5 Best Dividend Stocks For 2014

We saw some choppy early this morning, with the major indices mixed as we headed towards the afternoon. The release of disappointing Consumer Confidence and Retail Sales data brought about a bit of tepid sentiment from investors and traders. However, by the close, stocks were still able to edge out some gains.

Stocks on the Rise

Among the stocks in positive territory today were: Reynolds America (RAI), after it announced that it would be offering $1.1 billion in bonds; Amgen (AMGN), after its VP of Investor Relations hinted at meaningful dividend increases over the next two years; Dunkin Brands (DNKN), extending yesterday’s gains following the announcement that it would be entering the U.K. market; and Philip Morris International (PM), adding to its gains following yesterday’s dividend increase announcement.

5 Best Dividend Stocks For 2014: Eaton Corporation(ETN)

Eaton Corporation operates as a power management company worldwide. It provides electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution, and control; hydraulics components, systems, and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics, and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain, and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy, and safety. The company also manufactures screw-in cartridge valves, custom-engineered hydraulic valves, and manifold systems; and electrical and electromechanical systems. In addition, it designs, manufactures, and distributes intake and exhaust valves for diesel and gasoline engines; supplies electrical components for commercial and residential building applications and industrial controls for industrial equipment applications; and manufactures human machine interfaces, programmable logic controllers, and input/output devices. Further, the company also operates a s a provider of customized enclosures, rack systems, and air-flow management systems to store, power, and secure mission-critical IT data center electronics; and manufacturer, distributor, and service provider of single-phase and three-phase uninterruptible power supply systems. Eaton Corporation was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  In the mid-cap growth portfolio, Argus is recommending that investors add Eaton Corp. PLC (NYSE: ETN) at $66.00 for some 2.6% of the portfolio. It is selling 100% of its position in Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NASDAQ: GT) at $18.75. Since inclusion in July 2012, Goodyear shares appreciated 69%. Argus said of Eaton”

5 Best Dividend Stocks For 2014: Intel Corporation(INTC)

Intel Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of integrated circuits for computing and communications industries worldwide. It offers microprocessor products used in notebooks, netbooks, desktops, servers, workstations, storage products, embedded applications, communications products, consumer electronics devices, and handhelds. The company also provides system on chip products that integrate its core processing functionalities with other system components, such as graphics, audio, and video, onto a single chip. In addition, it offers chipset products that send data between the microprocessor and input, display, and storage devices, including keyboard, mouse, monitor, hard drive, and CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drives; motherboards designed for desktop, server, and workstation platforms, and that has connectors for attaching devices to the bus; and wired and wireless connectivity products consisting of network adapters and embedded wireless cards used to translate and transmit data across networks. Further, the company provides NAND flash memory products primarily used in portable memory storage devices, digital camera memory cards, and solid-state drives; software products comprising operating systems, middleware, and tools used to develop, run, and manage various enterprise, consumer, embedded, and handheld devices; and software development tools that enable the creation of applications. Additionally, it develops computing platforms, which are integrated hardware and software computing technologies designed to offer an optimized solution. The company sells its products principally to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, PC components and other products users, and other manufacturers of industrial and communications equipment. It has a strategic alliance with Scientific Conservation Inc. Intel Corporation was founded in 1968 and is based in Santa Clara, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Bleeker, CFA, Jason Moser, and Chris Hill]

  Gartner predictions show Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) Android devices overtaking Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) Windows last year in terms of units shipped, and Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) iOS and Mac devices in a dead heat with Windows devices by 2014. While these numbers can be notoriously unreliable, they point toward the future of looking at "computing devices" rather than PCs versus smartphones. Already, Apple sees 50% higher profits than Microsoft and�Intel� (NASDAQ: INTC  ) -- the keystones of the PC industry -- combined.�

• [By Steve Heller]

  The first Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) Bay Trail benchmarks are out, and it's looking like the ARM Holdings (NASDAQ: ARMH  ) competition should be a little concerned. Bay Trail is Intel's upcoming Atom processor that will eventually make its way into a slew of premium smartphones and tablets later this year.

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) rose 0.6 percent in Germany after South Korean military leaders indicated its F-35 provided the best defense against North Korea�� growing nuclear threat. Gap Inc. slipped 1.6 percent after it maintained an annual profit forecast range, signaling that the holiday-shopping quarter may fall short of analysts��estimates. Intel Corp. (INTC) lost 1.5 percent in early New York trading after projecting sales in 2014 will be about the same as this year.

• [By Matt Thalman]

  Another Dow loser today was Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) , as shares declined 0.38% this afternoon. Based on the most recent data available, the stock has, once again, taken the top spot on the Dow's most shorted stock list. The previous number one spot was held by Alcoa, which now sits in the fourth spot. Year to date, Intel is up 15.91%, just short of the Dow's 18.01% rise. While some investors have bought into the idea that Intel is now a legitimate contender in the mobile chip market, others still feel the company has too much exposure to PCs, and has not advanced its mobile offerings enough to take a meaningful amount of the mobile market share.�

Top 10 Safest Companies To Invest In Right Now: Investors Real Estate Trust(IRET)

Investors Real Estate Trust, a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the ownership and operation of income-producing real estate properties in the United States. It owns multi-family residential properties and commercial office, medical, industrial, and retail properties located primarily in the upper midwest states of Minnesota and North Dakota. As of April 30, 2008, the company operated a real estate portfolio of 72 multi-family residential; 65 office; 48 medical; 17 industrial; and 33 retail properties. Investors Real Estate Trust has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As a REIT, the trust is not subject to federal corporate income taxes, if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in Minot, North Dakota with additional offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Omaha, Nebraska; and Kansas City, Kansas, and St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  Here are five of the best.

  Investors Real Estate Trust (IRET)

  Real estate investment trusts (REITs) have garnered much attention from investors seeking income in our low interest rate environment. Energy investors may want to hone in on them as well. Specifically, Investors Real Estate Trust (IRET).

5 Best Dividend Stocks For 2014: PetroChina Company Limited(PTR)

PetroChina Company Limited produces and distributes oil and gas in the People?s Republic of China. It operates in four segments: Exploration and Production, Refining and Chemicals, Marketing, and Natural Gas and Pipeline. The Exploration and Production segment explores, develops, produces, and markets crude oil and natural gas, oilsands, and coalbed methane. As of December 31, 2010, it had 11,278 million barrels of proved reserves of crude oil; and 65,503 billion cubic feet of proved reserves of natural gas. The Refining and Chemicals segment engages in the refining of crude oil and petroleum products; and production and marketing of petrochemical products, derivative petrochemical products, and other chemical products. This segment?s product line comprises processed crude oil, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, ethylene, synthetic resins, synthetic fiber materials, polymers, synthetic rubber, and urea. The Marketing segment involves in the marketing of refined products and tradi ng businesses. It operated 17,996 service stations. The Natural Gas and Pipeline segment engages in the transmission of natural gas, crude oil, and refined products; and the sale of natural gas. It had a total length of 56,840 kilometers (km) of oil and gas pipelines, including 32,801 km of natural gas pipelines, 14,782 km of crude oil pipelines, and 9,257 km of refined product pipelines. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China. PetroChina Company Limited is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong stocks inched lower early Friday, with mainland Chinese banks and energy shares among the weak spots. The Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) lost 0.1% to 22,824.44, with the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index down 0.4%, even as the Shanghai Composite (CN:SHCOMP) rose 0.1%. Concerns about the fiscal health of the top mainland lenders loomed again over the shares, with Bank of China Ltd. (HK:3988) (BACHY) down 0.9%, Bank of Communications Co. (HK:3328) (BKFCF) 1.3% lower, and China Construction Bank Corp. (HK:939) (CICHF) off 0.7%. In the energy sector, Cnooc Ltd. (HK:883) (CEO) gave up 0.9% after posting a 17% gain in third-quarter revenue but not reporting its profit for the period. Its peers also lost ground, as China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (HK:386) (SNP) and PetroChina Co. (HK:857) (PTR) fell 1% apiece. On the upside, China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd. (HK:762) (CHU) added 1.6% after announcing a gain of more than 50% for its quarterly profit compared to a year earlier. Rival China Mobile Ltd. (HK:941

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  Surprisingly, our energy boom could help China, but not in the way you might think. The energy sector in the U.S. has been an incubator for innovative drilling techniques and technologies over the past few years. Now we have a near monopoly on the technology. Like the U.S., China has massive shale gas deposits, and the technology we possess could help them develop domestic sources and allow them to become more energy self-sufficient. We're starting to see it happen. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A  ) has signed a deal with PetroChina (NYSE: PTR  ) to spend $1 billion a year to develop shale resources there. Also, fracking�specialists�Haliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) and Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) are partnering with various Chinese companies to supply the country with hydraulic fracturing equipment and specialty fluids.�

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  It was recently disclosed that Buffett had invested billions in Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM). Previous purchases include ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) and PetroChina (NYSE: PTR), among others. Buffett sold out of PetroChina and recently reduced his position in ConocoPhillips.

5 Best Dividend Stocks For 2014: CRB Futures Index(CR)

Crane Co. manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States and internationally. The company operates in five segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Engineered Materials, Merchandising Systems, Fluid Handling, and Controls. The Aerospace & Electronics segment offers pressure, fuel flow, and position sensors and subsystems; brake control systems; coolant, lube and fuel pumps; and seat actuation products. This segment also provides power supplies and custom microelectronics for aerospace, defense, medical, and other applications; and electrical power components, power management products, electronic radio frequency, and microwave frequency components and subsystems for the defense, space, and military communications markets. The Engineered Materials segment manufactures fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels for the truck trailer and recreational vehicle markets, industrial markets, and the commercial construction industry. The Merchandising Systems segmen t offers vending solutions, such as food, snack, and beverage vending machines; and vending machine software and online solutions, as well as payment solutions, including coin accepters and dispensers, coin hoppers, coin recyclers, bill validators, and bill recyclers. The Fluid Handling segment manufactures and sells various industrial and commercial valves and actuators; provides valve testing, parts, and services; manufactures and sells pumps and water purification solutions; distributes pipe, pipe fittings, couplings, and connectors; and designs, manufactures, and sells corrosion-resistant plastic-lined pipes and fittings. The Controls segment produces ride-leveling, air-suspension control valves for heavy trucks and trailers; pressure, temperature, and level sensors; ultra-rugged computers, measurement and control systems, and intelligent data acquisition products; and water treatment equipment. Crane Co. was founded in 1855 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Engineered industrial products manufacturer Crane (NYSE: CR  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.30 per share, a 7% increase in the payout it made to investors of $0.28 per share.�

• [By Howard Gold]

  In recent years, Congress has passed continuing resolutions (CR) instead of formal budgets to fund the government. The latest runs out on October 1, which is when fiscal year 2014 begins. Without that funding, the government would begin shutting down.