5 Best Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now

The best thing about the stock market is that you can make money in�either direction. Historically, stock indexes have tended to trend up over the long term. But when you look at individual stocks, you'll find plenty that lose money over the long haul. According to hedge fund institution Blackstar Funds, even with dividends�included, between 1983 and 2006, 64% of stocks underperformed the Russell 3000, a broad-scope market index.

A large influx of short-sellers shouldn't be a condemning factor to any company, but it could be a red flag from traders that something may not be as cut-and-dried as it appears. Let's look at three companies that have seen a rapid increase in the number of shares sold short and see whether traders are blowing smoke or if their worry has some merit.

Company

Short Increase April 30 to May 15

Short Shares as a % of Float

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV  )

Top 5 Blue Chip Companies To Watch For 2015: Spectra Energy Corp(SE)

Spectra Energy Corp, through its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of a portfolio of complementary natural gas-related energy assets in the United States and Canada. The company operates in four segments: U.S. Transmission, Distribution, Western Canada Transmission and Processing, and Field Services. The U.S. Transmission segment engages in the transportation and storage of natural gas for customers in various regions of the northeastern and southeastern United States and the Maritime Provinces in Canada. Its natural gas pipeline systems consist of approximately 19,000 miles of transmission pipelines; and storage capacity comprises 305 billion cubic feet in the United States and Canada. The Distribution segment engages in the natural gas storage, transmission, and distribution in Western Canada and the United States. This segment has approximately 37,600 miles of distribution main and service pipelines serving approximately 1.3 million residential, comme rcial, and industrial customers. The Western Canada Transmission and Processing segment provides natural gas transportation, and gas gathering and processing services; and provides services to natural gas producers to remove impurities from the raw gas stream including water, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other substances. This segment serves local distribution companies, end-use industrial and commercial customers, marketers, and exploration and production companies. The Field Services segment gathers and processes natural gas, as well as fractionates, markets, and trades natural gas liquids. It engages in gathering raw natural gas through gathering systems located in nine natural gas producing regions consisting of the Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain, east Texas-north Louisiana, Barnett Shale, Gulf Coast, South Texas, Central Texas, Antrim Shale, and Permian Basin. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  As for Tortoise Pipeline and Energy, it芒���s a two-year-old fund offered by a respected MLP asset manager, with the bulk of its portfolio in midstream energy infrastructure, mostly such corporate MLP sponsors as Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) and Williams (NYSE: WMB). Traditional MLPs make up the 25 percent maximum of the portfolio permitted by law, and oil and gas producing corporations account for another 15 percent.

• [By Tom Rojas var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(func]

  Spectra Energy Corp.(SE) said its second-quarter profit fell 26%, reporting weaker-than-expected results as plant turnarounds dented revenue growth and increased costs.

5 Best Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: UniSource Energy Corporation(UNS)

UniSource Energy Corporation engages in the electric generation and energy delivery businesses. The company?s TEP segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 403,000 retail electric customers, including residential, commercial, industrial, and public sector customers in southeastern Arizona. It also sells electricity to other utilities and power marketing entities. As of December 31, 2010, this segment owned or leased 2,245 MW of net generating capacity, as well as owned or participated in electric transmission and distribution system consisting of 512 circuit-miles of 500-kV lines; 1,087 circuit-miles of 345-kV lines; 379 circuit-miles of 138-kV lines; 478 circuit-miles of 46-kV lines; and 2,621 circuit-miles of lower voltage primary lines. TEP segment generates electricity from coal, gas, oil, and solar sources. The company?s UNS Gas segment distributes gas to approximately 146,500 retail customers in Mohave, Yavapai, Coconino, and Navajo c ounties in northern Arizona, as well as Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona. As of December 31, 2010, this segment?s transmission and distribution system consisted of approximately 30 miles of steel transmission mains, 4,211 miles of steel and plastic distribution piping, and 136,439 customer service lines. The company?s UNS Electric segment transmits and distributes electricity to approximately 91,000 retail customers consisting of residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties. As of December 31, 2010, UNS Electric?s transmission and distribution system consisted of approximately 56 circuit-miles of 115-kV transmission lines, 271 circuit-miles of 69-kV transmission lines, and 3,599 circuit-miles of underground and overhead distribution lines. This segment also owns the 65 MW Valencia plant, as well as 39 substations having an installed capacity of 1,788,050 kilovolt amperes. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Tucson, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  UNS Energy (NYSE: UNS) shot up 27.75 percent to $58.56 after the company agreed to be acquired by Fortis Utility Group for $60.25 per share in cash.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Fortis Inc.(FTS.T) agreed to acquire UNS Energy Corp.(UNS) for about $2.5 billion, as the Canadian utility moves to boost exposure within the U.S. by acquiring a firm with a presence in the U.S. southwest. Shares of UNS jumped 30% to $59.02 premarket.

5 Best Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: United Parcel Service Inc.(UPS)

United Parcel Service, Inc., a package delivery company, provides transportation, logistics, and financial services in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain & Freight. The U.S. Domestic Package segment engages in the time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages in the United States. The International Package segment offers air and ground delivery of small packages and letters to approximately 220 countries and territories, including shipments outside the United States, as well as shipments with either origin or distribution outside the United States; export services; and domestic services move shipments within a country?s borders. The Supply Chain & Freight segment provides forwarding and logistics services, such as supply chain design and management, freight distribution, customs brokerage, mail, and consulting services in approximately 195 countries and territorie s; and less-than-truckload and truckload services to customers in North America. In addition, the company offers various technology solutions for automated shipping, visibility, and billing; information technology systems and distribution facilities to various industries comprising healthcare, technology, and consumer/retail; and a portfolio of financial services that provides customers with short-term working capital, government guaranteed lending, global trade financing, credit cards, and export financing. It operates a fleet of approximately 99,800 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; an air fleet of 527 aircraft; and 33,800 containers used to transport cargo in its aircraft. The company was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Crowe and Aimee Duffy]

  There's a lot of clamor about using natural gas to fuel trucking fleets in the United States, and now it looks as if several retail and consumer-goods companies want it to happen. Some companies, including UPS (NYSE: UPS  ) , are quick to catch on, and others aren't far behind. While natural gas might not be the perfect solution for every part of the country, fleet vehicles in certain parts of the country could benefit greatly from the $1.50 discount per gallon equivalent that natural gas has over diesel.�

• [By idahansen]

  The article, "More Employers Overhaul Health Benefits" detailed the travails that companies are having with the onslaught of Obamacare. As the excellent Wall Street Journal article by Anna Wilde Mathews reported, major companies such as Sears Holding (NASDAQ: SHLD), Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI), and others are revising the way employees receive health insurance and other benefits. Some, such as United Parcel Services (NYSE: UPS), are dropping coverage for spouses.

• [By John Kell and Tess Stynes var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); p]

  United Parcel Services Inc.(UPS) plans to increase general rates by 4.4% at the end of March, a move that comes after rival FedEx Corp.(FDX) also said it would raise its shipping rates.

5 Best Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: HCP Inc. (HCP)

HCP, Inc. is an independent hybrid real estate investment trust. The fund invests in real estate markets of the United States. It primarily invests in properties serving the healthcare industry including sectors of healthcare such as senior housing, life science, medical office, hospital and skilled nursing. The fund also invests in mezzanine loans and other debt instruments. It engages in acquisition, development, leasing, selling and managing of healthcare real estate and provides mortgage and other financing to healthcare providers. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P 500 Index, Berkshire Hathaway Index, and MSCI REIT Index. HCP, Inc. was formed in 1985 and is based in Long Beach, California with additional office in Nashville and San Francisco.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  HCP Inc. (HCP) �shares rose 2.3% after three days of losses. Analysts had expressed concerns over the abrupt dismissal of Chairman and Chief Executive James Flaherty last week.

• [By Bob Ciura]

  However, despite headwinds in the past year due to rising rates, high-quality REITs like�HCP� (NYSE: HCP  ) ,�Health Care REIT� (NYSE: HCN  ) , and�Realty Income� (NYSE: O  ) �exhibit long-term visions for their business that should appeal greatly to Foolish investors.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  My vote for the strangest drop of the week goes to HCP (HCP). The healthcare real-estate investment trust fell 6% to $39.05 after it fired its CEO without warning and insisted there was nothing behind it except desire for a different management style. Investors were not enthused.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of HCP (HCP) are dropping again today following the surprise ouster of CEO James Flaherty yesterday.

  The healthcare REIT is busy trying to convince investors that there’s nothing behind the move other than the fact that they wanted a new leadership style when the place Jones Lang LaSalle’s�(JLL) Lauralee Martin at the helm. Cowen’s James Sullivan explains why the move continues to shake up investors:

  The CEO announcement took investors by surprise, and we may see additional share volatility as shareholders digest the transition. The apparent suddenness of the announcement, and the age difference between Flaherty and Martin, may also raise questions about Martin’s tenure and the new succession plans.

  Management Reiterated Its Commitment To The Current Strategy. Still, it is natural to assume that with a new leader, some changes to the management team may be made (even if in the form of additions to the team). And given Martin’s experience and comments on the call, we could see an increased emphasis on international opportunities, which may raise concerns with existing shareholders.

  HCP has dropped 1.6% to $39.17 today, while competitor Health Care REIT (HCN) has gained 0.6% to $61.97, while Ventas (VTR) has risen 0.5% to $62.31.