In the depths of the financial crisis in late 2008, shares of tobacco maker Lorillard (NYSE: LO) were struggling as much as any other blue-chip stock.
That summer, shares slid from around $20 to nearly $15 by autumn, and few had the guts to step in and catch that falling knife. Still, the $1.56 a share dividend must have tempted some investors, as the dividend yield briefly moved above 10%.
Five years later, those intrepid few are very pleased indeed, as Lorillard's dividend now stands at $2.20 a share. That works out to be a 14% current yield on that 2008 share price, which nicely complements a nearly 200% rebound for the stock.
And this tobacco maker has company. Lorillard is one of a handful of companies that have boosted their dividends by an average of at least 17% in the past three years.
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Sempra Energy(SRE)
Sempra Energy, together with its subsidiaries, develops new energy infrastructure, operates utilities, and provides energy-related products and services worldwide. It operates in six segments: SDG&E, SoCalGas, Sempra Generation, Sempra Pipelines & Storage, Sempra LNG (liquefied natural gas), and Sempra Commodities. The SDG&E segment has electric and natural gas franchises that locate, operate, and maintain facilities for the transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, street and highway lighting, and direct access customers. The SoCalGas segment has natural gas franchises that locate, operate, and maintain facilities for the transmission and distribution of natural gas to electric generation, wholesale, large commercial, industrial, and enhanced oil recovery customers. The Sempra Generation segment involves in the generation and wholesale distribution of electricity through a fleet of natural gas-fired power generati on facilities in Arizona, Nevada, and Indiana, as well as Mexico with a total capacity of 2,513 megawatts. The Sempra Pipelines & Storage segment operates 1,883 miles of distribution pipelines, 224 miles of transmission pipelines, and 3 compressor stations in Mexico; operates Mobile Gas, a natural gas distribution utility located in Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama; and operates natural gas storage facilities in Washington County of Alabama and Simpson County of Mississippi. The Sempra LNG segment involves in the receipt, storage, and vaporization of LNG, as well as the purchase and sale of natural gas. It operates Energia Costa Azul LNG receipt terminal in Baja California, Mexico, as well as Cameron LNG receipt terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana. The Sempra Commodities segment engages in the commodities-marketing business. Sempra Energy has operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered i n San Diego, California.
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: UniSource Energy Corporation(UNS)
UniSource Energy Corporation engages in the electric generation and energy delivery businesses. The company?s TEP segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 403,000 retail electric customers, including residential, commercial, industrial, and public sector customers in southeastern Arizona. It also sells electricity to other utilities and power marketing entities. As of December 31, 2010, this segment owned or leased 2,245 MW of net generating capacity, as well as owned or participated in electric transmission and distribution system consisting of 512 circuit-miles of 500-kV lines; 1,087 circuit-miles of 345-kV lines; 379 circuit-miles of 138-kV lines; 478 circuit-miles of 46-kV lines; and 2,621 circuit-miles of lower voltage primary lines. TEP segment generates electricity from coal, gas, oil, and solar sources. The company?s UNS Gas segment distributes gas to approximately 146,500 retail customers in Mohave, Yavapai, Coconino, and Navajo c ounties in northern Arizona, as well as Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona. As of December 31, 2010, this segment?s transmission and distribution system consisted of approximately 30 miles of steel transmission mains, 4,211 miles of steel and plastic distribution piping, and 136,439 customer service lines. The company?s UNS Electric segment transmits and distributes electricity to approximately 91,000 retail customers consisting of residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties. As of December 31, 2010, UNS Electric?s transmission and distribution system consisted of approximately 56 circuit-miles of 115-kV transmission lines, 271 circuit-miles of 69-kV transmission lines, and 3,599 circuit-miles of underground and overhead distribution lines. This segment also owns the 65 MW Valencia plant, as well as 39 substations having an installed capacity of 1,788,050 kilovolt amperes. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Tucson, Arizona.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dirk_Van_Dijk]
Uni-Select Inc. (UNS-T28.15-0.39-1.37%) will announce its fourth-quarter results for the period ended Dec. 31, 2011, on Thursday. Its stock gained nearly 2 per cent and moved to within a $1 of a year high $29.47 Wednesday.
? - [By Jeff Reeves]
Unisource Energy (NYSE: UNS) is an energy utility based in Arizona that provides gas and electric service in the Southwest across some 1,200 square miles.
Current Yield: 4.5% ($1.68 a share annually)
Dividend History: In June 2010, Unisource paid a quarterly dividend of 39 cents a share. This June, it will pay 42 cents, or a nearly 8% increase.
Dividend Outlook: According to Bloomberg, Unisource has a very impressive three-year dividend growth rate expected to be 16.9%.
Recent Performance: UNS stock has basically tracked the market over the last year or so, but more importantly, this low-risk utility has added about 25% in the last five years — more than double the Dow.
Strong Outlook for Shares: While there’s nothing to indicate this utility will blow the doors off in 2011, Unisource is a low-risk income investment that has seen good revenue growth from 2009 to 2010, and is on track for another solid year. Shares are approaching a new 52-week high and could continue to march higher.
Best Casino Stocks To Own Right Now: Kohlberg Capital Corporation(KCAP)
Kohlberg Capital Corporation is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in buyouts and mezzanine investments. It focuses on mature and middle market companies. The firm structures its investments through senior debt, second lien debt, secured and unsecured subordinated debt, mezzanine debt, and equity. It invests in all sectors except cyclical industries. The firm invests equity in both minority and control transactions alongside other equity investors. It invests through its own balance sheet. Kohlberg Capital Corporation is based in the New York, New York.
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Windstream Corporation(WIN)
Windstream Corporation provides communications and technology solutions in the United States. The company offers various solutions, including IP-based voice and data services, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) networking, data center and managed services, hosting services, and communications systems to businesses and government agencies. It also provides high-speed Internet, voice, and digital television services to residential customers primarily located in rural areas. The company?s data services include data center and managed hosting, MPLS networking, and dedicated access, as well as high-speed Internet to business customers; integrated solutions consist of multiple voice and data services delivered over an IP connection; voice services comprise local and long distance, call waiting, caller identification, and voicemail; and special access services include point-to-point switching arrangements for voice and data traffic. In addition, it provides wholesale services, which primarily include voice and data services on a wholesale basis to other carriers; usage sensitive services to long distance companies; and other local exchange carriers for access to the network in connection with the completion of long-distance calls, as well as reciprocal compensation received from wireless and other local connecting carriers for the use of its facilities. As of June 30, 2011, the company served approximately 3.3 million access lines, 1.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and operated approximately 60,000 fiber route miles. Windstream Corporation is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Harding]
Windstream Corporation (WIN), together with its subsidiaries, provides various telecommunications services primarily in rural areas in the United States. Since 2006 the company has paid 25 cents/share every quarter. Windstream has been unable to cover its dividends from earnings in every year since 2008. One the bright side cash flow from operations has been relatively stable, although the company has ramped up capex spending in recent years. Yield: 7.90%.
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: The Cushing MLP Total Return Fund(SRV)
Cushing MLP Total Return Fund is a closed-end mutual fund launched by Swank Capital, LLC. The fund is managed by Swank Energy Income Advisors L.P. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe with a focus in United States. The fund typically invests in MLPs, Other Natural Resource Companies, and global commodities. It primarily invests in the securities of MLPs, other equity securities, debt securities, and securities of non-U.S. issuers employing a fundamental analysis. Cushing MLP Total Return Fund was formed on May 23, 2007 and is domiciled in Dallas.
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: FirstEnergy Corporation(FE)
Firstenergy Corp. operates as a diversified energy company. The company, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, involves in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services. It serves approximately 6 million customers within 67,000 square miles through 10 utility operating companies in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Louis Navellier]
FirstEnergy (FE) has a market capitalization of $17.34 billion. The company employs 17,257 people, generates revenue of $16.258 billion and has a net income of $869 million. The firm’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $2.835 billion. The EBITDA margin is 17.44 percent (the operating margin is 10.54 percent and the net profit margin 5.35 percent).
Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 36.63 percent of the company’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 130.55 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 7.95 percent was realized. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.53. Last fiscal year, the company paid $2.20 in the form of dividends to shareholders.
Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 16.38, the P/S ratio is 1.07 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.31. The dividend yield amounts to 5.31 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 0.42. - [By Michael]
FirstEnergy Corp (FE) is involved in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services. The company has maintained its dividend payment since 2008. It's dividend payout ratio however is at 69.40%, which is sustainable for a utility company. Yield: 5.90%.
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: First Security Group Inc.(FSGI)
First Security Group, Inc. operates as the holding company for FSGBank that provides banking and financial products and services to various communities in eastern and middle Tennessee and northern Georgia. The company offers various deposit services, such as checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. It offers commercial loans, including loans to smaller business ventures, credit lines for working capital, short-term seasonal or inventory financing, and letters of credit; real estate?construction and development loans to residential and commercial contractors and developers; and consumer loans to individuals for personal, family, and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment and term loans. The company also offers commercial mortgage loans to finance the purchase of real property; commercial leasing for new and used equipment, fixtures, and furnishings to owner-managed businesses; and leasing for forklifts, heavy equipment, and other machinery to owner-managed businesses primarily in the trucking and construction industries. It also provides trust and investment management, mortgage banking, financial planning, and electronic banking services, such as Internet banking, online bill payment, cash management, ACH originations, wire transfers, direct deposit, traveler?s checks, safe deposit boxes, United States savings bonds, and remote deposit capture, as well as equipment leasing. The company operates 38 full-service banking offices and 1 loan and lease production office. Its market areas include in Bradley, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Putnam, and Union counties, Tennessee; and Catoosa and Whitfield counties, Georgia. First Security Group was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Grupo Radio Centro S.A. de C.V.(RC)
Grupo Radio Centro, S.A.B. de C.V., a radio broadcasting company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production and broadcasting of music, entertainment, news, and special event programs in Mexico. The company owns and operates 15 radio stations, which comprise 5 AM and 6 FM stations in Mexico City, 2 AM stations in Guadalajara and Monterrey, and 1 FM station in Los Angeles, as well as 1 AM radio station in Mexico City that is operated and managed by a third party. It also operates Organizaci
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dreyfus Strategic Municipals Inc. (LEO)
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. operates as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The fund invests primarily in municipal obligations of various states of the United States. The Dreyfus Corporation serves as the investment adviser of the fund. Dreyfus Strategic Municipals was founded in 1987 and is based in New York City.
10 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Frontier Communications Company(FTR)
Frontier Communications Corporation, a communications company, provides regulated and unregulated voice, data, and video services to residential, business, and wholesale customers in the United States. It offers local and long distance voice services, including basic telephone wireline services to residential and business customers; switched access services that allow other carriers to use the facilities to originate and terminate their long distance voice and data traffic; and directory services that provide white and yellow page directories for residential and business listings. The company also provides data and Internet services, which include residential services comprising high-speed Internet, dial up Internet, portal and e-mail products, and hard drive back-up services; and commercial and carriers services, such as metro Ethernet; dedicated Internet; Internet protocol, optical, multiprotocol label switching, and TDM data transport services. In addition, it offers di rect broadcast satellite services and fiber optic video services, as well as provides online access to video content, entertainment, and news available on the worldwide Web through its Web site myfitv.com. The company was formerly known as Citizens Communications Company and changed its name to Frontier Communications Corporation in July 2008. Frontier Communications Corporation was founded in 1927 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Harding]
CLO; EVP Reg & Gov't Affairs of Frontier Communications, Kathleen Q Abernathy, bought 40,000 shares on 09/09/2011 at an average price of $7.11. Frontier Communications Corp., formerly Citizens Communications Company, is a full-service communications provider and one of the largest rural local exchange telephone companies in the country. Frontier Communications has a market cap of $7.08 billion; its shares were traded at around $7.11 with a P/E ratio of 28.4 and P/S ratio of 1.8. The dividend yield of Frontier Communications stocks is 10.5%.
On August 3, Frontier Communications Corporation reported second-quarter 2011 revenue of $1,322.3 million, operating income of $238.3 million and net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier of $32.3 million, or $0.03 per share. After excluding $20.3 million for acquisition and integration costs, $11.0 million for severance and early retirement costs and $10.5 million for a discrete tax item, net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier for the second quarter of 2011 would have been $62.2 million, or $0.06 per share.
Frontier Communications is in the portfolios of Prem Watsa, Jean-Marie Eveillard, and NWQ Managers.
In September, Director Edward Fraioli and CLO; EVP Reg & Gov't Affairs Kathleen Q Abernathy bought shares of FTR stock. Director Jeri B Finard and Director James S Kahan bought shares in August.
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