Bookmark and Share

Buy Low, Sell High: 11 Top Yielding Dividend Stocks To Buy When You Sell Your High Beta Stuff

March of next year will mark the seventh anniversary of the beginning of one of the longest bull market runs in history that came out of the Great Recession lows of March 2009.

While many claim that this has indeed been a secular bull market since then, the reality is that until the market blew past the double top level of 1,500 in May of 2013, we were really just filling in a monumental hole. With that in mind, the bull run is getting tired, and three very distinct signs of a market top are showing up.

So what do investors do with bond yields still at historical lows? It’s time to think about selling the high-beta momentum stocks that lurk in portfolios and move to more conservative blue chip companies that pay dividends.

Attached you can find a few ideas of stocks that pay good dividends and offer attractive yields while having low beta ratios.

These are the results....

AmeriGas Partners -- Yield: 8.83%

AmeriGas Partners (NYSE:APU) employs 8,000 people, generates revenue of $3,712.94 million and has a net income of $294.44 million. The current market capitalization stands at $3.87 billion.

AmeriGas Partners’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $654.98 million. The EBITDA margin is 17.64% (the operating margin is 12.46% and the net profit margin 7.93%).

Financials: The total debt represents 55.01% of AmeriGas Partners assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 181.53%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 19.62% was realized by AmeriGas Partners.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.31. Last fiscal year, AmeriGas Partners paid $3.44 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 18.05, the P/S ratio is 1.04 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.97. The dividend yield amounts to 8.83%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of AmeriGas Partners (APU)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of AmeriGas Partners (APU)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of AmeriGas Partners (APU)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of AmeriGas Partners (APU)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of AmeriGas Partners (APU)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of AmeriGas Partners (APU)



HCP -- Yield: 6.65%

HCP (NYSE:HCP) employs 170 people, generates revenue of $2,266.28 million and has a net income of $893.19 million. The current market capitalization stands at $15.80 billion.

HCP’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,799.50 million. The EBITDA margin is 79.40% (the operating margin is 58.35% and the net profit margin 39.41%).

Financials: The total debt represents 45.67% of HCP assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 90.91%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 8.31% was realized by HCP.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $0.51. Last fiscal year, HCP paid $2.18 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 66.85, the P/S ratio is 6.97 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.45. The dividend yield amounts to 6.65%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of HCP (HCP)



AT&T -- Yield: 5.67%

AT&T (NYSE:T) employs 281,240 people, generates revenue of $132,447.00 million and has a net income of $6,518.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $203.97 billion.

AT&T’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $32,139.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 24.27% (the operating margin is 8.87% and the net profit margin 4.92%).

Financials: The total debt represents 27.61% of AT&T assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 91.47%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 6.89% was realized by AT&T.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $0.86. Last fiscal year, AT&T paid $1.84 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 38.72, the P/S ratio is 1.54 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.92. The dividend yield amounts to 5.67%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of AT&T (T)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of AT&T (T)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of AT&T (T)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of AT&T (T)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of AT&T (T)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of AT&T (T)



Southern -- Yield: 4.98%

Southern (NYSE:SO) employs 26,369 people, generates revenue of $18,467.00 million and has a net income of $2,031.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $39.62 billion.

Southern’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $6,803.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 36.84% (the operating margin is 19.72% and the net profit margin 11.00%).

Financials: The total debt represents 35.22% of Southern assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 118.49%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 10.08% was realized by Southern.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.61. Last fiscal year, Southern paid $2.08 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 16.71, the P/S ratio is 2.15 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.98. The dividend yield amounts to 4.98%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Southern (SO)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Southern (SO)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Southern (SO)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Southern (SO)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Southern (SO)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Southern (SO)



Verizon Communications -- Yield: 4.94%

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) employs 177,900 people, generates revenue of $127,079.00 million and has a net income of $11,956.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $186.27 billion.

Verizon Communications’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $43,239.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 34.03% (the operating margin is 15.42% and the net profit margin 9.41%).

Financials: The total debt represents 48.68% of Verizon Communications assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 921.05%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 37.65% was realized by Verizon Communications.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.51. Last fiscal year, Verizon Communications paid $2.16 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 18.21, the P/S ratio is 1.47 and the P/B ratio is finally 15.47. The dividend yield amounts to 4.94%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Verizon Communications (VZ)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Verizon Communications (VZ)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Verizon Communications (VZ)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Verizon Communications (VZ)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Verizon Communications (VZ)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Verizon Communications (VZ)



Duke Energy -- Yield: 4.87%

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) employs 28,344 people, generates revenue of $23,925.00 million and has a net income of $2,465.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $46.64 billion.

Duke Energy’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $10,359.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 43.30% (the operating margin is 21.98% and the net profit margin 10.30%).

Financials: The total debt represents 35.24% of Duke Energy assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 104.06%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 5.98% was realized by Duke Energy.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.36. Last fiscal year, Duke Energy paid $3.15 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 20.17, the P/S ratio is 1.95 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.17. The dividend yield amounts to 4.87%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Duke Energy (DUK)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Duke Energy (DUK)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Duke Energy (DUK)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Duke Energy (DUK)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Duke Energy (DUK)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Duke Energy (DUK)



Realty Income -- Yield: 4.82%

Realty Income (NYSE:O) employs 127 people, generates revenue of $933.50 million and has a net income of $269.14 million. The current market capitalization stands at $11.85 billion.

Realty Income’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $827.48 million. The EBITDA margin is 88.64% (the operating margin is 25.00% and the net profit margin 28.83%).

Financials: The total debt represents 44.82% of Realty Income assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 87.92%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 4.50% was realized by Realty Income.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.10. Last fiscal year, Realty Income paid $1.64 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 43.24, the P/S ratio is 12.69 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.05. The dividend yield amounts to 4.82%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Realty Income (O)



Realty Income -- Yield: 4.82%

Realty Income (NYSE:O) employs 127 people, generates revenue of $933.50 million and has a net income of $269.14 million. The current market capitalization stands at $11.85 billion.

Realty Income’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $827.48 million. The EBITDA margin is 88.64% (the operating margin is 25.00% and the net profit margin 28.83%).

Financials: The total debt represents 44.82% of Realty Income assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 87.92%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 4.50% was realized by Realty Income.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.10. Last fiscal year, Realty Income paid $1.64 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 43.24, the P/S ratio is 12.69 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.05. The dividend yield amounts to 4.82%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Realty Income (O)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Realty Income (O)



Mercury General -- Yield: 4.75%

Mercury General (NYSE:MCY) employs 4,400 people, generates revenue of $3,011.77 million and has a net income of $177.95 million. The current market capitalization stands at $2.88 billion.

Mercury General’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $804.37 million. The EBITDA margin is 26.71% (the operating margin is 8.30% and the net profit margin 5.91%).

Financials: The total debt represents 6.30% of Mercury General assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 15.46%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 9.62% was realized by Mercury General.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $0.55. Last fiscal year, Mercury General paid $2.46 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 95.68, the P/S ratio is 0.96 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.53. The dividend yield amounts to 4.75%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Mercury General (MCY)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Mercury General (MCY)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Mercury General (MCY)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Mercury General (MCY)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Mercury General (MCY)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Mercury General (MCY)



Altria Group -- Yield: 3.96%

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) employs 9,000 people, generates revenue of $24,522.00 million and has a net income of $5,070.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $111.94 billion.

Altria Group’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $7,874.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 32.11% (the operating margin is 30.89% and the net profit margin 20.68%).

Financials: The total debt represents 42.62% of Altria Group assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 487.49%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 141.82% was realized by Altria Group.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.66. Last fiscal year, Altria Group paid $2.00 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 21.45, the P/S ratio is 4.56 and the P/B ratio is finally 37.34. The dividend yield amounts to 3.96%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Altria Group (MO)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Altria Group (MO)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Altria Group (MO)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Altria Group (MO)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Altria Group (MO)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Altria Group (MO)



Alliant Energy -- Yield: 3.86%

Alliant Energy (NYSE:LNT) employs 4,212 people, generates revenue of $3,350.30 million and has a net income of $395.70 million. The current market capitalization stands at $6.45 billion.

Alliant Energy’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $931.70 million. The EBITDA margin is 27.81% (the operating margin is 16.23% and the net profit margin 11.81%).

Financials: The total debt represents 32.53% of Alliant Energy assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 108.03%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 11.47% was realized by Alliant Energy.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.42. Last fiscal year, Alliant Energy paid $2.04 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 16.65, the P/S ratio is 1.93 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.84. The dividend yield amounts to 3.86%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Alliant Energy (LNT)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Alliant Energy (LNT)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Alliant Energy (LNT)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Alliant Energy (LNT)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Alliant Energy (LNT)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Alliant Energy (LNT)



11 Low Beta Dividend Growth Stocks (click to enlarge)