The forecast for today: stormy with a chance of profits. Unfortunately, market plunges and sell-offs are a reality of investing. Luckily, gray days can work in your favor when good companies start selling for bargain prices. Let's look at some financially healthy stocks able to weather the market's storms like Friday's 300-point plunge in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEX: ^DJI). Here are some dividend-paying stocks with high yields and strong balance sheets that deserve a spot in your portfolio.
Dividends that come rain or shine
Love them or hate them, tobacco companies like Altria Group (NYSE: MO ) are a solid investment. The wealthy have been padding their portfolios with tobacco since the colonial times. Today, Altria controls nearly half of the U.S. tobacco market and is home to the most popular cigarette brand in the world: Marlboro.
In what may come as a surprise, Altria has stakes in the wine business as well, through its subsidiary Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. It also has an interest in SABMiller, the world's second-largest brewer. More important for investors, Altria has paid hefty dividends for 43 years running. Its dividend yield of 6.2% is notably higher than the 10-year Treasury, which currently yields about 2%.
It's also important to consider the company's payout ratio -- the dividend payment as a percentage of earnings. However, earnings alone don't always tell the whole story of whether or not a company will continue to pay its dividend. The free cash flow payout ratio compensates by measuring the percent of free cash flow set aside for paying the dividend.
With a free cash flow payout ratio of 79%, Altria shouldn't be cutting dividends anytime soon. Better yet, Altria was the single best investment to own in the 50 years ended in 2003. Between its strategic subsidiaries in multiple industries and consistent shareholder returns, Altria is full of profits.
Rain gear for investors
Although I'm not a fan of AT&T's (NYSE: T ) cellular service, it is hard to ignore the company's 6.1% dividend. The mobile carrier's healthy free cash flow and strong customer base carry its 51% dividend payout ratio. The stock recently hit the bottom of its 52-week low -- making it a possible deal for long-term investors.
Coming in behind AT&T is Vodafone Group (NYSE: VOD ) with a 5.6% dividend yield and 57% payout ratio. The telecom company could see a big increase in dividends down the road thanks to its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ ) .
Another dividend champion comes in the form of utility stock Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK ) . As one of the largest utility companies in the United States, Duke Energy has stable earnings and yields a 5.2% dividend. People need electricity to live -- and that, paired with its low payout ratio of 65%, makes this company a strong dividend player.
Here's the plan
Next time a market storm sets in, jump into stocks with high-yielding dividends, plenty of free cash flow, and relatively low payout ratios. Or stay in, sit down with one of our free reports, and listen to the rain. Hundreds of thousands of people have requested access to the special free report "5 Stocks The Motley Fool Owns and You Should Too," and now you can access it today at no cost. Get instant access to these moneymaking stocks -- it's free.
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