Blackrock's Top 3 Dividend Stocks

With low rates, volatility and a recent rush for special dividend payouts, dividend-yielding stocks were the big winners in 2012, with some investors seeing these stocks as a safe haven. Bob Shearer, the lead portfolio manager for Blackrock's equity dividend fund told CNBC which stocks are his favorites when it comes to dividends.

In the daily management of over $40 billion in assets, Shearer told CNBC that he focuses mainly on dividend growth, rather than simply sticking to stocks for the level of yield. Yield seeking is a "crowded trade" he said, but he sees upside potential in dividend growth stocks should the economic recovery continue. Here are Shearer's Top 3 dividend picks: BHP Billiton (BHP-AU), VF Corp (VFC) and Caterpillar (CAT).

Source: CNBC

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