Categories: Alpha Algorithm HotlinesStock Market News

Buying another Dividend-Paying Blue Chip

This week’s Alpha Algorithm generated yet another familiar blue-chip recommendation. So far in 2016, dividend-paying blue chips have strongly outperformed the broader U.S. stock market and the choice of AT&T, Inc. (T) reflects that trend.

Founded in 1983 and based in Dallas, Texas, AT&T Inc. provides telecommunications and digital entertainment services through four segments: Business Solutions, Entertainment Group, Consumer Mobility and International. The company was formerly known as SBC Communications Inc. and changed its name to AT&T Inc. in November 2005.

AT&T versus the S&P 500 Year to Date

Seven Top Investment Strategies Betting on AT&T, Inc. (T)

High Quality Stock

The stock exhibits positive fundamentals, including high return on equity, stable year-over-year earnings growth and low financial leverage.

Fundamental Strength

A top U.S. stock based on fundamentals measured by book value, cash flow and sales dividends.

Dividend Aristocrat

The stock is among those in the S&P 500 that have increased dividends for at least 25 consecutive years.

Dividend Dog

One of the five highest-yielding stocks among each of the 10 sectors tracked in the S&P 500.

High and Steady Dividend

The stock is one of 50 dividend-paying companies from the S&P 1,500 Composite Index that has increased dividends for at least 20 consecutive years.

Small-Cap/Value Tilt

Selected using a multi-factor modeling approach, the stock is a smaller-cap or value stock designed to enhance portfolio risk/return characteristics.

Large-Cap Growth and Value

Using a proprietary ranking based on separate models for growth and value, this is a large-cap stock that is part of an index that has historically outperformed its market-cap weighted benchmark.

Recommendation

Buy AT&T, Inc. (T) at market today. Place your initial stop at $34.00.

Options

Since I tend to only recommend options when the stock has pulled back in the midst of an uptrend, I am (yet again) holding off on recommending options this week.

Portfolio Update

You were stopped out of long-time holding Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) on May 31 at $152.75 for a 10.41% gain.

STZ July $140 calls first traded at $14.90 after the stop for a 69.90% gain. You gained an average of 83.52% on this position. Remember, whenever a stock stops out, sell any related options as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Nicholas A. Vardy

Nicholas Vardy

Nicholas Vardy has a unique background that has proven his knack for making money in different markets around the world. He was the Editor of The Global Guru, a free weekly e-newsletter, and also edited the trading services Momentum Trader Alert, which focused on making short-term profits in the hottest markets in the world, and The Alpha Algorithm, which was designed specifically to deliver big, fast triple-digit winners, month after month. He was also the editor of Smart Money Masters, a monthly service focused on longer term investments recommended by the brightest minds in the business. Mr. Vardy has been a regular commentator on CNN International and the Fox Business Network. He has also published articles in The New Republic, The World and I, and The Baker & McKenzie Legal Review. The Global Guru/Nicholas Vardy has been cited in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Fox Business News, CBS MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance, and MSN Money Central. Mr. Vardy graduated from Stanford with a B.A. — with honors and distinction — in both Economics and History, and he also earned an M.A in Modern European Intellectual History. After winning a Fulbright Scholarship, he earned a J.D. degree at Harvard Law School where he was an editor of the Harvard International Law Journal. When not uncovering investment opportunities for his subscribers and investors, Mr. Vardy is a keep-fit enthusiast and an avid student of classical music.