Top Dividend Paying Stocks Guide
Some of the highest dividend yielding stocks according to the Standard & Poors are those of the telecommunication companies. During the recession, those companies that provide products and services in the Internet and telephone industries are doing rather well.This is due partly to the fact that people will always need and want to communicate with one another. It's an industry that will also experience further growth in the future.
Some of the qualities of these companies include the fact that they are low in debts or have none, they have a healthy cash level and they are strong enough to survive a recession, as we are currently in during the winter of 2010. Grouping high yield stocks means that they must provide yields of 2% or above, but nothing over 25% which might be considered risky. Listed below are some of the top dividend paying stocks and their current dividend yield.
Highest Dividend Companies
- Frontier Communications (NYSE: FTR), 13.12
- Windstream Corporation (Nasdaq: WIN), 10.0
- CenturyTel Inc (CTL), 8.28
- Quest Communications (Q), 7.26
Some other companies that seem to be stead, although perhaps not the highest dividend yielders they are pretty dependable. One such company is AT&T, which offers a $1.64 dividend and 6,4% yield. Another such company is Comcast (CMCSA) which has a 1.6% yield and pays a $.25 dividend. with Comcast, the family who founded it still runs the company and owns a large chunk. Verizon, AT&T and Comcast were expected to benefit from the government's stimulus package, which gave tax incentives to communications companies who made improvements on broadband infrastructures.
Safe Industries and Companies
Even through they may not be the top dividend yielders, some companies are a safe bet as far as yield, offering consistency even through tough economic times. While oil exploration may have petered out in North America, it's still big business in other areas of hte world including the Middle East and South America. Haliburton, which offers a dividedn of $.36 per quarter and a 2% yield. Another safe bet is the Johnson & Johnson company (JNJ) which has its hand in three industries, including medical devices, consumer brands and pharmaceuticals, is expected to remain steady with a 3.2% yield and a $1.80 dividend.
During a recessions, it's typical for inexpensive food and drink providers to stay healthy, whether or not the items they produce are healthy. One provider of such goods that should ride out an economic downturn well is the soft-drink company PepsiCo (PEP) which made $11.2 billion in its last reported quarter. It may not then come as a shock that McDonald's restaurant is pulling in steady earnings, as their food is inexpensive and has always been relatively popular. The return from the company is even expected to go up throughout the year. In its fourth quarter, the dividend was about $.50 per share. Another good yeild producer? Nestle (NSRGY), the world's largest processor of food. With its wide reach both product-wise and geographically speaking, the company yeilds 2.6% and has a growth of more than 11% annually with dividends.
In downturns, retail usually suffers, thus it may be a total surprise that Costco is hanging on. The company's sales werr up 4% from last year in the same quarter during November. In December of this year, their sales were down only 2% form the previous year. The discounter Walmart is also doing well. Another surprise company yeilder is Microsoft which ha slowed in growth, but still holds strong in profits. With no debt and pulled in $16.6 billion in its last quarter. Microsoft's yield is 3% and its dividend is $.52.Intel (INTC) is another tech company that continues to do well with a yield topping 3%.
Finally, a strong contender is P&G, who provide daily necessities to consumers such as soap, detergent, shampoo and razors. Its predicted that their revenue would grow, and don't forget that the giant sold Folgers which earned the company $2 billion. As a company with steady profits overall, P&G is not going anywhere any time soon.
