These stocks offer low valuations and high dividends, and look poised to outperform under several possible economic backdrops.
Based on history since 1990, such value dividend stocks tend to be market leaders whether the macro environment is an economic slowdown, a full-blown recession, or a round of monetary easing by the Federal Reserve. “The valuation and positioning problems that set the stage for this year's pullbacks have not been fully resolved,” writes Lori Calvasina, head of U.S. equity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, in a new report summarized by Barron's. Among the stocks that passed RBC's screens are Halliburton Co. (HAL), Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU), and Valero Energy Corp. (VLO). These additional dividend paying stocks are top picks of RBC analysts based on value and quality criteria: Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT), Dow Inc. (DOW), Duke Energy Corp. (DUK), Energy Transfer LP (ET), and Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP).