Top Dividend Stocks of 2011

Here's a quick look at nine of the best-performing stocks of the past year that also had dividend yields of 2% or more. Advance America, Cash Advance Centers AEA shares ended the year almost 65% higher, despite a recent pullback from the 52-week high. The company recently completed the acquisition of the assets of CompuCredit. The South Carolina-based nonbank financial company has a market cap of $558.8 million, a long-range EPS growth forecast of 15.0% and a dividend yield of 2.8%. In the past year, the stock has outperformed competitors such as Flushing Financial FFIC. Atlas Energy ATLS ended the year up more than 66%, as well as up almost 91% from the 52-low in October. The Pennsylvania-based natural gas processor announced in October the formation of an MLP focused on exploration and production. Atlas has a market cap of $1.2 billion, a long-term EPS growth forecast of 49.5% and a dividend yield of 3.9%. The stock has outperformed peers Continental Resources CLR and Crosstex Energy XTXI year to date. B&G Foods BGS is up about 83% since the beginning of the year and more than 45% higher in the past 90 days. This New Jersey-based producer of shelf-stable foods recently purchased Ms. Dash, Baker's Joy and other brands from Unilever UL. The $1.2 billion market cap market cap company has a dividend yield of 3.8% and a return on equity of 22.8%. Year to date, the stock has outperformed competitors General Mills GIS and Kraft Foods KFT. EV Energy Partners EVEP shares are trading almost 77% higher year to date but have pulled back more than 15% from the 52-week high. The COO takes up the reins as CEO of this Houston-based oil and natural gas property developer on January 1. The market cap is $2.3 billion and its dividend yield is 4.6%. Six of eight analysts rate the stock a Strong Buy. Year to date, the stock has outperformed competitors such as Chesapeake Energy CHK. Golar LNG GLNG ended more than 207% higher for the year, as well as up almost 41% in the past quarter. The stock of this international liquefied natural gas transporter has nearly doubled each and every year over the past three years. It has a market cap of $3.6 billion, a dividend yield of 2.7% and a mean price target more than 13% higher than the current share price. The stock has outperformed competitor Teekay LNG Partners TGP over the past year. ONEOK OKE is up more than 61% for the year, ending just shy of a multiyear high. Earlier this month, this natural gas distributor announced it would exit the retail marketing business by selling a subsidiary. This Tulsa-based company is an S&P 500 component with a market cap of $8.9 billion and a dividend yield of 2.6%. Four of eight analysts recommend buying the stock, which has outperformed peers such as Dynegy DYN and OGE Energy OGE over the past year. Targa Resources TRGP is up about 56% year to date and more than 17% higher just in the past month. The Houston-based company announced management changes in early December. This natural gas distributor has a market cap of $1.7 billion and a dividend yield of 3.0%. Its long-range EPS growth forecast is 15.5%. The stock has outperformed the likes of Enterprise Products Partners EPD and ONEOK Partners OKS since the beginning of the year. Terra Nitrogen TNH is up more than 71% since the beginning of the year, despite being down about 14% from the 52-week high. The company has increased its cash flow from operations, while reducing its capital expenditures. The fertilizer producer has a market cap of $3.1 billion, a dividend yield of 8.3% and an operating margin much better than the industry average. The stock has outperformed Agrium AGU and CF Industries CF over the past year. VF Corp. VFC is up about 51% over the past year, despite a pullback of about 8% in the past month. The apparel maker's brands include Vans, North Face, Wrangler and the recently acquired Timberland, and it has raised its dividend for 39 consecutive years. The North Carolina-based company has a market cap of $14.0 billion and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The stock has outperformed Columbia Sportswear COLM and Gildan Activewear GIL over the past year.