Hot Dividend Companies To Watch For 2014

Bank of America Corp. (BAC) Chief Executive Officer Brian T. Moynihan won permission last month for the firm's first dividend increase since the financial crisis. Now he's under pressure to salvage the payout after the company mistakenly inflated capital levels by about $4 billion.

One leading option: scrapping a $4 billion share repurchase, said a person briefed on the deliberations. That could allow the Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank to resubmit its request to boost the quarterly dividend to 5 cents, said the person, asking not to be identified because the process is confidential.

Moynihan, 54, has a month to draw up plans that will win Federal Reserve approval after the regulator asked the bank to freeze buybacks and dividend increases. The boost approved in March was heralded as a symbolic victory for Moynihan and the bank, which has had a token penny-a-share payout since 2009.

“This is a step backwards for them, it raises credibility issues for management,” said Jonathan Finger, whose family-owned investment firm, Finger Interests Ltd., owns 900,000 shares of the lender and stands to lose about $144,000 in annual income if Moynihan fails to increase the dividend. “Shareholders have suffered a significant period with no dividends, so some respite from that would be welcomed.”

Hot Shipping Stocks For 2015: ConocoPhillips(COP)

ConocoPhillips operates as an integrated energy company worldwide. The company?s Exploration and Production (E&P) segment explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Its Midstream segment gathers, processes, and markets natural gas; and fractionates and markets natural gas liquids in the United States and Trinidad. The company?s Refining and Marketing (R&M) segment purchases, refines, markets, and transports crude oil and petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels. Its Chemicals segment manufactures and markets petrochemicals and plastics. This segment offers olefins and polyolefins, including ethylene, propylene, and other olefin products; aromatics products, such as benzene, styrene, paraxylene, and cyclohexane, as well as polystyrene and styrene-butadiene copolymers; and various specialty chemical products comprising organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalyst s, drilling chemicals, mining chemicals, and engineering plastics and compounds. The company?s Emerging Businesses segment develops new technologies and businesses. It focuses on power generation; and technologies related to conventional and nonconventional hydrocarbon recovery, refining, alternative energy, biofuels, and the environment. This segment also offers E-Gas, a gasification technology producing high-value synthetic gas. ConocoPhillips was founded in 1917 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  The Phillips brothers had nearly abandoned oil for the stability of banking, but the war's effect on oil prices and demand motivated their return. This would prove a wise choice, as Phillips Petroleum's assets swelled to more than $100 million by 1924 thanks to the company's dominant position in natural-gas liquids -- and also because, just over a decade after Phillips' founding, the American banking sector began to suffer the worst run of failures in modern history. Phillips became one of the earliest proponents of gasoline service stations, establishing many along the side of Route 66, after which both its service stations and its later refinery subsidiary (now spinoff) Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX  ) are named. Phillips and Conoco merged in 2002 to create ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP  ) , one of the largest publicly traded oil-and-gas-producing companies in the world.

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Meanwhile, the number of LNG exporters is also projected to rise. Already, there is much enthusiasm about LNG export potential from North America. In the U.S., for instance, the Department of Energy has already approved two LNG projects to export gas to countries that don't have a free-trade agreement with the U.S. -- Cheniere Energy's (NYSEMKT: LNG  ) Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, which was greenlighted in 2011, and the Freeport LNG project in Texas, a $10 billion facility whose general partner, Freeport LNG-GP, is 50% owned by ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP  ) , which received permission last month.

• [By David Smith]

  The expanding company, whose market capitalization sits just below $7 billion, increased the likelihood of future growth through a pair of recent transactions. In December Denbury sold Bakken assets to ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM  ) for $1.3 billion. Denbury also received Exxon's interest in a pair of Texas and Wyoming fields and an interest in the larger company's CO2 reserves in yet another Wyoming field. It then purchased Cedar Creek Anticline properties in North Dakota and Montana from ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP  ) for just over $1 billion.

• [By Michael Fitzsimmons]

  ConocoPhillips (COP) released Q2 2013 earnings that beat consensus estimates by $0.12/share. While the company has been performing flawlessly on its strategic multi-year transformation plan by disposing of non-core assets, organically growing production, and providing a compelling dividend, the story this quarter was early signs of the 3-5% growth in cash margins the company has promised. As a result, COP's Q2 earnings beat was in stark contrast to slightly disappointing results from Chevron (CVX) and a disastrous earnings report from ExxonMobil (XOM).

Hot Dividend Companies To Watch For 2014: DTE Energy Company(DTE)

DTE Energy Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in Michigan. It also involves in non-utility operations. The company?s Energy Utility segment engages in the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity from various fuels, including coal, as well as from nuclear and hydro facilitates. As of December 31, 2010, this segment owned and operated approximately 674 distribution substations and approximately 412,100 line transformers; and supplied electricity to 2.1 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. The company?s Gas Utility segment engages in the purchase, storage, transmission, distribution, and sale of natural gas in Michigan. As of December 31, 2010, this segment?s distribution system included approximately 19,000 miles of distribution mains, 1,036,000 service lines, and 1,319,000 active meters. It also o wned approximately 2,000 miles of transmission lines that deliver natural gas; and supplied natural gas to approximately 1.2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout Michigan, as well as to approximately 17,000 customers in Adrian, Michigan. The company?s non-utility operations include natural gas pipelines and storage; unconventional gas exploration, development, and production; power and industrial projects, and coal transportation and marketing; and energy marketing and trading operations. Its customers include electric utilities, merchant power producers, integrated steel mills, and industrial companies. DTE Energy Company was founded in 1995 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Meanwhile, Plug Power Inc was formed in 1997 as a joint venture of Michigan utility owner DTE Energy Co (NYSE: DTE) and Mechanical Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: MKTY) to develop fuel-cell systems to power homes and small businesses. Plug Power Inc says it has�revolutionized the material handling industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints as�it manufactures a full suite of products designed to fit seamlessly into the existing battery compartment of all major OEM material handling equipment. The company also says that�its GenDrive fuel cell is a superior alternative to lead-acid batteries for electric lift trucks in the $20 billion�global material handling market.

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE) slipped 1.4 percent to 9.21 euros. Europe�� second-largest telephone company traded without the right to a dividend today.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Plug Power Inc was formed in 1997 as a joint venture between Michigan utility owner DTE Energy Co (NYSE: DTE) and Mechanical Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: MKTY) to develop fuel-cell systems to power homes and small businesses. Plug Power Inc says it has�revolutionized the material handling industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints as�it manufactures a full suite of products designed to fit seamlessly into the existing battery compartment of all major OEM material handling equipment. In addition, the company says its GenDrive fuel cell is a superior alternative to lead-acid batteries for electric lift trucks in the $20 billion�global material handling market.

Hot Dividend Companies To Watch For 2014: ConAgra Foods Inc.(CAG)

ConAgra Foods, Inc. operates as a food company primarily in North America. It operates in two segments, Consumer Foods and Commercial Foods. The Consumer Foods segment provides branded, private label, and customized food products, which are sold in various retail and foodservice channels. It offers products in various categories, such as meals, entrees, condiments, sides, snacks, and desserts in frozen, refrigerated, and shelf-stable temperature classes. This segment?s principal brands include Alexia, ACT II, Banquet, Blue Bonnet, Chef Boyardee, DAVID, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt?s, Marie Callender?s, Orville Redenbacher?s, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Snack Pack, Swiss Miss, Van Camp?s, and Wesson. The Commercial Foods segment provides commercially branded foods and ingredients that are sold to foodservice, food manufacturing, and industrial customers. Its primary products consist of specialty potato products, milled grain ingredients, a ran ge of vegetable products, seasonings, blends, and flavors. This segment sells products under brands, such as ConAgra Mills, Lamb Weston, and Spicetec Flavors & Seasonings. The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  ��ConAgra Foods, Inc. (CAG), a packaged food manufacturer, fell as it reported volume declines in its branded foods businesses and higher-promotional spending.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  ConAgra Foods (NYSE: CAG  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings around June 21. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

  The 10-second takeaway
  Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict ConAgra Foods's revenues will grow 35.0% and EPS will grow 15.7%.

Hot Dividend Companies To Watch For 2014: Vivo Participacoes S.A.(VIV)

Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP provides fixed-line telecommunications services to residential and commercial customers in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Its services include local voice services, such as activation, monthly subscription, measured service, and public telephones; intraregional, interregional, and international long-distance voice services; data services comprising broadband services; pay TV services through direct to home satellite technology and land based wireless technology multichannel multipoint distribution service; and network services, such as interconnection and rental of facilities, as well as other services consisting of extended maintenance, caller identification, voice mail, cell phone blockers, computer support, and antivirus for Internet service subscribers. The company also offers multimedia communication services, such as audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, and texts and other information. In addition, it provides interc onnection services to cellular service providers and other fixed telecommunications companies through the use of its network. Further, the company offers telecommunications solutions and IT support designed to address the needs and requirements of companies operating various types of industries, including retail, manufacturing, services, financial institutions, and government. Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP provides its products and services through person-to-person sales, telesales, indirect channels, Internet, and door-to-door sales. As of December 31, 2010, its telephone network included 11.3 million fixed lines in service, including residential, commercial, and public telephone lines; 3.3 million broadband clients; and 0.5 million pay TV clients. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP is a subsidiary of Telefonica S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sarah Jones]

  Vivendi SA (VIV) lost 1.7 percent to 15.72 euros in Paris after the owner of SFR, France�� second-biggest mobile-phone operator, reported a 21 percent drop in first-quarter Ebit to 1.18 billion euros. That missed analyst estimates.

• [By Dividend]

  Here are the top yielding stocks from the screening results:
  
  Telefonica Brasil (VIV) has a market capitalization of $25.08 billion. The company employs 19,614 people, generates revenue of $15.201 billion and has a net income of $1.994 billion. Telefonica Brasil�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $5.198 billion. The EBITDA margin is 34.20 percent (the operating margin is 21.26 percent and the net profit margin 13.12 percent).

• [By Mike Deane]

  Telefonica Brasil SA (VIV) reported its first quarter earnings before the opening bell on Friday, posting slightly higher revenues and much lower earnings compared to last year’s first quarter.
  

  VIV’s Earnings in Brief

  Telefonica Brasil�reported first quarter revenues of 8.6 billion reals, up from last year’s Q1 revenues of 8.56 billion reals. Net earnings for the quarter came in at 660.8 million reals, down from 810.2 million reals reported for last year’s Q1. Analysts were expecting earnings of 746 million reals. According to Reuters, the company also warned that the World Cup, which is taking place in Brazil this summer, could end up dragging down earnings.

  VIV’s Dividend

  Telefonica Brasil did not mention any changes to its dividend in its first quarter earnings release. Currently, the company has an annualized dividend of $1.13.

  Stock Performance

  VIV stock was inactive in pre-market trading. YTD, the company’s stock is up 13.33%.

  VIV�Dividend Snapshot

  As of Market Close on May 8, 2014

  Click here to see the complete history of VIV dividends.

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Vivendi (VIV) rose 2.7 percent to 17.15 euros. Music, pay-TV, European cinema and Internet in Brazil will make up a new media group based in France after the split with phone unit SFR, according to a statement yesterday.

Hot Dividend Companies To Watch For 2014: 3M Company(MMM)

3M Company, together with subsidiaries, operates as a diversified technology company worldwide. The company?s Industrial and Transportation segment offers tapes, coated and non-woven abrasives, adhesives, specialty materials, filtration products, energy control products, closure systems for personal hygiene products, acoustic systems products, and components and products that are used in the manufacture, repair, and maintenance of automotive, marine, aircraft, and specialty vehicles. Its Health Care segment provides medical and surgical supplies, skin health and infection prevention products, inhalation and transdermal drug delivery systems, dental and orthodontic products, health information systems, and food safety products. The company?s Display and Graphics offers optical film solutions for LCD electronic displays; computer screen filters; reflective sheeting for transportation safety; commercial graphics sheeting and systems; and mobile interactive solutions, includin g mobile display technology, visual systems products, and computer privacy filters. The company?s Consumer and Office segment provides office supply products, stationery products, construction and home improvement products, home care products, protective material products, certain consumer retail personal safety products, and consumer health care products. Its Safety, Security and Protection Services segment offers personal protection products, safety and security products, cleaning and protection products for commercial establishments, track and trace solutions, and roofing granules for asphalt shingles. The company?s Electro and Communications segment provides packaging and interconnection devices; fluids that are used in the manufacture of computer chips, and for cooling electronics and lubricating computer hard disk drives; high-temperature and display tapes; insulating materials, including tapes and resins; and related items. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  By contrast, you can find many lucrative opportunities in dividend stocks. But rather than focusing on the highest yield you can find -- which often backfires when those companies slash their payouts -- look instead at stocks that have consistently grown their dividends over time. Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG  ) just raised its dividend by 7%, marking the 57th consecutive year that the company has made an increase to its payout rate. Office-products conglomerate 3M (NYSE: MMM  ) has almost as impressive a streak of 55 years of annual dividend increases, with its own 8% raise back in February. Sticking with proven winners like these stocks is a great way to appease your fears of investing near all-time stock market highs.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Companies ramped up for the holiday this week with a slew of dividend increases, as we headed into what is a traditionally a slow period between Christmas and New Year’s. Blue-Chip stocks in particular started handing out dividend sweets early, with aerospace and defense giant Boeing (BA) upping its dividend 50%, while manufacturing conglomerate 3M (MMM) raised its payout by 35%.

• [By Anders Bylund]

  Today, we'll take a closer look at industrial jack-of-all-trades 3M (NYSE: MMM  ) . 3M makes everything from Scotch Tape and Post-its to asphalt shingles and power lines, and that versatility helps the company perform in a variety of market conditions.

• [By Alex Planes]

  3M (NYSE: MMM  ) was formed on June 13, 1902, when five Minnesota businessmen came together to incorporate the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company in the Lake Superior shorefront village of Two Harbors. The five co-founders each contributed $1,000 to build a company that would capitalize on the discovery of "corundum," an extremely tough mineral that could be used in grinding wheels. 3M's formation was a great example of the "move fast and break things" philosophy a century before Facebook introduced the phrase. The company began to sell shares before lining up a single customer.

Hot Dividend Companies To Watch For 2014: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company(RRD)

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company provides pre-media, printing, logistics, and business process outsourcing products and services to private and public sectors worldwide. The company operates primarily in the commercial print portion of the printing industry, with related product and service offerings designed to offer customers solutions for communicating their messages to target audiences. Its products and related service offerings include magazines, catalogs, retail inserts, books, directories, financial print, direct mail, forms, labels, office products, statement printing, pre media, and logistics services. The company also offers business process outsourcing services that comprise transactional print and outsourcing services, statement printing, direct mail, and print management services; and product configuration, customized kitting, and order fulfillment for technology, medical device, and other companies. It distributes its products to end-users through the United Sta tes postal services, retail channels, electronically, or by direct shipment to customer facilities. R.R. Donnelley & Sons was founded in 1864 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Commercial printer R.R. Donnelley (NASDAQ: RRD  ) , also up 28%, yields 7.3%. It sells labels, packaging, and more to the private and public sector and prints many thousands of forms for the SEC, too. Donnelley bought Edgar Online last year. Some have worried about the company's debt load, though it is free-cash-flow positive. (But it has posted net losses in recent years, too.) The company needs to do more digital business to succeed, which explains a recent eBook deal with Harlequin.