Looking for dividend stocks with the backing of recognized financial institutions? We screened for names with buy ratings from Canaccord Genuity, a global investment bank focused on growth companies.

A buy rating from sell-side analysts, such as Canaccord Genuity, means they expect these stocks to outperform.

What do you think of these companies? Has Canaccord made the right recommendation?

Check out the details below. List sourced by yield. (Click here to access free, interactive tools to analyze these ideas.)

1. Penn Virginia: Engages in the exploration, development, and production of natural gas and oil in various domestic onshore regions of the United States. The company has a market cap of $224.27 million, most recent closing price at $4.78. Dividend yield at 4.56%. On May 6, 2011, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

2. Garmin: Operates as a holding company and through its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets GPS-enabled products and other navigation, communication, and information products worldwide. The company has a market cap of $8.89 billion, most recent closing price at $45.12. Dividend yield at 3.5%. On Jan. 19, 2012, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

3. US Ecology: Provides waste treatment, disposal, recycling, and transportation services to commercial and government entities in the United States. The company has a market cap of $390.79 million, most recent closing price at $21.49. Dividend yield at 3.36%. On Aug. 3, 2011, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

4. RPC (NYSE: RES): Provides a range of oilfield services and equipment to the oil and gas companies primarily in the United States. The company has a market cap of $2.12 billion, most recent closing price at $9.71. Dividend yield at 3.32%. On Oct. 31, 2011, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

5. Ensco (NYSE: ESV): Provides offshore contract drilling services to the oil and gas industry. The company has a market cap of $12.31 billion, most recent closing price at $53.73. Dividend yield at 2.81%. On April 29, 2011, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

6. St. Jude Medical: Develops, manufactures, and distributes cardiovascular and implantable neurostimulation medical devices worldwide. The company has a market cap of $12.14 billion, most recent closing price at $38.32. Dividend yield at 2.41%. On Jan. 26, 2012, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

7. Foot Locker: Operates as a retailer of athletic footwear and apparel. The company has a market cap of $4.64 billion, most recent closing price at $30.48. Dividend yield at 2.36%. On Sept. 7, 2011, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

8. American Tower (NYSE: AMT): Operates as a wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure company. The company has a market cap of $25.49 billion, most recent closing price at $64.57. Dividend yield at 1.3%. On March 27, 2012, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

9. Broadcom (Nasdaq: BRCM): Designs and develops semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. The company has a market cap of $18.90 billion, most recent closing price at $36.26. Dividend yield at 1.1%. On Feb. 2, 2012, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

10. Finish Line: Operates as a mall-based specialty retailer in the United States. The company has a market cap of $1.15 billion, most recent closing price at $22.01. Dividend yield at 1.09%. On Sept. 7, 2011, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

11. Dick's Sporting Goods: Operates as a sporting goods retailer in the United States. The company has a market cap of $6.09 billion, most recent closing price at $49.66. Dividend yield at 1%. On Sept. 7,2011, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

12. Acuity Brands: Engages in the design, production, and distribution of lighting fixtures, lighting controls, and related products and services in North America and internationally. The company has a market cap of $2.30 billion, most recent closing price at $55.66. Dividend yield at 0.94%. On May 11, 2011, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

13. Perrigo (Nasdaq: PRGO): Develops, manufactures, and distributes over-the-counter and generic prescription pharmaceuticals, nutritional products, infant formulas, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and pharmaceutical and medical diagnostic products worldwide. The company has a market cap of $9.76 billion, most recent closing price at $105.15. Dividend yield at 0.31%. On March 5, 2012, Canaccord Genuity had a buy rating on the stock.

Interactive Chart: Press Play to compare changes in analyst ratings over the last two years for the stocks mentioned above. Analyst ratings sourced from Zacks Investment Research.