5 Blue Chip, Must Own Stocks for Dividends and Growth

Due to continued market volatility, low interest rates and weekly declines in stock prices for six of the last seven weeks, many investors are seeking a more defensive posture. With recurring headline risk from Greece, the US national debt ceiling and the US economy, we see the wisdom in putting money to work in those select large cap stocks that provide both current income (with the possibility of continued dividend growth) and prospects for long-term price appreciation. Here are five blue chip companies that meet our criteria:Abbot Laboratories (ABT)Abbot Labs is a multi-faceted health care company targeting pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices and nutrition. Founded in 1888, Abbot has a market cap of $81 billion and annual revenue of 35 billion. Abbot has excellent exposure to emerging markets through both their nutritional and pharmaceutical divisions and this is perhaps best illustrated by their acquisition of Piramal which made Abbot... Read more