Simon Property Group, Inc. - SPG

Simon Property Group, Inc., stock ticker SPG, is an elite real estate property company. Simon owns or has an interest in 392 retail real estate properties, including regional malls, Premium Outlets, The Mills, community/lifestyle centers and international properties comprising 263 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and Asia. SPG is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

SPG is paying a 90 cent dividend, which is a sweet 3.02% dividend yield. SPG management has shown intelligence in the way they perform their business. They did not become the world's largest retail REIT by accident! The way the hierarchy of this company builds on it's success is calculated, intuitive and smart. Although they sometimes overpay for properties, they also bide their time to wait when the moment is right to make major decisions. SPG is America's largest mall operator. Their share price grew steadily and dependably from 2001 to 2007. It has been said that consumer discretionary markets were some of those hit hardest by the recession, however here we are again, watching as the share price has grown steadily. SPG was around $30.00 back in February 2009. Given that SPG is the largest United States company in its category, I believe that the share price will surpass its 2007 peak of just over $120.

Two notable pieces of SPG property are the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, PA and the Philadelphia Premium Outlets in Limerick, PA. Both made a killing during last Christmas and are set to make more dinero this holiday season. Click here to find a mall or outlet near you.

REITS are just such a great investment for your Roth IRA stock portfolio. You must own a piece of at least one REIT to weather the storms of market fluctuation. Feel free to pick O, LTC, LRY, BDN, HCN, SNH or SPG, the list goes on and on. REITs are like finding a needle in a haystack. What is a REIT you may ask? A real estate investment trust is a tax designation for a corporate entity investing in real estate. The purpose of this designation is to reduce or eliminate corporate tax. In return, REITs are required to distribute 90% of their taxable income into the hands of investors (DIVIDENDS!). The REIT structure was designed to provide a real estate investment structure similar to the structure mutual funds provide for investment in stocks.

In closing, as corny as this sounds, Simon says buy this stock now and hold for life. Especially if it goes down $10.00 or $15.00 from today's closing price of $119.14. Visit this website to learn more about Simon Property Group. SPG's Investor relations page can be view here. Feel free to watch the videos below to learn more about this stable and profitable dividend payer! Have a great remainder of the week.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. - CMP

Compass Minerals International, Inc., stock ticker CMP, currently pays a 45 cent quarterly dividend, which is a 2.59% dividend yield. You should not think that each and every dividend payer with a yield over 2% is worth your time, however CMP is. As stated on their website, "It’s not what you might expect from a mineral company. But as a leading producer of salt, sulfate of potash and magnesium chloride, we touch the lives of millions of people every day. Keeping roads safe. Improving water quality. Growing nutritious fruits and vegetables."  CMP's history stretches back as far as 1844. They became a public company following its initial public offering in December 2003.

In short, CMP and its consolidated subsidiaries is a producer of minerals, including salt, sulfate of potash specialty fertilizer (SOP) and magnesium chloride. As of December 31, 2010, Compass Minerals operated 11 production and packaging facilities, including a rock salt mine in Goderich, Ontario and Canada, and a salt mine in the United Kingdom in Winsford, Cheshire. Its solar evaporation facility located in Ogden, Utah, is a solar salt production site in North America. It provides highway deicing salt to customers in North America and the United Kingdom and specialty fertilizer to growers and fertilizer distributors worldwide. It has two segments: salt and specialty fertilizer. In January 2011, Compass Minerals acquired Big Quill Resources, Inc., Canada’s SOP producer.

CMP is a fairly easy business to understand and are a hidden gem in the market. They are a long-term small cap investment with a healthy dividend. You can't go wrong with salt and fertilizer. I like this company because their salt sales have a low cost per ton, there is minimal foreign competition and the market tends to be low competition due to geographical constraints. CMP is less dependent on the overall economy as well as the majority of sales are to the highway deicing market which is driven by weather conditions. The consumer segment is also relatively large and is very stable in nature helping stabilize profitability. The portions of the business geared toward chemicals and specialty plant nutrients is a business with significant price fluctuations, but appears to have the potential for growth and may gain pricing power due to supply constraints. I believe the current pricing represents a great value for a long term investor and should outperform the S&P over time.

This company is diversified due to their summer (Fertilizer) and winter (Salt) businesses, it is centrally located for easy shipping to much of the pertinent parts of the nation, and it has a management staff that knows the value of their diversification. Please feel free to visit Compass Minerals International's website, here, as well as their Investor Relations site, here. Also, check out the videos below. Have a great week!

Update: Stock Picks for the week of 11/21/11 to 11/25/11

It was a horrible week for all 14 stock selections for the week of 11/21/11 to 11/25/11. All selected stocks decreased in value, with a total loss of $26.37, due in large part to the Dow and S&P logging their worst Thanksgiving week since 1932! Now is the time to buy though. Each stock's dividend yield has increased and are selling at a discount. They are historical high yielders and profitable, mainstay companies. I am not trying to hide the fact that last week was rough and if you purchased these stock at the beginning of last week you lost a pretty penny, however selling when the market is down is not the best idea. If you have any free cash on hand I suggest buying HE, DOW, HD, and ADP.

The CBOE Volatility Index, which is considered the best gauge of fear in the market, ended above 34. Among key S&P sectors, consumer staples and utilities led the gainers, while energy and techs lagged. The market is down, but not out. In my opinion, there has been a tremendous buying opportunity these past couple of weeks.

In closing, always invest in high yielding dividend paying stocks. Hold on to your stocks for the long term so dividends have plenty of time to compound. Feel free to watch the videos below about HD and DOW. In a down market they will provide stability within your Roth IRA. Until next time, reinvest those dividends and have a great remainder of the weekend! Spend within your means.


Net Gain/Loss  -$26.37
Stock Ticker    Quote @ 11/5/11   Quote @ 11/12/11
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:HE) $25.64  $24.25

-$1.39
Pepco Holdings, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:POM) $19.43 $18.71
-$0.72
UIL Holdings Corporation  (Public, NYSE:UIL) $33.71  $32.25
-$1.46
Harley-Davidson, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:HOG) $36.34  $34.80
-$1.54
The Dow Chemical Company  (Public, NYSE:DOW) $25.95  $24.47
-$1.48
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated  (Public, NYSE:DGX) $55.14  $54.43
-$0.71
Prudential Financial, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:PRU)  $48.53  $44.91
-$3.62
The Home Depot, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:HD) $37.88  $36.47
-$1.41
Automatic Data Processing  (Public, NASDAQ:ADP) $49.89  $47.93
-$1.96
Snap-on Incorporated  (Public, NYSE:SNA) $52.15  $48.05
-$4.10
Prospect Capital Corporation  (Public, NASDAQ:PSEC) $9.36  $8.95
-$0.41
RadioShack Corporation  (Public, NYSE:RSH) $12.06  $10.66
-$1.40
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc  (Public, NYSE:HOT) $49.08  $43.41
-$5.67
NV Energy, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:NVE) $15.01  $14.51
-$0.50

The Gap Inc. - GPS

The Gap Inc., stock ticker GPS, is a leading global specialty retailer with a strong portfolio of brands and fiscal 2010 revenues of $14.66 billion! Gap, Inc. was founded in 1969, with a single store in San Francisco, CA. Today, they own and operate 3,200 store worldwide. They are continuing to grow in the United States and internationally. They are committed to serving the needs of their customers while delivering quality earnings and long term value to their shareholders. GPS pays a 12 cent quarterly dividend per share, which is currently a 2.53% dividend yield. Their products include clothing apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, and Athleta brands. Most of the products sold under their brand names are designed by the company and manufactured by independent sources. GPS operates in two segments: Stores, which includes the results of the retail stores for Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic, and Direct, which includes the results for its online brands, both domestic and international. GPS has franchise agreements with unaffiliated franchisees to operate Gap and Banana Republic stores in many other countries around the world.

On September 8th, 2011 GPS opened their first Banana Republic store in Russia. Also, they have plans to close over 100 stores by the end of 2013. Wait, what? You may ask, How can that be a good thing? Well, watch the video below. They are just trying to reduce the square footage across all of their brands. On November 17th, 2011 GPS announced that its Board of Directors approved a new $500 million share repurchase program. Since January 1st, 2011 GPS has repurchased about 107 million shares for $2 billion, which is proof that they are committed to returning cash to their shareholders. When a company repurchases their stock it is a great sign that they believe in their brands/products.

I am not trying to pump this stock and make it something that it is not, but I do strongly believe in the Old Navy and Banana Republic brands. GAP is a winner regardless of whether it is out of style. Every Old Navy I've ever been to has been packed. Whether in PA, DE, NJ, CA, NYC or even in Washington DC, their clothes are economical and stylish. Gap Inc. is a diversified company with brands which hit each consumer's price points and fashion needs. Just wait until they conjure up a new brand which will send shock waves across the clothing apparel industry. They have the cash on hand to do just that.

During the past few years I have heard a handful of negative comments about Gap, Inc, however I don't believe it. Analysts can hate all they want on GPS, they just don't know how loyal their customers are. (I may sound like one of them, but honestly I'm more of a fan solely based on their dividend yield and share buybacks!) Yes, they may not make as much money as they used to, yet I believe in them. They sell clothing! Isn't that a necessity? Much like Waste Management, who picks up our trash, or Exelon, Duke Energy, AEP, HE etc., who provide us with electricity. These types of companies provide the world with things that we need versus what we want. It is true that one can go to another clothing retailer than Gap Inc.'s stores, but this company isn't going anywhere.

GPS is selling much too low at $17.30. Their cash flow is too impressive for that stock valuation. Currently, they are a market leader, however as the economy picks up each quarter will become more and more profitable. GPS continues to cut costs and we should begin to see a dividend increase. While reviewing GPS's financials over the past 12 months I have noticed that they are learning from their mistakes, taking steps to correct them, and expanding online and internationally. If you ask me, GPS is a rising star with good insider holding. Their balance sheet is exceptional and with the previously mentioned share repurchasing their stock price will go up, up, up.

Feel free to visit The Gap Inc.'s homepage, here, as well as their Investor Relations page, here. Also, watch the videos below. They are entertaining and provide a glipse into the company's culture. Until next time, reinvest those dividends within a Roth IRA. It's your best bet!

Automatic Data Processing - ADP

Do you know that only four companies in the United States have an AAA credit rating? Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is one of them. NASDAQ stock ticker ADP is in the business of outsourcing solutions. They offer human resource, payroll, tax and benefits administration solutions from a single source. With about $10 billion in revenues and approximately 570,000 clients, ADP is one of the world's largest providers of business outsourcing solutions. By leveraging over 60 years of experience, ADP's easy to use solutions for employers provide superior value to companies of all types and sizes. ADP is also a leading provider of integrated computing solutions to auto, truck, motorcycle, marine, recreational vehicle, and heavy equipment dealers throughout the world. ADP's company’s segments include Employer Services, Professional Employer Organization Services and Dealer Services. Here is a listing of their most recent acquisitions:

June 2010 - DO2 Technologies Inc., OneClick HR plc and Workscape, Inc.
August 2010 - Cobalt and Workscape, Inc.
March 2011 - AdvancedMD
October 2011 - WALLACE - The Training Tax Credit Company 

As you can see, ADP is acquiring businesses in key core segments and has an unlimited international growth potential.

ADP pays their shareholders 40 cents per share on a quarterly basis, which is a healthy 3.24% dividend yield. A guaranteed return on your hard earned invested dollars! ADP has paid a dividend since September 14th, 1987. ADP's market cap is 23.83 billion dollars. Their shares are 76% institutionally owed, which makes this a solid buy. As bonds plummet any dividend stock with a solid payout history with a currently yield over 2% sounds great to me! Go ahead and ask your friends and relatives for their pay stub. You will find something in common... they are all prepared by ADP (or Paychex). ADP looks to be a steady sort of stock that will fit well into most Roth IRA portfolios. Their increasing dividends help during downmarket times, and as employment increases in coming years it will help ADP's bottom line. Don't expect any massive sudden appreciation in stock price with this one, but it's a great choice for a long-term investment.

Please visit ADP's website, here, and their Investor Relations website, here, to learn more about this excellent dividend paying stock. Also, if you want a quick corporate overview of ADP, click here. Check out the videos below too. Go ahead and invest in ADP and you'll sleep good tonight. Until next time, reinvest those dividends! Have a great remainder of the week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. - HE

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., stock ticker HE, offers a solid 31 cent dividend per quarter. HEI has a long dividend history, paying dividends continuously since 1901. Currently, HEI pays a dividend of $1.24 per common share annually. While HE's current dividend yield is 4.84% I believe their dividend is not the only reason to pick up some shares tomorrow.

Hawaiian Electric Industries supplies power to 95% of Hawaii's population through its electric utilities, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. and Maui Electric Company, Limited, and provides a wide range of financial services to individuals and businesses through American Savings Bank, F.S.B., one of Hawaii’s largest financial institutions.

Additionally, HEI has a stellar shareholder services department. I highly suggest that you visit their website at www.hei.com to learn more. In a nutshell, any individual of legal age or any entity may buy HEI common stock at market prices directly from the company. The minimum initial investment is $250. Additional optional cash investments may be as small as $25. The annual maximum investment is $120,000. After your account is open, you may reinvest all of your dividends to purchase additional shares, or elect to receive some of your dividends in cash. You may instruct the company to electronically debit a regular amount from a checking or savings account. The company also can deposit dividends automatically in your checking or savings account. A prospectus describing the plan may be obtained by clicking here. I must say that I am not affiliated with HEI at all. I am giving you these directions so you can quickly enroll into their DRIP program and begin allowing your dividends compound.

In closing, I ask, where else are Hawaiians going to get there electricity? HEI is also a bank that does not have a lot of bad loans of the books. This is a solid stock, that you will not lose money on. Their dividend will keep the stock afloat. Invest your money into this stable company and enjoy a lifetime of dividends!

Stock Picks for the week of 11/21/11 to 11/25/11

Listed below are the newest dividend paying stock selections for the Common Man's portfolio for the week of November 21st, 2011 to November 25th, 2011. Any one of these stocks will inject your Roth IRA stock portfolio with solid dividends, or what I like to call it free cash! I am bullish long term on each of these companies and I believe in their financials. I'll check back in next Friday to determine how well or poor my picks performed. Have a great remainder of the weekend. Continue to invest as much as you can each week to ensure that you have a solid dividend income stream of wealth! Once again, I am only a fan of these stocks and am not pumping them for my own personal gain. I just enjoy sharing which stocks I believe are dividend aristocrats and should be seriously considered when investing your hard earned dollars. Feel free to check out the videos below, which include ADP, HOT and DGX.

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:HE) $25.64
Pepco Holdings, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:POM) $19.43
UIL Holdings Corporation  (Public, NYSE:UIL) $33.71
Harley-Davidson, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:HOG) $36.34
The Dow Chemical Company  (Public, NYSE:DOW) $25.95
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated  (Public, NYSE:DGX) $55.14
Prudential Financial, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:PRU)  $48.53
The Home Depot, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:HD) $37.88
Automatic Data Processing  (Public, NASDAQ:ADP) $49.89
Snap-on Incorporated  (Public, NYSE:SNA) $52.15
Prospect Capital Corporation  (Public, NASDAQ:PSEC) $9.36
RadioShack Corporation  (Public, NYSE:RSH) $12.06
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc  (Public, NYSE:HOT) $49.08
NV Energy, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:NVE) $15.01

Note: Stock prices as of 11/19/11

American Electric Power Company, Inc. - AEP

American Electric Power Company, Inc., stock ticker AEP, pays a pretty slick 47 cent quarterly dividend. That's a 4.90% yield as of today. Their market cap is 18.51 billion dollars and that is on the rise! Utilities and high yield dividend paying stocks are where it's at for the next few years. Much like Exelon, stock ticker EXC, AEP will keep you happy.

In short, AEP is a holding company and their public utility subsidiaries include Appalachian Power Company (APCo), Columbus Southern Power Company (CSPCo), Indiana Michigan Power Company (I&M), Kentucky Power Company (KPCo), Kingsport Power Company (KgPCo), Ohio Power Company (OPCo), Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCo), AEP Texas Central Company (TCC), AEP Texas North Company (TNC), Wheeling Power Company (WPCo) and AEP Generating Company (AEGCo). The service areas of AEP’s public utility subsidiaries cover portions of the states of Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The subsidiaries of AEP provide electric service, consisting of generation, transmission and distribution, on an integrated basis to their retail customers.

The management of this utility has remained cautious and not made any big mistakes. They are ahead of the game in reducing coal-fired emissions. Generating surplus will add to their bottom line. Their CEO recently reaffirmed  AEP's 2011 ongoing earnings guidance of $3.07 to $3.17 per share. Their great dividend and stable business model will drive your Roth IRA stock portfolio sky high. AEP is a bargain at these levels!

Hold this stock for 30 years, continue to invest as much as you can each week and reinvest those dividends! Some say utility stocks are boring, well think of AEP as a slow moving elephant. Once it picks up speed you can't stop it!

Feel free to visit AEP's homepage here, and their Investor Relations website here. Also, watch these three videos below. It may seem like I am bullish on most dividend paying stocks, but that's not true. I seek out only those dividend payers which I believe will be around for the next 30 to 50 years, which, for most reading this blog, is our current working/retirement timeline. Thanks for your time. Have a great upcoming Friday!

Mattel, Inc. - MAT

Mattel, Inc. (Mattel), stock ticker MAT, designs, manufactures, and markets a broad and endless variety of toy products worldwide. Mattel sells Barbie fashion dolls, Polly Pocket, Little Mommy, Disney Classics, Monster High. Also, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Tyco R/C vehicles, CARS, Radica, Max Steel, WWE Wrestling products, Batman products. Additional brands include Fisher Price, View-Master, Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go!, Thomas and Friends, See ‘N Say, Power Wheels, the American Girl Brand, which includes My American Girl and Bitty Baby.

It is obvious to me that Mattel is a toy conglomerate which is clearly diversified in the toy space. Mattel has a lot of good toy brands that aren't going away any time soon. Kids are more brand-oriented than adults. Toys move even during hard times. I feel MAT has solid growth opportunities and is a very household name among children's toys. Even if you've never heard of them, you've heard of their toys! Currently trading near their 52 week high, I recommend waiting for the right time to purchase, after a drop.

MAT has a low PE rating and an excellent, stable 23 cent per share dividend, which is currently a 3.29% dividend yield. In short, Mattel toys keeps all children happy and provides them a lifetime of memories. Investing in MAT will keep your Roth IRA stock portfolio happy, as well as provide you with a lifetime of gains and solid dividend payments every three months. Reinvest those dividends to maximize your retirement wealth! Click here to visit Mattel's homepage, as well as here to visit their Investor Relations website. Also, feel free to watch the videos below to learn more about this steady growth, value stock. Pick up some MAT tomorrow and be confident with your decision.

The Boeing Company - BA

Boeing, stock ticker BA, pays a 42 cent dividend, which is a current dividend yield of 2.47%. Deutsche Bank analysts reiterated a “Buy” rating on BA. Boeing shares were up today after an $18 billion Emirates Airlines order to purchase fifty long range 777-300 jets.

Today, Boeing projected that there is a $450 billion market for airplanes in the Middle East. They claim there is a demand for 2,520 new airplanes over the next 20 years. Also, they are submitting press releases claiming that various airlines have submit orders to purchase the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Please watch the videos below to learn more about Boeing's latest creation in aviation, The 787 Dreamliner!

I am bullish long term for Boeing. Not simply due to the past few days of great news, but because their share price is steady and they have paid a dividend since August 4th, 1987. BA is a true blue chip stock that at these levels everyone should be picking up shares for their Roth IRA stock portfolio. The 787 will provide top and bottom line growth for BA. Their government contracts are long term and should provide profits for BA which means profits for you! Reinvest those dividends and watch your portfolio balance increase. Have a great day!

Update: Stock Picks for the week of 11/5/11 to 11/12/11

It was a profitable week for 9 of my 14 stock selections for the week of 11/5/11 to 11/12/11! 9 selected stocks respectably increased in value, which would have made your Roth IRA look very healthy during this past week. The net total for my selections was -$0.50. Although 5 of my selections went down in stock value it is important to note that all pay a dividend which will cover losses. On the bright side their dividend yields increased.

Always, always, always invest in high yielding dividend paying stocks. Hold on to your stocks for the long term. Feel free to watch the videos below about ConocoPhillips and Dupont. COP and DD will provide stability into your Roth IRA. Until next time, have a great weekend!


Net Gain/Loss  -$0.50
Stock Ticker    Quote @ 11/5/11   Quote @ 11/12/11

VOD - Vodafone Group Plc $27.92  $28.89  
+$0.97

NGG - National Grid $50.15  $50.50 
+$0.35
FTE - France Telecom SA $17.47  $17.52  
+$0.05
LTC - LTC Properties, Inc. $28.58  $29.09 
+$0.51
VTR - Ventas, Inc. $54.30  $54.26  
+$0.04
POT - Potash Corp./Saskatchewan (USA) $48.05  $46.86 
-$1.19
PPG - PPG Industries, Inc. $88.51  $88.11  
-$0.40
DD - E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company $48.70  $48.52  
-$0.18
AEE - Ameren Corporation $32.29  $32.99  
+$0.70
HBC - HSBC Holdings $43.37  $40.24  
-$3.13
BTI - British American Tobacco $93.86  $94.30 
+$0.44
RY - Royal Bank of Canada $45.24  $45.09  
-$0.15
DPS - Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. $37.13  $37.19  
+$0.06
COP - ConocoPhillips $70.71  $72.14  
+$1.43

Entertainment Properties Trust - EPR

Entertainment Properties Trust, stock ticker EPR, is a self-administered REIT. They own, lease and finance megaplex theatres, public charter schools, entertainment retail centers, and destination recreational and specialty properties. EPR owns properties in the United States and Canada. I am a fan of EPR mainly due to their incredible 70 cent per share quarterly dividend, which currently is a 6.33% dividend yield. Also, I believe they are invested in solid industries which provide consistent quarterly profits. When investing or buying properties EPR uses the following methodology:

1) Inflection Opportunity: A renewal or restructuring in an industry’s properties that creates an opportunity for insightful capital.
2) Enduring Value: Investments in real estate devoted to and improving upon long-lived activities.
3) Excellence Execution: Premium locations and investment executions that lead to market-dominant performance and create credit beyond the tenant.
4) Attractive Economics: Accretive initial returns along with growth in yield over the life of our investments in categories of meaningful size.
5) Advantageous Position: Sustainable competitive advantages based on knowledge, relationships or access to key investment elements.

That being said, EPR has consistently invested in the correct properties at the right time and right location. Case and point: Jack Frost/Big Boulder, which is a ski resort in Blakeslee, PA. This is a very profitable location and will be around for at least 30 years plus. If you invest your hard earned dollars in EPR, rest assured your money will be safe and increase year over year due to reinvesting all of your dividends. For a more detailed portfolio listing, click here.

EPR have had a great run over past few years and are still returning a great dividend. The dividend payout continues to rise in a tough real estate climate. You can't go wrong here. Please visit EPR's home page at http://www.eprkc.com. Also, please visit their Investor Relations webpage (here) and read their entire Annual Report (here) to really get a detailed view of how EPR operates and how well they are doing. Check out the videos below too! I hope you have a great day! Happy Investing!

Clorox Company - CLX

The Clorox Company, stock ticker CLX, is an excellent stock to invest in for your retirement years. They pay a 60 cent dividend, which is currently a 3.65% dividend yield. CLX has increased their dividend each year since October 1987. There have been three 2 for 1 stock splits in Clorox's history. CLX is one of my favorite recession free stocks. In 2008 and early 2009 CLX did not really decrease in value. If you look at their five year stock chart you will see many ups and downs, however CLX has steadily increased quite nicely.

In brief, CLX is a manufacturer of consumer products. CLX manufactures their products in more than 24 countries and advertise in more than 100 countries. They produce and market Clorox bleach, Green Works (natural cleaning products), Poett and Mistolin, Fresh Step and Scoop Away (cat litter), Kingsford (charcoal), Hidden Valley and K C Masterpiece (dressings and sauces), Brita water-filtration systems, Glad bags, wraps and containers, and Burt’s Bees (natural personal care products). Clorox is the leader in their market sector. They seem to show steady profits while increasing their bottom line sales. CLX's dividend yield should support the stock price even if the markets continue to plummet or fluctuate.

Clorox is everywhere. As previously stated, they weathered the market crash of 2008. CLX's products are self-sustaining and garner significant brand loyalty. They have a strong potential for price appreciation based only on a return to normal PE levels. They are positioning themselves nicely to be a major force in the Green market. Their marketing campaign are strong for all products.

In closing, Clorox is a stable, easy business to figure out. I suggest buying on dips and continue to build a position in CLX. They are no joke. Click here to visit Clorox's company website, as well as here to view their Investor Relations page. Until next time, reinvest those dividends and purchase all dividend paying stocks within a Roth IRA.

Ameren Corporation - AEE

Get to know Ameren Corporation! Stock ticker AEE. This utility holding company pays a slick quarterly dividend of 40 cents per share and they have been increasing their dividend since the Great Recession. Prior to that time, between March 6th, 1998 to December 8th, 2008 AEE paid a quarterly dividend of 63 cents per share. That is a decade of solid free cash to their loyal share holders! AEE sold for $54.35 per share on December 21st, 2007. I state this because AEE currently sells for $32.29 per share which makes it a great time to jump into the market and purchase some shares.

AEE is a elite utility holding company. They are segmented into three divisions: Union Electric Company, Ameren Illinois Company and Ameren Energy Generating Company (Genco). On August 2nd, 2010, Ameren announced the formation of Ameren Transmission Company (ATX). ATX is an Ameren Corporation dedicated to electric transmission infrastructure investment. Ameren provides energy to 2.4 million electric and 1 million gas customers in Missouri and Illinois. They are committed to providing reliable service and make electricity, not just deliver it like some other utility companies.

I believe AEE is an undervalued regional utility play. The stock traded above $40.00 just a few years ago with earnings only slightly lower than the current day. With a current dividend yield of 4.96% I can't say no to this street banger! They are just as good as they were prior to the Great Recession and with the economy ready for a turnaround I believe AEE will fly high. Just think, people will pay to heat and cool their homes in a good or bad economy. AEE is in one of the most stable markets (utilities), and has a growing investment in renewable energy. Get in while the stock price is stable. As the share prices increases I strongly believe AEE will increase their dividend back to 63 cents per share. They are not going anywhere, they pay a great dividend, and their current stock price provides a great buying opportunity!

Click here to visit Ameren's website, here for their Investor Relations page, and below to see how great Ameren is. I am optimistic that AEE will not disappoint. I am not trying to fictitiously promote AEE for profits, just telling it as I see it and passing along words of advice. Our Roth IRAs and 401k will be our lifelines when we retire. Now is the time to think about your future while there is still time to invest! Thanks for your time. Have a great remainder of your weekend.

Stock Picks for the week of 11/5/11 to 11/12/11

Listed below are my newest dividend paying stock picks for the Common Man's portfolio. These are my picks for the week of November 5th, 2011 to November 12th, 2011. Any one of these stocks will always inject your Roth IRA stock portfolio with solid dividends and free cash! I am bullish long term for each of these companies and like their financials.

It is fairly simple to invest your dollars into any one or all of these stocks. I will check back in next Saturday to determine how well or poor my picks performed. Have a great week! Continue to invest as much as you can each week to ensure that you have a solid dividend income stream of wealth!

Do your due diligence! Once again, I am only a fan of these stocks and am not pumping them for my own personal gain. I just enjoy sharing which stocks I believe are dividend aristocrats and should be seriously considered when investing your hard earned dollars. Feel free to check out the videos below which include COP, NGG and AEE.

VOD - Vodafone Group Plc $27.92 
NGG - National Grid $50.15
FTE - France Telecom SA $17.47
LTC - LTC Properties, Inc. $28.58
VTR - Ventas, Inc. $54.30
POT - Potash Corp./Saskatchewan (USA) $48.05
PPG - PPG Industries, Inc. $88.51
DD - E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company $48.70
AEE - Ameren Corporation $32.29
HBC - HSBC Holdings $43.37
BTI - British American Tobacco $93.86
RY - Royal Bank of Canada $45.24
DPS - Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. $37.13
COP - ConocoPhillips $70.71

Note: Stock prices as of 11/5/11

PPG Industries, Inc. - PPG

PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) rose $2.10 today, that's 2.48% in one day alone. They pay a quarterly dividend of $0.57 per share, which is currently 2.63%. PPG has increased their dividend year after year since August 4th, 1987. Their market cap is 13.3 billion dollars and they are on the prowl for acquisitions. Their board of directors just authorized the repurchase of 10 million shares. 10 million shares! It is obvious that the board and management think they are on the right path and/or their stock is about to pop or increase over the course of the next few quarters.

In a nutshell, PPG produces and supplies protective and decorative coatings, optical and speciality materials, commodity chemicals, and glass. Coatings will be needed as the world looks to expand and rebuild itself especially in regards to Japan. Also, in the ever expanding countries, China, India, Australia to name a few.

PPG has a low PE with a great dividend yield and brands. Even if this stock moves lower the dividend yield will keep your money safe. Click here to learn about PPG's company history. Also, their Investor Relations site, here. PPG is one of my favorite dividend aristocrats because of their diversified products and historical dividend increases. Pick up some shares and hold for life! Reinvest those dividends and watch your PPG holdings grow.