Dividends

Leggett & Platt Inc makes a broad line of bedding and furniture components and other home, office and commercial furnishings, as well as diversified products for non-furnishings markets. Link here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM) reported 22 cents per diluted share compared with 9 cents per share last year. analysts average $0.18. NSM beats by $0.04

The company reported $345 million in sales, and 24 percent higher than the $292 million reported in last year's third fiscal quarter.

The income statement is where you find all the metrics that The Street loves. It therefore must be the most important financial statement. Not! That title goes to the lowly cash flow statement. Ultimately cash flow is what drives the value of any financial asset, including dividend stocks.

Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN) announced that it has entered into agreements to sell all of its assets in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and Azerbaijan to BP for $7.0 billion.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Facet Biotech Corporation (Nasdaq: FACT) announced a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire Facet, enhancing Abbott's early- and mid-stage pharmaceutical pipeline. Abbott will acquire Facet for $27 per share in cash for a net transaction value of approximately $450 million.

This is the second installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio’s overall yield-on-cost. Last week we looked at Utilities. This week we are looking at Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASY) reported $0.34 in basic earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 ended January 31, 2010, compared to $0.28 for the same quarter a year ago. analysts average $0.38. CASY misses by $0.04.

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today a definitive agreement to acquire one of American International Group, Inc.’s (AIG) international subsidiaries, American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), for approximately $15.5 billion. The consideration will consist of $6.8 billion in cash and approximately $8.7 billion in MetLife equity securities

Meridian Bioscience Inc. develops, makes and sells disposable diagnostic test kits and related products used for the rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

Equity One, Inc. (NYSE: EQY) announced Fourth quarter FFO were $0.28 per diluted share compared to $0.19 per diluted share last year. analysts average $0.26. EQY beats by $0.02.

The company generated Funds From Operations (FFO) of $24.6 million as compared to for the same period in 2008 of $14.4 million.

What is the primary reason you invest in dividend stocks?

Joy Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JOYG), reported $0.73 per fully diluted share, compared to $0.83 per fully diluted share, in the first quarter last year. analysts average $0.64. JOYG beats by $0.09.

Net sales for the quarter were $729 million compared to $755 million in the first quarter of last year, a decrease of 3 percent.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) announced, excluding items, net income were $.70 per diluted share, compared to $.55 per diluted share last year. analysts average $0.72. COST misses by $0.02

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 increased eleven percent, to $18.36 billion, from $16.49 billion during the second quarter of fiscal 2009.

This is the first installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio’s overall yield-on-cost. This week we are looking at Utilities – those investments long considered as a safe harbor for “orphans and widows.”

Edison International (NYSE: EIX) reported fourth quarter 2009 core earnings were $0.59 per share compared to $0.66 per share in the fourth quarter of 2008. analysts average $0.41. EIX beats by $0.18

The decline is largely due to lower earnings at Edison Mission Group (EMG), partially offset by higher operating results at Southern California Edison (SCE).