Top 5 Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now

According to the National Association of Publicly Traded Partnerships (NAPTP), there are seven publicly traded partnerships engaged in marine transportation. Five of the seven carry the following footnote: ��rganized and headquartered outside the US. Although organized as a partnership, has elected to be taxed as a corporation in the US and will furnish 1099s rather than K-1s. �Some income will be treated as a currently taxable dividend, some as return of capital.��/p>

Table 1. Marine transportation partnerships.

Given the tax advantages of organizing as an MLP, why might a partnership choose to be taxed as a C corporation?

An MLP is required to satisfy the ��ualifying income test,��which generally requires that 90 percent of gross income be derived from natural resource activities. A decision to be treated as a corporation for US federal income tax purposes eliminates the ��ualifying income test,��so that an offshore partnership taxed as a corporation could have assets that would not ordinarily meet the applicable US tax rules for an MLP.

Top Casino Stocks To Own For 2015: Scana Corporation(SCG)

SCANA Corporation and its subsidiaries engage in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity to retail and wholesale customers in South Carolina. It owns nuclear, coal, hydro, oil and gas, and biomass generating facilities. The company also purchases, sells, and transports natural gas; offers energy-related risk management services; acquires, owns, and provides financing for nuclear fuel, fossil fuel, and emission allowances; and offers service contracts on home appliances, and heating and air conditioning units. In addition, SCANA Corporation owns two liquefied natural gas plants, including one located near Charleston, and the other in Salley, South Carolina; and provides tower site construction, management, and rental services in South Carolina and North Carolina. As of December 31, 2010, the company supplied electricity to approximately 660,000 customers; and natural gas to approximately 482,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers i n North Carolina, and 313,500 customers in South Carolina, as well as to approximately 460,000 customers in Georgia. Further, SCANA Corporation owns and operates a 500-mile fiber optic telecommunications network and Ethernet network, and data center facilities in South Carolina. Through a joint venture, it builds, manages, and leases communications towers with interest in 2,280 miles of fiber in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The company?s retail customers comprise municipalities, electric cooperatives, other investor-owned utilities, registered marketers, and federal and state electric agencies. It primarily serves chemicals, educational services, paper products, food products, lumber and wood products, health services, textile manufacturing, rubber and miscellaneous plastic products, and fabricated metal products industries. The company is based in Cayce, South Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Justin Loiseau]

  In March 2012, Southern Company (NYSE: SO  ) received the first construction approval in over 30 years for two new units at its Vogtle plan in Georgia totaling 2,200 MW of electric capacity. SCANA (NYSE: SCG  ) wasn't far behind with approval for two units of its own in South Carolina totaling around 2,100 MW. Southern expects its units to come on line by 2017, while both of SCANA's will power up by 2019.

• [By ovenerio]

  In this article, let's take a look at Scana Corp. (SCG), a $7.05 billion market cap company, which is a South Carolina corporation that is engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to retail and wholesale customers and the purchase, sale and transportation of natural gas to retail customers.

• [By David Dittman]

  SCANA Corp (NYSE: SCG) is the jewel of this set of companies, with an almost-perfect UF Safety Rating. SCANA�� Carolinas-based utilities enjoy favorable regulatory relations and operate in one of the strongest economic regions in the US.

• [By David Dittman]

  Answer: I like NextEra Energy, which has significant renewables exposure and operates in a region with solid economic fundamentals. I also like smaller utes that operate in smaller footprints with solid long-term fundamentals, including Cleco (NYSE: CNL), Pinnacle West, Vectren (NYSE: VVC) and SCANA (NYSE: SCG).

Top 5 Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (LLL)

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, L-3 Communications Corporation, provides command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems; aircraft modernization and maintenance; and government services in the United States and internationally. Its C3ISR segment offers fleet management sustainment and support, such as procurement, systems integration, sensor development, modifications, and periodic depot maintenance for signals intelligence and communications intelligence systems; strategic and tactical signals intelligence systems; secure data links; secure terminal and communication network equipment and encryption management; and communication systems. The company?s Government Services segment provides communication software support, information technology services, and various engineering development services and integration support; engineering and information systems support services; teaching and training; h uman intelligence support services; command and control systems and software services; and technical and management services. Its Aircraft Modernization and Maintenance segment offers modernization and refurbishments, upgrades and sustainment, maintenance, and logistics support services, as well as turnkey aviation life cycle management services for military and various government and commercial customers. The company?s Electronic Systems segment provides components, products, subsystems, systems, and related services across various business areas, including power and control systems, electro-optic/infrared, microwave, simulation and training, precision engagement, warrior systems, security and detection, propulsion systems, avionics and displays, telemetry and advanced technology, undersea warfare, and marine services. L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's tragic that it took a tragedy like last year's shooting at a Newton, Connecticut elementary school to get the ball rolling. Nevertheless, that ball is rolling now, and it's putting companies like L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LLL), View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM), and American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI) in the spotlight. How so? Because VSYM, ASEI, and LLL make the tools that are, unfortunately, going to be the only way to absolutely ensure this nation's public schools are secure, and defended from gunmen like Newton's Adam Lanza.

• [By Vinay Singh] company provides various security solutions in the United States and internationally.

  It has $3.75 per share in cash and enough short-term receivables to take care of its entire long-term debt. Analysts expect $8.34 in EPS for the next fiscal year, and the current stock price is only 9 times that figure, compared to a peer average of 17 times, suggesting L-3 Communications is significantly undervalued.

  Impressively, it has similar margins on both EBITDA and operating cash flow in the low double-digits, and its enterprise value implied by the current stock price is only 6.6 times trailing EBITDA. With a free cash flow margin of around 10%, the company should be able to further increase its cash reserve by $14.25 per share next year. **

  Also, the company recently raised its quarterly dividend by 10% and authorized the repurchase of as much as $1.5 billion of its stock in a bid to boost shareholder returns. It's no wonder the share count has fallen from 122 million in fiscal 2008 to 94 million at the end of 2012, and considering the management's plans on buybacks, this trend should continue.

  Long-term sales growth is where the estimates get tricky. The company faces revenue declines from the winding down of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and defense spending cuts due to the rising focus on deficit reduction.

  Nevertheless, I expect a steady improvement in free cash flow generation. All told, I think L-3 Communications can grow its free cash flow at a 2-4% rate for the long-term. Discounting that back, it suggests a fair value of about $95.

  Raytheon (RTN)

  This company also provides various security solutions in the United States and internationally.

  It has $12.39 per share in cash and a current ratio of 1.57; the company is liquid. Analysts expect $5.44 in EPS for the next fiscal year, and the current stock price is less than 10 times that figure, compared to a peer average of 17 times, suggesting Raytheon is s

Top 5 Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pinnacle West Capital Corporation(PNW)

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the State of Arizona. The company involves in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity through coal, nuclear, gas and oil, and solar resources. It also offers energy-related products and services, such as energy master planning, energy use consultation and facility audits, cogeneration analysis and installation, and project management with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy to commercial and industrial retail customers in the western United States. In addition, the company owns minority interests in various energy-related investments and Arizona community-based ventures; and develops residential, commercial, and industrial real estate projects in Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, and Utah. As of December 31, 2010, it owned or leased approximately 6,290 mega watts of regulated generation capacity; and serviced approximately 1.1 million customers. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation was founded in 1920 and is based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Phoenix-based bank holding company Pinnacle West (PNW) raised its quarterly dividend 4% to 56.75 cents per share, payable on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 1.
  PNW Dividend Yield:�3.91%

• [By David Dittman]

  Pinnacle West Capital Corp (NYSE: PNW) is one of the few US utilities that didn�� benefit from colder winter weather, as heating-degree days for its Arizona Public Service unit declined by 51 percent due to warmer temperatures and transmission revenue dipped, leading to a 36.4 percent drop in first-quarter earnings per share to $0.14.

• [By David Dittman]

  Early solar movers have subtracted rate-payers, which eats at revenue. Utilities must continue to invest in infrastructure, and that requires rate increases. But higher electricity rates make solar installation seem less expensive, raising incentives to go solar and further eroding the rate-payer base. It’s a potentially vicious cycle for utilities.
  Arizona regulators recently ruled that Pinnacle West Capital Corp (NYSE: PNW) can charge customers who install solar panels a fee based on their continued reliance on the grid, a trend that could have legs around the US.

• [By Roger Conrad]

  Palo Verde is majority owned and operated by Arizona's Pinnacle West (PNW), itself a takeover target, though its larger size ($5.81 billion market capitalization), will likely require a bigger buyer.

Top 5 Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Illinois Tool Works Inc.(ITW)

Illinois Tool Works Inc. manufactures a range of industrial products and equipment worldwide. The company?s Transportation segment offers metal and plastic components, fasteners, and assemblies; fluids and polymers; fillers and putties; polyester coatings, and patch and repair products; and truck remanufacturing and related parts and service. Its Industrial Packaging segment offers steel and plastic strapping and related tools and equipment; plastic stretch film and related equipment; paper and plastic products that protect goods in transit; and metal jacketing products. The company?s Food Equipment segment provides warewashing, cooking, refrigeration, and food processing equipment; and kitchen exhaust, ventilation, and pollution control systems. Its Power Systems & Electronics segment provides arc welding equipment; metal arc welding consumables; metal solder materials for PC board fabrication; equipment and services for microelectronics assembly; electronic components an d component packaging; and airport ground support equipment. The company?s Construction Products segment offers anchors, fasteners, and related fastening tools for wood, metal, and concrete applications; metal plate truss components, and related equipment and software; and packaged hardware and other products for retail. Its Polymers & Fluids segment provides adhesives, chemical fluids, epoxy and resin-based coating products, hand wipes and cleaners, and pressure-sensitive adhesives and components. The company?s Decorative Surfaces segment offers laminate for furniture, office and retail space, and countertops; and laminate flooring and worktops. In addition, the company offers plastic reclosable packages and bags, and consumables; plastic and metal fasteners, and components; foil and film products; product coding and marking, paint spray, and static and contamination control equipment; and swabs and mats. The company was founded in 1912 and is based in Glenview, Illinois. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividend]

  Illinois Tool Works (ITW) has a market capitalization of $33.02 billion. The company employs 60,000 people, generates revenue of $17.924 billion and has a net income of $2.495 billion. Illinois Tool Works�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization amounts to $3.462 billion. The EBITDA margin is 19.31 percent (the operating margin is 15.88 percent and the net profit margin 13.92 percent).

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Illinois Tool Works: Industrial products and equipment supplier Illinois Tool Works (ITW) saw earnings fall 7% between 2008-09, but that was a pretty rough period for most companies across the board. And since then, ITW has bounced back to crank out earnings gains in every fiscal year since. Product diversity helps keep ITW on an even path; from arc-welding equipment to plastic and metal components for transportation needs, ITW holds more than 20,000 patents, and is an innovation machine. It’s also a dividend machine, offering up 39 consecutive years of dividend increases. ITW currently yields 2.2%.

• [By Lee Samaha]

  It's no secret that 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM  ) is one of the best run companies in North America, and it's also no secret that the company's stock valuation of 20 times current earnings is hardly cheap. The company is best understood as a play on global industrial growth, and in this sense it's useful to compare it to other industrial stalwarts, such as�Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW  ) and Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR  ) . With�this in mind, investors need to ask themselves what 3M needs to do to make it a good value.