My top five dividend stocks for 2017

The Fed has only lifted rates once since they economic crisis, and while one or two small rate hikes will not de-rail the stock market, we could see a transfer of money out of dividend stocks and into more traditional fixed income assets. Dividend stocks have been popular while rates remained low, but they could run into some selling pressure in 2017. Keeping interest rates in mind, it is more important than ever to make sure your dividend stocks offer more than just income. You have to ensure that your dividend stocks offer a decent chance of share appreciation, since they will be the dividend stocks that are most shielded from any money transfer out of dividend stocks. Here are my five favorite dividend stocks for 2017...

Oil and gas giant Chevron (CVX) has a 3.8% dividend yield, and the company has an impressive 30-year streak of dividend increases. Heavy machinery maker Caterpillar (CAT) has enjoyed a major recovery in 2016, but the stage is set for additional gains in the year ahead. Bank giant Wells Fargo (WFC) was involved with one of the bigger scandals in 2016 over its phony accounts, but as is the case with most bank scandals, this scandal will pass. Tech titan Apple (AAPL) remains one of the most dominant names in technology. Insurance companies like Prudential (PRU) have already begun to rally ahead of a possible rate increase because they generate a lot of interest income on the premiums they invest in fixed income assets until needed to pay out customer claims.

Source: Market Intelligence Center

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