NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 15, 2012) - Dividend paying companies have gained popularity in the markets in 2012. With interest rates as low as they are long term investors are looking at dividend paying stocks for investment income, where returns currently far exceed those of bonds. In 2012 S&P companies are on pace to pay out a record amount in dividends. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for Dividend paying stocks and provides equity research on Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: [ KFT ]) and The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: [ PG ]).

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[ www.FiveStarEquities.com/KFT ]
[ www.FiveStarEquities.com/PG ]

S&P companies are set to pay out a record of $279 billion in dividends in 2012, up nearly 16 percent from 2011. There are currently more dividend payers on the S&P index then there has been in over a decade. According to S&P analyst Howard Silverblatt, 401 of the S&P 500 now pay dividends. "At this point, taxes are my main concern for dividends," Silverblatt wrote last month, noting that dividend taxes could nearly triple next year from the 15 percent today to 43.4 percent next year. "From a planning perspective, this will force corporations to reexamine their return-to-shareholders policy, potentially pulling back on dividend increases and increasing share buybacks."

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Kraft currently offers investors an annual dividend of $1.16 per share for a yield of 2.97 percent. Kraft Foods recently reported strong first quarter 2012 results. Net revenues were $13.1 billion, up 4.1 percent. Organic Net Revenues increased 6.5 percent, driven by 11 percent growth from Power Brands. The company currently offers investors an annual dividend of $1.16 per share for a yield of 2.97 percent.

Procter & Gamble delivered two percent sales growth to $20.2 billion for the January - March quarter. Organic sales increased three percent driven by price increases, partially offset by geographic and product mix. The Company continued to deliver broad-based organic sales growth, with all five business segments up versus the prior year for the third consecutive quarter. The company currently offers investors an annual dividend of $2.25 per share for a yield of 3.53 percent.

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