Vector Group: Small Cap Tobacco With a Decent Dividend
Whether you're pro- or anti-tobacco, the fact is that more than 1-in-7 people in the world today still smoke. And as emerging economies see their middle classes grow, the use of tobacco in its many forms escalates. Nearly 2-in-5 men in India smoke, while 3-in-5 Chinese men do. Taxes on cigarettes continue to rise, and regulatory pressures are intensifying, but those addicted to the nicotine that tobacco delivers will find a way to shoulder these burdens.... more
Nasdaq-100 Dividend Champions
In a recent series of articles, I discussed members of the S&P 500 that are also Dividend Champions, Contenders, and Challengers. (Note that all references to Champions mean companies that have paid higher dividends for at least 25 straight years; Contenders have streaks of 10-24 years; Challengers have streaks of 5-9 years.) The Dividend Champions spreadsheet (and PDF) can be found here. I also noticed that an increasing number of high-tech companies have become dividend increasers, so I thought I'd also compare the listings to the Nasdaq 100, which are the 100 largest companies on that exchange. The Index is often thought of as representative of the technology industry, but also includes such mundane industries as retailing (Costco (COST)), toys (Mattel (MAT)), media (News Corp. (NWS)),... more
Three Dividend Aristocrats for the New Decade
2010 was another great year for the stock market, coming off an outstanding year of recovery in 2009, with the Dow gaining over 1000. As usual, not all stocks participated in the recovery. Surviving Dividend Aristocrats (many were dropped in the last 3 years after raising annual dividends for more than 25 years) have mixed records of performance in the decade even though dividends were increased annually. Below are 3 high yielding Dividend Aristocrats which had modest declines in 2010. I have a personal bias for companies with higher yields, making it easier to earn a specific rate of return and those dividend increases are more meaningful because of higher beginning yields. (1) Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has the most comprehensive base of health care businesses in the world. It operates in... more
The Top 100 Dividend Stocks
With 2011 just starting, it’s now a great time to take a look at the top dividend stocks. We’ve done this in past months and it’s been gaining popularity every time as many are like us, trying to build passive income through a dividend portfolio. The same stock is back on top of the rankings, although there are some challengers and I would expect things to change in the near future. That being said, I think many other criteria need to be considered when picking dividend stocks and that is why I will be narrowing down the list later this week for our mailing list members.What to look for Over the past few months, we have looked at quite a few criteria that have helped us find the best dividend stocks including current yield, dividend growth and also companies that produce solid... more
Four Dividend Stock Picks for 2011
Back in 2009, I selected four high yield dividend stocks in order to participate in a stock picking competition. The companies selected have diversified income streams, high dividend yields and were characterized by stable revenues. Three of the companies had recession proof products or services. This ensured that investors would keep receiving their dividends and earn a return on their investment throughout all market conditions.The companies I selected include Realty Income (O), Con Edison (ED), Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) and Philip Morris International (PM).... more
Lincare (LNCR) Declares $0.20 Quarterly Dividend; 3% Yield
Lincare Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LNCR) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share, $0.80 annualized. The dividend is payable on January 28, 2011 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on January 14, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 12, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 3%.... more
American Financial (AFG) Declares $0.1625 Quarterly Dividend; 2% Yield
American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: AFG) announced that it has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.1625 per common share, $0.65 annualized. The dividend is payable on January 25, 2011 to holders of record on January 14, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 12, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 2%.... more
Sun Communities (SUI) Declares $0.63 Quarterly Dividend; 7.6% Yield
Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE: SUI) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share, $2.52 annualized. The dividend is payable January 21, 2011 to shareholders of record January 12, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 10, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 7.6%.... more
Top 5 Dividend Stocks for January 2011
We end 2010 and begin 2011 with high quality companies on our Dividend Watch List. The table below provides investors with some great prospects for the new year. The complete list of companies can be found here. December 31, 2010 Watch List... more
US Ecology (ECOL) Declares $0.18 Quarterly Dividend; 4.1% Yield
US Ecology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECOL) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per common share, $0.72 annualized. The dividend is payable January 21, 2011, to stockholders of record on January 14, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 4.1%.... more