One thing has become very clear as interest rates have plunged since the beginning of 2016: dividend stocks that were somewhat out-of-favor last year are looking to be much more in vogue this year. With the prospects for more Federal Reserve interest rate increases diminishing as growth and corporate profits slow, the top dividend stocks can offer total return for more conservative accounts.

In a recent research report, the UBS Dividend Ruler portfolio team made some of their first changes for 2016. They added back in a top consumer discretionary stock that offers outstanding dividends and good upside potential. They also removed a utility stock that has performed very well.

Here look at the changes to the portfolio and also highlight the three top-yielding companies.

The analysts removed Dominion Resources Inc. (NYSE: D) from the portfolio, citing a more challenging growth outlook in the near term due to fewer investment opportunities in the natural gas infrastructure segment. The stock also was recently downgraded to Neutral.

It 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 Resources shares closed Monday at $69.15.

British American Tobacco PLC (NYSE: BTI) returned to the portfolio after being removed in December of last year after research coverage was dropped. The company manufactures and sells tobacco products, including cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and cigars, as well as other nicotine products and electronic cigarettes. The company offers its products globally under the Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Viceroy, Kool and many other brands.

The UBS team cites the company’s solid brand portfolio and notes that the products tend to outperform the market and have consistently gained market share. In addition British American Tobacco owns 42% of Reynolds American which owns the Camel and Newport brands.

Shareholders are paid an outstanding 4.11% dividend. The Thomson/First Call consensus price target for the stock is $130.50. The shares closed most recently at $110.44.

Here are the three currently top-yielding companies in the Dividend Ruler portfolio.

Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems and services worldwide. Investors in Boeing are paid a very solid 3.87% dividend. The consensus price target for the stock is $145.37. The shares closed trading on Tuesday at $112.60.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. It designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. As a leader in corporate responsibility and sustainability, Intel also manufactures the world’s first commercially available “conflict-free” microprocessors. The company provides processors for all the Apple desktop and notebooks. Investors are paid a solid 3.61% dividend. The consensus price target is $36.32. Shares closed Tuesday at $28.78.

Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ) is a financial services leader with strong positions in both equity and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Invesco PowerShares is the boutique investment management firm that manages the family of ETFs. The company has been part of Invesco, which markets the PowerShares product, since 2006. The incredible growth and popularity of the product is why many on Wall Street remain so bullish on the stock. Investors receive a very rich 4.04% dividend. The consensus target is $36.06, and shares closed Tuesday at $26.70.

As we have noted in the past, the Dividend Ruler portfolio has far outperformed the S&P 500 on a total return basis since the portfolio’s inception in 2003. For growth and income investors, the UBS stock picks are among the best in the business.

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