Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now

Do you ever get the feeling that CEOs don't give much thought to the fact that you have spent your hard earned cash on their company? Well, it certainly seems that was the case with Sandridge Energy (NYSE: SD  ) . This past week, the company and its founder and CEO, Tom Ward, went their separate ways after the board nominated CFO James Bennett to Ward's former post. Perhaps now Ward can get together with his former running buddy, Aubrey McClendon, now that he too is no longer tied down to the CEO post at Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ) .

As shareholders, we're simple creatures with simple needs: Keep the business strategy simple, keep sales and income growing, don't take on too much debt, and if you have a dividend, maintain or grow that yield. Unfortunately, Sandridge wasn't able to keep to that creed; it took on lots of debt and did a considerable amount of strategy shuffling in the past year. This ultimately led to the demise of Ward.

Now that Ward has been shown the door, who could be the next CEO who will be sent packing? Tune in to the video below where Motley Fool contributor Tyler Crowe joins Fool energy analyst Joel South to discuss three CEOs that may be sitting a little uneasy right now.�

Top Mid Cap Stocks To Own Right Now: NYSE Euronext Inc.(NYX)

NYSE Euronext, through its subsidiaries, operates securities exchanges. It operates various stock exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NYSE Arca, Inc., and NYSE Amex LLC in the United States; and five European-based exchanges that comprise Euronext N.V. ? the Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Lisbon stock exchanges, as well as the NYSE Liffe derivatives markets in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Lisbon. The company?s Derivatives segment provides access to trade execution in derivatives products, options, and futures; offers clearing services for derivative products; and sells and distributes market data and related information. NYSE Euronext?s Cash Trading and Listings segment engages in offering access to trade execution in cash trading and settlement of transactions in European markets; obtaining new listings and servicing existing listings; selling and distributing market data and related information; and providing regulatory services. Its Info rmation Services and Technology Solutions segment operates sell side and buy side connectivity networks for its markets and for other market centers, and market participants in the United States, Europe, and Asia; provides trading and information technology software and solutions; sells and distributes market data and related information to data subscribers for proprietary data products; and offers asset management services, and consultancy services to exchanges and liquidity centers. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Whitney Kisling]

  NYSE Euronext (NYX), the U.S. exchange operator being bought by IntercontinentalExchange Inc., reported second-quarter earnings that beat analysts��estimates as revenue from derivatives trading rose and costs fell.

• [By Alex Planes]

  Eight years after its founding, the Bank of New York became one of the first five stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange -- now part of NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX  ) -- when that organization began under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street in 1792. It was the first listed company on the NYSE and is the oldest continuously traded company in the United States -- it still operates today as BNY Mellon (NYSE: BK  ) , after merging with Mellon Financial in 2007.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: United Parcel Service Inc.(UPS)

United Parcel Service, Inc., a package delivery company, provides transportation, logistics, and financial services in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain & Freight. The U.S. Domestic Package segment engages in the time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages in the United States. The International Package segment offers air and ground delivery of small packages and letters to approximately 220 countries and territories, including shipments outside the United States, as well as shipments with either origin or distribution outside the United States; export services; and domestic services move shipments within a country?s borders. The Supply Chain & Freight segment provides forwarding and logistics services, such as supply chain design and management, freight distribution, customs brokerage, mail, and consulting services in approximately 195 countries and territorie s; and less-than-truckload and truckload services to customers in North America. In addition, the company offers various technology solutions for automated shipping, visibility, and billing; information technology systems and distribution facilities to various industries comprising healthcare, technology, and consumer/retail; and a portfolio of financial services that provides customers with short-term working capital, government guaranteed lending, global trade financing, credit cards, and export financing. It operates a fleet of approximately 99,800 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; an air fleet of 527 aircraft; and 33,800 containers used to transport cargo in its aircraft. The company was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Barbara Kollmeyer]

  Among stocks in focus, shares of retailers such as Amazon Inc. (AMZN) � Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) �and Kohl�� Corp. (KSS) �could grab attention as retailers try to compete in post-Christmas sales efforts. Some retailers, such as Amazon, may also be in focus due to a delay in the delivery of Christmas packages by United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) �and FedEx Corp. (FDX) .

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Indeed, the diversity in the types of dividend stocks getting more generous made for an interesting week, from network provider Cisco (CSCO) to beer giant Molson Coors (TAP) to package delivery service UPS (UPS).

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Those concerns, whoever, will be left for another day. Shares of FedEx have gained 4.6% to $146.60 at 10:43 a.m. today, and its good news have given other shippers a boost: United Parcel Service (UPS) has risen 0.9% to $102.49.

• [By Heather Long]

  Angie knows the benefits only too well. An aunt who worked hard for UPS (UPS) and didn't have any children of her own would occasionally gift her nieces and nephews stocks. Angie received her first one when she around age 10 or 12.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company(RRD)

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company provides pre-media, printing, logistics, and business process outsourcing products and services to private and public sectors worldwide. The company operates primarily in the commercial print portion of the printing industry, with related product and service offerings designed to offer customers solutions for communicating their messages to target audiences. Its products and related service offerings include magazines, catalogs, retail inserts, books, directories, financial print, direct mail, forms, labels, office products, statement printing, pre media, and logistics services. The company also offers business process outsourcing services that comprise transactional print and outsourcing services, statement printing, direct mail, and print management services; and product configuration, customized kitting, and order fulfillment for technology, medical device, and other companies. It distributes its products to end-users through the United Sta tes postal services, retail channels, electronically, or by direct shipment to customer facilities. R.R. Donnelley & Sons was founded in 1864 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  RR Donnelley (NASDAQ: RRD  ) will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share of its common stock on June 3 to shareholders of record as of April 26, the company announced this week.

• [By John Udovich]

  Printing and the various forms of marketing communications that need to be printed (like business cards and stationary) are fundamental to the needs of every business, meaning the recent share surge of small cap Standard Register Co (NYSE: SR) after it announced an acquisition along with its long-term performance against better known peers like RR Donnelley & Sons Co (NASDAQ: RRD) and VistaPrint Limited (NASDAQ: VPRT) is worth taking a closer look at. After all, Standard Register is up 363.2% since the start of the year verses a return of 113.4% for RR Donnelley & Sons Co and�75.9% for VistaPrint Limited.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Breaking news

  Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (NYSE: HOT) reported a gain in its third-quarter core earnings and lifted its full-year earnings forecast. To read the full news, click here. Procera Networks (NASDAQ: PKT) and Skyfire, a fully-owned subsidiary of Opera Software, today announced a joint solution and partnership to tackle the rapid growth of video traffic on global mobile networks, based on an open, scalable ICAP architecture. To read the full news, click here. R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NASDAQ: RRD) and Consolidated Graphics (NYSE: CGX) jointly announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement by which RR Donnelley will acquire Consolidated Graphics, a provider of digital and commercial printing, fulfillment services, print management and proprietary Internet-based technology solutions. To read the full news, click here. Dunkin' Brands Group (NASDAQ: DNKN) reported a 36% rise in its third-quarter income. To read the full news, click here.

  Posted-In: Jobless Claims JP Morgan US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Becton Dickinson and Company(BDX)

Becton, Dickinson and Company, a medical technology company, develops, manufactures, and sells medical devices, instrument systems, and reagents worldwide. The company?s BD Medical segment produces medical devices that are used in various healthcare settings. This segment?s products include needles, syringes, and intravenous catheters for medication delivery; prefilled IV flush syringes; syringes, pen needles, and other drugs to treat diabetes; prefillable drug delivery systems; anesthesia needles and trays; sharps disposal containers; and closed-system transfer devices. Its BD Diagnostics segment provides products for the safe collection and transport of diagnostics specimens, as well as instrument systems and reagents to detect various infectious diseases, healthcare-associated infections, and cancers. This segment?s products consist of integrated systems for specimen collection; safety-engineered blood collection products and systems; automated blood culturing systems; molecular testing systems; microorganism identification and drug susceptibility systems; liquid-based cytology systems for cervical cancer screening; rapid diagnostic assays; and plated media. The company?s BD Biosciences segment produces research and clinical tools that facilitate the study of cells and their components. This segment?s products comprise fluorescence-activated cell sorters and analyzers; monoclonal antibodies and kits for performing cell analysis; reagent systems for life science research; cell imaging systems; laboratory products for tissue culture and fluid handling; diagnostic assays; and cell culture media supplements for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. It markets its products through independent distribution channels and independent sales representatives to healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry, and the general public. The company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alanna Petroff]

  Medical technology firm Becton, Dickinson and Co (BDX) is taking over CareFusion (CFN) in a cash and stock deal that values CareFusion shares at $58 each.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Becton, Dickinson & Co.� (NYSE: BDX  ) shareholders will receive their next dividend at the end of September. The company has declared its latest common stock payout, which is to be $0.495 per share paid on September 30 to shareholders of record as of September 9. That amount matches each of the firm's previous three distributions, the most recent of which was paid at the end of last month. Prior to that, Becton Dickinson handed out $0.45 per share.

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  And the market has made my case for me in recent days by punishing fad-oriented companies like Soda Stream International Ltd. (Nasdaq: SODA) and GoPro Inc. (Nasdaq: GPRO), for example. Big brands like Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) and Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE: BDX), on the other hand, are doing just fine even though they came under pressure with the broader markets, too.

• [By ovenerio]

  In the medical supplies division (17%), Covidien competes with Becton Dickinson (BDX), 3M (MMM), Con- Med, CareFusion (CFN) and First Quality.

  Strengths

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: SPX Corporation(SPW)

SPX Corporation provides flow technology products, test and measurement products, thermal equipment and services, and industrial products and services worldwide. The company?s Flow Technology segment provides products and solutions that are used to process, blend, filter, dry, meter, and transport fluids. This segment?s primary offerings include engineered pumps, mixers, process systems, heat exchangers, valves, and dehydration and drying technologies for food and beverage, general industrial, and power and energy markets. Its Test and Measurement segment provides diagnostic service tools, fare-collection systems, and portable cable and pipe locators for the transportation, telecommunications, and utility industries. The company?s Thermal Equipment and Services segment engineers, manufactures, and services cooling, heating, and ventilation products, including dry, wet, and hybrid cooling systems for the power generation, refrigeration, HVAC, and industrial markets, as well as boilers, heating, and ventilation products for the commercial and residential markets. This segment also provides thermal components and engineered services. Its Industrial Products and Services segment designs, manufactures, and markets power systems; industrial tools and hydraulic units; precision machine components for the aerospace industry; crystal growing machines for the solar power generation market; television, radio, and cell phone and data transmission broadcast antenna systems; communications and signal monitoring systems; and precision controlled industrial ovens and chambers. SPX Corporation markets its products through various channels, including stocking distributors, manufacturing representatives, third-party distributors, direct sales, and retailers. The company was formerly known as Piston Ring Company and changed its name to SPX Corporation in 1988. SPX Corporation was founded in 1911 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Damon Churchwell]

  These companies manufacture processing products used by industries such as food and beverages, oil & gas, and wastewater treatment, among others. They serve a wide range of end markets that are mostly poised for increased earnings and are likely to spend on capital projects. While these positive trends persist, flow technology companies' prospects ought to remain favorable. Let's�highlight several sector participants, starting with a top selection,�SPX�(NYSE: SPW),.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The big question now: What impact will the closure happen to the fund’s biggest stock holding? As an activist investor, Relational doesn’t take many small positions. It holds 1.5% of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) shares, for instance, 15% of SPX Corp. (SPW), 3.5% of B/E Aerospace (BEAV) and 4.6% of Timken (TKR).

• [By CRWE]

  SPX Corporation (NYSE:SPW) reported that Jeremy Smeltser, currently transitioning into the CFO role at SPX, will present at the Nomura Inaugural U.S. Industrials Summit in New York City on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Agrium Inc.(AGU)

Agrium Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces and markets agricultural nutrients, industrial products, and specialty products worldwide, as well as involves in the retail supply of agricultural products and services in North and South Americas. The company?s Retail segment markets crop nutrient products, including nitrogen, phosphate, potash, sulphur, and micronutrients; crop protection products, such as herbicides, fungicides, adjuvants, and insecticides; and seeds. This segment also offers agronomic services, as well as product application, soil and leaf tissue testing and analysis, and crop scouting services. This segment operates 1,192 outlets in the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. The company?s Wholesale segment produces, markets, and distributes nitrogen, phosphate, potash, sulphate, and other crop nutrient products for agricultural and industrial customers. This segment also owns and operates facilities that upgrade ammonia t o other nitrogen products, such as urea, nitric acid, and ammonium nitrate, as well as provides Rainbow plant food products. Agrium?s Advanced Technologies segment produces and markets controlled-release crop nutrients and micronutrients for the agriculture, specialty agriculture, professional turf, horticulture, and consumer lawn and garden markets. The company was formerly known as Cominco Fertilizers Ltd. and changed its name to Agrium Inc. in 1995. Agrium Inc. was founded in 1931 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Gallagher]

  Mosaic (MOS), Agrium (AGU), Intrepid Potash (IPI) and CF Industries (CF) have been moving and trading hand-in-hand, with AGU, BHP and Rentech Nitrogen Partners LP (RNF) trading the best, losing the least and rebounding the most since July 30th. IPI has sold off a lot more in the post-news period, as would be expected from a smaller, less established company with mine projects still in development. BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) announced plans to proceed with its Jansen Mine Project in Saskatchewan, Canada, potentially tapping the largest and longest-lasting supply in the world known at this time. Scotiabank (BNS) recently commented on Jansen, stating that the added supply "could add the equivalent of 18%-20% of the potash market over recent years." Nearly all of the companies mentioned have had a pretty predictable mix of upgrades and downgrades. That's what makes a market.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, fertilizer producer Agrium (NYSE: AGU  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

• [By Chad Fraser]

  The agriculture ETF is heavily weighted toward the U.S., with 45.8% of its assets there, but it is geographically diverse, with exposure to countries such as Canada (9.9%), Switzerland (8.5%), Japan (6.7%) and Singapore (5.1%).
  
  Potash Cartel Breakup Has Weighed on This Agriculture ETF
  
  The ETF’s unit price declined in the first half of 2013, partly because of the breakup of the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC), through which Russia’s Uralkali, the world’s No. 1 potash producer, and Belaruskali of Belarus distribute their potash. The market is dominated by BPC and Canpotex, owned by Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT), Mosaic and Agrium Inc. (NYSE: AGU).
  
  Together, the two cartels control 70% of global potash exports, so the breakup of BPC will result in a more fractured market, which seems likely to push potash prices lower. Shares of major potash producers fell sharply on the news, as did Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF due to its potash stock holdings, which include Agrium, Potash Corp. and Mosaic.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Verizon Communications Inc.(VZ)

Verizon Communications Inc. provides communication services. The company operates through two segments, Domestic Wireless and Wireline. The Domestic Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data services; and sells equipment in the United States. The Wireline segment provides voice, Internet access, broadband video and data, Internet protocol network, network access, long distance, and other services in the United States and internationally. The company serves consumer, business, and government customers, as well as carriers. As of December 31, 2010, its network covered a population of approximately 292 million and provided service to a customer base of approximately 94.1 million. The company was formerly known as Bell Atlantic Corporation and changed its name to Verizon Communications Inc. in June 2000. Verizon Communications Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Nichols]

  Over the last 12 months, Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ  ) has spent nearly $17.5 billion on capital expenditures, significantly higher than the $16.6 billion and $16.1 billion it spent over the preceding two years, respectively. While spending 14.1% of its total 12-month revenue on investments might seem like a lot, Verizon is making necessary investments that could shape its future. That said, are these investments in the best interest of shareholders?

• [By Harsh Chauhan]

  In the domestic market, Ciena counts the two biggest telecom companies -- Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) and AT&T -- as customers. AT&T is still building out its LTE network, while Verizon has already finished doing so. However, Verizon is looking to make its network more efficient by deploying a large number of small cell sites in place of larger cell sites.