Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now

tags:GGB,PCYG,CONN,ECC ,FFC,CTRN,STAF,WMC,STZ,NEP,

The stock market’s relentless march upward has pushed the prices of many companies higher. As investors bid up good and bad businesses alike, that can make it hard to discern which companies are the best dividend growth stocks for long-term investors.

That’s especially true in the world of dividend stocks, where income-starved investors face great temptation to reach for high-dividend stocks that offer juicy yields.

Fortunately, Simply Safe Dividends identified the 10 best dividend growth stocks that investors can rely on for secure, fast-growing income.

These companies all have very healthy Dividend Safety Scores, which measure a firm’s most important financial metrics to gauge how likely it is to cut its dividend in the future.

Let’s take a look at 10 of the safest dividend growth stocks in the market. These companies generate excellent free cash flow, maintain safe payout ratios, are committed to rewarding shareholders with healthy dividend increases and have bright long-term outlooks.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Gerdau S.A.(GGB)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Gerdau (NYSE:GGB) has been assigned an average recommendation of “Buy” from the eleven analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $4.00.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Gerdau (NYSE:GGB) fell 7.6% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $3.99 and last traded at $4.00. 20,132,700 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 80% from the average session volume of 11,155,967 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.33.

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Shares of Gerdau (NYSE:GGB) tumbled more than 10% by 2:45 p.m. EDT Thursday in what was a tumultuous day for stocks in Brazil. The Brazil-based steel company sold off along with that country's stock market amid fears that the recent trucker strike could have a deep impact on the economy.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Park City Group, Inc.(PCYG)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Max Byerly]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Park City Group (PCYG)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Lisa Levin] Gainers Melinta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MLNT) shares surged 20.6 percent to $6.39. WBB Securities upgraded Melinta Therapeutics from Hold to Speculative Buy. Shoe Carnival, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCVL) shares climbed 17.2 percent to $30.87 after the company reported upbeat quarterly earnings. Acorn International, Inc. (NYSE: ATV) shares rose 15.2 percent to $28.804 after the company declared a special one-time cash dividend of $14.97 per ADS. Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL) gained 15 percent to $53.35 after the company reported better-than-expected results for its first quarter. Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHOS) surged 14.2 percent to $2.625. ArQule, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQL) rose 13 percent to $5.12 after gaining 4.86 percent on Thursday. Quality Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSII) gained 12.8 percent to $16.97 after the company posted better-than-expected FQ4 results. Loma Negra Compañía Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anónima (NYSE: LOMA) shares rose 12 percent to $12.94. ArQule, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQL) shares rose 12 percent to $5.07. Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX) climbed 11.4 percent to $43.50. Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB) gained 11.3 percent to $24.7000. Zymeworks Inc. (NASDAQ: ZYME) rose 9.7 percent to $19.64. Park City Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCYG) climbed 9 percent to $7.90. Roku, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROKU) gained 7.9 percent to $38.82 after Citron reversed previously bearish position on the stock. Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) shares jumped 7.3 percent to $3.55. Deckers Outdoor Corp (NYSE: DECK) rose 3.5 percent to $107.27 after reporting better-than-expected results for its fiscal fourth quarter.

  Check out these big penny stock gainers and losers

• [By Max Byerly]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Park City Group (PCYG)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Conn's, Inc.(CONN)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Miller]

  Shares of home furnishings specialist Conn's Inc. (NASDAQ:CONN) are falling today, down 13.7% as of 3:19 p.m. EDT, after investors digested second-quarter results that had initially sent the stock 7% higher during pre-market trading.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Wall Street analysts expect Conn’s Inc (NASDAQ:CONN) to announce $384.69 million in sales for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks Investment Research reports. Four analysts have issued estimates for Conn’s’ earnings, with the highest sales estimate coming in at $388.79 million and the lowest estimate coming in at $381.46 million. Conn’s reported sales of $373.17 million in the same quarter last year, which would suggest a positive year-over-year growth rate of 3.1%. The company is scheduled to issue its next earnings results on Thursday, December 6th.

• [By Alexander Bird]

  Here are this week's top-performing penny stocks:

  Penny Stock Current Share Price Last Week's Gain  Axovant Sciences (Nasdaq: AXON) $4.87 150.00% American Electric Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: AETI) $1.56 102.70% EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq: EDAP) $3.44 58.59% Conn's Inc. (Nasdaq: CONN) $2.01 51.99% Versartis Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAR) $2.15 48.28% Onconova Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ONTX) $0.54 47.92% Ameri Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRH) $1.21 44.73% Westwater Resources Inc. (Nasdaq: WWR) $0.58 36.76% Top Ships Inc. (Nasdaq: TOPS) $1.04 35.44% Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: RNN) $2.11 30.59%

  While the gains of last week's top penny stocks are exciting, it's important to note that these kinds of returns are not guaranteed.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Eagle Point Credit Company Inc.(ECC )

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Motley Fool Staff]

  EAGLE POINT CREDIT COMPANY (NYSE:ECC) Q1 2018 Earnings Conference CallMay. 17, 2018 10:00 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Corporate Capital Trust (NYSE: CCT) and Eagle Point Credit (NYSE:ECC) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership and risk.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Shares of EAGLE POINT Cr/COM (NYSE:ECC) have received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the six analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $21.13.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  EAGLE POINT Cr/COM (NYSE:ECC) has received a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the five analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has issued a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $21.33.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Inc(FFC)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Max Byerly]

  Mainstay Capital Management LLC ADV raised its position in Flaherty&Crumrine Prfrd Scts Incm Fd Inc (NYSE:FFC) by 1,792.0% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 66,220 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 62,720 shares during the quarter. Mainstay Capital Management LLC ADV’s holdings in Flaherty&Crumrine Prfrd Scts Incm Fd were worth $3,500,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Citi Trends, Inc.(CTRN)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Motley Fool Transcribers]

  Citi Trends Inc (NASDAQ:CTRN)Q2 2018 Earnings Conference CallAug. 23, 2018, 9:00 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

• [By Lisa Levin] Companies Reporting Before The Bell Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.38 per share on revenue of $16.50 billion. Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.83 per share on revenue of $1.48 billion. Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.25 per share on revenue of $17.63 billion. Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.83 per share on revenue of $957.49 million. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE: CM) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $2.23 per share on revenue of $3.40 billion. Citi Trends, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRN) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.9 per share on revenue of $210.70 million. Qiwi plc (NASDAQ: QIWI) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.25 per share on revenue of $60.19 million. iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited (NASDAQ: ICLK) is projected to report quarterly loss at $0.06 per share on revenue of $34.87 million.

   

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Citi Trends (NASDAQ:CTRN) updated its third quarter earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided EPS guidance of ($0.03) – $0.02 for the period, compared to the Thomson Reuters consensus EPS estimate of $0.05. The company issued revenue guidance of +2-3% to ~$180.4-182.2 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $181.80 million.Citi Trends also updated its Q4 guidance to $0.60-0.65 EPS.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Tailored Brands (NYSE: TLRD) and Citi Trends (NASDAQ:CTRN) are both small-cap consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability, earnings and dividends.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Citi Trends (CTRN)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Logan Wallace]

  COPYRIGHT VIOLATION WARNING: “Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Lowers Stake in Citi Trends, Inc. (CTRN)” was posted by Ticker Report and is owned by of Ticker Report. If you are reading this piece on another publication, it was copied illegally and republished in violation of United States and international copyright & trademark legislation. The legal version of this piece can be viewed at https://www.tickerreport.com/banking-finance/4116950/assenagon-asset-management-s-a-lowers-stake-in-citi-trends-inc-ctrn.html.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Staffing 360 Solutions, Inc.(STAF)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Staffing 360 Solutions (NASDAQ: STAF) and ADECCO Grp AG/ADR (OTCMKTS:AHEXY) are both business services companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and valuation.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Staffing 360 Solutions (STAF)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Staffing 360 Solutions (STAF)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Alexander Bird]

  Here are the top performers from last week…

  Penny Stock Current Share Price Last Week's Gain Staffing 360 Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: STAF) $2.58 96.35% IZEA Inc. (Nasdaq: IZEA) $1.65 85.19% ShiftPixy Inc. (Nasdaq: PIXY) $3.35 78.38% MER Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTSL) $3.31 41.07% IsoRay Inc. (NYSE: ISR) $0.60 38.64% TransGlobe Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: TGA) $3.74 37.76% Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCMKTS: ATNM) $0.27 26.31% Blonder Tongue Labs Inc. (NYSE: BDR) $1.56 24.58% Bridgeline Digital Inc. (Nasdaq: BLIN) $1.51 24.51% Cel-Sci Corp. (NYSE: CVM) $0.91 24.03%

  While these penny stocks generated strong returns last week, they're unlikely to produce the same level of profit again anytime soon.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation(WMC)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Lincoln National Corp acquired a new position in Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corp (NYSE:WMC) during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund acquired 11,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $115,000.

• [By Max Byerly]

  ValuEngine lowered shares of Western Asset Mortgage Capit (NYSE:WMC) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Wednesday.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Constellation Brands Inc(STZ)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Jackson]

  Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) launched into the wine industry more than 70 years ago and jumped into the spirits arena 25 years ago. The company has steadily built a world-leading presence in the premium market, a space where authenticity and regionality carry significant weight. In the most recently reported quarter, the company's wine and spirits segment contributed roughly a third of sales.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) was downgraded to Hold from Buy and the price target was lowered to $220 from $260 (versus a $211.72 close) at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Westpac Banking Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) by 25.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 44,556 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 8,947 shares during the period. Westpac Banking Corp’s holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $10,155,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Sean Williams]

  That's what made Constellation Brands' (NYSE:STZ) groundbreaking investment in Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE:CGC) in October 2017, and its subsequent larger equity stake last week, all the more important.

Top 10 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: NextEra Energy Partners, LP(NEP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Nextera Energy Partners LP (NYSE:NEP) has been assigned an average rating of “Buy” from the thirteen ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $43.22.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Nextera Energy Partners (NEP)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Nextera Energy Partners (NEP)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE:NEP) operates and manages energy assets that have a cleaner profile, such as natural gas pipelines and wind and solar power-generating facilities. The other common denominator is that the company secured long-term contracts for the power these assets produce as well as the capacity of its pipelines, which provides it with relatively steady cash flow. That gives it money with which to pay a lucrative distribution that currently yields 4%.

• [By Brian Feroldi, Anders Bylund, and Maxx Chatsko]

  So which stocks fit that mold today? We asked a team of Motley Fool contributors to weigh in, and they called out Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA), NextEra Energy Partners LP (NYSE:NEP), and Tucows (NASDAQ:TCX).