September 29, 2014 Kevin Mercadante

There are all kinds of lists of recommended stocks available, and here’s our stab at a “Ten Best of 2105” list. We’re looking at stocks that not only have a strong track record of growth since 2009 the bottom of the Great Recession but we’re also looking for stocks with above average dividend yields.

Growth is important of course, but with the stock market looking more than a little top heavy right now, dividends can provide a solid income during a market slide, and may even minimize the decline in the underlying stock as investors shift to chasing yield.

Here are ten different stocks, in no particular order.

#1. PBF Energy Inc (NYSE: PBF)

PBF Energy is an independent oil refiner and supplier of unbranded transportation fuels, heating oil, petrochemical feed-stocks, lubricants and related products.

They own and operate oil refineries in New Jersey, Delaware and Ohio. The refineries produce gasoline, heating oil, jet fuel, lubricants, petrochemicals, and asphalt.

Based in New Jersey, the company was founded in 2008. Despite the fact that it is a relatively new entity, it’s sales have increased from $228 million in 2009 to $19.15 billion in 2013.

An energy company experiencing that kind of growth and paying a 4.51% dividend yield is well worth investigating.

#2. Alliance Holdings, GP LP (NASDQ: AHGP)

Founded in 2005 and based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Alliance Holdings is a limited partnership that controls Alliance Resources Management GP LLC, which is the managing general partner of Alliance Resource Partners, LP.

At the heart of the company’s business is coal, produced primarily in the Appalachians and the US Midwest, and marketed to utilities and industrial concerns.

Both sales and net income have nearly doubled in the past five years, and the dividend yield is 4.96%.

#3. Digital Realty Trust Inc (NYSE: DLR)

Founded in 2004, and based in San Francisco, Digital Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, acquires, develops and manages technology related real estate. It operates through Digital Realty Trust L.P.

It’s services include Turn-Key Datacenters, Digital Consulting Services, Build-To-Suit Datacenters, Buy-To-Suit / Sale-Leaseback Datacenters, Powered Base Buildings and Critical Facilities Management.

Digital Realty Trust’s customers include both US and international companies, and includes information technology, internet companies, manufacturers, and financial services companies.

The dividend yield is 5.18%, and sales have more than doubled in the past five years, while net income has more than tripled.

#4. Seaspan Corporation (NYSE: SSW)

Seaspan Corp. owns and manages container ships, deploying vessels on long-term and fixed rate time charters.

Though the company was founded in Washington in 2005, it is headquartered in Hong Kong.

Both sales and net income have more than doubled in the past five years, and the current dividend yield is 6.11%.

#5. Global Partners LP (NYSE: GLP)

Founded in Waltham, Massachusetts in 2005, Global Partners handles the storage, distribution and marketing of gasoline, distillates and residual oil to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers throughout the Northeastern US.

It’s also engaged in the purchasing, selling and logistics of transporting domestic and Canadian crude oil and other products. The Wholesale segment sells gasoline, home heating oil, diesel, kerosene and residual oil to unbranded and Mobil branded retail gasoline stations and other resellers of transportation fuels, home heating oil retailers and wholesale distributors.

Revenues have more then tripled in the past five years, and the stock‘s dividend yield is currently 6.18%.

#6. American Campus Communities Inc. (NYSE: ACC)

Based in Austin, Texas and founded in 1993, American Campus Communities, Inc. operates as a REIT that owns, manages and develops a high quality student housing properties in the United States in terms of beds owned and under management.

The company is a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered equity real estate investment trust with expertise in the acquisition, design, financing, development, construction management, leasing and management of student housing properties.

Company sales have more than doubled in the past five years, and the dividend yield now stands at 3.96%.

#7. Eaton Corp. PLC (NYSE: ETN)

Founded in 1911 and based in Dublin, Ireland, Eaton Corp. Plc is a diversified power management company, which provides energy-efficient solutions that help its customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power.

Among its various segments, the Aerospace segment is a leading global supplier of aerospace fuel, hydraulics, and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use. The Vehicle segment engages in designing, manufacturing, marketing, and supply of drivetrain and powertrain systems and critical components that reduce emissions and improve fuel economy, stability, performance and safety of cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles.

Since 2009 total revenues have doubled, and net profits have increased four-fold. The current dividend yield is 2.24%.

#8. Banco de Chile ADS (NYSE: BCH)

Headquartered in the Chilean capital city of Santiago, Banco de Chile was founded way back in 1893. The company provides banking services through various segments.

The Retail segment is focused on individuals and small and medium enterprises where the product offering focuses on consumer, commercial and mortgage loans, checking accounts, credit cards, and credit lines.

The Wholesale segment is focused on corporate clients and large companies where the product offering focuses on commercial loans, checking accounts and liquidity management services, debt instruments, foreign trade, derivative contracts, and leases.

Both total revenues and net income have doubled in the past five years, and the dividend yield is 4.95%.

#9. SeaDrill Ltd. (NYSE: SDRL)

Founded in 2005 and based in Hamilton, Bermuda, Seadrill Ltd. is an offshore drilling contractor providing offshore drilling services to the oil and gas industry.

Its primary business is the ownership and operation of drill-ships, semi-submersible rigs, jack-up rigs, tender rigs for operations in shallow, mid, deep, and ultra deep-water areas, and in both benign and harsh environments. It’s Floaters segment offer services encompassing drilling, completion and maintenance of offshore exploration and production wells.

Drilling operations take place in Southeast Asia and West Africa. The company specializes in the exact kind of difficult oil production that is becoming more common on the energy front.

The dividend yield is currently 11.33%, with revenues up nearly 70% and net income more than doubling in the past five years.

#10. Iron Mountain Inc (NYSE: IRM)

Iron Mountain is currently paying a dividend yield of 3.17%, and while sales have been flat over the past five years, the company is a leader in an industry that’s become crucial in recent years. The company provides information storage and management services that help businesses lower costs, and minimize the risks and inefficiencies of retaining and managing digital data. It offers data protection and recovery, information destruction services, and expertise to deal with litigation, regulatory compliance and disaster recovery.

(DISCLAIMER: Though these companies look to be promising investments, there is no guarantee that they will be profitable in the future, and as is the case with all equity type assets, there is a risk of losing some or even all of your investment capital.)