Six High Yielding Dividend Aristocrats for 2011

2010 has been a good year for many stocks. The Dow is up 8% after a stellar recovery last year. As usual, not all stocks participated equally. Generally, the Dividend Aristocrats have been laggards even though they have continued raising dividends. This article takes a look at 6 of the highest yielding Dividend Aristocrats, each with a minimum yield of 3%. (1) Pitney Bowes (PBI) is the highest yielding stock, with one of the highest yields on the NYSE. Its primary business is providing mail services for businesses. It had a tough decade with mostly sideways earnings. However, the dividend was raised every year, allowing it to become an S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat (more than 25 consecutive years of dividend increases). Detractors say mail will disappear, which has hurt PBI with a stagnant stock price and a yield near what's available on junk bonds. But PBI has become a major software supplier of communication services and has expanded overseas business. The company faces challenges with less emphasis on traditional mail services, although direct mail (advertising) remains a good business. PBI should increase the annual dividend by 2¢ early next year. It is a play on a recovering economy that will allow companies to increase corporate expenditures. Because of the exceptionally high yield, this stock is only appropriate for aggressive investors seeking high yields and a growing dividend.... Read more