The 5 Best Stocks 2024

 Buying stocks can be straightforward, but identifying the right ones without a solid strategy is challenging. Wondering which stocks to buy or add to your watchlist? Consider Microsoft (MSFT), Ares Management (ARES), Dexcom (DXCM), Square's parent company Block (SQ), and Shockwave Medical (SWAV) as top contenders.

Inflation concerns and aggressive Federal Reserve rate tightening unsettled investors last year. However, the market defied expectations and delivered impressive results in 2023. While 2024 forecasts suggest more moderate gains, there's growing confidence in the Fed's ability to achieve a soft landing.

Key Ingredients for Selecting the Best Stocks

With thousands of stocks traded on the NYSE and Nasdaq, pinpointing the best ones is crucial for significant gains. The CAN SLIM system provides clear guidelines for identifying potential winners. Focus on stocks with recent quarterly and annual earnings growth of at least 25%. Look for companies introducing innovative products or services, including newly public companies showing substantial revenue growth.

CAN SLIM consistently outperforms the S&P 500, emphasizing the importance of surpassing industry benchmarks for exceptional long-term returns. Additionally, monitor stock supply and demand, prioritize leading stocks in top industry groups, and seek stocks with robust institutional support.

After identifying suitable stocks, analyze stock charts to determine optimal entry points. Wait for stocks to form a base and buy once they reach a buy point, preferably with heavy volume. Keep a close eye on market trends, and invest during confirmed uptrends while moving to cash during corrections.

Top Stocks to Watch and Buy

Amid a confirmed uptrend in the stock market, investing in high-quality stocks is advisable. The following selections represent some of the best stocks to consider:

• Microsoft
• Ares Management
• Dexcom
• Block
• Shockwave Medical

These stocks exhibit impressive relative strength and warrant closer examination.

Microsoft Stock Analysis

Microsoft has demonstrated notable performance, rebounding from the 10-week moving average and achieving a short consolidation. Key indicators, such as EPS growth and institutional interest, signal strong potential for continued success.

Ares Management Stock Analysis

Ares Management shows promising signs with a flat base formation and robust earnings performance. Despite industry challenges, the firm's diversified portfolio and substantial assets under management position it for continued growth.

Dexcom Stock Analysis

Dexcom's innovative glucose monitoring systems and solid financial performance make it a compelling investment option. The company's expansion into new markets and recent product approvals further enhance its growth prospects.

Block Stock Analysis

Block's success in digital payments and strategic acquisitions, such as Afterpay, underscores its growth trajectory. Strong earnings and revenue growth projections support its bullish outlook.

Shockwave Medical Stock Analysis

Despite recent setbacks, Shockwave Medical's pioneering technology and rebounding performance indicate potential for recovery. With favorable reimbursement trends and growing institutional interest, the company is poised for future growth.

Market Outlook and Conclusion

As the stock market continues its upward trajectory, investors should remain vigilant for potential sell signals. Implementing disciplined risk management practices, such as adhering to predetermined stop-loss levels, is essential to mitigate losses and protect gains.

While the current market environment appears favorable, external factors such as inflation and geopolitical tensions can introduce volatility. Stay informed and adapt investment strategies accordingly to navigate market uncertainties effectively.

In summary, by focusing on high-quality stocks with strong fundamentals and adhering to proven investment principles, investors can capitalize on market opportunities and achieve long-term financial success.

Top 5 Blue-Chip Stocks To Buy for February in 2012

These top five stocks for February have the immediate growth potential and are seeing exceptional buying pressure. I want to make certain you’re not missing out on these wonderful opportunities.
Two of the top five stocks for February are returning veterans from January and other months, but I’ve added some new stocks as well. Let’s get started:

Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Top 5 Blue-Chip Stocks To Buy for February in 2012 - Alexion (NASDAQ:ALXN) remains the No. 1 stock on my buy list. This stock has been surging higher in recent weeks, and shares responded very positively to the news that the company is expanding its product portfolio through its $1 billion bid for Enobia Pharma, a developer of therapies for serious genetic bone disorders. The company currently is working to get its hypophosphatasia treatment, asfotase alfa, approved in the United States. To date, there is no approved treatment for this life-threatening disease. So, if approved, the company would have a tremendous first-mover advantage. Alexion, who will acquire full worldwide development and commercial rights to asfotase alfa, is confident the drug can obtain approval. Analysts currently expect Alexion to grow sales by 41.4% and earnings by 30.8% in the fourth quarter. ALXN reports Thursday, Feb. 9.
AutoZone
Top 5 Blue-Chip Stocks To Buy for February in 2012 - AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) has taken off on its next leg higher because it is the perfect stock for the current automobile market. Although consumers are buying new cars when necessary, they also are extending the lives of those vehicles and getting as much mileage as they can for their buck. And companies like AutoZone do this superbly by supplying the parts to keep well-worn cars in top condition. Looking forward to the company’s next quarterly earnings report, expected in late February, analysts currently estimate AutoZone will announce 7% growth in sales and 19.8% growth in earnings. The stock should be a solid performer in the coming weeks. AZO is a strong buy.

Dollar Tree

Top 5 Blue-Chip Stocks To Buy for February in 2012 - Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) knows one of the best ways of coping with thinning wallets is to stretch each and every dollar. So, while lean times hit other retailers particularly hard, Dollar Tree stores flourished. The company is the largest and most successful single-price-point retailer in the U.S. — everything in its 4,000 locations is just $1. The company has continued its success even as the U.S. economy improves, and I don’t believe the desire of consumers to save money will be disappearing anytime in 2012. In fact, analysts currently expect the company to report 11.5% sales growth and 22.5% earnings growth in its Feb. 22 earnings announcement.

McDonald’s

Top 5 Blue-Chip Stocks To Buy for February in 2012 - McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) is the world’s No. 1 fast-food company and a solid winner for this buy list. Analysts expected the company to report 9.1% sales growth and 11.2% earnings growth this week. McDonald’s answered back by beating earnings expectations for 14th time in the past 16 quarters. Although this did not push the stock higher, I still believe the positive earnings report will be a catalyst for further gains. McDonald’s plans to invest in store expansions around the globe in 2012, with two-thirds of its new stores to be located in Asia.
Ross Stores
Top 5 Blue-Chip Stocks To Buy for February in 2012 - Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) is the nation’s largest off-price apparel and home fashion retailer and continues to benefit from value-focused customers. The stock has been a solid performer so far in the new year. In December, ROST reported that its same-store sales jumped 9.2%, over double the 4% estimate! I’m looking forward to the company’s Q4 earnings announcement and finding out how these exceptional sales affected the company’s earnings. Analysts are currently expect the company to report 10.9% sales growth and 20.3% earnings growth, and a solid surprise could be just the ticket to the stock’s next leg higher.

5 $200-Plus Stocks Worth Every Cent to invest in 2013

There are some low-priced stocks out there that really catch Wall Street’s fancy. There’s some kind of love affair with a cheap stock — with investors fooling themselves into thinking that it’s easier for a $1 stock to get to $2 than it is for a $100 stock to get to $200.
But the bottom line is still the bottom line. A stock succeeds or fails on the merit of its business, not logistical nonsense like shares outstanding or the headline value of stock.
Take the 50-to-1 stock split that Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) executed in 2009 to bring its “Baby B” stock down from more than $3,000 a pop to a manageable amount under $100 per share. Did it change the company? Did Warren Buffett become any smarter or dumber as a result?
And on a more basic level, you make the same amount of money owning one share of a $3,000 stock as you do with 3,000 shares of a $1 stock. Either way, you have the same amount of money invested — it’s just divided up differently.
So if you’re afraid of high-priced stocks or in love with bargain picks, take a moment to consider these five stocks with $200-plus price tags — and the potential to move even higher in the months ahead:
5 $200-Plus Stocks Worth Every Cent to invest in 2013 - Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) makes the innovative da Vinci surgical systems that have revolutionized operations used to treat cancer and heart disease, among other things. Without getting too technical, Intuitive Surgical gear allows doctors to operate on a patient with fewer incisions, speeding up recovery time and reducing the risk of complications. ISRG is up 400% in five years — taking the recession in stride thanks to powerful growth as its technology has caught on and as aging baby boomers create increased demand for surgeries. The company has seen nine straight quarters of year-over-year profit increases and has seen a streak of revenue increases even longer than that. Health care is one of the few growth areas in the American economy, and ISRG is well positioned to capitalize on this trend.
5 $200-Plus Stocks Worth Every Cent to invest in 2013 - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is the $400 gorilla of Wall Street that dares you to bet against it. Yeah, shares dropped 15% from October to November — but Apple has bounced back in a big way, hitting an all-time high Wednesday, and seems ready to move even higher. The iPad 3 could come as recently as February, if you believe the rumors, and Apple clearly is looking to maintain its stranglehold on the tablet market. Wall Street is admittedly ga-ga for Apple, so you have to beware of the hype. Still, a forward price-to-earnings ratio of less than 11 hints that there still is time to buy Apple for the continued march upward.
5 $200-Plus Stocks Worth Every Cent to invest in 2013 - MasterCard (NYSE:MA) is at the center of a macro trend that is tough to ignore: the death of paper money. Per-swipe transactions continue to rise even in America, since as much as 40% of transactions in the U.S. still take place with cash or paper checks. But the real growth for MasterCard is coming from emerging markets, where a rising middle class is getting access to bank accounts and debit cards. Remember, MasterCard is not a debt issuer, but more of a toll-taker on the e-commerce superhighway. Every time you make a purchase, MasterCard gets paid — and it’s hard to believe that the number of people using plastic is going to decline anytime soon.
5 $200-Plus Stocks Worth Every Cent to invest in 2013 - Priceline (NASDAQ:PCLN) and its iconic pitchman William Shatner have taken over the travel business with an innovative “name your own price” model for airfares, hotels, rental cars and a host of other services. However, the real growth isn’t at home from people booking trips to Florida to see the grandparents — it’s internationally. PCLN offers hotel room reservations in about 100 countries and more than 40 languages. That has allowed for big growth despite the fact that Priceline is competing with internet travel sites like Kayak that have popped up in recent years. Profits are on track to double from 2010 to 2011, and grow an additional 25% in 2012.
5 $200-Plus Stocks Worth Every Cent to invest in 2013 - W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) is a rather un-sexy company when compared to the others on this list. It is engaged in “facilities maintenance,” a glorified way to refer to distributing pumps, tools, motors and other gear that allow businesses to … well, do business. That might not sound exciting, but a 60% surge in GWW stock since the summer is worth taking note of. The company has seen eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year revenue increases. EPS numbers jumped 29% from 2010 to 2011 and are set to surge another 17% in 2012. W.W. Grainger is expanding in China and Panama, too, which could add even more momentum to shares. You might want to wait for a pullback after the red-hot run recently, however.

Top 6 Stocks to Buy for February in 2012

With business inventories low, manufacturing up in December, an increase in housing starts in November, consumer confidence up, and the unemployment rate falling, the economy appears to be slowly improving. But global issues and especially problems in the EU still plague the market.
January started on a positive note with the Dow up over 3%, thus the familiar saying, “As goes the first week of the new year, so goes the month and so goes the year,” was frequently repeated. But on Jan. 26, the Dow and the S&P 500 executed “daily reversals,” and since then prices have been falling. All of our internal and sentiment indicators are overbought, and so the market could end the month on a negative yet still have delivered one of the most impressive bullish performances in years.
It is important for investors to focus on high-quality stocks that pay dividends and/or have a history of regular dividend increases. Some also have stock buyback programs in place to use part of their cash and reduce the number of shares trading. Both strategies should have a positive long-term impact on the companies’ stocks.
Here are your top stocks to buy for February:

Top Stock to Buy #1 – Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX)

Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:ABX), an acquirer, explorer and developer of gold, copper, silver and zinc, is charted using monthly rather than daily data. This long-term chart clearly shows a bullish cup-and-handle formation. But for the stock to break out it must close above $55. If ABX breaks $55, look for a major rally to $75 to $80.
Earnings are estimated at $4.94 in 2011 and $5.58 in 2012. The dividend yield is 1.21%. This stock is rated a “five-star strong buy” by S&P with a 12-month target of $80.

Top Stock to Buy #2 – Chevron Corp. (CVX)

Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) primarily engages in exploration, refining, transportation and storage of crude oil and natural gas. The stock has formed a neckline at $110 after establishing a double-bottom. The overall pattern is an inverse head-and-shoulders — a very bullish development. All that is required to trigger a strong buy is for the stock to close above the neckline. This is a huge bullish formation with a technical target of $132.
S&P has CVX rated a “five-star strong buy” with a target of $132. The consensus estimated earnings for 2011 are $14.02 and $13.65 for 2012. The annual dividend is $3.24, providing a yield of 3.12%. The company is expected to continue to increase dividends and is executing a share buyback program.
Top Stock to Buy #3 – H.J. Heinz Co. (HNZ)
H.J. Heinz Co. (NYSE:HNZ), a producer of a wide variety of food products, has a new, more aggressive corporate strategy. Acquisitions in “emerging markets” began two years ago, and in 2011 that new direction accounted for 16% of total sales. Earnings for FY 2011 were $3.06 and are estimated to be $3.30 in FY 2012. HNZ has a dividend yield of 3.71% and a history of increasing dividends. The fundamental target for HNZ is $60.
Technically the stock has double-bottomed at $48 and formed a neckline of resistance at $54.50. A recent buy signal from our proprietary indicator, the Collins-Bollinger Reversal (CBR), tells us to buy now for a breakout and run to $62.

Top Stock to Buy #4 – United Health Group (UNH)

The diversified United Health Group (NYSE:UNH) provides health care programs and retirement plans, has a life sciences group, and provides health plans to physicians, clinical services, etc.
Credit Suisse analysts consider UNH to be the best-positioned company in its field and look for earnings of $4.85 this year compared to $4.73 in 2011, and an increase to $5.60 in 2013. UNH has a dividend yield of 1.27%.
Technically the stock has consolidated in a broad cup. A break through $54 should produce a trading target of $62.
Top Stock to Buy #5 – Verizon Communications (VZ)
Verizon Communications’ (NYSE:VZ) earnings are expected to grow to $2.50 next year, up from $2.23 in 2011, and strong operating margins and network quality are expected to attract customers to its 3G and 4G networks.
The communications sector has been one of the strongest in the closing months of 2011, and VZ has been a leader of the group. But the sector, and Verizon, may have run too far too fast. An increase in sellers and a short-term sell signal from its stochastic warn that a correction is likely.
Buy VZ on a pullback under $38 for a longer-term advance to the mid-$40s.
Top Stock to Buy #6 – Whole Foods Market (WFM)
Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ:WFM), the operator of the largest chain of natural food supermarkets in theUnited States, appears headed to new highs. Sales are expected to increase by 15% in 2012, and earnings are estimated to increase to $2.27 from $1.93 in 2011 and $1.43 in 2010. The adoption of a new price strategy, more lower-priced offerings, and an expansion plan are expected to lead to better-than-average industry growth. The dividend will likely be increased from the current 56 cents per share, and the repurchase of shares is expected.
Technically WFM has been in a powerful bull channel for over a year, and while there is no reason to expect a change, the stock is currently in a correction and will most likely hold at the lower support line of the channel at the 50-day moving average at $70 where it should be bought. The target for a trade is $80 by the end of March. Longer-term buyers should expect continued growth and higher prices.

3 Undervalued Tech Stocks to Buy in 2012

When investors see the words “undervalued tech stocks,” the first companies that jump to mind are probably the mega-cap giants like Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). The large-cap space certainly has more than its share of cheap tech stocks, but a look into mid- and small-cap territory reveals other, less talked-about opportunities. Computer Sciences (NYSE:CSC), Lexmark International (NYSE:LXK), and China Digital TV (NYSE:STV), are three such stocks that deserve more attention than they receive.
3 Undervalued Tech Stocks to Buy in 2012 - Computer Sciences
Shares of CSC, an IT-outsourcing company, have been pummeled from a February high above $56 to $37.20 on Wednesday. The stock has been hit by less-than-stellar earnings results and concerns that the U.S. government’s perilous fiscal situation will weigh on the 39% of CSC’s business that comes from federal contracts. That’s undoubtedly a legitimate worry, but also one that is well-known at this point. At 7.3 times 2012 estimates (and a price-to-earnings-to-growth ratio of 0.9) and a share price sitting at 0.8 times book value, it appears that the bad news is fully discounted in the stock. Two other key points regarding CSC: first, the stock yields 2.2% – much better than you’ll find with the average large-cap tech stock. Second, the company is cash-rich and is frequently mentioned as a target of a buyout. Betting on a takeover is always a dicey proposition, but CSC offers investors a solid risk-reward tradeoff even without the benefit of a buyout.
Keep in mind: The last time CSC’s P/E was at this level, the stock traded up 25% in less than two months.
3 Undervalued Tech Stocks to Buy in 2012 - Lexmark International
A maker of printers, ink, and imaging products, Lexmark has seen its shares come under heavy selling pressure since late 2010 – a trend that wasn’t helped by its May earnings miss. While the printing business is indeed in gradual decline, it may finally be time to say “enough is enough” regarding the downturn in Lexmark’s share price. After hitting a high above $47 in mid-October, the stock now stands at $28.62. At this level, the stock trades at forward P/E of less than 7x, and removing the net cash of $7 a share (about a quarter of its market cap) on its balance sheet brings the P/E below 5.5x. A low P/E can be a trap when growth is slowing, of course, but the company’s core ink business continues to generate substantial free cash flow. And like CSC, Lexmark has the added benefit of being a strong candidate for an eventual takeover.
Keep in mind: The recent selloff has driven LXK’s valuation to its lowest level in history.
3 Undervalued Tech Stocks to Buy in 2012 - China Digital TV
The smallest of the three companies discussed here, China Digital could offer big potential to patient investors. The company makes smart cards that allow the conversion of an analog signal to digital. A boring business perhaps, but consider that China is the world’s largest TV market with 377 million viewing households. Of these, 187 million have cable and only 90 million currently have a digital signal. This adds up to a stellar growth opportunity for a company with no debt and over 70% of its market cap accounted for by the $214 million of cash on its balance sheet. The stock trades for less than 7x 2012 earnings estimates and a PEG of just over 0.4. Chinese stocks are not without risk, as 2011 has taught us, but patient investors who tune into STV may be in for quite a show.

Keep in Mind: Like LXK, CSC trades at an all-time low P/E.
Technology investing has been no picnic for investors thus far in 2011, but these stocks provide a compelling margin of safety in the event of further volatility in the months ahead.

Best Energy Stocks Pick For 2013

President Obama made a speech where he announced a goal of cutting oil imports by a third over the next decade. He included a pledge to have federal agencies buy only alt-fuel vehicles by 2015 and a promise to expand U.S. oil exploration and production.
Transitioning half the cars and trucks in the U.S. to natural gas transportation over the next 5 to 10 years could reduce foreign oil imports by 5 million barrels every day.
So natural gas is an obvious play. Renewable/alternative fuels are other good choices.
Here are my four best picks that could make investors a bundle from  the President’s new policy:
Best Energy Stocks Pick For 2013#1—
Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE)
The company owns and/or supplies more than 200 natural gas fueling stations across the U.S. and Canada. It serves over 320 fleet customers operating over 20,000 natural gas vehicles. The customers can use Clean Energy’s fuel stations to tank up their vehicles with compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Clean Energy Fuels also provides natural gas vehicle systems and conversions for taxis, limousines, vans, pick-up trucks, and shuttle buses through its BAF subsidiary in Texas. Clean Energy helps customers buy and finance natural gas vehicles and obtain government incentives.
The company buys CNG from local utilities and produces LNG at its two plants (in California and Texas) with a combined capacity of 260,000 gallons per day.
Clean Energy owns and operates an LNG liquefaction plant near Houston, Texas, which it calls the Pickens Plant, capable of producing up to 35 million gallons of LNG per year.
And investors who buy CLNE won’t be alone …
Founder and billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens owns a sizeable chunk of Clean Energy.
Best Energy Stocks Pick For 2013 #2—
Westport Innovations (WPRT)
This company makes natural gas engines for forklifts, oilfield services engines, trucks and buses and automobiles. Its 50-50 joint venture Cummins Westport project builds natural gas vehicle engines for trucks and buses that could refill at the clean energy stations built by Clean Energy.
It made revenues of $154 million in the last year and isn’t close to profitability yet. But a concerted push toward natural-gas powered vehicles could change that.
WPRT is at the top of its 52-week range. So I’d wait for a pullback.
Best Energy Stocks Pick For 2013 #3—
Talisman Energy (TLM)
Talisman had 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent in reserves last year. It has material positions in three world-class, liquids-heavy shale plays in North America: The Marcellus shale (Pennsylvania), Montney shale (British Columbia) and Utica shale (Quebec). It is also expanding its Eagle Ford shale properties, in a 50-50 joint venture with Statoil.
The company also signed two $1.05 billion deals with Sasol of South Africa. This partnership is sketching out plans for a new multibillion-dollar facility near Edmonton that could process as much as a billion cubic feet of natural gas a day into 96,000 barrels of refined products through the Fischer-Tropsch process.
Fischer-Tropsch works by using heat and chemical catalysts to break down a substance like natural gas into its molecular basics and then rebuild those molecules into something else — such as diesel.
Why do that?
A barrel of oil contains roughly six times the energy content of a thousand cubic feet of gas. Since 6 thousand cubic feet of gas is worth about $24 (U.S.), and one barrel of oil is worth about $100, there is a tremendous profit margin if you can convert one to the other cost-effectively.
Best Energy Stocks Pick For 2013 #4—
PowerShares Wilderhill
Clean Energy Fund (PBW)
This is one of the largest alternative energy ETFs with over $500 million in assets. Large holdings include GT Solar, Yingli Green Energy, SunPower Corp., Trina Solar and more.

Top 10 High Dividend Growth Stocks for Long-Term Returns

Dividend growth stocks are one of the best-kept secrets in the investing world. After all, these are high-quality companies with strong competitive advantages that allow them to generate rising earnings over time. As a result, most of these companies generate so much in excess cash flow that they are able to pay a higher dividend over time without sacrificing long-term growth.
Companies that raise dividends at a high rate could easily generate double-digit yields on cost for investors who bought early and at the right time.
The following dividend champions have the highest consistent dividend growth rates:
Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States and Canada. The company has boosted distributions for 49 years in a row. Ten-year annual dividend growth rate: 27.6%. Yield: 2.8%. (analysis)
McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. The company has increased distributions for 35 consecutive years. Ten-year annual dividend growth rate: 26.5% Yield: 2.8%. (analysis)
Raven Industries (NASDAQ:RAVN) manufactures various products for industrial, agricultural, construction and military/aerospace markets in the United States and internationally. The company has boosted distributions for 25 years in a row. Ten-year annual dividend growth rate: 18.2%. Yield: 1.5%.
Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) operates retail stores in various formats worldwide. The company has increased distributions for 37 consecutive years. Ten-year annual dividend growth rate: 17.8% Yield: 2.8%. (analysis)

High Dividend Stocks For 2013

Go Global for Bigger Dividends, Growth

How is a prudent, conscientious person supposed to retire these days? The mutual fund industry tells you to invest in their low-dividend (or no-dividend) funds and hope the capital gains will be enough to carry you through. As we’ve seen in the past decade, though, the gains don’t always materialize when you need them. What then?
High-dividend stocks. Rather than buying an index fund yielding only 1.8%, you should choose carefully among high-dividend stocks. And while there are dividend stocks on our own shores that may fit the bill, investors who are willing to look beyond our borders can find generous yields with greater growth potential.
Here are seven top global dividend stocks to buy:

High Dividend Stocks For 2013#1 – Cellcom Israel (CEL)

Recommended by: Richard Band, Editor, Profitable Investing
Cellcom Israel (NYSE: CEL), Israel’s largest wireless carrier with 34% of the market, just declared its first quarterly dividend for 2011 — the equivalent of 85.7 cents (U.S.) per share. Annualized, that works out to a super-sweet yield of almost 11%!
CEL hands over virtually all its profits to shareholders as dividends, so there’s a chance the company may have to trim the payout in future quarters if business hits a speed bump. On the other hand, this “pay it all out” policy (similar to the approach taken by most U.S. master-limited partnerships) imposes rigorous capital allocation discipline on management. In short, Cellcom execs don’t waste money.
Buy dividend stock CEL on a pullback below $33.

High Dividend Stocks For 2013 #2 – Aberdeen Chile Fund (CH)

Recommended by: Bryan Perry, Editor, Cash Machine
One of my mega-themes for 2011 (and beyond) is the emergence of certain South American countries toward becoming developed nations. At the forefront of this movement, most would argue for Brazil, but within the past year, it has become evident that Chile might be the first to become a comparable neighbor to that of its northern counterparts, the United States and Canada.
Because many of the companies that thrive in the Chilean economy are not listed here in the United States, I find it suitable to embrace the Chilean investment theme with the purchase of the Aberdeen Chile Fund (AMEX: CH), a closed-end fund that has been a star performer in 2010. CH traded ex-dividend on March 29, and after hitting $23, it is now trading back down to support near $21 where a good entry point can be established while locking in a 9.61% dividend yield. Shares of CH should make their way back to $26. Buy CH up to $22.

High Dividend Stocks For 2013#3 – Telkom Indonesia (TLK)

Recommended by: Richard Band, Editor, Profitable Investing
The mantra here is “free cash flow.” In recent years, Telkom Indonesia (NYSE: TLK), the dominant provider of both fixed-line and wireless communications in sprawling Indonesia, has poured huge sums into upgrading its networks. Now the company has the luxury of throttling back a bit.
Starting in 2011, each sales dollar (rupiah, actually) will generate more profit — along with a surge of cash that can be distributed to shareholders. I predict, in fact, that Indonesia’s largest telco will boost its dividend more than 30% by 2013 (from a 2010 base). That’s the kind of growth you want in retirement! Current yield, based on my estimate of 2011 dividends, is 4.8%. Buy TLK up to $36.

High Dividend Stocks For 2013 #4 – ING Asia Pacific High Dividend Equity Income Fund (IAE)

Recommended by: Bryan Perry, Editor, Cash Machine
We are witnessing the re-acceleration of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) following a period of consolidated growth. The BRICs are enjoying renewed gross domestic product (GDP) expansion in the first quarter of 2011, especially China, and revving up for a strong year following a full six-month correction.
Pacific Rim countries will lead the way, making the ING Asia Pacific High Dividend Equity Income Fund (NYSE: IAE) an attractive buy after trading ex-dividend on April 1. With the stock sitting right on its 200-day moving average at $18.50, sporting a current dividend yield of 9.12%, it’s timely to pick up some shares. Buy IAE under $21.

High Dividend Stocks For 2013 #5 – CPFL Energia S.A. (CPL)

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Recommended by: Louis Navellier, Global Growth
It is a well-known fact that electricity consumption grows faster than the rate of growth of the economy. This is because as people build their wealth, they consume more. They buy bigger houses, they get more appliances and technology and such. Also, as industries enter a growth phase, they tend to use more power.
Because of the above characteristics, electric utilities in emerging markets are the first to see their businesses flourish. Brazil’s CPFL Energia S.A. (NYSE: CPL) distributes electricity to 6.4 million customers in about 570 communities, primarily in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. CPFL Energia also owns hydroelectric power plants and trades wholesale power in the open market and offers energy management services. Management estimates show that the company provides about 13% of Brazil’s electricity.
The company currently has a 6.9% dividend yield and should also benefit from a strong “currency tailwind” from the Brazilian real. The Brazilian real is a very strong currency as the central bank there maintains the highest real interest rates among major emerging economies. The shares offer a rare combination of both a high dividend yield and high growth rates, which makes them a great buy. Currently trading around $88, buy CPL on a pullback.

High Dividend Stocks For 2013 #6 – Telenor (TELNY)

Recommended by: Richard Band, Editor, Profitable Investing
Why would you want to own a telco in Norway? For one thing, as a hedge against the ruinous financial policies of the U.S. government. Thanks to prudent management of the country’s oil revenues, Norway has run a budget surplus every year since 1995. The Norwegian currency (krone), in which Telenor (OTC: TELNY) reports its profits (and pays its dividends), is sounder than both the euro and the U.S. dollar.
But there’s more to this story. TELNY has expanded far beyond its Norwegian base, with mobile and broadband operations in Sweden, Denmark, central and eastern Europe, plus five Asian countries. As a result, little-known Telenor is one of Europe’s fastest-growing telecom businesses. Sales will likely pass $19 billion in 2011. Current yield: 4.2%. Dividends have nearly quadrupled over the past seven years. This year’s dividend amounts to only about half of TELNY’s estimated 2011 profits, so an increase of 10% or so seems probable when the board declares next year’s payout. Buy TELNY on a pullback below $49.

High Dividend Stocks For 2013 #7 – SeaDrill (SDRL)

Recommended by: Bryan Perry, Editor, Cash Machine
SeaDrill Ltd. (NYSE: SDRL) is a unique opportunity for income investors seeking a pure play on deep-water drilling outside the post-BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The company was formed in 2005, and owns the most state-of-the-art drilling equipment in the entire industry that commands premium day rates. It is in big demand with utilization rates running near100% as big oil deposits become harder to find without going deep.
These guys operate all over the world in 15 countries on four continents, owning 54 rigs with exposure to only one rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Most of their drilling activity is off the coast of Norway and South Asia, so it has no exposure to the now unstable Middle East. However, news of ARAMCO in Saudi Arabia upping drilling production is hugely positive news for the oil and gas drilling sector. It confirms the belief that the worldwide drilling rig count will rise as well as day rates for the balance of 2011.
Shares of SeaDrill stand to trade significantly higher than its current price of $36.50, while paying a dividend yield of 7.5%. Buy SDRL under $40.

Stocks to Buy 2012 - Best Stock Picks 2012

elow is a list of my latest stock picks for 2012. These 2012 Stock Picks are my favorite stocks to buy and some of the stocks I will be trading personally. Last year, one of my top stock picks was Best Stock Picks 2012 Apple (AAPL) which I recommended at $330 per share. Apple stock recently hit $400 per share. Another one of my hot stocks to buy in 2011 was Hyperdynamics (HDY). HDY stock provided a huge gain in January and several more good rallies.

I feel 2012 will be a sideways year for stocks and the overall stock market. As you know, 2012 is an election year. Stocks could get volatile late in the year as investors position their portfolios accordingly. Check out my 2012 best stocks to buy list below.

Latest 2012 Stock Picks


Top Stock Gainers - 2012
#1 Top Stock Pick 2012 - ( Small Cap Stocks ) - Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull 3X Shares (TNA) - Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull 3X Shares (TNA) is my top stock pick for 2012. As we head into December 2011, I am fine tuning my stocks to buy given the fluid conditions we are seeing with the overall stock market and Europe. TNA is one of the most volatile ETF's you can buy but it is a play on the direction of the stock market. TNA is currently trading around $33.50, down $13 per share in just six trading days as Wall St. stresses out about the problems in Europe. Earnings here in the U.S have been strong and some can argue that the jitters we are seeing are just fluff. However, as we head into 2012, we are seeing some great stocks to buy and TNA falls into that category. I feel TNA can rally back to $48-$50 at some point in 2012 with the chance to go to $60. TNA will be my top stock to trade in 2012 given It's volatility. TNA has huge swings almost daily so you can trade it all day long. And, if you want to go short the market, try Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3X Shares (TZA). However, TZA is not a good long term stock to buy.

What is Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull 3X Shares (TNA)? The investment seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of 300% of the price performance of the Russell 2000® Index. The fund will invest at least 80% of assets in securities that comprise the index. It will also utilize financial instruments that, in combination, provide leveraged and unleveraged exposure to the index. The fund is non-diversified. TNA fund holds a basket of stocks and bonds with the highest percentage being technology, industrials, financials, and healthcare.
If the stock market crashes, TNA will get crushed. However, I am predictiing the S&P 500 to return to 1250-1300 at some point in 2012 so TNA will be a 35-45% gainer from here. Not a bad return on your money!

Stocks to Buy 2012 - ( Technology - Mobile Phone Stocks ) - Stocks to Buy 2012 - Apple Inc. (AAPL) - Apple Inc. (AAPL) is my top large cap stock pick in 2012. The iPad 3 in expected to launch early 2012 and the iPhone 5 will hopefully arrive at the end of 2012. The passing of Steve Jobs and a key earnings miss has caused AAPL stock to sell off back into the low $360's. AAPL hit a high of $424 in late 2011. I am giving AAPL a $450 price target in 2012 which represents a 25% gain from the current stock price. AAPL will be a monster stock in 2012 as iPhones and iPads sell like crazy. There is even talk of an iTV device coming in late 2012 or early 2013. With the current stock price around $360, you can't go wrong buying AAPL stock today!

#3 Best Stock Pick 2012 - ( Rare Earth Stocks - Metals ) - MolyCorp (MCP) - MolyCorp (MCP) stock recently dropped to $26 so I decided to add this stock to my Top 2012 Stocks to Buy list. Molycorp (MCP) is by far very risky but has been thrown out with the bath water. Rare Earth stocks are out of favor right now due to the huge drops in mineral prices. However, the Mountain Pass mine will come online by mid 2012 which will allow Molycorp to start earning big money. Look for rare earth prices to stablize in early 2012 and this stock to start going back up. This is by far my boldest stock pick of 2012 and if I am right, MCP will again see $40-$45 at some point during the year.

2012 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy

How is a prudent, conscientious person supposed to retire these days? The mutual fund industry tells you to invest in their low-dividend (or no-dividend) funds and hope the capital gains will be enough to carry you through. As we’ve seen in the past decade, though, the gains don’t always materialize when you need them. What then?High-dividend stocks. Rather than buying an index fund yielding only 1.8%, you should choose carefully among high-dividend stocks. And while there are dividend stocks on our own shores that may fit the bill, investors who are willing to look beyond our borders can find generous yields with greater growth potential.Here are top global dividend stocks to buy:

2012 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy: Mosaic Company (The) (MOS)

The Mosaic Company engages in the production and marketing of concentrated phosphate- and potash-based crop nutrients for the agriculture industry worldwide. The company also offers phosphate-based animal feed ingredients; and produces and sells potash for use as fertilizers and animal feed ingredients, as well as for use in industrial applications. Its potash products are also used for de-icing and as a water softener regenerant. The company?s distribution facilities include sales offices, port terminals, crop nutrient blending and bagging facilities, and warehouses. It sells its products primarily to wholesale distributors, retail chains, cooperatives, independent retailers, and national accounts. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. As of May 25, 2011, The Mosaic Company operates independently of Cargill, Incorporated.Advisors’ Opinion:

• Seeking Alpha2011-9-7Mosaic (MOS) potash production capacity has grown 10% since 2006 and is expected to increase another 60% between now and 2020. And as it rises, the company’s stock seems likely to follow. Currently yielding: 0.3%
  

  2012 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy: Eaton Corporation (ETN)

  Eaton Corporation operates as a power management company worldwide. It provides electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution, and control; hydraulics components, systems, and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics, and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain, and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy, and safety. The company also manufactures screw-in cartridge valves, custom-engineered hydraulic valves, and manifold systems; and electrical and electromechanical systems. In addition, it designs, manufactures, and distributes intake and exhaust valves for diesel and gasoline engines; supplies electrical components for commercial and residential building applications and industrial controls for industrial equipment applications; and manufactures human machine interfaces, programmable logic controllers, and input/output devices. Further, the company also operates as a provider of customized enclosures, rack systems, and air-flow management systems to store, power, and secure mission-critical IT data center electronics; and manufacturer, distributor, and service provider of single-phase and three-phase uninterruptible power supply systems. Eaton Corporation was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.Advisors’ Opinion:
• Curtis Hesler2011-9-28Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN): Down 0.23% to $34.73. Eaton Corporation manufactures engineered products which serve industrial, vehicle, construction, commercial, and aerospace markets. The Company’s principal products include hydraulic products and fluid connectors, electrical power distribution and control equipment, truck drivetrain systems, engine components, and a wide variety of controls.

Top 100 Dividend Stocks to Invest in 2012

In the light of the big news about the death of Osama Bin Laden, it should be an interesting on the world markets.  That being said, no matter what happens, I think it’s fair to say that you should not let your future financial independence depend on world events such as this one. That is one reason why this monthly post is always so popular as it represents a good first step to build and improve your passive income portfolio in what could be the difference between an early & enjoyable retirement and a very late retirement where you depend on your former employer or the government to determine the level of your life. So today we resume our monthly tradition of looking at the top 100 dividend stocks in the broad based S&P500 index.
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 enough earnings to keep up the dividend payments. We summed it all up when we discussed the 20 things that we look for in dividend stocks.
FTR remains once more at the top of our list although it continues to pay out much more than what it makes making its 9% dividend yield unsustainable for now.  We did review FTR in the mailing list a few months and did determine it was not a great dividend stock. Both the #2 and #3 positions are also telephone/telecom stocks. Once again, later this week, we will be focused on growth stocks as those seem to be the key to a long term dividend portfolio.
Hopefully this will help you when building your passive dividend porrtfolio.

We will be filtering out the top 100 list to find the ones that fit all of these criteria! In the meantime, here is the list!

Ticker	Name	Price	Dividend Yield	Payout Ratio	Ex-Date

FTR Frontier Communications Corp 8.27 9.07 346.75 6/7/2012 WIN Windstream Corp 12.81 7.81 150.63 6/28/2012 CTL CenturyLink Inc 40.78 7.11 92.65 6/6/2012 PBI Pitney Bowes Inc 24.56 6.03 97.09 5/11/2012 RAI Reynolds American Inc 37.11 5.71 81.34 6/8/2012 MO Altria Group Inc 26.84 5.66 77.98 6/13/2012 POM Pepco Holdings Inc 19.27 5.6 173.38 6/8/2012 T AT&T Inc 31.12 5.53 52.32 7/8/2012 RRD RR Donnelley & Sons Co 18.86 5.51 96.71 8/2/2012 FE FirstEnergy Corp 39.96 5.5 85.46 5/4/2012 HCN Health Care REIT Inc 53.77 5.32 554.64 5/6/2012 LLY Eli Lilly & Co 37.01 5.29 42.75 5/11/2012 DUK Duke Energy Corp 18.65 5.25 97.07 5/18/2012 AEE Ameren Corp 29.31 5.25 264.75 6/6/2012 PGN Progress Energy Inc 47.45 5.23 83.83 7/8/2012 TEG Integrys Energy Group Inc 52.36 5.2 94.56 5/25/2012 VZ Verizon Communications Inc 37.78 5.16 213.72 7/6/2012 PPL PPL Corp 27.43 5.1 63.35 6/8/2012 CINF Cincinnati Financial Corp 31.68 5.05 68.7 6/20/2012 AEP American Electric Power Co Inc 36.48 5.04 68.04 5/6/2012 EXC Exelon Corp 42.15 4.98 54.31 5/11/2012 LO Lorillard Inc 106.5 4.88 62.68 5/26/2012 HCP HCP Inc 39.62 4.85 198.62 5/5/2012 PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corp 43.39 4.84 67.88 7/29/2012 SO Southern Co 39.04 4.84 75.75 8/4/2012 ETR Entergy Corp 69.72 4.76 48.31 5/10/2012 NI NiSource Inc 19.45 4.73 86.8 7/27/2012 BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Co 28.1 4.7 71.24 6/29/2012 SCG SCANA Corp 41.52 4.67 63.56 6/8/2012 ED Consolidated Edison Inc 52.12 4.61 68.15 5/16/2012 PBCT People’s United Financial Inc 13.69 4.6 254.49 7/29/2012 DTE DTE Energy Co 50.53 4.43 58.25 6/16/2012 TE TECO Energy Inc 19.27 4.26 73.1 5/11/2012 PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Inc 32.17 4.26 44.51 6/7/2012 CNP CenterPoint Energy Inc 18.6 4.25 72.35 5/12/2012 D Dominion Resources Inc/VA 46.42 4.24 36.37 5/25/2012 CMS CMS Energy Corp 19.8 4.24 43.38 5/4/2012 KMB Kimberly-Clark Corp 66.06 4.24 58.87 6/8/2012 MRK Merck & Co Inc 35.95 4.23 549.36 6/15/2012 XEL Xcel Energy Inc 24.33 4.15 61.8 6/21/2012 VTR Ventas Inc 55.93 4.11 153.91 6/8/2012 LEG Leggett & Platt Inc 26.29 4.1 87.94 6/13/2012 PCG PG&E Corp 46.08 3.95 60.24 6/28/2012 PCL Plum Creek Timber Co Inc 43.09 3.9 134.65 5/11/2012 NEE NextEra Energy Inc 56.57 3.89 41.93 6/1/2012 PFE Pfizer Inc 20.96 3.82 72.18 5/11/2012 PAYX Paychex Inc 32.71 3.79 93.94 7/28/2012 LMT Lockheed Martin Corp 79.25 3.79 36.64 5/27/2012 CAG ConAgra Foods Inc 24.45 3.76 46.82 7/27/2012 FII Federated Investors Inc 25.78 3.73 127.68 5/4/2012 PM Philip Morris International Inc 69.44 3.69 61.77 6/21/2012 KIM Kimco Realty Corp 19.54 3.69 361.29 6/29/2012 ABT Abbott Laboratories 52.04 3.69 59.05 7/15/2012 SYY Sysco Corp 28.91 3.6 49.64 6/29/2012 SE Spectra Energy Corp 29.04 3.58 62.32 5/11/2012 RTN Raytheon Co 48.55 3.54 30.6 7/6/2012 HNZ HJ Heinz Co 51.23 3.51 58.04 6/21/2012 SRE Sempra Energy 55.1 3.49 51.56 6/14/2012 HRB H&R Block Inc 17.29 3.47 41.09 6/7/2012 JNJ Johnson & Johnson 65.72 3.47 43.54 5/26/2012 WM Waste Management Inc 39.46 3.45 63.38 5/26/2012 KFT Kraft Foods Inc 33.58 3.45 81.98 6/27/2012 CPB Campbell Soup Co 33.59 3.45 44.08 6/30/2012 MAT Mattel Inc 26.72 3.44 42.53 5/23/2012 IP International Paper Co 30.88 3.4 27.48 5/13/2012 MCHP Microchip Technology Inc 41.04 3.36 115 5/17/2012 GAS Nicor Inc 55.43 3.36 61.42 6/28/2012 HCBK Hudson City Bancorp Inc 9.53 3.36 55.05 5/3/2012 COP ConocoPhillips 78.93 3.35 27.95 5/19/2012 GPC Genuine Parts Co 53.7 3.35 54.45 6/8/2012 WEC Wisconsin Energy Corp 31.21 3.33 41.15 5/11/2012 EIX Edison International 39.27 3.26 32.91 6/28/2012 PG Procter & Gamble Co/The 64.9 3.24 48.84 7/20/2012 MTB M&T Bank Corp 88.37 3.17 48.21 5/26/2012 CLX Clorox Co 69.66 3.16 48.09 7/26/2012 NOC Northrop Grumman Corp 63.61 3.14 26.74 5/26/2012 AVP Avon Products Inc 29.38 3.13 63.71 5/18/2012 INTC Intel Corp 23.19 3.13 30.56 5/4/2012 MCD McDonald’s Corp 78.31 3.12 48.68 5/26/2012 SVU SUPERVALU Inc 11.26 3.11 N/A 5/27/2012 NUE Nucor Corp 46.96 3.09 339.9 6/28/2012 NU Northeast Utilities 35.6 3.09 46.84 5/27/2012 BMS Bemis Co Inc 31.34 3.06 50.66 5/18/2012 K Kellogg Co 57.27 3 46.83 5/27/2012 NYX NYSE Euronext 40.05 3 43.85 6/14/2012 OKE Oneok Inc 69.94 2.98 57.84 7/27/2012 MWV MeadWestvaco Corp 33.69 2.97 61.83 7/28/2012 GE General Electric Co 20.45 2.93 42.29 6/16/2012 GIS General Mills Inc 38.58 2.9 42.06 7/7/2012 DD EI du Pont de Nemours & Co 56.79 2.89 49.75 5/11/2012 VNO Vornado Realty Trust 96.68 2.86 77.37 5/5/2012 CVX Chevron Corp 109.44 2.85 29.81 5/17/2012 AVB AvalonBay Communities Inc 126.61 2.82 304.59 6/28/2012 BLK BlackRock Inc 195.94 2.81 37.62 6/3/2012 SPG Simon Property Group Inc 114.54 2.8 123.98 5/13/2012 PEP PepsiCo Inc/NC 68.89 2.79 47.92 6/1/2012 KO Coca-Cola Co/The 67.46 2.79 34.4 6/13/2012 MMC Marsh & McLennan Cos Inc 30.28 2.78 79.67 7/6/2012 UPS United Parcel Service Inc 74.97 2.77 54.73 5/19/2012 PLD ProLogis 16.29 2.76 N/A 5/11/2012