With the probable feature card set for the fight for the presidency, one thing is for sure. Americans will be blitzed again from now until November with political rhetoric that likely will prove to be mind-numbing. While historically candidates from both parties have tended to tack more toward the center after they secure the nomination, that won’t stop them from saying bombastic things that could prompt market volatility.

With interest rates remaining low, and the odds for an interest rate hike in June only 10%, there is a good chance that the Federal Reserve will try to remain cautious until after the election. The probability of a hike in September is only 35%, so there is a fair chance they won’t raise until December, after things have been settled.

We screened the Merrill Lynch research database for safe stocks rated Buy that pay solid dividends and that likely wouldn’t be affected regardless of who wins the election. We found four that make good sense for investors to consider now.

Exxon Mobil

This company remains one of Merrill Lynch’s top 10 picks for 2016. Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) is an energy sector play that the Merrill Lynch analysts are very positive on long-term, as the overall corporate strength of the massive integrated giant plays a significant part in the company’s usually solid earnings reporting pattern and in maintaining dividend coverage.

The company’s global downstream chemical segment plays a huge part for Exxon. It may be a part that many on Wall Street don’t fully appreciate as the segment contributes an estimated 16% of overall total revenue. Some very solid reasons for adding the stock to a long-term growth portfolio are that the company has consistently demonstrated disciplined investing, operational excellence and technological innovation.

Exxon investors are paid a very sizable 3.41% dividend. Merrill Lynch recently raised its price target for the stock to $96 from $95. The Thomson/First Call consensus price objective is $84.43, but shares closed on Thursday at $88.04.

Kraft Heinz

This top consumer staple stock makes good sense for nervous investors and is another of the Merrill Lynch top 10 ideas for 2016. Kraft Heinz Co. (NYSE: KHC) is the third-largest food and beverage company in North America and the fifth-largest in the world, with eight $1 billion or more brands. A globally trusted producer of delicious foods, Kraft Heinz provides high quality, great taste and nutrition for all eating occasions, whether at home, in restaurants or on the go. The company’s iconic brands include Kraft, Heinz, ABC, Capri Sun, Classico, Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Lunchables, Maxwell House, Ore-Ida, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Planters, Plasmon, Quero, Weight Watchers Smart Ones and Velveeta.

Consumer staples are expected to continue to continue to do well this year, and this is one of the top companies in the sector. The company reported very solid first-quarter earnings this week, and analysts across Wall Street are generally bullish on the potential for solid earnings continuing through 2016.

Kraft Heinz shareholders are paid a tasty 2.8% dividend. The Merrill Lynch price target was raised to $90 from $85, and the consensus target is at even higher at $90.29. The stock closed most recently at $82.97, up almost 4% on the day.
Procter & Gamble

This stock is trading at the same level it was this time last year, in part because the company has a very large 65% of sales directed to foreign customers. That should improve as the dollar’s run looks to be slowing. Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) is a solid consumer staples stock especially for conservative investors to consider. The company sells lots of run-of-the-mill household items that are essential for everyday life, and it is not content to rest on its laurels.

The company is innovative in its product development process and uses that to help ensure future growth and cash flow. This should provide investors years of steady growth and dividends. While currency headwinds have weighed on recent earnings and projections, the dollar may be topping out this fall, and that would bode well for the future.

The company posted very solid fourth-quarter results in January and, despite earning expectations that have been lowered somewhat, Merrill Lynch feels comfortable that the stock can continue the current positive momentum.

Procter & Gamble shareholders are paid a very solid 3.3% dividend. Merrill Lynch has as $89 price target, and the consensus target is posted at $84.79. The stock closed Thursday at $81.30 per share.

PPL

This is utility the Merrill Lynch team remains positive on. PPL Corp. (NYSE: PPL) serves 321,000 natural gas and 397,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and 543,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. The company also provides electric delivery services to approximately 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania and operates electricity distribution network for the Midlands, South West, and Wales in the United Kingdom.

In addition, the company offers a range of customer-care and back-office services to competitive retail energy suppliers, including customer enrollments; contract management; electronic data exchange; simple and complex billing; and call center operations comprising telemarketing, payment processing and collections of overdue accounts.

PPL is one of the leading utility companies in the United States that plans to continue to increase regulated operations and lower earnings volatility attached to competitive operations. The company raised cash and lowered debt late last year by selling some hydroelectric assets to NorthWestern energy.

PPL investors receive a solid dividend that comes in at 3.3%.The Merrill Lynch price target for the stock is $40, and the consensus target is $39.57. Shares of PPL closed Thursday at $38.32.

Thursday, stocks were all over the board, and that could be a blueprint for the rest of the year. However, buying safe, dividend-paying stocks is a smart way to stay invested and generate income without taking an inordinate amount of risk.

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