Best Dividend Companies For 2014

Every investor would love to stumble upon the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that provides everything you could possibly want?

One thing's for sure: You'll never discover truly great investments unless you actively look for them. Let's discuss the ideal qualities of a perfect stock, then decide if Waste Management (NYSE: WM  ) fits the bill.

The quest for perfection
Stocks that look great based on one factor may prove horrible elsewhere, making due diligence a crucial part of your investing research. The best stocks excel in many different areas, including these important factors:

Growth. Expanding businesses show healthy revenue growth. While past growth is no guarantee that revenue will keep rising, it's certainly a better sign than a stagnant top line. Margins. Higher sales mean nothing if a company can't produce profits from them. Strong margins ensure that company can turn revenue into profit. Balance sheet. At debt-laden companies, banks and bondholders compete with shareholders for management's attention. Companies with strong balance sheets don't have to worry about the distraction of debt. Money-making opportunities. Return on equity helps measure how well a company is finding opportunities to turn its resources into profitable business endeavors. Valuation. You can't afford to pay too much for even the best companies. By using normalized figures, you can see how a stock's simple earnings multiple fits into a longer-term context. Dividends. For tangible proof of profits, a check to shareholders every three months can't be beat. Companies with solid dividends and strong commitments to increasing payouts treat shareholders well.

With those factors in mind, let's take a closer look at Waste Management.

Best Dividend Companies For 2014: PCCW Ltd (8)

PCCW Limited is a Hong Kong-based holding company. Its subsidiary HKT provides telecommunications and related services, including local telephony, local data and broadband, international telecommunications, mobile, customer premises equipment sale, outsourcing, consulting and contact centers, primarily in Hong Kong, mainland China and elsewhere in the world. Media Business includes interactive pay- television (TV) services, Internet portal multimedia entertainment platform and the Company�� directories operations in Hong Kong and mainland China. Solutions Business offers Information and Communications Technologies services and solutions in Hong Kong and mainland China. Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited covers the Company�� property portfolio in Hong Kong and mainland China, including the Cyberport development in Hong Kong, and elsewhere in Asia. Other Businesses include the Company�� wireless broadband business in the United Kingdom and all corporate support functions.

Best Dividend Companies For 2014: Urastar Energy Inc(URS.V)

Urastar Gold Corp., a mining exploration and development company, focuses on gold exploration in the Sierra Madre gold belt targeting areas, Mexico. It holds interests in the Black Point project located approximately eight miles to the northeast of Eureka, Nevada, the United States; the El Antimonio property situated in northwest Sonora, Mexico; and the Jabali property located in the Sahuarita Sonora Mexico municipal region. The company was formerly known as Urastar Energy Inc. and changed its name to Urastar Gold Corp. in August 2011. Urastar Gold Corp. is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In 2014: PSB Holdings Inc.(PSBH)

PSB Holdings, Inc. operates as the holding company for Putnam Bank that provides a range of banking services to individual and small business customers located primarily in eastern Connecticut. It accepts various deposit products that include checking, savings, money market deposit accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, and fixed-term certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises one- to four-family residential real estate mortgage loans, including home equity loans and lines of credit; commercial real estate loans comprising multi-family real estate loans; commercial loans; construction mortgage loans primarily secured by single-family properties; and consumer loans, such as loans on new and used automobiles, loans secured by deposit accounts, and unsecured personal loans. It operates seven full service branch offices and one loan origination center. The company was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in Putnam, Connecticut. PSB Holdings, I nc. is a subsidiary of Putnam Bancorp, MHC.