With the presumptive candidates for the presidential election in place, one thing investors now need to contemplate is what stocks will do better under a Clinton or a Trump presidency. One thing is for sure, there will be plenty of fireworks before election day on November 8, and the smart thing to do is steer your portfolio toward stocks that will do well regardless of who is the ultimate winner.

With that in mind, we screened the Merrill Lynch research database for dividend paying stocks rated Buy, that have shown long-term success, and have consistently raised their dividends and returned cash to shareholders. We found four that make the list that are outstanding choices.

AT&T

This company had an outstanding first quarter from a stock price standpoint and could be poised to go higher. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is the world’s largest provider of pay TV, with TV customers in the United States and 11 Latin American countries. In the United States, the AT&T wireless network has the nation’s self-described strongest 4G LTE signal and most reliable 4G LTE. The company also helps businesses worldwide serve their customers better with mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.

With its shares trading at a very cheap 12.5 times estimated 2016 earnings, the company continues to expand its user base, and strong product introductions from smartphone vendors have not only driven traffic but increased device financing plans.

AT&T has been focusing on the IP VPN and Ethernet services. This outstanding business model, along with the decline of Verizon’s market share in the arena, has helped the company meaningfully grow its revenues from strategic business services. Apart from taking appropriate technical measures, the company has collaborated with big cloud service providers like Amazon Web Service and data center operators to provide Ethernet connections.

The company reported adjusted first-quarter earnings of $0.72 per share on revenue of $40.5 billion back in April. Its revenue rose 24% from the year-earlier period primarily due to the July 2015 acquisition of DirecTV for $49 billion in equity value. The company added 2.3 million wireless subscribers during the first quarter. About 328,000 of the additions were DirecTV net adds. The company’s Entertainment Group broadband grew with 186,000 IP broadband net adds.

AT&T investors receive a 4.92% dividend. The Merrill Lynch price target for the stock is $42, and the Thomson/First Call consensus estimate is $39.55. Shares closed Friday at $38.99.

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 Mobil is also a very strong company from a financial standpoint. It has an AA+ credit rating and an outstanding debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Exxon Mobil is free cash flow positive, with the company reporting free cash flow of $6.5 billion in 2015 and management cutting the capital expenditures budget for 2016. That is a sound investment to buy and hold forever.

Exxon investors receive a 3.41% dividend. Merrill Lynch recently raised the target price to $96 from $95. The consensus price objective is $84.43. Shares closed on Friday at $88.51.
Nike

This stock was hit hard when a good earnings report came with guidance well below estimates. Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.

Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse, which designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, and Hurley International, which designs, markets and distributes surf and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. With one of the most recognizable brands in the world, long-term investors may do very well adding shares here despite the big move up in the stock this year.

Nike is benefiting from consumer preferences for “athleisure.” With its extensive product line and recognizable worldwide branding, the stock continues to roll year after year. Driven by its digital business as well as inline and factory stores, Nike now anticipates achieving $16 billion in revenue by the end of fiscal year 2020. Over the next five years incremental growth in Nike Brand Direct to Consumer (DTC) revenues is expected to be driven by e-commerce sales, which are projected to grow to $7 billion. The company also expects to drive wholesale growth in the mid-to-high single-digit range over the next five years.

The advantage to owning a consumer discretionary company like Nike is that, plain and simple, athletic apparel and shoes wear out and have to be replaced. With its incredibly powerful brand and huge consumer awareness, people tend to be very loyal and replace worn-out gear with new Nike products. Plus Nike is a truly global business, and international markets are very promising for the company. Sales, excluding currency fluctuations, grew 27% in Greater China and 29% in central and eastern Europe during the quarter that ended in February.

Investors receive a 1.1% dividend. The $72 Merrill Lynch price target compares to a consensus target of $71.32. Nike closed at $58.43 on Friday.

Pfizer

This top pharmaceutical stock still has tremendous upside potential for investors. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has a very strong pipeline, and being the world’s largest drug manufacturer by sales value supports the Wall Street notion that the company can generate higher long-term revenues through the accelerated growth of its new drugs over the next five years.

The Treasury Department announced new rules for corporate tax inversions, which effectively scuttled Pfizer’s deal with Allergan. With the deal over, not only are the risk arbitrage funds buying the stock back, but some felt there was as much as a $5 weight on the stock. Many analysts feel that investors can once again focus on the sum-of-the-parts story, which they feel is very compelling.

Pfizer posted outstanding earnings last week. The reported $13 billion in revenue was a 20% improvement from the prior-year period. Adjusted income improved nearly $1 billion to $4.16 billion as adjusted earnings catapulted higher to $0.67 per share, a 32% year-over-year jump. Wall Street had expected a full $1 billion less in quarterly revenue and only $0.55 EPS. Pfizer absolutely blew away Wall Street estimates, and it also gave huge positive forward guidance.

Pfizer investors receive a 3.57% dividend. The Merrill Lynch price target is $39, and the consensus target is $38.33. Pfizer closed Friday at $33.58.

These stocks should do well for years regardless of who the next president is. They all have incredible franchises, long and mature product silos and, importantly, very strong consumer brand awareness.

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