Update: Dividend Stock Picks for the Week of 7/9/12 to 7/13/12

Welcome back to Dividend Stock Investing for the Common Man! Thank you stopping by and supporting the idea of investing in dividend paying stocks for the long term. I wanted to recap last week's picks for you since it is important to review all investments on a weekly, if not daily, basis.


It was a 12 for 19 week. 63% of my picks increased in value.PowerShares High Yld. Dividend Achv(ETF) (PEY) remained unchanged at $9.41 per share. Consumer staples such as The Procter & Gamble Company(NYSE:PG),and General Mills, Inc.(NYSE:GIS) really popped with excellent weekly gains. Exelon Corporation(NYSE:EXC), Verizon Communications Inc.(NYSE:VZ) and AFLAC Incorporated(NYSE:AFL) were also the big winners of the week. 


Although we made some serious cash this week it is not how many times you win short term, but rather which investments can provide you with a steady income stream over the long term. When investing in dividend paying stocks you are protecting yourself from stock market volatility. If the market goes down one quarter, the dividend payment will help recoup the losses.


I like companies such as Dunkin Brands Group Inc(NASDAQ:DNKN) and Yum! Brands, Inc.(NYSE:YUM) because they offer quick and convenient service in the food services sector. Both have a long way to go to compete with McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) however they both are a solid investment now and throughout your working career.


Let these companies work hard so they can maintain their dividend and increase it year over year. As a shareholder, it is like receiving a raise each year. Reinvest your dividends to maximize your profits!


Until next time friends, keep investing as much as you can on a weekly basis. Perform your due diligence and invest in companies that you feel comfortable with. Do not risk your hard earned dollars by investing in unknown, unreliable companies.


Feel free to watch the great videos below, featuring some of this week's winners!


Company Name/Stock Ticker/Current Price/7/8/12 Price/7/13/12 Price (end of day)


AFLAC Incorporated(NYSE:AFL) $42.63 $43.60
General Mills, Inc.(NYSE:GIS) $38.76 $39.04
American Capital Agency Corp.(NASDAQ:AGNC) $34.26 $34.67
CVS Caremark Corporation(NYSE:CVS) $48.12 $48.05
Diageo plc (ADR)(NYSE:DEO) $103.10 $104.37
PowerShares High Yld. Dividend Achv(ETF) (PEY) $9.41 $9.41
Verizon Communications Inc.(NYSE:VZ) $44.42 $45.21
Merck & Co., Inc.(NYSE:MRK) $41.51 $43.47
The Procter & Gamble Company(NYSE:PG) $61.28 $65.09
Applied Materials, Inc.(NASDAQ:AMAT) $11.04 $10.48
Duke Energy Corp(NYSE:DUK) $66.23 $66.74
Dunkin Brands Group Inc(NASDAQ:DNKN) $34.48 $34.71
Exelon Corporation(NYSE:EXC) $37.35 $38.52
General Growth Properties Inc(NYSE:GGP) $18.49 $18.07
Yum! Brands, Inc.(NYSE:YUM) $64.92 $64.72
The Men's Wearhouse, Inc.(NYSE:MW) $27.74 $27.61
Dicks Sporting Goods Inc(NYSE:DKS) $49.80 $48.18
Lockheed Martin Corporation(NYSE:LMT) $86.86 $87.25
Northrop Grumman Corporation(NYSE:NOC) $63.47 $63.79
KKR & Co. L.P.(NYSE:KKR) $13.23 $13.11

Proctor & Gamble Videos

General Mills Videos

Exelon Corporation - EXC

Exelon Corporation, stock ticker EXC, is a utility services holding company. It operates through its principal subsidiaries: Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Generation), Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) and PECO Energy Company (PECO). Its business consists of the Company’s owned and contracted electric generating facilities, its wholesale energy marketing operations and its retail supply operations. EXC pays a quarterly dividend of $0.52 and at today's stock price that's a dividend yield of 4.89%. That's awesome! Also, they have said they plan to invest $5 billion in clean energy over the next 5 years. Exelon is very popular in my area via PECO Energy. Who likes paying their electric bill each month? Yeah, me neither, but at least they pay shareholders to hold onto their stock! EXC has issued a dividend since Feburary 23th, 1987 and have consistantly increased their payout since February 18th, 1999.

EXC is yet another buy and hold stock, meaning this company will always be around and should be included within your diversified Roth IRA stock portfolio. Click here to learn more about this dividend aristocrat, as well as watch this video. If you are not ENERGIZED about this company then you need to check your pulse! Have a great investing day.