Hot Retail Stock Added as UBS Makes Big Changes to Dividend Ruler List

With traders and investors still split on whether the Federal Reserve will raise rates next month after mixed Fed meeting minutes were released this week, the UBS portfolio managers continue to make changes to the Dividend Ruler stocks in an effort to get solid total return stocks in the portfolio. Here are the changes to the portfolio, as well as the current four top yielding stocks. It’s important to remember that the UBS Dividend Ruler stocks have outperformed on a total return basis the S&P 500 significantly since inception in 2003.

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) makes its debut on the list, and the stock is already on the UBS Consumer Discretionary Most Preferred list. The UBS analysts cite the fact that home improvement spending continues to stand out within the U.S. retail sales categories, and domestic household formation has meaningfully improved over the past six to 12 months. That is in addition to a spike in new home construction. The analysts also point out that very solid revenue growth, combined with reduced capital expenditure plans, has led to an acceleration in free cash flow supporting strong capital return to shareholders.

Home Depot shareholders are paid a 1.92% dividend. The Thomson/First Call price target for the stock is $129.83. The shares closed Thursday at $120.54.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) was removed from the list. The UBS analysts continue to like the company and point out that they expect it to continue to maintain a progressive dividend policy, but they are concerned about growing competition and slowing earnings momentum. Its shares closed Thursday at $98.79.

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Here are the current four highest yielding stocks in the portfolio.

Dominion Resources

Many of the Wall Street firms that we cover are becoming more positive on utilities again after this year’s underperformance. Dominion Resources Inc. (NYSE: D) is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 24,600 megawatts of generation and 6,455 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation’s largest natural gas storage systems, with 928 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves utility and retail energy customers in 13 states.

Dominion investors are paid a solid 3.4% dividend. The UBS price target for the stock is $79, the same as the consensus target. The stock closed Thursday at $75.72.

Intel

This stock could be poised for a very solid last half of the year. Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) is a technology company regarded as having among the highest shareholder cash returns, at approximately 8%, but it has lagged high-growth specialty chip stocks. The iconic chip giant had a stellar 2014 on the tailwind from continued personal computer sales, but this year has been a far different story. That is why a new product and a new focus at Intel beyond the PC world is positive for the company going forward.

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Intel investors are paid a solid 3.4% dividend. UBS has a $36.50 target price, and the consensus price objective is $33.34. Shares closed Thursday at $27.53.

Occidental Petroleum

This stock is another top energy stock that comes in as a high-yielding domestic stock in the energy sector. Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: OXY) announced last year it will continue to grow dividends and expects to begin buying back more shares this year and beyond, a double plus for shareholders. Analysts feel that the company still faces the rebounding oil price correction with the strongest balance sheet in the sector, with net cash at year end 2014 was estimated at around $1.7 billion, and a whopping $11 per share of cash available for buy backs. With chemicals and other products helping to blunt the drop in oil, Occidental is well positioned to continue to ride out the storm.

This is also another company taking advantage of huge cost savings. In fact, capital expenditures are expected to fall from $1.7 billion to $1 billion by the end of the year. Occidental shareholders are paid an outstanding 4.26% dividend. The consensus target is $82.22. The stock closed on Thursday at $70.47.

PepsiCo

This top consumer staples stock fits the bill. PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP), a global snack and beverage company, manufactures and markets salty and convenient snacks, carbonated and noncarbonated beverages, and foods. Divisions were restated in 2008 to include Pepsi Americas Foods (including Frito-Lay), Pepsi Americas Beverages and Pepsi International. Key foreign sales exposures include the United Kingdom, Mexico, India and China. Brands include Pepsi Cola, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Tropicana, Frito-Lay, Quaker, SoBe and Aquafina.

PepsiCo investors are paid a very solid 2.85% dividend. The consensus price target is $105.67. The stock closed Thursday at $97.98.

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These stock picks make a ton of sense for investors wanting to stay long the equity markets, but worried about the current market status. Rotating from higher beta and volatility momentum companies to these solid dividend-paying growth companies is a good move now.