4 Safe Dividend Stocks to Own as Terrorism and Plunging Oil Escalates Volatility

Investing

Published: December 15, 2015 10:55 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 4:05 pm

Needless to say, the events of past two months reminded everybody that the threat of terrorism is global, and every time a horrific incident takes place, it puts stress on equity markets here and around the world. While investors cannot constantly shuffle the holdings in their portfolios based on every event, they can shift to companies that pay solid dividends and those less vulnerable to volatility selling.

We screened the Merrill Lynch research universe for stocks that are not only top dividend payers, but those that do most or all of their business here in the United States. We found four top companies that are rated Buy at Merrill Lynch.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a top aerospace and defense stock to buy, and many on Wall Street are expecting a very solid continuation of U.S. and foreign defense spending. Employing 112,000, Lockheed Martin engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of technology systems, products and services. It also provides management, engineering, technical, scientific, logistics and information services. Its Aeronautics segment offers combat and air mobility aircraft, unmanned air vehicles and related technologies.

Lockheed completed its $9 billion acquisition of Sikorsky recently, and analysts around Wall Street have generally applauded the deal as the company become the world’s largest maker of military helicopters. It also became the maker of the world’s most sophisticated autonomous helicopters, with no clear competition in sight. Both Lockheed and Sikorsky are already transforming airborne logistics for the U.S. military, and they could soon transform airborne logistics for industry as well. This continues a tradition at Lockheed of making bolt-on acquisitions that strengthen the company’s overall product portfolio.

Lockheed Martin investors receive a very solid 3.05% dividend. The Merrill Lynch price target for the stock is $250, and the Thomson/First Call consensus target is $227.38. The stock closed most recently at $216.58.