8 Ex-Dividend Stocks To Watch – (BCR, APA, COP, CVS, DMLP, PGH, PSX, LTC)

Dividends, generally a cash payout to investors, are most often paid on a quarterly basis. If you compare the performance of dividend-paying stocks and non-dividend-paying stocks, the difference can be quite surprising from a total return perspective i.e. capital appreciation + dividends.

Ex-dividend is a term used by traders that indicates that a stock is sold without the buyer getting the right to receive its newly announced dividend which has not yet been paid to the shareholders. On the other hand, the seller of a stock sold ex-dividend preserves the right to receive payment of the upcoming dividend. These stocks are usually bought at a price that is dropped by the amount of the dividend to be paid to the seller. Stocks discussed below are going to reach ex-dividend date on July 19, 2012.

C.R. Bard, Inc (NYSE:BCR) maintains an annual dividend yield of 0.75% and a payout ratio of 19.45%. The stock over the last 52 weeks has been trading in a range of $80.80 – $113.77. Its market capitalization stands at $9.00 billion. BCR and its subsidiaries design, manufacture, package, distribute, and sell medical, surgical, diagnostic, and patient care devices worldwide.

Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. Apache Corporation has an annual dividend yield of 0.79% and keeps a payout ratio at 5.71%. The stock in the prior 52 weeks has been trading between $73.04 – $129.26. The company is valued at $33.58 billion.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) currently holds a yearly dividend yield of 4.69%. The stock has traded between $50.62 – $78.29 in the past 52 weeks and has a market capitalization of $71.17 billion.

CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE:CVS) has a dividend yield of 1.34%. The stock in the past 52 weeks has been floating in the range of $31.30 – $48.57. The company’s market capitalization stands at $62.08 billion.

Dorchester Minerals LP (NASDAQ:DMLP) has an annual dividend yield of 8.46%. The stock has traded between $19.87 and $28.16 in the last 12-months. Its market capitalization is now at $689.58 million.

Pengrowth Energy Corp (USA) (NYSE:PGH)’s annual dividend yield is positive at 7.63%. The stock in the previous 52 weeks has been hovering in range of $5.79 – $13.60. The company is worth $2.25 billion.

Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) is currently valued at $22.94 billion. The company keeps its annual dividend yield positive at 2.18%. The stock in the previous 52 weeks has traded in a range of $28.75 – $37.45.

LTC Properties Inc (NYSE:LTC) has a dividend yield of 4.72%. The stock in the past 52 weeks has been floating in the range of $20.40 – $37.93. The company’s market capitalization stands at $1.12 billion. LTC operates as a health care real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States.

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed in this article are exclusively those of the authors who have no stake in any stocks mentioned, and hold no plan to acquire any stake within the next 5 days.