Hot Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014

Cabot Oil & Gas� (NYSE: COG  ) didn't have to drill down very far to�declare it will pay a�quarterly cash dividend�of�$0.02 per share on May 24 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 16.

That rate is the same that the natural gas producer has paid for the past year. It was then that Cabot increased its dividend 33%, and then split its stock 2-for-1. It's been a consistent dividend payor for more than a decade.

The new dividend annualizes to $0.08 per share, and yields 0.1% at the closing price of Cabot Oil & Gas's stock on May 2.

COG Dividend data by YCharts
Chart reflects the impact of the 2:1 stock split in January 2012.

Top Services Companies To Buy Right Now: Lorillard Inc(LO)

Lorillard, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. The company offers 43 different product offerings under the Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, and Old Gold brand names. Lorillard, Inc. sells its products primarily to wholesale distributors, who in turn service retail outlets, chain store organizations, and government agencies, including the United States? Armed Forces. The company was founded in 1760 and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Dieterich]

  After the closing bell, the exchanges said in alerts that trades made between 3:49 p.m. and 3:51 p.m. Eastern in AOL, Nabors Industries Ltd.(NBR), Lorillard Inc.(LO), Marathon Petroleum Corp.(MPC), and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd(CNQ.T) and Nasdaq clearly erroneous.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Abbvie (ABBV)
  Ameren Corp. (AEE)
  Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG)
  E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DD)
  ENSCO (ESV)
  Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD)
  General Mills (GIS)
  H&R Block (HRB)
  Hancock Holding (HBHC)
  Kraft Foods Group (KRFT)
  Lorillard (LO)
  Magellan Midstream Partners LP (MMP)
  MarkWest Energy Partners L P (MWE)
  McDonald’s (MCD)
  Microchip Technology (MCHP)
  NextEra Energy (NEE)
  Regency Centers (REG)
  TELUS Corp. (TU)
  West Corp. (WSTC)
  Williams Companies (WMB)

• [By John Udovich]

  There is a new ��tudy��out that electronic cigarettes, or so-called e-cigarettes or e-cigs, may contain a comparable level of carcinogens to regular cigarettes; but that�� unlikely to stop big tobacco stocks like Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO), Lorillard Inc (NYSE: LO) and Reynolds American, Inc (NYSE: RAI) who are rushing to get their products established in the sector. Specifically, a report released this week �in France�� National Consumer Institute magazine claims that�many e-cigarettes (approximately�3 in 10 e-cigarettes) actually contain "a significant quantity of carcinogenic molecules" than had been reported in earlier studies while the Wall Street Journal has recently reported that the FDA has been in discussions with the e-cigarette industry about a possible online-sales ban of the product. The Journal also noted estimates that US�electronic cigarette sales will hit the $1 billion mark this year while Wells Fargo Securities���onnie Herzog predicts sales could hit $10 billion in five years as smokers switch from tobacco to battery-operated nicotine-vaporizing technology. Moreover, electronic cigarettes don�� face the same sort of restrictions as their smoke emitting counterparts���meaning they are bound to catch on with the country�� 45 million or so smokers given the increasingly draconian smoking laws.

Hot Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company(DD)

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company operates as a science and technology company worldwide. It operates in seven segments: Agriculture & Nutrition, Electronics & Communications, Performance Chemicals, Performance Coatings, Performance Materials, Safety & Protection, and Pharmaceuticals. The Agriculture & Nutrition segment provides hybrid seed corn and soybean seed, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, value enhanced grains, and soy protein under the Pioneer brand name. The Electronics & Communications segment supplies materials and systems for photovoltaic products, consumer electronics, displays, and advanced printing. The Performance Chemicals segment offers fluorochemicals, fluoropolymers, specialty and industrial chemicals, and white pigments for various markets, such as plastics and coatings, textiles, mining, pulp and paper, water treatment, and healthcare. The Performance Coatings segment supplies high performance liquid and powder coatings for motor vehicle origi nal equipment manufacturers (OEM); the motor vehicle after-market; and general industrial applications, such as such as coatings for heavy equipment, pipes and appliances, and electrical insulation. The Performance Materials segment provides polymers, elastomers, films, parts, and systems and solutions for the automotive OEM and associated after-market industries, as well as electrical, electronics, packaging, construction, oil, photovoltaics, aerospace, chemical processing, and consumer durable goods. The Safety & Protection segment primarily offers nonwovens, aramids, and solid surfaces for the construction, transportation, communications, industrial chemicals, oil and gas, electric utilities, automotive, manufacturing, defense, homeland security, and safety consulting industries. The Pharmaceuticals segment represents its interest in the collaboration relating to Cozaar/Hyzaar antihypertensive drugs. The company was founded in 1802 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Dela ware.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  Blue-chip stocks are higher today thanks to upbeat earnings from the likes of DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) and United Technologies (NYSE: UTX  ) . With roughly an hour left in the trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) is up by 55 points, or 0.35%.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  Dupont (NYSE: DD  ) was the Dow's big winner, gaining 4.1% as profits beat expectations on strong agricultural� products sales, which increased 14% due to drought conditions in parts of the U.S. Sales in the chemical division were off 17%, but increased seed and pesticide sales helped drive its adjusted quarterly profit to $1.56 a share, ahead of estimates of $1.52 but down slightly from the total a year ago at $1.58. The chemical maker also increased its quarterly dividend two cents to $0.45, good enough for a 3.6% yield.

Hot Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc.(FCX)

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. engages in the exploration, mining, and production of mineral resources. The company primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and cobalt. It holds interests in various properties, located in North and South America; the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; and the Tenke Fungurume minerals district in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As of December 31, 2010, the company?s consolidated recoverable proven and probable reserves totaled 120.5 billion pounds of copper, 35.5 million ounces of gold, 3.39 billion pounds of molybdenum, 325.0 million ounces of silver, and 0.75 billion pounds of cobalt. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  After a spate of tragic accidents claimed the lives of dozens of workers at its huge Grasberg gold and copper mine in Indonesia, Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX  ) was given the go-ahead by the government to reopen the mine despite that its investigations into the accidents is not yet completed.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Barclays analyst�David Gagliano is out with a report on his dinner meeting with� Jim Flores, CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold’s (FCX) energy division.

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  Shares of newly minted global resource company, Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX  ) , are up over 3% after the company reported its second-quarter earnings. The company beat Wall Street's earnings estimate, though its revenue was a little light. Let's take a quick look at what went down in the quarter.

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Freeport McMoRan's (NYSE: FCX) union cancelled a planned one-month strike at its mine in Indonesia. Shares hit new 52-week lows of $27.72 before rebounding and closing the day at $28.50, up 1.50 percent.

Hot Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: CRB Futures Index(CR)

Crane Co. manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States and internationally. The company operates in five segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Engineered Materials, Merchandising Systems, Fluid Handling, and Controls. The Aerospace & Electronics segment offers pressure, fuel flow, and position sensors and subsystems; brake control systems; coolant, lube and fuel pumps; and seat actuation products. This segment also provides power supplies and custom microelectronics for aerospace, defense, medical, and other applications; and electrical power components, power management products, electronic radio frequency, and microwave frequency components and subsystems for the defense, space, and military communications markets. The Engineered Materials segment manufactures fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels for the truck trailer and recreational vehicle markets, industrial markets, and the commercial construction industry. The Merchandising Systems segmen t offers vending solutions, such as food, snack, and beverage vending machines; and vending machine software and online solutions, as well as payment solutions, including coin accepters and dispensers, coin hoppers, coin recyclers, bill validators, and bill recyclers. The Fluid Handling segment manufactures and sells various industrial and commercial valves and actuators; provides valve testing, parts, and services; manufactures and sells pumps and water purification solutions; distributes pipe, pipe fittings, couplings, and connectors; and designs, manufactures, and sells corrosion-resistant plastic-lined pipes and fittings. The Controls segment produces ride-leveling, air-suspension control valves for heavy trucks and trailers; pressure, temperature, and level sensors; ultra-rugged computers, measurement and control systems, and intelligent data acquisition products; and water treatment equipment. Crane Co. was founded in 1855 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Crane (NYSE: CR  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Hot Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: ProLogis(PLD)

Prologis Inc. is an independent equity real estate investment trust. It invests in the real estate markets across the globe. The firm engages in the ownership, development, management, and leasing of industrial distribution and retail properties. It was previously known as Security Capital Investment Trust. Prologis Inc. was formed in 1991 and is based in San Francisco, California with an additional office in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  Among real estate trusts:

  American Tower��(AMT),�the diversified �REIT, is the best performer in the index.�It was�up 4.6% after saying�Friday it will buy the parent of tower operator Global Tower Partners for $4.8 billion. HCP (HCP), a healthcare REIT, was�up 3.3%. Prologis (PLD) an industrial REIT, was�up 2.8%. Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) was�up 2.7%. Boston Properties (BXP), the office REIT, was�up 2.3%. Equity Residential (EQR), a residential REIT, was�up 2.4%. Ventas (VTR), a healthcare REIT, was�up 2%.

   

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Prologis (NYSE: PLD  ) has announced that it will sell 31 million new pieces of itself. That's the number of common shares it will float in an upcoming, underwritten public stock offering. The price of the shares will be $41.60 apiece, and the company's underwriters have been granted a 30-day purchase option for up to an additional 4.65 million shares to cover overallotments, if any.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  But the S&P 500′s biggest losers show the kind of carnage long predicted by those fearful of higher yields. How’s this for evidence: Real-estate investment trusts,�whose yields look more paltry with every tick higher in the 10-year Treasury, made up half of the top-10 losers. Prologis (PLD) fell 8.4% to $35.08, the Macerich Co. (MAC) dropped 8.2% to $56.72 and Health Care REIT (HCN) was off 8.1% at $58.57.

Hot Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: SuperValu Inc.(SVU)

SUPERVALU INC., together with its subsidiaries, operates retail food stores in the United States. Its stores offer grocery, general merchandise, health and beauty care, pharmacy, and fuel products. The company operates stores under the Acme, Albertsons, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Hornbacher?s, Jewel-Osco, Lucky, Shaw?s, Shop ?n Save, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, and Star Market banners, as well as in-store pharmacies under the Osco and Sav-on banners. It operates approximately 2,394 traditional and hard-discount retail food stores, including 899 licensed Save-A-Lot stores. The company also offers supply chain services, which include wholesale distribution of products to independent retailers, including single and multiple grocery store independent operators, regional and national chains, mass merchants, and the military customers, as well as provides logistics support services. SUPERVALU was founded in 1871 and is based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  2. Grocery-store gas rewards
  Many grocery-store chains offer points that you can use to save on gasoline at local stations. SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU  ) , Safeway (NYSE: SWY  ) , and several grocery retailers established their own proprietary programs as a way to encourage shoppers to spend more money generally as well as to buy certain targeted promotional products. A typical deal might involve saving $0.10 per gallon for every $100 you spend on groceries.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  As mentioned, Kroger is still swallowing Harris Teeter and has said it needs time to make more acquisitions. Royal Ahold (NASDAQOTH: AHONY  ) is also said to be leery about doing large acquisitions these days, while Cerberus recently finished acquiring the Albertsons and Acme chains from SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU  ) �for $3.3 billion.

• [By Robert Hanley]

  Looking ahead, though, future growth seems limited, given management's plans to continue consolidating its network.�Indeed, the company intends to use the proceeds from the pending sale of its Canadian operations to pay down related debt and repurchase a significant portion of its shares.�As such, Safeway seems to be in the same mind-set as fellow regional competitor SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU  ) , which has been going through its own business rightsizing process.