

Record profits just shy of US$20 billion in the third quarter have been central to the extraordinary gains of oil supermajor Exxon Mobil, with its share price sitting at a record high thanks to elevated energy prices. While a pullback in the price of oil lately worked against the company, its exposure to natural gas proved decisive. Record refining volumes were a key contributor to the result, which follows a key decision by the company to continue investing in production even at pandemic lows.

3. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) - up 25.5% this month

Amid a backdrop consisting of the war in Ukraine, US defence stock Lockheed Martin has defied the market sell-off over recent months, also hitting an all-time high. In its most-recent results, the company saw growth across its aeronautics, space, plus missiles and fire control divisions. Two of the highlights of its earnings report were news that it will conduct a US$14 billion share buyback, and a 7% increase to the company dividend.

Other Highs:

• Tassal Group (ASX: TGR) - up 0.6%

• AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) - up 18.8%

• Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) - up 28.5%

• PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) - up 11.6%

• T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) - up 12.5%

• Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) - up 21.5% 

52-Week Lows

1. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) - down 8.5% this month

By far the highest profile company to hit new lows, Amazon undoing is linked to its earnings report for the third quarter. The ecommerce behemoth reported sales that fell short of expectations, with its cloud division also posting its slowest revenue growth in eight years. At the same time, Amazon also flagged an underwhelming outlook for the final quarter of the year. It expects revenue to grow between 2% and 8% in Q4, with inflation, rising interest rates, and broader macroeconomic concerns proving to be a series of headwinds for the retailer.

2. ASX (ASX: ASX) - down 9.1% this month

Shares in the market operator hit their lowest level in more than three-and-a-half years as weaker sentiment in equities markets, as well as lower trading volumes, prompted selling. Interest in the company has continued to wane following its full-year results for FY22, where higher costs became a concern, particularly in relation to its CHESS replacement project.

3. Magellan Financial Group (ASX: MFG) - down 14.4% this month

Once a high-flying fund manager, Magellan has been cut down to size following a number of unfortunate developments for the company over the last 18 months. The latest, in early October, was an update that showed funds under management going backwards once again, with net outflows of $3.6 billion for September, and total funds under management (FUM) falling from $57.6 billion to $50.9 billion.

Other Lows:

• Nickel Industries (ASX: NIC) - down 11.4%

• Ampol (ASX: ALD) - down 5.7%

Upcoming Dividends

1. ANZ Bank (ASX: ANZ) | Ex-dividend: Nov 7, 2022 | Amount: $0.74 per share | Franking: 100% | Pay Date: Dec 15, 2022 

One of the nation Big Four', ANZ recently published its full-year results. The company reported a 5% improvement in cash earnings to $6.5 billion, with lower than expected bad and doubtful debt charges one of the driving factors. Rising interest rates have provided a tailwind for net interest margins late in the financial year, with its final dividend representing a payout ratio between 60% to 65%.

2. Macquarie Group (ASX: MQG) | Ex-dividend: Nov 7, 2022 | Amount: $3.00 per share | Franking: 100% | Pay Date: Dec 13, 2022

Another ASX financial juggernaut approaching ex-dividend is Macquarie Group, which last week delivered its half-year results. The company reported an 11% increase in net operating income, with profit after tax increasing 13% to $2.3 billion. It saw strong performances from its Commodities and Global Markets (CGM), Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), and Banking and Financial Services (BFS) divisions where profits increased. On the back of the result, management lifted the interim dividend 10% to $3 per share.

3. Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) | Ex-dividend: Nov 3, 2022 | Amount: US$0.40 per share | Franking: N/A | Pay Date: Dec 5, 2022

Biotech giant Pfizer reports in the week ahead, where all eyes will be on its growth outlook and the ability for the company to sustain growth as sales from its COVID vaccine pipeline start to ease. The company focuses on more than just vaccines, including oncology, inflammation & immunology, rare disease, hospital, and internal medicine. 

4. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) | Ex-dividend: Nov 16, 2022 | Amount: US$0.68 per share | Franking: N/A | Pay Date: Dec 8, 2022

While tech titan Microsoft might not be associated strongly with being a dividend-paying stock, its ex-dividend date is fast approaching following last week earnings report. However, it was that report that has taken some of the shine off things, with its outlook for the final quarter of the year suggesting slowing growth right across the business, including a consumer pullback across devices and Windows sales, and businesses also likely to reduce their spending on cloud computing services.

5. Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) | Ex-dividend: Nov 30, 2022 | Amount: US$2.50 per share | Franking: N/A | Pay Date: Dec 29, 2022

The last of the major US banks to trade ex-dividend will be Goldman Sachs, with its dividend pencilled in for the last day of November. Nonetheless, despite a sharp fall in profits and revenue when it reported a couple weeks ago, the results came in well ahead of expectations given the prior corresponding period aligned with a boom period for corporate activity. Fixed income trading is one area the bank has made strong gains amid the rising rate environment, with a corporate reorganisation plan also set to streamline the bank.

Other Dividends:

• Champion Iron (ASX: CIA) - $0.1123 dividend; 0% franked; ex-div: Nov 7, 2022; payment: Nov 29, 2022

• Washington H. Soul Pattinson (ASX: SOL) - $0.58 dividend; 100% franked; ex-div: Nov 18, 2022; payment: Dec 12, 2022

• Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) - US$0.30 dividend; ex-div: Nov 3, 2022; payment: Dec 1, 2022

• Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) - US$0.36 dividend; ex-div: Nov 4, 2022; payment: Dec 1, 2022

• Chevron (NYSE: CVX) - US$1.42 dividend; ex-div: Nov 17, 2022; payment: Dec 12, 2022

• Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) - US$0.91 dividend; ex-div: Nov 14, 2022; payment: Dec 9, 2022

• Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) - US$0.75 dividend; ex-div: Nov 30, 2022; payment: Dec 15, 2022

• McDonald (NYSE: MCD) - US$1.52 dividend; ex-div: Nov 30, 2022; payment: Dec 15, 2022