Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Third Week of January 2012

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends'. This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets. In flat or choppy markets, you have to be extremely careful, and may need to avoid the technique during those times.

In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable and sortable list of the stocks going ex dividend during the next week or two. The list contains many dividend paying companies, all with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 2%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the market capitalization, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

Comtech Telecomm. Corp. (CMTL) market cap: $594.2M ex div date: 1/18/2012 yield: 3.8%

Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (HIX) market cap: $808.5M ex div date: 1/18/2012 yield: 10.5%

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (ITYBY) market cap: $37.4B ex div date: 1/18/2012 yield: 4.1%

Main Street Capital Corporation (MAIN) market cap: $539.8M ex div date: 1/18/2012 yield: 8.0%

Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust (PMO) market cap: $516.2M ex div date: 1/20/2012 yield: 6.6%

Putnam Premier Income Trust (PPT) market cap: $740.1M ex div date: 1/20/2012 yield: 7.0%

The additional ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the latest link doesn't show up, you may have to empty your cache.) If you like dividend stocks, you should check out the high yield utility stocks and the Monthly Dividend Stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com.

Dividend definitions:

Declaration date: the day that the company declares that there is going to be an upcoming dividend.

Ex-dividend date: the day on which if you buy the stock, you would not be entitled to that particular dividend; or the first day on which a shareholder can sell the shares and still be entitled to the dividend.

Monthly Dividend Stock List
Record date: the day when you must be on the company's books as a shareholder to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is normally set for stocks two business days before the record date.

Payment date: the day on which the dividend payment is actually made, which can be as long at two months after the ex date.

Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

High Yield Stocks Below $10 a Share

Most investors still believe that it is easier to get a better return on lower priced stocks than higher priced stocks. However, it really doesn't make a difference on a generalized basis. Just look at the performance of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) A shares. Fifteen years ago, Berkshire was trading at a high priced 32,150 per share. It has more than tripled in price to 104,000.

Even still, from a psychological standpoint, investors like lower priced shares. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com just updated its list of high yielding stocks under $10 a share. Many of the companies listed are closed end funds, such as the Blackrock Enhanced Dividend Achievers (BDJ), which sports a yield of 9.4% and the Putnam Premier Income Fund (PPT), which pays out a yield of 9.2%.

Yet there are also regular corporations, such as Alaska Communications (ALSK) which provides landline and wireless services to the 49th state, which happens to be the largest state by area. The stock sells for a little over $7 per share, has a forward price to earnings ratio of 19, and pays a yield of 11.8%. The company reports earnings on October 26.

Another example is Provident Energy (PVX) processes, transports, stores, and markets natural gas liquids in the United States and Canada. It sells for a bit over $8 per share, and yields 6.5%. It recently generated negative earnings.

Hercules Technology (HTGC) which is a private equity, venture capital, and venture debt firm, sells for less than $9 per share, has a forward PE of 7.5, and sports a yield of 9.9%.

For a list of more than a dozen stocks that pay yields in excess of 4% and sell for less than $10 per share, go to wsnn.com. Keep in mind, very high yields may not be sustainable and may be indicative of higher risk.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com