UBS Dividend Ruler Portfolio Crushes S&P 500: 4 Stocks to Buy Now

[cnxvideo id=”506324″ placement=”ros”]With interest rates plunging, many investors that used to use money markets in their portfolios for cash, safety and yield have been put in a very bad position. In an attempt to ignite growth, central banks have pushed yields down to all-time lows, forcing investors to look for yield in equities. The two top performing sectors this year are telecommunications and utilities, both of which are now severely overbought, the question is where to look now.

One of the best places we know is the UBS Dividend Rulers portfolio. The analysts focus on stocks with solid dividends that have consistently grown over time, and their performance this year is outstanding. Through the first half, the portfolio is up 7.1% on a total return basis, versus just 3.84% for the S&P 500.

We focused on some of the stocks that underperformed that may be top contrarian buys now. They also are the highest yielding stocks in the group.

Boeing

This top aerospace industrial is still down over 10% since the beginning of the year. 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. The company operates in five segments: Commercial Airplanes, Boeing Military Aircraft, Network & Space Systems, Global Services & Support and Boeing Capital.

Top Wall Street analysts have increased confidence in continuing good demand, and they note that the company has made announcements in the past that support the thesis that the productivity and margins will continue to improve. 787 execution is good as the company works through the backlog, and cash flow looks to be strong with 787 deliveries and C-17 orders. Some Wall Street analysts also point to continued lower oil prices as a bullish indicator for the top carriers who are Boeing’s big customers.

Boeing investors are paid a very solid 3.45% dividend. The Thomson/First Call consensus price target for the stock is $148.28. The shares closed trading on Wednesday at $126.96.

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Intel

This leader in semiconductors is working hard to scale away from dependence on personal computers. Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) designs, manufactures and sells integrated digital technology platforms worldwide. The company’s platforms are used in various computing applications comprising notebooks, two-in-one systems, desktops, servers, tablets, smartphones, wireless and wired connectivity products, wearables, retail devices and manufacturing devices, as well as for retail, transportation, industrial, buildings, home use and other market segments.

The company also provides communication and connectivity offerings, such as baseband processors, radio frequency transceivers and power management integrated circuits, and tablet, phone and Internet of Things solutions, which include multimode 4G LTE modems, Bluetooth technology and GPS receivers, software solutions and interoperability tests, as well as home gateway and set-top box components.

Intel reported an inline first quarter, and lowered the forward outlook. Merrill Lynch stays positive on the company and believes there is solid upside potential for the stock. Some analysts think the restructuring can ultimately translate to $0.23 in annual earnings-per-share savings.

Intel investors are paid a very solid 3.15% dividend. The consensus price target is $35.20, and shares closed most recently at $32.97.

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Invesco

This company is a financial services leader that has strong positions in both equity exchange traded funds (ETFs) and actively managed equity and debt mutual funds. Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ) looks to be very well-positioned to capitalize on inflows into both segments, as well as higher asset prices, as many on Wall Street see a continuation of the six-year bull market.

Invesco PowerShares is the boutique investment management firm that manages a 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. Analysts see the company as one that is best positioned to compete for share given mix, product offerings and attractive relative performance.

Invesco investors are paid a very rich 4.48% dividend. The consensus target is set at $37. The shares closed Wednesday at $24.99.

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Nordstrom

This top retailer has been hit hard and looks like a solid value play at current trading levels. Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN) is one of the leading fashion specialty retailers based in the United States. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, Nordstrom now operates some 260 stores in 35 states, including 117 full-line stores, 140 Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffrey boutiques and one clearance store.

Back in February, Nordstrom raised its dividend by 10%. The company’s strong square footage growth profile and best in-class e-commerce business should drive solid dividend growth going forward. In addition, the company recently announced an expansion of its customer loyalty program, making it even easier for customers to earn $20 Nordstrom Notes. This is a solid move to help maintain long-term customers.

Investors are paid a 3.86% dividend. The consensus price target for the stock is $40.50. Nordstrom closed Wednesday at $38.33.

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Dividend growth is as important as the size of the dividend, and in many cases more important as a metric. Strong cash flows allow companies to consistently raise their dividends, and that is what the UBS team looks for.