7 Stocks to Consider Before Junk Bonds

In the clamor for high yields and income security, investors are dashing just about everywhere in the investment universe to place their bets.

Where's everybody going?
However, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, there's been a particular flock to junk bonds. This makes sense considering the general stock market index is down about 5% and the threat of a double-dip recession looms large above investor's heads. Global growth has slowed, sovereign debt worries reign supreme, and unemployment remains high. Of course investors are looking at junk bonds for high yields, where else is there to go?!

Actually, Matt Hougan, head of ETF analytics at IndexUniverse, asked a similar question: "Where else can you get 8% yields"?

Well, certainly junk bonds fit the bill. But as the Wall Street Journal noted, junk bond ETFs can come with significant volatility and often trade at a significant premium to their net asset value. If you're in the mood for high yields, wild price swings, and a fund that may not perform all that well because you bought it at premium, then junk bonds may be the place for you.

Stray from the path
But why not look elsewhere?

Specifically, I decided to provide you with a list of what I think are seven better options -- all dividend-paying stocks. These stocks all have dividend yields above 8%, betas of less than one, and have managed to generate a return year-to-date, despite the difficult market. Listed below are the top seven stocks in rank order:

Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.

Now I've got to be honest -- I'm not an expert on these seven stocks, so you've got to make sure to do your own due diligence. However, what I do know is that it's likely you'd sleep better at night owning these investments than if you had a potentially crippling junk bond fund. This is a time to find high yields, but not a time to embrace volatility.

Curious why The Motley Fool just purchased one of these stocks for itself? Find out!