Top High Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now

With the stock market continuing to surge, it has become more of a challenge to find stocks trading at attractive valuations. One group that recently caught our eye is the major integrated oil companies. �

Most of the stocks in this group have underperformed the S&P 500 Index over the past year, many by a significant margin. These stocks have the added benefit of paying relatively high dividends.

Although they may be market laggards at the moment, we like the long-term prospects for the big oil companies.� Demand for oil (and natural gas, which many of them produce in addition to oil) is likely to keep rising for the foreseeable future, particularly in the developing countries. �

Top Quality Companies To Buy For 2015: Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (PBR.A)

Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (Petrobras) is a Brazilian integrated oil and gas company. It operates in five segments: exploration and production; refining, commercialization and transport of oil and natural gas; petrochemicals; distribution of derivatives, electrical energy, biofuels and other renewable energy sources. Directly or through its subsidiaries, Petrobras is engaged in the research, extraction, refining, processing, commercialization and transport of oil from wells, shales and other rocks, its derivatives, natural gas and other liquid hydrocarbons, as well as in activities related to energy, promoting research, development, production, transport, distribution and commercialization of all forms of energy. As of December 31, 2010, it had 132 production platforms, 16 refineries, 291 vessels, 29,398 kilometers of pipelines, six biofuel plants, 16 thermoelectric plants, one pilot wind farm, 8,477 service stations and two fertilizer plants, as well as presence in 30 countries.

Exploration and Production

The domestic oil and gas exploration and production efforts are focused on the three basins offshore in Southeastern Brazil: Campos, Espirito Santo and Santos. The Campos Basin, which covers approximately 115,000 square kilometers (28.4 million acres) is the oil and gas basin in Brazil. At December 31, 2009, the Company was producing from 41 fields at an average rate of 1,693.6 mbbl/d of oil and held proved crude oil reserves representing 90% of the total proved crude oil reserves in Brazil. At December 31, 2009, the Company held proved natural gas reserves in the Campos Basin representing 53% of the total proved natural gas reserves in Brazil. It operated 38 floating production systems, 14 fixed platforms and 5,472 kilometers (3,400.3 miles) of pipeline and flexible pipes in water depths from 80 to 1,886 meters (262 to 6,188 feet). At December 31, 2009, the Company held exploration rights to 21 blocks in the Campos Basin, comprising 5884 square kilometers (1.4 millio! n acres)..

Petrobras have made discoveries of light oil and natural gas in the Espirito Santo Basin, which covers approximately 75000 square kilometers (18.5 million acres) offshore and 14,000 square kilometers (3.5 million acres) onshore. At December 31, 2009, the Company was producing from 46 fields at an average rate of 40.9 thousand barrels per day (mbbl/d) and held proved crude oil reserves, representing 1% of the total proved crude oil reserves in Brazil. On December 31, 2009, the Company held exploration rights to 23 blocks, six onshore and 17 offshore, comprising 8623 square kilometers (2.1 million acres).

The Santos Basin covers approximately 348,900 square kilometers (86 million acres) off the city of Santos, in the State of Sao Paulo. At December 31, 2009, the Company produced oil from two fields and one exploration area at an average rate of 14.4 mbbl/d and held proved crude oil reserves representing 1% of the total proved crude oil reserves in Brazil. It produces hydrocarbons and hold exploration acreage in eight other basins in Brazil.

Refining, Transportation and Marketing

As of December 31, 2009, the Company operated 92% of Brazil�� total refining capacity and supplied almost all of the refined product needs of third-party wholesalers, exporters and petrochemical companies. As of December 31, 2009, the Company owned and operated 11 refineries in Brazil, with a total net distillation capacity of 1,942 mbbl/d. It operates an infrastructure of pipelines and terminals and a shipping fleet to transport oil products and crude oil to domestic and export markets. The refineries are located near the crude oil pipelines, storage, facilities, refined product pipelines and petrochemical facilities, facilitating access to crude oil supplies and other users.The segment also includes petrochemical and fertilizer operations. As at December 31, 2009, the refining capacity in Brazil was 1,942 mbbl/d and the average throughput was 1,791 mbbl/d.

T! he Company owns and operates a network of crude oil and oil products pipelines in Brazil that connect the terminals, refineries and other primary distribution points. On December 31, 2009, the onshore and offshore, crude oil and oil products pipelines extended 13,996 kilometers (8,698 miles). It operates 27 marine storage terminals and 20 other tank farms with nominal aggregate storage capacity of 65 million barrels. The marine terminals handle an average 10,000 tankers annually.

The Company operates a fleet of owned and chartered vessels. It provides shuttle services between the producing basins offshore Brazil and the Brazilian mainland, domestic shipping and international shipping to other parts of South America, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, Europe, West Africa and the Middle East. The fleet includes double-hulled vessels and single-hulled vessels, which operate in South America and Africa only.

Distribution

The distribution segment sells oil products, which are produced by the supply operations. At December 31, 2009, the BR network included 7,221 service stations, or 19.2% of the stations in Brazil. The Company supplies and operates Petrobras Distribuidora S.A., which accounts for 38% of the total Brazilian distribution market. BR distributes oil products, ethanol and biodiesel, and vehicular natural gas to retail, commercial and industrial customers. In 2009, BR sold the equivalent of 767.4 mbbl/d of oil products and other fuels to wholesale and retail customers.

The Company also distributes oil products and biofuels under the BR brand to commercial and industrial customers. The customers include aviation, transportation and industrial companies, as well as utilities and government entities. It also sells oil products produced by the Supply operations to other retailers and to wholesalers.

Gas and Power

The natural gas business includes four activities: transportation (building and operating natural gas pipel! ine netwo! rks in Brazil), acquisition and regasification of LNG, equity participation in distribution companies, which sell natural gas to the users, and commercialization (purchase and resale). In January 2009, the Company completed construction of two LNG terminals, one in Rio de Janeiro with a send-out capacity of 20 mmm3 /d (706 mmcf/d).

International

The Company have operations in 24 countries outside Brazil, which encompasses all phases of the energy business. It is focusing the international upstream activities in the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. During 2009, the Company conducted exploration and production activities in 21 countries outside Brazil (Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, the United States, India, Iran, Libya, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Senegal, Tanzania, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela). At December 31, 2009, the total assets of the International Segment represented 7.4% of the Company�� total assets.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rudy Martin]

  In addition, we recommend buying shares in Brazilian energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras S.A. (PBR.A).

  Despite a gradual rise in crude oil prices, problems with Brazil's economy, compounded by obstacles in Petrobras's scramble to finance significant on-shore and off-shore hydrocarbon discoveries, have ganged up to erode PBR.A's stock price this year.

Top High Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Perrigo Company PLC (PRGO)

Perrigo Company plc, incorporated on March 23, 1988, is a global healthcare supplier that develops, manufactures and distributes over-the-counter (OTC) and generic prescription (Rx) pharmaceuticals, infant formulas, nutritional products, animal health, dietary supplements, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and medical diagnostic products, and Multiple Sclerosis drug Tysabri. The Company�� businesses include Consumer Healthcare, Nutritionals, Rx Pharmaceuticals, API, Life Sciences and Other Businesses. The Company offers Healthcare Products across a range of product categories primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Israel and Australia, and distributes into dozens of other markets worldwide, including Canada, China and Latin America. In February 2014, the Company announced that it has acquired a basket of value-brand OTC products sold in Australia and New Zealand from Aspen Global Inc.

The Company operates through several wholly owned subsidiaries. In the United States, its operations are conducted primarily through L. Perrigo Company, Perrigo Company of South Carolina, Inc., Perrigo New York, Inc., PBM Products, LLC, PBM Nutritionals, LLC, Paddock Laboratories, LLC, Perrigo Diabetes Care, LLC (formerly CanAm Care, LLC), Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. and Fidopharm, Inc. Outside the United States, its operations are conducted primarily through Perrigo Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Chemagis Ltd., Quimica y Farmacia S.A. de C.V., Laboratorios Diba, S.A., Wrafton Laboratories Limited, Galpharm Healthcare Ltd., Orion Laboratories Pty Ltd and Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Consumer Healthcare

Perrigo Consumer Healthcare (CHC) operation includes the Company's United States, United Kingdom and Mexico manufacturing operations supporting the sale of OTC pharmaceutical products. Perrigo CHC supplies more than 15 categories and 500 formulas and offers analgesics, cough and cold remedies, and gastrointestinal and feminine hygiene products, as w! ell as vitamins, dietary supplements and nutritional drinks. Perrigo offers a range of products, such advertised brand products as Tylenol, Advil or One-A-Day. Tylenol has acetaminophen as an active ingredient and is available in stores' analgesic (pain reliever) aisle. Store-brand acetaminophen is located next to the national brand, offering the same active ingredient (acetaminophen) and the same pain relief.

Perrigo Nutritionals

Perrigo is a manufacturer of nutrition products for the store brand market. Nutrition products include infant formula, pediatric nutritionals and vitamins, minerals, and supplements. Acquired by Perrigo, Perrigo Nutritionals, formerly PBM Products, LLC, had introduced private-label, or store-brand infant formulas to the United States. Perrigo Nutritionals is the supplier of store-brand infant formulas and nutrition products. With distribution to major retailers, Perrigo Nutritional products can be found in more than 40,000 retail locations around the world. Its pediatric nutritionals business extends its offerings to children well beyond infancy. Its baby cereals, toddler foods, and pediatric nutritional drinks are available as store brands at various retail locations throughout the United States and the international community. Perrigo manufactures a range of vitamins, minerals, and supplements, in every major segment of the business. Marketed under the store brand labels of the retailers in the food, drug, mass-merchandise and wholesale club channels, it manufactures over 395 formulas of dietary supplements. Its brands include Centrum, One-A-Day, Flintstones, and Osteo-Bi-Flex.

Rx Pharmaceuticals

The Company�� Rx Pharmaceuticals business is focused on the development, manufacture and sale of generic prescription drug products, primarily for the United States market. Manufacturing operations are based in the United States and Israel. Perrigo's portfolio focuses on complex, high-barrier ophthalmological, topical foam and or! al liquid! formulations. Its products include Acetylcysteine Injection 200 mg/mL (6g/30mL), Acetylcysteine Injection 6 g/30 mL (200 mg/1 mL), NOVAPLUS, ACTIDOSE with SORBITOL, ACTIDOSE-AQUA, ASPIRIN SUPPOSITORIES USP, Bacitracin Ophthalmic Ointment USP, Belladonna and Opium Suppositories C-II, BENZOIN COMPOUND TINCTURE USP, Benzoyl Peroxide 10% Acne Medication Wash, CLOBETASOL PROPIONATE LOTION 0.05% and Docusate Sodium.

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Primarily through the Company�� Israel-based business, Perrigo develops, manufactures and markets the complex chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients used worldwide by the generic drug industry. Certain of these ingredients are also used in Perrigo's own pharmaceutical products. It manufactures API at facilities in Israel, India and China. Perrigo API specializes in tailor-made research and process development of APIs and Finished Dosage Forms (FDFs).

Life Sciences

Through the Company�� Israel-based business, Perrigo markets and manufactures branded prescription drugs and medical diagnostic products through exclusive agreements with pharmaceutical companies. Its Pharmaceutical and Medical Diagnostic Products businesses also market and manufacture branded prescription drugs under licenses. Other pharmaceutical and medical diagnostics products are imported to Israel through exclusive agreements. Products in life sciences segment include TYSABRI and ELND005. TYSABRI (natalizumab) is indicated for treatment of: Multiple Sclerosis: as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to delay the accumulation of physical disability and reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. TYSABRI is recommended for patients who have had an inadequate response to, or are unable to tolerate, an alternate MS therapy; Crohn�� Disease (CD): Inducing and maintaining clinical response and remission in adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn�� disease with e! vidence o! f inflammation who have had an inadequate response to, or are unable to tolerate, conventional CD therapies and inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-伪.

Other

Perrigo's Pharmaceutical and Medical Diagnostic Products business markets and manufactures branded prescription drugs under licenses. Other pharmaceutical and medical diagnostic products are imported to Israel through exclusive agreements with pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies. This business is divided into two departments: Pharma-Israel and Tayco Diagnostics. Pharma-Israel operates in the Israeli market as a partner in the marketing, sales and distribution of Rx (dermatology, gastroenterology, blood products, CNS, urology and other fields), OTC, generics, branded generics, dermo-cosmetics and dietary supplements. Tayco, the diagnostics division of Perrigo-Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd., specializes in marketing and sales of medical laboratory systems, reagents, accessories and consumables. It also markets self-monitoring medical devices for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. The division operates throughout Israel to service the central laboratory, hospital, clinic, point of care and self-testing markets. Its activities in the medical and research fields in Israel cover all market segments: medical (private and public health services), research institutions and the biotech industry.

The Company competes with Dr. Reddy�� Laboratories, Ltd., Actavis Inc., Aaron Industries, Inc., Ohm Laboratories, Inc., PL Developments, LNK International, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., Nestle S.A. (Gerber), Danone Baby Nutrition, Bayer AG, Pfizer, Inc., Rexall Sundown, Inc., Apotex, Glenmark Generics Inc., Impax, Prasco, Sandoz, Taro Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Triax Pharmaceuticals, and Zydus Pharmaceuticals.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Yet AbbVie does face competitive threats in its core markets. Pfizer (NYSE: PFE  ) won approval for its Xeljanz JAK inhibitor late last year, and although doctors are more familiar and comfortable with Humira, the fact that Xeljanz is taken orally could be a big draw over self-injection. Meanwhile, AbbVie's No. 2 drug, AndroGel, is under siege from Perrigo (NYSE: PRGO  ) , which got approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a bioequivalent of the lesser-concentrated form of the drug back in February.

• [By Benjamin Shepherd]

  When you have a run-of-the-mill headache or cold, you take an aspirin or an antihistamine which you most likely picked up off a shelf at your pharmacy. You don�� see a doctor, you don�� have to talk to the pharmacist and you definitely don�� need a prescription for an over-the-counter (OTC) medication, some of which you might even take on a daily basis.
  
  According to a paper from the American College of Preventative Medicine released in 2011, more than $17 billion of OTC products were sold in 2010 and more than a third of American adults reported using OTC medication on a regular basis. A survey conducted in 1999 showed that nearly 20 percent of the population used an OTC pain medication in any given week.
  
  While there is the risk that readily available medications may be misused, OTC products are commonly used because they allow fast and direct access to effective medication for a whole host of common ailments. They also have the added benefit of helping to reduce the pressure on our health care system by preventing needless doctor calls.
  
  When you think of OTC medications many of the first to come to mind, such as Tylenol, Sudafed and Benadryl, are products made by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). But over the past decade ��especially since the turmoil of the Great Recession ��there has been a rise in ��eneric generics,��otherwise known as store brands.
  
  Most OTC medications have been around for decades, in the case of aspirin more than a century, and as a result have virtually no patent protections. That means that competition in the space has always been fierce and most manufacturers invest heavily in building up brand reputation for effectiveness, making it a relatively low margin business to begin with.
  
  The market has become even more competitive since retailers have realized that they can keep more money in their own pockets by contracting for the production of virtually identical products which can be sold un

• [By Lisa Levin]

  This industry fell 3.27% by 11:00 am ET. Perrigo Company (NYSE: PRGO) shares dropped 3.8% in today's trading. Perrigo is expected to release its Q4 results On August 14, 2014.

Top High Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Grand Canyon Education Inc.(LOPE)

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. provides postsecondary education services in the United States and Canada. It focuses on offering graduate and undergraduate degree programs in education, healthcare, business, and liberal arts disciplines. The company provides its courses through traditional ground campus in Phoenix, Arizona; online; and onsite at the facilities of employers. As of December 31, 2011, it had 43,917 students enrolled in its courses. The company was formerly known as Significant Education, Inc and changed its name to Grand Canyon Education, Inc. in May 2008. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. was founded in 1949 and is based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ: LOPE  ) were riding high today, gaining as much as 16% after soaring past estimates in its earnings report.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Grand Canyon Education (Nasdaq: LOPE  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top High Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Spirit Airlines Inc.(SAVE)

Spirit Airlines, Inc. provides passenger airline services. It provides travel opportunities principally to and from south Florida, the northeast United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The company also offers optional travel-related products or services. As of December 31, 2011, it had a fleet of 37 Airbus single-aisle aircrafts. The company was formerly known as Charter One and changed its name to Spirit Airlines, Inc. in 1992. Spirit Airlines, Inc. was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Miramar, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Bishop]

  Steve Halpern: Now finally, you are bullish on a company called Spirit Airlines (SAVE), which I'm familiar with from Florida. It's a discount airline and the stock has risen more than 50% since you recommended it. Are you still bullish on the shares?

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Nam Y. Huh/AP DALLAS -- If you use miles to get a free ticket on American Airlines, you may have to pay to check that suitcase. American and US Airways announced changes Tuesday to their policies on checked-bag fees and redeeming miles for free flights. Passengers traveling on American on miles they earned or who paid full price for an economy seat won't get free checked bags anymore. Some elite-level frequent fliers on both airlines will get one less free bag than before. When it comes to redeeming miles for free flights, US Airways is ending blackout days. American will change the number of miles to get an unrestricted free flight -- more on popular travel days, fewer on less-busy ones. And it's making an array of changes to the miles needed for international trips. Suzanne Rubin, an American Airlines vice president who oversees the AAdvantage loyalty program, said the changes will increase revenue but she declined to give a figure. The two carriers merged in December and formed American Airlines Group (AAL), and Tuesday's changes are designed to bring the policies of the two closer together. Between them, they have 110 million loyalty-program members, Rubin said. Other changes: For U.S. travel on or after June 1, American members can redeem miles for an unrestricted "AAnytime" award at 20,000 miles, 30,000 miles or 50,000 each way instead of the current 25,000-mile flat rate. The less-flexible "MileSAAver" awards will continue to start at 12,500 miles. Mid-tier elite members (platinum on American; gold and platinum on US Airways) will get two free checked bags; a reduction of one for the US Airways' Dividend Miles elites. Lower-level elites (gold on American; silver on US Airways) will get one free checked bag, a reduction from two for the American customers. Removing a charge for second checked bags on trips to South America. Rubin said the company wasn't considering charging a fee for carry-on bags, as Spirit Airlines (SAVE) does.

Top High Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: DryShips Inc (DRYS)

DryShips Inc. (DryShips), incorporated in September 2004, is a holding company engaged in the ocean transportation services of drybulk cargoes and crude oil worldwide through the ownership and operation of drybulk carrier vessels and oil tankers and offshore drilling services through the ownership and operation of ultra-deepwater drilling units. As of December 31, 2011, DryShips owned and operated two fifth generation ultra-deepwater, semi-submersible offshore drilling rigs, the Leiv Eiriksson and the Eirik Raude, and four sixth generation, advanced capability ultra-deepwater drillships, the Ocean Rig Corcovado, the Ocean Rig Olympia, the Ocean Rig Poseidon and the Ocean Rig Mykonos. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned and operated four Aframax tankers, Saga, Daytona, Belmar, and Calida, and one Suezmax tanker, Vilamoura. On August 24, 2011, DryShips acquired all of their shares of OceanFreight Inc. On October 5, 2011, DryShips completed the partial spin off of Ocean Rig UDW Inc. (Ocean Rig UDW). On November 3, 2011, the merger of Pelican Stockholdings Inc. (Pelican Stockholdings), its wholly owned subsidiary, and OceanFreight, was completed. In January 2013, it sold two of its tankers under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries, Esperona and Blanca.

As of December 31, 2011, DryShips operated its tankers under pooling arrangements that are managed by Heidmar Inc. As of March 6, 2012, the Company owned, through its subsidiaries, a fleet of 36 drybulk carriers, consisting of nine Capesize, 25 Panamax and two Supramax vessels, which have a combined deadweight tonnage of approximately 3.53 million deadweight tonnage and an average age of approximately eight years; six drilling units, comprised of two modern, fifth generation, advanced capability ultra-deepwater semisubmersible offshore drilling rigs and four sixth generation, advanced capability ultra-deepwater drillships, and five tankers, comprised of four Aframax and one Suezmax tankers.

The Company�� drybulk flee! t principally carries a variety of drybulk commodities, including major bulk items, such as coal, iron ore, and grains, and minor bulk items, such as bauxite, phosphate, fertilizers and steel products. During the year ended December 31, 2011, DryShips sold the drybulk vessel Primera; contracted for and completed the sale of the drybulk vessels La Jolla, Conquistador, Brisbane, Samsara and Toro; took delivery of its four sixth-generation, ultra-deepwater advanced capability sister drillships constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (Samsung), the Ocean Rig Corcovado, the Ocean Rig Olympia, the Ocean Rig Poseidon and the Ocean Rig Mykonos; took delivery of three newbuilding Aframax tankers, Saga, Daytona and Belmar, and one newbuilding Suezmax tanker, Vilamoura, and acquired four Capesize vessels, MV Robusto, MV Cohiba, MV Montecristo and MV Partagas, two Panamax vessels, the MV Topeka and the MV Helena. DryShips contracted for and completed the sale of the drybulk vessels Avoca and Padre, which were delivered to their new owners, on February 14, 2012 and February 24, 2012, respectively.

Drybulk Operations

The Company manages the deployment of its drybulk fleet between long-term and short-term time charters. A time charter is a contract to charter a vessel for a fixed period of time at a specified or floating daily or index-based daily rate and can last from a few days to several years. A spot charter refers to a voyage charter or a trip charter or a short-term time charter. Under a bareboat charter, the vessel is chartered for a stipulated period of time, which gives the charterer possession and control of the vessel, including the right to appoint the master and the crew.

Offshore Drilling Operations

In January 2012, following the completion of the contract with Tullow Oil plc (Tullow Oil) contract, discussed below, the Eirik Raude commenced a contract with Anadarko Cote d��voire Company (Anadarko) for the drilling of two wells offshore West ! Africa. I! ts offshore drilling operations consist of the Ocean Rig Corcovado, the Ocean Rig Olympia, the Ocean Rig Poseidon and the Ocean Rig Mykonos. As of December 31, 2011, the Ocean Rig Corcovado was employed under a three-year contract, plus a mobilization period, with Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras Brazil) for drilling operations offshore Brazil. The Ocean Rig Olympia is operating under contracts to drill a total of five wells for exploration drilling offshore Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The Ocean Rig Poseidon commenced a contract with Petrobras Tanzania, a company related to Petrobras Oil & Gas B.V. (Petrobras Oil & Gas).

The Ocean Rig Mykonos commenced a three-year contract, plus a mobilization period, with Petrobras Brazil, on September 30, 2011, for drilling operations offshore Brazil. DryShips�� wholly owned subsidiary, Ocean Rig AS, provides supervisory management services, including onshore management, to its operating drilling rigs and drillships. DryShips also has contracts to provide offshore drilling services and drilling units.

Tanker Operations

The Company employs its Aframax tankers Saga, Daytona, Belmar and Calida, in the Sigma tanker pool, which consists of 46 Aframax tankers, with fourteen different pool partners. It employs its Suezmax tanker, Vilamoura, in the Blue Fin tanker pool, which consists of 18 Suezmax tankers with eight different pool partners.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Two months ago, maritime shipping stocks FreeSeas Inc. (NASDAQ:FREE), NewLead Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:NEWL), and DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS) were all the rage; traders couldn't get enough of them. The spark for the new strength from DRYS, NEWL, and FREE was a strong - and somewhat surprising - bounce in Baltic Dry Index, which roughly measures the daily charter rate for maritime shipping vessels. It had risen from a low of 698 at the beginning of the year to above 1000 by July to a peak of 2113 in late September. Since these shipping companies had seen a tripling (in less than a year, mind you) of the prices they could charge customers, the rebounding interest in these stocks was certainly understandable. FreeSeas shares more than doubled in value during that time. DryShips nearly did the same. While NewLead Holdings Ltd didn't actually dole out any significant gain, it did draw a lot of new interest during that hot period as a potential "the next one to take off" idea.

Top High Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Stage Stores Inc.(SSI)

Stage Stores, Inc. operates as a specialty department store retailer that offers branded and private label apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and footwear for women, men, and children in the United States. The company also offers sportswear, dresses, intimates, home and gift products, outerwear, swimwear, and other products. It primarily focuses on consumers in small and mid-sized markets. The company operates stores under the names of Bealls, Goody?s, Palais Royal, Peebles, and Stage. Stage Stores, Inc. also sells its products through its Web site. As of March 06, 2012, it operated 819 stores in 40 states. Stage Stores, Inc. is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  On Friday, Stage Stores (NYSE: SSI  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

• [By Anna Prior]

  Stage Stores Inc.(SSI) said it agreed to sell its Steele’s retail stores to financial services firm Hilco Global later this year, which contributed to a drop in fiscal fourth-quarter earnings. The top line missed expectations, and the sales view for the year also fell below the consensus view.