5 High Dividend Names For Sound Sleeping

The market has been in a bit of a roller coaster lately, with concerns of a sovereign debt crisis in Europe, debt ceiling worries at home, and corporate earnings potentially looking very bleak, especially if you look at the semiconductor industry. Here is a list of 5 high dividend paying stocks: American Capital Agency Corp. AGNC has a dividend yield of 18.90%, or $5.60 per share, which is one of the highest dividends I have ever seen. American Capital Agency Corp. is a real estate investment trust that invests in agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. Shares have gained 1.6% this year, excluding dividends. Shares trade at 4.2 times 2011 earnings. Chimera Investment Corporation's CIM is another high paying dividend stock, yielding 15.2%. Shares trade at 5.55 times forward earnings. The company is also a REIT, which invests in residential mortgage backed securities, residential mortgage loans, real estate-related securities, asset backed securities and other assets. It was spun off from Annaly Capital Management NLY, another high flying dividend stock. Reynolds America RAI is a another high paying dividend stock, sporting a 5.7% yield. Reynolds America is one of the largest tobacco manufacturers in the country. Shares trade at 13.2 times forward earnings and have rose 14.6% year to date, excluding dividends. Merck MRK is another high yielding stock, yielding 4.3%. Pharmaceutical companies have been traditionally low-risk defensive plays, and with worries seemingly being added every day, Merck could be a potential play for your portfolio. Shares trade at less than 10 times 2012 earnings, incredibly cheap for a company like Merck. Johnson & Johnson JNJ, is the last high dividend stock. The New Brunswick-based company makes Band-Aids, Tylenol, and other products we use everyday. Shares sport a 3.4% dividend yield, and trade at 12.9 times 2012 earnings, not as cheap as Merck, but not expensive either. Warren Buffett is also a major holder of J&J shares, so this should allow investors to sleep at night.