24/7 Wall St.

By any measure, the eight-and-a-half-year-old bull market is getting tired, and after one of the biggest percentage runs in stock market history, it may be time for investors to move to higher ground. The problem for many is that a move to assets like corporate bonds hardly makes sense with the lowest yields in 60 years, and 30-year Treasury bonds are yielding less than 3%. One good idea may be to shift to blue chip stocks that are either out of favor or missed on an earnings report and got hit.

With earnings-per-share expectations being eclipsed by the gains on the S&P 500, the current forward price-to-earnings for the index stands at 17 times. That is 14% above the average PE, and hardly lends itself to allowing a huge amount of upside. We screened our 24/7 Wall St. research database for blue chips stocks rated Buy, with a 3% or better dividend, and found five that make good sense now.

Cisco

This top mega-cap technology stock pick at Jefferies makes good sense for investors seeking tech exposure. Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) designs, manufactures and sells internet protocol (IP) based networking products and services related to the communications and information technology industry worldwide.

It provides switching products, including fixed-configuration and modular switches, and storage products that provide connectivity to end users, workstations, IP phones, wireless access points and servers, as well as next-generation network routing products that interconnect public and private wireline and mobile networks for mobile, data, voice and video applications.

Wall Street likes the company’s stellar balance sheet, and the ability for the company’s gross margins to move close to the 65% range on a consistent basis as it moves away from the legacy products sold for switching and routing. Cisco is another company that could benefit from the tax on overseas money being lowered as it has a whopping $70 billion in cash, 90% of which is overseas.

With all the positives for the stock, Jefferies analysts did note this cautionary issue in a recent report:

We continue to believe the company understates the size of the revenue headwind associated with the move to subscription. We do acknowledge that the headwinds from the move to subscription will act as an overhang on shares. Execution remains key, but we believe Cisco’s expectations as it relates to federal spending may prove conservative. Shares currently trade at 10 times our base business, ex-cash, current year 2018 earnings-per-share and we continue to believe shares can re-rate.

Shareholders receive a 3.65% dividend. The Jefferies price target for the stock is $37. The Wall Street consensus target is $35.55. Shares closed last Friday at $31.84.

General Electric

This iconic blue chip industrial has been a laggard and is offering a solid entry point. General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) is a highly diversified, global industrial corporation. Its businesses are organized broadly under six segments: GE Capital, Energy Infrastructure, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation and Home & Business Solutions. Its products and services include power generation equipment, aircraft engines, locomotives, medical equipment, appliances, commercial leasing and personal finance.

The company recently announced a huge deal to combine GE’s Oil & Gas business and Baker Hughes to create a leader in oil and gas equipment, technology and services with $32 billion in revenue. The analysts feel the new company can leverage GE’s digital and technology expertise and the domain knowledge, capabilities and presence of Baker Hughes in oilfield services.

GE investors receive a 3.71% dividend. The stock is rated Buy at UBS, which has a price objective of $35. The consensus price target is $30.54. Shares closed Friday at $25.91.

Intel

This leader in semiconductors is working hard to scale away from dependence on personal computers, and the Internet of Things is a big part of the shift. Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) designs, manufactures and sells integrated digital technology platforms worldwide.

The company’s platforms are used in various computing applications comprising notebooks, two-in-one systems, desktops, servers, tablets, smartphones, wireless and wired connectivity products, wearables, retail devices and manufacturing devices, as well as for retail, transportation, industrial, buildings, home use and other market segments.

Earlier this year, Intel announced the purchase of Mobileye for $15.3 billion. The Israel sensor company gives the chip giant a leg up in the autonomous car competition, and it also adds many other capabilities. While some say the valuation paid is high, the dividends down the road could be worth the price.

The analysts note that while the stock is a more controversial pick, benefits from the Purley server launch, which is expected in July, and the fact that Intel should be able to reaccelerate data center growth are positives investors need to focus on.

Intel investors receive a 3.14% dividend. Deutsche Bank rates the stock a Buy with a price objective of $43, while the consensus target price is $39.56. The stock closed on Friday at $34.73.

Pfizer

This top global pharmaceutical company made a gigantic splash last year with a $5.5 billion purchase of Anacor Pharmaceuticals. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) is organized into two commercial segments. The Biopharmaceutical segment is focused on discovering, developing and marketing drugs for cardiovascular, metabolic, central nervous system, immunology, pain, infectious diseases, respiratory, oncology and other indications. The Diversified segment includes the consumer products division.

European regulators recently recommended approving Pfizer and Merck KGaA’s immuno-oncology drug Bavencio to treat a rare type of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. In May, Bavencio was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat bladder cancer and in March to treat Merkel cell carcinoma. Bavencio, known chemically as avelumab, belongs to a class of drugs called PD-L1 or PD-1 inhibitors that help the immune system to attack cancer by blocking a mechanism tumors use to evade detection.

Investors receive a 3.82% dividend. The stock is rated Overweight at JPMorgan, which has a $39 price target. The consensus target is $37.40. Shares closed Friday at $33.48.

Verizon

This top telecommunications stock has been the worst performing in the Dow Jones Industrial Average for much of this year. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is a global leader in delivering the digital world. Verizon Wireless operates America’s self-described most reliable wireless network, with 109.5 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and it delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.

The company recently completed the $4.48 billion purchase of Yahoo in an attempt to increase content delivery and internet exposure. The assets acquired from Yahoo will be combined with AOL brands under a new subsidiary called Oath, which ultimately will house more than 50 media and technology brands. The new company will be headed by former AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, and many on Wall Street are positive on the deal.

Verizon investors receive a 5.22% dividend. Merrill Lynch has a Buy rating and a price target of $50. The consensus target is $49.50, and the stock closed Friday at $44.23.

Despite the constant Wall Street bullishness, the market needs a breather, and a 5% sell-off would provide just that. These five top stocks rated Buy all pay good dividends and offer a degree of safety in what is clearly a very expensive market by historical standards.