Test Drive: Jaguar F-Type a howling beauty

October 2009, we watched as stylists shaved the rear of the full-size clay model Jaguar at the company's headquarters at Castle Bromwich in the U.K., looking for the perfect accent line.

Working independently on left and right sides, to create two designs on one model, one artisan crafted a strong horizontal line partway down the curving rear panel, reminiscent of the 1963 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray.

The other clay artist had the horizontal break line unusually high on a flatter rump. That was the 2014 Jaguar F-Type aborning.

The production model wound up with a horizontal break as high on the tail as possible. It's a sharp line between the horizontal trunk lid and the vertical rear panel.

Most of us see other cars from the rear, after all, as we lope along in traffic, so the rump has to be right. Jag decided that line was right.

Seeing the clay shaped was a rare privilege, one that required a pledge of temporary secrecy. Jaguar Managing Director Mike O'Driscoll, now retired, said, more or less, "We'll show you, but we might have to shoot you."

Hard situation for a guy whose lot in life is finding stuff out and telling people. But at the time, Jag was on such thin ice as a company that it seemed important to peek at the future, to see if, indeed, there was one.

Turns out there was, and a healthy one, it's now beginning to seem. Big clue: Jaguar's sales in the important U.S. market the first 10 months this year are up 36.2% in an overall new-vehicle market up 8.4%, according to Autodata.

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The XF sedan — newly fitted with all-wheel drive and smaller, more fuel-efficient, but still very powerful engines — gets most of the credit. But in the small-numbers world of Jaguar, the 1,843 incremental sales from F-Type through October are a significant jolt in the right direction.

Our view after testing the high-dollar V-8! version: The stunning 2014 Jaguar F-Type two-seat, high-performance sports car has a purity of purpose and performance that's breathtaking. Not like anything else Jaguar sells, it's a force of its own for people who live out loud.

The attention the brand is getting from the heavy F-Type marketing is a help. The styling, of course, is on display in all the ads, but what you really notice — and you can't help but think it's augmented — is the exhaust note.

In the V-8 model you know the instant you punch the starter button that the aural signature is even more dramatic in life than on TV.

It quickly asserts that this isn't a car for boulevard parading. It's a car to slam and gun and make speak to the world of enthusiasm and joy. In other words, one in which you'll lose your driver's license very, very quickly unless you have nearly inhuman restraint.

The test car, a $103,820 F-Type V-8 S Convertible, that came in — could we be more conspicuous — Italian Racing Red, had a "dynamic" mode that not only firms up the suspension, but also lets the exhaust snap and snarl and yowl even more. Ah, bliss.

There's far more to the F than the exhaust pipes. And the base car with 3-liter six-cylinder wouldn't sound the same. But we'd bet that plenty of F-Type sales can be credited to the sound of the V-8.

Here's a caution: The test car's four exhaust pipes stuck out just far enough to give a nasty leg burn to those unloading the trunk without proper situational awareness.

Though menacing in sound and fury, it's not hard to drive, nor to drive hard. The steering's just-so, the brakes are right-now, the suspension loves the tight corners and for all that, the ride's not too rough.

Cute touches include normally flush outside door handles that extend to give you a finger hold when you hit the remote unlock button and illuminate a "puddle light" so you don't step in something unpleasant at the door.

Also, when you drop the top (takes about 10 seconds) in cold weat! her, big ! vents pop up atop the dashboard to keep you as toasty as possible driving open-air in 45-degree evenings (just because you can).

Practical considerations — as if there really are any for such a joy toy:

Limited storage. You'd expect a small trunk in a convertible — the top has to fold somewhere — and you'd be right. One or two people could tote enough for a short stay, or they could buy what they need when they get there. (This is a car for rich people, after all.)

Inside, no handy spot for a small purse or briefcase if somebody's in the passenger's seat.

Thirst for fuel. Heroic restraint might get you the 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway government rating for the V-8. But you're silly to buy such a car and drive it for mpg. Us? We eked out 12 mpg around the burbs, using lots of hard-throttle sprints just because it is flat fun to drive the car that way.

Electronic controls. Not so great. Too much presented too obscurely. Regular, old mechanical knobs remain the best control.

Big applause, though, for the direct-acting gearshift lever to control the eight-speed automatic transmission. You'll get addicted to using the manual mode.

The F-Type is a statement car, as much for its maker as its buyer. It's a raging delight that makes you wish for wealth.

ABOUT THE JAGUAR F-TYPE

What? Two-seat, high-performance, rear-drive sports car new to the brand. Jaguar hopes to evoke the 1960s and 1970s XKE.

When? On sale since May.

Where? Made in the U.K.

How much? Starts at $69,895, including $895 shipping.

What makes it go? 3-liter supercharged V-6 rated 340 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, 332 pounds-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm (380 hp, 339 lbs-ft. in "S" model). Top model: 5-liter supercharged V-8, 495 hp at 6,500, 460 lbs.-ft. at 2,500.

All use eight-speed automatic with manual-shift mode.

How big? Similar to Porsche 911. Weighs 3,521 to 3,671 lbs. Trunk is 7 cubic feet.

How thirsty? Ba! se six-cy! linder rated 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, 23 combined city/highway. S-model six: 19/27/22. V-8: 16/23/18.

V-8 test car registered 12 mpg (8.33 gallons per 100 miles) in very rambunctious suburban driving.

Prefers premium, can burn regular at sacrifice in performance, Jag says. Tank holds 18.5 gallons.

Overall: V-8's a thrill ride; V-6s just as stylish, if not as quick.

Fiscal Crisis Leaves Stocks in a Sweet Spot

The Washington mess of the past few weeks was ugly and disruptive for financial markets. It could do more damage in December as investors contemplate resumed acrimony when 2014 arrives.

Yet it all has a silver lining. ‪

The federal government's shutdown and threat of default on U.S. debt spawned anxiety among businesses and consumers, hurt the U.S.'s image around the world and took about half a percentage point off fourth-quarter economic growth, economists estimate.

But the economy kept growing. Inflation stayed low. And the turmoil is widely expected to keep the Federal Reserve more supportive of the economy and markets than money managers had anticipated until recently.

‪Analysts who have studied past market behavior say that backdrop—moderate economic growth with low inflation and strong central-bank backing—is excellent for stocks. That may help explain why financial markets remained fairly calm throughout the crisis and how the S&P 500 stock index finished Friday at 1744.50, a record high. The S&P 500 is up 22.3% this year.

"This is the best environment for stocks right now. You don't have rising interest rates becoming a problem. You don't have inflationary pressures. You do have earnings growth," said Tim Hayes, chief global investment strategist at Ned Davis Research in Venice, Fla. ‪The firm has studied stock performance in a wide variety of economic environments going back decades.

‪One of the most positive indicators today, Mr. Hayes said, is that unemployment is a high 7.3%, but declining. ‪

"When the unemployment rate is above 6% and falling, that is the best situation for the stock market" based on the performance of the S&P 500 back to the 1940s, Mr. Hayes said.

Stocks average 13.5% annual gains when unemployment is above 6%, and 16.5% when the rate is that high and falling. Joblessness isn't good for ordinary people, of course, but stocks respond more to expectations for corporate earnings, inflation, interest rates and the like.

High unemployment is good for stocks if it holds down labor costs. High but falling unemployment is even better because it keeps a lid on costs and fuels consumer-spending growth, as expanding employment puts money in people's pockets. ‪

Stocks also do better when earnings growth is below 5% on a year-over-year basis than when it is above 5%, according to the Ned Davis studies. That is because moderate earnings growth is less likely to spur inflation or push interest rates higher.

‪Another big boost for stocks is the growing hope that low inflation and worries about economic growth will induce the Federal Reserve to keep stimulating the economy by holding down long-term interest rates.

‪Over the summer, many investors expected the Fed would decide in September that the economy was strong enough for it to cut back on its $85 billion in monthly bond-buying stimulus. Then the Fed surprised investors and analysts by delaying action, citing among other things the risk to growth from Washington's fight over debt and government funding.

‪Now, many economists think the Fed could hold off until the end of the year or longer. Laurence Fink, chairman and chief executive of BlackRock Inc., which oversees $3.8 trillion and is the world's biggest asset manager, as well as other well-known Wall Street executives and investors, have predicted that the Fed could wait until March or even June. ‪

Fed stimulus helps stocks because low interest rates hold down corporate costs, and the stimulus money itself leaks into the stock market, fueling investment there. The longer the Fed maintains the central bank's exceptionally supportive policy, the longer stocks benefit, said Michael Fredericks, a BlackRock portfolio manager. ‪

Mr. Fredericks also has studied the market's behavior during varying economic circumstances. He agrees with Mr. Hayes of Ned Davis that low inflation and low labor costs help stock performance. Mr. Fredericks believes strong growth is better than slow growth, but the two men define slow growth differently, making it hard to compare their views. The two agree on the Fed's importance to continued stock gains, especially now. ‪

"We think a lot of this comes down to just the importance of central-bank policy," Mr. Fredericks said. ‪

A big question for the future, he said, is how and when central banks around the world unwind their financial stimulus. ‪Mr. Hayes thinks how that is handled could determine when stocks next face a bear market, most commonly defined as a 20% decline from a high. ‪While he is optimistic about the immediate future, he said he wouldn't be surprised to see stocks pull back by next summer.

Such a decline is common after stocks have risen strongly for years, Mr. Hayes said. That is especially true when stock prices are above average when compared to corporate earnings, as they are today. The S&P 500 trades at more than 18 times its component companies' earnings for the past 12 months, above the historical average of about 16. ‪

"I wouldn't be surprised if we see a cyclical bear market next year" or at least a sharp decline, Mr. Hayes said.

His best guess about the trigger: continued stock gains that make the market look expensive whenever the Fed finally trims its bond-buying stimulus and pushes long-term interest rates higher.

But as long as inflation remains low and the economy is growing, any pullback could be brief, he said. The economic backdrop would support renewed stock gains, assuming Washington isn't back in crisis when the Fed is withdrawing stimulus.

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Eventually, dysfunction in Washington is bad for the stock market and economy, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. ‪

For years, the ability to cut labor costs has helped companies remain profitable despite limited business investment, he said. Now, wages and hiring are on the rise. Future business success depends on expansion and investment. Stocks seem to be shrugging off Washington's acrimony in the short run, but in the longer run it damages business confidence and limits investment, Mr. Zandi said.

‪"I'm not sure I draw the conclusion that this kind of climate is good for business and stock investors in the long run," he said.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks To Buy Right Now

There are very few if any financial institutions with the kind of power and influence over the market that Goldman Sachs enjoys. Not only does the company control trillions in capital, its research is also closely followed by millions of analysts and investors in an attempt to mimic one of the most powerful investment banks in the world.

So when Goldman Sachs speaks, the market doesn't just listen, it also follows. And last month, Goldman made a very big statement.

Strategist David Kostin compiled a list of the 40 most undervalued stocks in his US Monthly Chartbook. When the report was published in mid-August the list of stocks carried upside ranges between 22% and 63%.

That comprehensive list of undervalued stocks also came with a bullish forecast on the S&P 500, where Kostin called for the S&P 500 to hit 1750 by early 2014 and 1825 next fall. That call now looks spot on after the Fed chose to delay a taper and the S&P 500 surged to 1725.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Smith]

  As June came to an end, the company finalized a joint venture, OneSubsea, with Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) . The intriguing partnership -- in which Cameron has a 60% interest, with the remainder Schlumberger's -- will develop products, systems, and services for the subsea oil and gas market.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Contributing the most to the Dow's decline is Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) , which is down 2.2%. The construction and mining equipment maker reported an even larger pullback in earnings and revenue than investors had expected, with earnings per share falling 43% on a nearly 16% decline in sales. Given the poor levels of global construction activity and the big declines in commodity prices during the second quarter, the news wasn't a huge surprise, but Caterpillar also cut its full-year 2013 earnings guidance by $0.50 per share to $6.50. Although the company will implement further cost-cutting measures throughout the rest of the year, Asia continues to weigh heavily on Caterpillar's sales, which dropped 21% in the region. Any recovery for Caterpillar will likely take longer than expected unless economies around the world rebound quickly.

Top Stocks To Buy: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.03 per share on revenue of $623.34 million.

  Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $1.12 per share on revenue of $779.02 million.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is down 3.5% at $64.19. Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) is down 2.9% at $59.93 on a wider loss and tepid outlook. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) is up 14.1% at $70.57 indicating that investors liked the results posted after markets closed on Wednesday. Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) is down 4.5% at $56.28. Abercrombie & Fitch Inc. (NYSE: ANF) is down 0.1% at $34.97.

• [By Ben Eisen]

  Perpetually struggling department store J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) �said it expects a sales boost this holiday season as it returns to a promotional strategy. But for the most part, retailers including Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR) �, GameStop Corp. (GME) � and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) � gave dour outlooks in their earnings reports.

• [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

  Costly market share gains
  The problem is that Family Dollar has had to pay up for its increasing market share and sales levels. The company's gross profit margin fell by more than a full percentage point, to 34.7% last quarter. In contrast, Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR  ) booked an expansion of profits, to 35.2%, continuing a trend that's seen it pull away from Family Dollar.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) was maintained as a Buy but was removed from the prized Conviction Buy list at Goldman Sachs.

  Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $79 price target at Argus.

Nomura Says to Sell Philip Morris International Now

Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) has experienced more than impressive growth in both its share price and its profits in the past four years. Lately its gains have petered out. The problem is that much of that growth has come from a few countries in Asia, and if one analyst report is accurate, there will be little to no growth from those areas ahead. Nomura Securities is downgrading Philip Morris to a Reduce rating from Neutral, but for all practical purposes it is a Sell rating. The firm’s $76 price target suggests downside of more than $10 ahead.

The three countries cited are Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, all supposedly accounting for 60% of the profit growth. Now the analyst is modeling organic profit growth as being flat for the next two years. Lower growth in Indonesia and issues in the Philippines are two drivers. Japan is the largest market for Philip Morris in Asia, and the report says that the company is having trouble maintaining its recent gains in market share because of Japan Tobacco investing to recapture its lost share.

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Part of the reason for downgrading the price target is a forward earnings multiple being 13.5 ahead, rather than up to 16, which certainly implies far lower growth and maybe no organic growth at all. While most of this downgrade report is dominated by Asia, Philip Morris is also among the tobacco players facing increasing pressure from Europe.

Shares recently were trading at $86.16, against a 52-week trading range of $82.10 to $96.73. If that $76 price target is hit, more losses are coming along with a new 52-week low.

Be advised that the consensus analyst price target average is up around $96.00, some $20 higher than this new Sell rating is giving to Philip Morris International.

Canadian Dollar Sell-Off Pauses After CPI and Retail Sales Data

The Canadian dollar fell to a four-month low on Friday, ahead of the nation's CPI and Retail Sales reports.

Earlier in the week the Canadian currency had been under pressure against its U.S. counterpart, as positive economic data and speculation over tighter monetary policy underpinned the greenback. Additionally, recent comments from both Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz and Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens weighed on the Canadian dollar.

Tame Inflation 

Consumer price inflation in Canada fell 0.2 oercent in October, missing expectations for a 0.2 percent increase.

Meanwhile, core consumer price inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2 percent last month, higher than the expected zero percent reading.

Canada's annual inflation rate fell to a five-month low of 0.7 percent from 1.1 percent in September. With inflation below the central bank target of between one percent and three percent, the Bank of Canada is under little pressure to raise interest rates.

Retail Sales

Statistics Canada reported retail sales beat expectations, rising by 1.0 percent in September on strong new car sales.

RBA Governor Stevens Comments

The Canadian dollar softened along with fellow "commodity currencies", the Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar, after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Stevens said he was "open minded" on the possibility of intervention.

"Our position has long been, and remains that foreign exchange intervention can, judiciously used in the right circumstances, be effective and useful," Stevens said Thursday at the Australian Business Economists annual dinner in Sydney.

BOC Poloz Comments

On Wednesday, Bank of Canada Governor Poloz stated the current level of monetary stimulus is still appropriate.

"The Bank judged on October 23 that the substantial monetary policy stimulus in place remained appropriate and decided to maintain the target for the overnight rate at one percent," he told the Senate banking committee in Ottawa.

The Bank of Canada has maintained its benchmark interest rate at one percent since 2010, as part of an effort to stimulate the economy.

USD/CAD Daily Chart

Looking at the daily USD/CAD chart we can see that price reached up to major resistance at 1.0566 before retreating. Potential support lies below at 1.0443.

Posted-In: Australia Australian dollar Bank of Canada Canada Canadian dollar currencies foreign currencies Glenn Stevens Reserve Bank of Australia Stephen PolozNews Forex Economics Markets Best of Benzinga

(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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The Highest-Yielding Dividends That Are Safe to Hold

The number of companies paying dividends in the S&P 500 is at a 15-year high. According to FactSet, just over 80 companies in the index do not pay dividends. Paying dividends has become more attractive for companies of all sizes.

However, not all dividends are created equal. Of the 500 companies in the index, 99 pay their shareholders a dividend of 3% or more. By comparison, a 10-year Treasury note yields 2.66%. While Treasury securities come with an implied guarantee of a return of principal, share price appreciation of these companies also is expected to provide additional positive returns. Dividends are intended to make those returns even better over time.

Dividends are considered among the most straightforward measures of capital returns. After all, they represent cash going back into the hands of investors directly from the company. However, a high dividend yield does not give a complete picture of the value of an investment. The health of the company also has to be considered. Investors need to be able to differentiate a high dividend from a safe dividend.

Some companies, like ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), can afford to offer investors a 3.9% dividend yield. While its dividend is among the highest in the S&P 500, ConocoPhillips likely could pay out even more, since it is among the most profitable companies in the country.

Surprisingly, some companies pay dividends even when they lose money. For example, Windstream Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WIN), with a 12% dividend yield, actually pays out dividends of more than twice its earnings. However, the combination of high dividends and unprofitability are not sustainable if the economy hits another bump in the road.

To identify the highest-yielding S&P 500 stocks that are safe for investors, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 99 S&P 500 companies that are currently paying dividends of 3% or more. While the three highest dividends in the S&P 500 are in communications, none satisfy all of our screen criteria.

We excluded any company with a market capitalization of less than $10 billion. We also eliminated companies projecting a net loss or that cannot afford to maintain those dividends. Many of the dividend and earnings figures are based on forward-looking analyst estimates.

We put a limit on the income payout rate at 80%, meaning that companies must retain 20% of their expected earnings this year and next year for other uses, such as share buybacks and growth opportunities. This excluded the real estate investment trusts (REITs), which pay out almost all income to maintain their special tax structures.

Companies involved in transformative mergers were excluded. This gives the companies and analysts time to normalize their financial figures again before determining dividend safety. We also only included four utilities companies, which typically pay very high dividends, since this would have otherwise skewed our results largely towards that sector alone. As a final screen, we required that stocks possess upside potential from sources other than dividends, based on Thomson Reuters' consensus one-year price targets for each company.

These are the highest-yielding dividends that are actually safe to hold.

Rieder: Charging for digital news a good thing

Well, that was quick.

It's not much more than 2½ years since The New York Times took the then-radical step of charging for digital content. Many newspapers followed its lead.

Today, 41% of the nation's dailies are doing so or are about to, according to media analyst Ken Doctor. No doubt many more will soon be hopping on board.

And that's good news for news.

TRIBUNE CO.: Axes 700 jobs, 6% of staff

Charging for digital news — erecting paywalls — is not a panacea for the many problems newspapers face as they struggle to adapt in the Internet era. But it's an important arrow in the quiver. It's a critical new source of revenue for news outlets that desperately need them in the wake of a steep decline in ad dollars.

Rem Rieder is a media columnist for USA TODAY.(Photo: USA TODAY)

The ranks swelled this week when John Paton, CEO of Digital First Media, announced that all but one of the 75 newspapers his company manages will be setting up paywalls. (The exception is The Salt Lake Tribune.) That's particularly significant, since for years, Paton has been an outspoken critic and skeptic when it comes to charging for online news.

Just seven months ago, he told the website paidContent, "I don't think paywalls are the answer to anything. If we're swapping out print dollars for digital dimes, I think paywalls are a stack of pennies. We might use the pennies in transition to get where we're going."

He says it like it's a bad thing!

Paton, whose company manages the newspapers owned by MediaNews Group and the Journal Register Company, has stressed that charging for digital news is no alternative to developing a forward-looking digital strategy, and he's right. Newspapers have to reinvent themselves to survive, much less thrive, in a! radically transformed media landscape.

But newspapers also need what Amazon.com CEO and newly minted Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos calls "runway" — sustenance to keep going until they figure out the rest of the journey. That's why the short-term influx of those "pennies" is so critical now, as Paton acknowledged with his latest move. (Paton did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.)

It's remarkable what has happened in such a short period. The New York Times now has 727,000 digital subscribers. While advertising revenue continues to shrink, the newspaper industry's circulation revenue rose by 5% last year, thanks to those digital pennies. It was the first such increase since 2003.

Change had come so quickly that it's hard to remember how bold and against-the-grain the Times' move was. For years, the prevailing mantra was that on the Internet, information wants to be free. Digital enthusiasts portrayed it as virtually the moral equivalent of a constitutional right.

Newspaper companies, understandably baffled by the digital maelstrom engulfing them, figured they better get in on the action. They started posting their expensively gathered news content on the Web, for free, all the while charging for it in print. The hope was that their handiwork would attract lots of digital readers and that advertising dollars would follow.

They were half right — the audience for newspaper journalism on all platforms has soared. But the old advertising monopoly that had made so many newspaper owners rich was past. There were lots of competitors in cyberspace. The advertisers had many venues to choose from and found themselves able to spend a lot less to showcase their wares.

Some early attempts to charge for digital content were short-lived, among them TimesSelect, which placed New York Times columnists behind a paywall, so there was much skepticism when the paper began charging for digital content in March 2011.

But the Times did it right. Rather than lock everything! up, it g! ave readers a number of free articles each month before the meter started running. It also continued to allow readers in the side door via search engines and social media.

Besides opening another revenue spigot, the maneuver also made the print subscription instantly more valuable, because it brought free digital access with it. The metered approach, which rapidly became a blueprint for the industry, also opens the door for price increases for the all-access print-plus-digital subscription. (Gannett, the nation's largest newspaper company, charges for digital content at nearly all of its papers except at its flagship USA TODAY.)

Caroline Little, president and CEO of the Newspaper Association of America, is a major fan of charging for content, which she sees a a vital source of money for her beleaguered charges. She readily agrees it's no "silver bullet" — there isn't one. Instead, it will take a variety of solutions to win the day.

"Think of of how much newspaper investment in content fuels the ecosystem of news," she says. "It's nice to see that consumers are willing to pay for it."

Last-minute tips for Medicare annual enrollment

People who want to switch their Medicare coverage for 2014 have just a few weeks left in the annual open enrollment period, which ends Dec. 7. The choices can be overwhelming, but there are practical steps your clients can take now to make sure they have appropriate and affordable health care coverage next year.

Paula Muschler, operations manager of the Allsup Medicare Advisor, a Medicare plan selection service for consumers and financial advisers, outlined five last-minute tips for Medicare participants.

1. Identify health care needs and budget. Participants should prioritize their medical and prescription drug needs for next year, including medications and physicians.

“Too often, people focus on comparing their current plan to other plan options rather than focusing first on their needs,” Ms. Muschler said. That can be a mistake. People's health care needs change over time and their coverage may need to change as their needs evolve.

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2. Compare Medicare Advantage and original Medicare options. The first decision people need to make is whether they want to use original Medicare with a stand-alone prescription drug coverage plan or an all-inclusive Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans are usually cheaper and often offer additional coverage, but may limit access to specific health care providers and facilities.

3. Look beyond the premiums. In addition to monthly premiums, a plan's copays and deductibles can affect your client's health care budget. Plus, some Medicare plans place restrictions on drug quantities or have preferred pharmacies, all of which can increase a client's out-of-pocket expenses.

“Look at how you are likely to use your coverage,” Ms. Muschler advised. “If you go to the doctor frequently, for example, your copays could really add up throughout the year.”

4. Consider Medicare plan quality ratings. Medicare gives each plan a rating of one to five stars. A five-star rating means that Medicare rates the plan as offering excellent quality to its members.

Although the quality rating provides important information, consumers need to keep their budget constraints in mind when selecting an appropriate Medicare plan. For example, a five-star Medicare Advantage plan may not work for someone if their doctor does not participate in it. Neither would a five-star prescription drug plan if the medication copays are prohibitive.

And sometimes, an unrated plan may not be a bad thing. Medicare does not rate new plans since they don't have enough information about them.

5. If c! hoosing a Medicare plan is overwhelming, ask for help. Many people do not realize there are unbiased resources available to help them choose an appropriate, cost-effective Medicare plan.

“Just as people use an accountant for taxes or a financial adviser for financial planning, they're relieved to learn that Medicare plan selection services can offer them impartial help in choosing a Medicare plan,” Ms. Muschler said.

Once Medicare annual enrollment period ends on Dec. 7, beneficiaries may be able to change their coverage only in the following circumstances.

• Five-star special enrollment period: Anyone who is enrolled in a Medicare plan with fewer than five stars has a one-time opportunity to switch to a five-star Medicare Advantage plan or prescription drug Part D coverage. The five-star special enrollment period runs from Dec. 8, 2013, through Nov. 30, 2014. But not everyone will be able to take advantage of this option. Fewer than 100 five-star plan providers exist nationwide, and many people do not have access to these plans in their area.

• Medicare Advantage disenrollment period: Individuals who are dissatisfied with their M

eBay Inc (EBAY): Does Paypal Has The Power To Compete In Digital Wallet Space?

Shares of eBay, Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) has underperformed the market by about 14 percent year-to-date, primarily due to competitive threats surrounding its PayPal unit from Apple, Inc. (AAPL) and Google, Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG).

eBay's PayPal allows payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet that serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders. As of the end of the second quarter 2013, PayPal had over 132 million user accounts globally.

Many investors have lost sight of the innovation taking place at PayPal. Over the past month, PayPal has released two significant product innovations - the enhanced mobile app and PayPal Beacon. These innovations act as a significant step forward in PayPal's push into offline payments and expand the company's total available market (TAM).

In September 2013, the company introduced an updated version of the PayPal mobile app for both iOS and Android. The much improved app features five clearly labeled sections on the home page, with the major sources of innovation residing within the new Shop tab and Bill Me Later integration.

"Despite some skepticism around digital wallets and offline payments, we believe that the new PayPal mobile app and the coming enhancements associated with PayPal Beacon provide a tangible rebuttal to this argument," UBS analyst Eric Sheridan said in a client note.

One of the key innovations of eBay includes PayPal Beacon. This product is a small hardware device that links merchant point of sale (POS) systems to customer PayPal apps via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). This product allows consumers to make hands-free purchases in retail stores and restaurants using their PayPal account.

The technology is being piloted in 2013, with a broader rollout scheduled for 2014. The initial geographies are expected to be the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Importantly, the BLE technology enables transactions and geolocation services witho! ut the use of an internet connection or GPS, making wireless and/or cellphone networks unnecessary. Additionally, BLE allows for lower levels of battery consumption relative to GPS usage.

"We would note that further innovation could stem from this technology, as PayPal is incentivizing developers to submit enhancement and use-case ideas in exchange for a chance to be one of the first 100 developers given access to the API," Sheridan noted.

Over the coming years, developers are expected to incorporate this technology into new and existing mobile shopping apps. At eBay's March 2013 analyst day, the company noted that just 10 percent of PayPal's total payment volume (TPV) is currently being sourced via mobile. This would suggest significant runway, particularly in light of recently enhanced mobile app and the coming launch of PayPal Beacon in 2014.

PayPal's recent innovations (Beacon and the updated mobile app) could help to remove friction from the checkout process, enhance the consumer experience, and increase personalization efforts.

"This is the first innovation in the payments space that is definitively easier than swiping a credit card and that can be handled hands-free," Sheridan said.

Moreover, enhanced customer service offerings could attract new users onto the PayPal platform, particularly consumers who are regular customers at PayPal / Beacon enabled merchants.

Investors might be skeptical as Apple is also launching (with iOS 7) a competitive product. Apple's entry, the iBeacon, will provide similar capabilities to those of PayPal's Beacon. That said, the PayPal product will be available on both Android and iOS, versus the Apple product, which is limited to the iOS install base.

IDC estimates that approximately 79 percent of all global smartphones shipped in the second quarter 2013 were Android, versus just 13 percent iOS.

"The broader potential customer base for PayPal Beacon could make the offering more attractive merchants," Sheridan noted.

Further! , the market is currently underappreciating the potential reach associated with the long list of partnership agreements that eBay's PayPal unit has signed over the past few years.

PayPal has forged a long list of partnership agreements with consumer credit (Discover), money transfer (MoneyGram), and POS hardware and software providers (NCR, MICROS, etc.), helping to create the potential for more ubiquitous acceptance.

PayPal's expanding merchant coverage is expected to ramp over 7 million locations by 2015, from just 18,000 in 2012. Rather than take on the heavy lifting associated with going "door to door" to add merchants, PayPal is largely leveraging partners' existing merchants relationships.

"We believe that it is a matter of when, not if, the awareness and utilization of PayPal's acceptance begins to materialize in payment volumes," Sheridan wrote.

Another overlooked asset in Paypal's kitty is Bill Me Later. Bill Me Later was acquired by eBay in October 2008 for $945 million. The company provides a consumer credit service integrated into PayPal. This service allows consumers to make purchases online or through their mobile device without using a credit card.

The value proposition to consumers, aside from the credit extension, largely focuses on ease of use, a simplified application process, flexible payment options, and layers of security.

Importantly, eBay funds the Bill Me Later portfolio of loan receivables largely via offshore cash on the balance sheet. This allows eBay to monetize its offshore cash balance without suffering from cash repatriation taxes. For context, approximately 75 percent of eBay's close to $12 billion in cash and cash equivalents was held overseas as of the end of the second quarter.

"We see an opportunity for continued strong volumes for the consumer credit business given a) Bill Me Later's first incorporation into PayPal's updated mobile app; and the recently agreed to partnership with Alliance Data Systems," the analyst said.

!

eBay e! xpects PayPal to post the strongest revenue growth of the company's three segments (22 percent 2012-2015 CAGR), while Marketplaces and eBay Enterprise (formerly GSI) are expected to contribute slower, yet still impressive revenue growth (14 percent 2012-2015 CAGR).

"Our 2015 PayPal revenue forecast is approximately 5% above the midpoint of the guided range, which we believe is warranted given recent innovation and user growth trends experienced within the unit," Sheridan added.

As such, the above opportunities are underappreciated by the market, and positions PayPal to compete effectively against potential competition from Apple, Square, and Google.

On the Job: Just say ‘No,’ tactfully, to avoid …

The holidays are right around and the corner, year-end reports are due, co-workers are asking you to cover for them on vacation and the boss wants everything done yesterday.

It's no wonder you may be feeling a bit stressed.

BOOK: Is workplace stress killing you?
STORY: How entrepreneurs balance work, life

But could the stress be generated not from outside forces but your own actions?

At a recent Families and Work Institute conference, President Ellen Galinsky says that many employers are noticing a growing problem of employees being always "on." They answer e-mails at night and on weekends and work outside of regular hours when they're supposed to be off.

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Employers are worried about worker burnout, she says.

One of the biggest problems for many workers today is that they can't say "no," says says Preston Ni, a professor of communications studies at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif.; a career coach; and trainer.

"There's always the concern in the workplace of social rejection or career consequences for saying no," Ni says. "Maybe you don't want to hurt someone's feelings by saying no, or doing so makes you feel guilty."

“There's always the concern in the workplace of social rejection or career consequences for saying no.”

— Preston Ni, Foothill College

The problem is that by not learning to say "no," you then become a victim and risk burnout, he says.

The most successful people learn how to manage their own time effectively and aren't buffeted with demands from various sources, Ni says. They are still busy, just not overwhelmed.

With all the year-end activities and deadlines many of us are facing, Ni has advice to let you say "no," take control of your life, and be happier and more successful:

• Set boundaries. If a colleague approaches you about covering for her while she's t! aking some time off, you can say "no" diplomatically by saying something like, "Unfortunately, I have a lot on my plate as well."

Or "it is important to me that I finish this project, so I need to focus on these tasks." Another option: Say you're "uncomfortable" taking on the other tasks at this time.

• Learn to engage and disengage. Instead of turning down a colleague's request for help, you can offer to take a specific piece of the task, and then request someone else take the rest.

Or negotiate a trade-off by saying, "I would be willing to this for you if you can do this task for me before you leave."

Press that "no" button and don't feel guilty.(Photo: Getty Images)

• Lead the boss. Every boss has her own goals, and any of your needs must be aligned with those.

Once you understand what is most important to the boss, then you can approach her and say, "I know getting this project done and implementing the new software are your priorities, so which of these two tasks do you want me to tackle to help you the most?" Ni says the key is to always offer solutions to the boss and offer no more than three.

"They should be solutions that work for you," he says. "Never go to the boss with a problem, or she may find solutions you don't like or make the situation worse for you."

• Use the 80/20 rule. This is based on the Pareto Principle that 20% of your activities will account for 80% of your results.

For example, if you have a to-do list with 10 items, two of the items on the list will turn out to be worth as much or more than all the other eight items combined.

A thorough review of your activities may reveal that you're not focused on the 20%, which will lead to better time ! managemen! t, Ni says.

• Keep a schedule. Holiday time often adds an extra load of stress to your life, but you can manage it better if you decide ahead of time what is important to you and schedule time accordingly.

Prioritize your activities as a) have to do; b) should do, but not now; and c) put away until after the holidays.

"Think about what is most important to you and then prioritize your activities so that you feel you're doing the things that really matter in your life," he says.

Anita Bruzzese is author of 45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy ... and How to Avoid Them, www.45things.com. Twitter: @AnitaBruzzese.

Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2014

On Thursday and Sunday we rode through three counties in the central MS delta, three in southeast Ark, and all the way from Lake Village to Monroe in LA. The cotton in these areas looks wonderful, and our bias is that yields are better than what the USDA says. We also rode through districts 5-N, 5-S, 4 and 8-N in Texas, and what little cotton we saw was magnificent. No bumble-bee cotton here. Mostly dryland, it was defoliated and being picked, with local farmers hoping for much better than average yields. This runs opposite to how the USDA is pegging that part of the Texas crop. Looking at dryland cotton in Texas is one thing, and then looking at the soil moisture levels is another. In the districts mentioned above, upwards of 80% of each district is in a very dry state. This runs against our own eyes and ears, as local farmers were what could be termed as "guardedly optimistic" on yields. Rains in July were good enough to give the crop a lifeline, and our guess is that yields in Texas will surprise to the upside, even though this is another year of extreme abandonment. Not much to comment on regards cotton, as it is hemmed in between the 13 day avg at 8460 and the 21 day at 8493. Trend line resistance remains at 8570, along with the 89 and 144 day avgs. This is our preferred selling area. Seasonal trend is slightly positive into September 21. As always, use stops and keep an eye on the 10-handle rule. Don't forget to catch MrTopStep on The Closing Print video found under the OptionsTV page (top bar). We report directly from the SPX pits, wrapping up the day and positioning for trade tomorrow. OptionsProfits can be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/OptionsProfits MrTopStep can be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/MrTopStep For LIVE futures chat, more information on the 10-handle rule and futures educational content CLICK HERE FOR A SEVEN-DAY FREE TRIAL.

Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2014: Gastar Exploration Ltd (GST)

Gastar Exploration Ltd (Gastar) is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in the United States. The Company�� principal business activities include the identification, acquisition, and subsequent exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties with an emphasis on unconventional reserves, such as shale resource plays. As of December 31, 2011, it is pursuing the development of liquids-rich natural gas in the Marcellus Shale in the Appalachia area of West Virginia and, to a lesser extent, central and southwestern Pennsylvania. The Company also holds prospective acreage in the deep Bossier play in the Hilltop area of East Texas and conduct limited coal bed methane (CBM) development activities within the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana. The Company is a holding company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Josh Young]

  The parallel to Goodrich in the transaction is Gastar Exploration (GST), which has approximately 100,000 net acres in the Hunton (excluding additional exposure from the WEHLU deal). Gastar, similar to Goodrich prior to the Sanchez TMS deal, seems to trade at a discount to a $2,000 per acre implied value for its unconventional oil acreage. In fact, Gastar's CEO recently said he thought the current liquidation value of Gastar's Marcellus assets would be $4-7 per share, net of debt, versus the current $4.25 share price.

• [By Heather Ingrassia]

  Gastar Agreement: On April 1st it was announced that Gastar Exploration, Ltd. (GST) had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire proven reserves and undeveloped leasehold interests in Kingfisher and Canadian counties of Oklahoma from Chesapeake Energy Corporation, repurchase Chesapeake's common shares of the Company and settle all litigation for $1 million. Although smaller in scope than most of Chesapeake's previous asset-shedding transactions, the agreement with Gastar accomplishes two things. First, is the fact the settlement resolves the legal wrangling both companies were engaged in and as a result Chesapeake walks away with $85 million of the potential $130 million they were suing for. Second, is the fact Chesapeake wipes it hands of acreage, that although producing, may not be producing as much as Chesapeake had once hoped, and therefore was worth much more to Gastar in the long run.

Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2014: Linn Energy LLC (LINE)

Linn Energy, LLC (LINN Energy) is an independent oil and natural gas company. The Company�� properties are located in the United States, primarily in the Mid-Continent, the Permian Basin, Michigan, California and the Williston Basin. Mid-Continent Deep includes the Texas Panhandle Deep Granite Wash formation and deep formations in Oklahoma and Kansas. Mid-Continent Shallow includes the Texas Panhandle Brown Dolomite formation and shallow formations in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Illinois. Permian Basin includes areas in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. Michigan includes the Antrim Shale formation in the northern part of the state. California includes the Brea Olinda Field of the Los Angeles Basin. Williston Basin includes the Bakken formation in North Dakota. On December 15, 2011, the Company acquired certain oil and natural gas properties located primarily in the Granite Wash of Texas and Oklahoma from Plains Exploration & Production Company (Plains).

On November 1, 2011, and November 18, 2011, it completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Permian Basin. On June 1, 2011, it acquired certain oil and natural gas properties in the Cleveland play, located in the Texas Panhandle, from Panther Energy Company, LLC and Red Willow Mid-Continent, LLC (collectively Panther). On May 2, 2011, and May 11, 2011, it completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Williston Basin. On April 1, 2011, and April 5, 2011, the Company completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Permian Basin. On March 31, 2011, it acquired certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Williston Basin from an affiliate of Concho Resources Inc. (Concho). During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company completed other smaller acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties located in its various operating regions. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated 7,759 or 69% of its 11,230 gross productiv! e wells.

Mid-Continent Deep

The Mid-Continent Deep region includes properties in the Deep Granite Wash formation in the Texas Panhandle, which produces at depths ranging from 10,000 feet to 16,000 feet, as well as properties in Oklahoma and Kansas, which produce at depths of more than 8,000 feet. Mid-Continent Deep proved reserves represented approximately 47% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 49% were classified as proved developed reserves. The Company owns and operates a network of natural gas gathering systems consisting of approximately 285 miles of pipeline and associated compression and metering facilities that connect to numerous sales outlets in the Texas Panhandle.

Mid-Continent Shallow

The Mid-Continent Shallow region includes properties producing from the Brown Dolomite formation in the Texas Panhandle, which produces at depths of approximately 3,200 feet, as well as properties in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Illinois, which produce at depths of less than 8,000 feet. Mid-Continent Shallow proved reserves represented approximately 20% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 70% were classified as proved developed reserves. The Company owns and operates a network of natural gas gathering systems consisting of approximately 665 miles of pipeline and associated compression and metering facilities that connect to numerous sales outlets in the Texas Panhandle.

Permian Basin

The Permian Basin is an oil and natural gas basins in the United States. The Company�� properties are located in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and produce at depths ranging from 2,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Permian Basin proved reserves represented approximately 16% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 56% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Michigan

The Michigan region includes properties producing from the Antrim Shale formation in the northern ! part of t! he state, which produces at depths ranging from 600 feet to 2,200 feet. Michigan proved reserves represented approximately 9% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 90% were classified as proved developed reserves.

California

The California region consists of the Brea Olinda Field of the Los Angeles Basin. California proved reserves represented approximately 6% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 93% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Williston Basin

The Williston Basin is one of the premier oil basins in the United States. The Company�� properties are located in North Dakota and produce at depths ranging from 9,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Williston Basin proved reserves represented approximately 2% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 48% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  I'm quite frankly baffled by the amount of negative press LINN Energy (NASDAQ: LINE  ) has generated this year. The one-two punch of negative research reports followed up by equally negative articles published by Barron's have been a recurring theme all year. I'm sure it is causing many investors to lose both patience and faith in the company. It's a shame, because it's causing undue harm to investors, many of whom have been holding for a long time.

• [By Aimee Duffy]

  Let's start with MLPs like Linn Energy (NASDAQ: LINE  ) or BreitBurn Energy Partners (NASDAQ: BBEP  ) . These are oil and gas exploration and production partnerships, and though this type of MLP is extremely exposed to commodity risk, commodity prices are tied to inflation, which in turn poses little threat to the partnerships.

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  It all started back in 2008, which was a trying time for us all. At that time, LINN Energy (NASDAQ: LINE  ) and the rest of its exploration and production peers were trying to figure out what to do as the economy hit the skids. In an effort to shore up its own balance sheet, the company sold its operations in the Appalachian Basin for $600 million to XTO Energy.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Speaking of earnings (I use that transition too much, don’t I?), shares of�Herbalife�(HLF) is little changed at $67.90 in after-hours trading, after the direct marketer said it earned $1.32 a share, beating analyst forecasts for $1.15. It also raised full year guidance, but filed to delay it 10-Q.�Linn Energy�(LINE), meanwhile, has gained 2% to $26.95 after reporting a loss of 13 cents a unit, which includes a 42 cent loss from derivative contracts.

Top 10 Stocks To Watch Right Now: Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (BWP)

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP is a limited partnership company. The Company owns and operates three interstate natural gas pipeline systems including integrated storage facilities. Its business is conducted by its primary subsidiary, Boardwalk Pipelines, LP (Boardwalk Pipelines) and its subsidiaries, Gulf Crossing Pipeline Company LLC (Gulf Crossing), Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) and Texas Gas Transmission, LLC (Texas Gas) (together, the operating subsidiaries), which consist of integrated natural gas pipeline and storage systems. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it formed Boardwalk Midstream, LP (Midstream), and its operating subsidiary, Boardwalk Field Services, LLC (Field Services), which is engaged in the natural gas gathering and processing business. In December 2011, Boardwalk HP Storage Company, LLC (HP Storage), a joint venture between Boardwalk Pipelines and Boardwalk Pipelines Holding Corp. (BPHC) acquired Petal Gas Storage, L.L.C. (Petal), Hattiesburg Gas Storage Company (Hattiesburg). In December 2011, it acquired a 20% equity interest in HP Storage.

The Company�� pipeline systems originate in the Gulf Coast region, Oklahoma and Arkansas and extend north and east to the midwestern states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. It serves a mix of customers, including producers, local distribution companies (LDCs), marketers, electric power generators, direct industrial users and interstate and intrastate pipelines. The Company provides a portion of its pipeline transportation and storage services, through firm contracts, under which the Company�� customers pay monthly capacity reservation charges. Other charges are based on actual utilization of the capacity under firm contracts and contracts for interruptible services. During 2011, approximately 82% of its revenues were derived from capacity reservation charges under firm contracts; approximately 14% of its revenues were derived from charges-based on actual utilization under firm contr! acts, and approximately 4% of its revenues were derived from interruptible transportation, interruptible storage, parking and lending (PAL) and other services. Its expansion projects include South Texas Eagle Ford Expansionand Marcellus Gathering System and HP Storage.

Pipeline and Storage Systems

The Company�� operating subsidiaries own and operate approximately 14,200 miles of pipelines, directly serving customers in twelve states and indirectly serving customers throughout the northeastern and southeastern United States through numerous interconnections with unaffiliated pipelines. In 2011, its pipeline systems transported approximately 2.7 trillion cubic feet of gas. Average daily throughput on its pipeline systems during 2011 was approximately 7.3 billion cubic feet. Its natural gas storage facilities are comprised of eleven underground storage fields located in four states with aggregate working gas capacity of approximately 167.0 billion cubic feet. the Company operates the assets of HP Storage on behalf of the joint venture.

The principal sources of supply for our pipeline systems are regional supply hubs and market centers located in the Gulf Coast region, including offshore Louisiana, the Perryville, Louisiana area, the Henry Hub in Louisiana and the Carthage, Texas area. Its pipelines in the Carthage, Texas area provide access to natural gas supplies from the Bossier Sands, Barnett Shale, Haynesville Shale and other gas producing regions in eastern Texas and northern Louisiana. The Henry Hub serves as the designated delivery point for natural gas futures contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Its pipeline systems also have access to unconventional mid-continent supplies, such as the Woodford Shale in southeastern Oklahoma and the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas. The Company also accesses the Eagle Ford Shale in southern Texas; wellhead supplies in northern and southern Louisiana and Mississippi; and Canadian natural gas through an unaffil! iated pip! eline interconnect at Whitesville, Kentucky.

Gulf Crossing

The Company�� Gulf Crossing pipeline system originates near Sherman, Texas, and proceeds to the Perryville, Louisiana area. The market areas are in the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and Florida through interconnections with Gulf South, Texas Gas and unaffiliated pipelines.

Gulf South

The Company�� Gulf South pipeline system is located along the Gulf Coast in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The on-system markets directly served by the Gulf South system are generally located in eastern Texas, Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. These markets include LDCs and municipalities located across the system, including New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida, and other end-users located across the system, including the Baton Rouge to New Orleans industrial corridor and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Gulf South also has indirect access to off-system markets through numerous interconnections with unaffiliated interstate and intrastate pipelines and storage facilities. These pipeline interconnections provide access to markets throughout the northeastern and southeastern United States.

Gulf South has two natural gas storage facilities. The gas storage facility located in Bistineau, Louisiana, has approximately 78 billion cubic feet of working gas storage capacity from which Gulf South offers firm and interruptible storage service, including no-notice service. Gulf South�� Jackson, Mississippi, gas storage facility has approximately five billion cubic feet of working gas storage capacity, which is used for operational purposes and is not offered for sale to the market.

Texas Gas

The Company�� Texas Gas pipeline system originates in Louisiana, East Texas and Arkansas and runs north and east through Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, K! entucky, ! Indiana, and into Ohio, with smaller diameter lines extending into Illinois. Texas Gas directly serves LDCs, municipalities and power generators in its market area, which encompasses eight states in the South and Midwest and includes the Memphis, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and Evansville and Indianapolis, Indiana metropolitan areas. Texas Gas also has indirect market access to the Northeast through interconnections with unaffiliated pipelines. Texas Gas owns nine natural gas storage fields, of which it owns the majority of the working and base gas. Texas Gas uses this gas to meet the operational requirements of its transportation and storage customers and the requirements of its no-notice service customers.

Field Services

In 2011, the Company formed its Field Services subsidiary and transferred to it approximately 100 miles of gathering and transmission pipeline. In 2012, the Company transferred to Field Services an additional 240 miles of pipeline and two compressor stations. Field Services is developing gathering and processing capabilities in south Texas and Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Taylor Muckerman and Joel South]

  If that company doesn't fit your investing style, analyst Joel South offers his take on Boardwalk Pipeline Partners (NYSE: BWP  ) . This natural gas-focused operator offers a tremendous distribution yield above 7% and is diversified into the mid-continent and Utica shale regions. Those interested in high distribution yields would be well served by taking a deeper dive here.

• [By Stone Fox Capital]

  Another major project announced back in March includes plans with Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (BWP) to create the Bluegrass Pipeline. The proposed design would provide producers with 200K barrels per day of mixed NGLs take-away capacity in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania with the possibility to increase it to 400K barrels per day. The pipeline would deliver the NGLs to new fractionation and storage facilities, which would have connectivity to pipelines along the U.S Gulf Coast. The project should be sanctioned this year with a plan of going into service in the second half of 2015. See the below slide:

Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2014: Far Vista Petroleum Corp (FVSTA)

Far Vista Petroleum Corp, formerly Far Vista Interactive Corp, incorporated on January 14, 1988, is a development-stage company. The Company focuses to reflect its business ventures in the oil and gas business. In July 2013, the Company acquired CJSC Chedty Neft.

As of May 29, 2013, the Company had not commenced its principal operations. The Company was engaged in the business of the development, distribution, marketing and sale of video game software products and online video games.

Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2014: Apache Corporation(APA)

Apache Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. The company has exploration and production interests in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Coast, east Texas, the Permian basin, the Anadarko basin, and the Western Sedimentary basin of Canada; and onshore Egypt, offshore Western Australia, offshore the United Kingdom in the North Sea, and onshore Argentina, as well as on the Chilean side of the island of Tierra del Fuego. Apache Corporation sells its natural gas to local distribution companies, utilities, end-users, integrated oil and gas companies, and marketers; and crude oil to integrated oil companies, marketing and transportation companies, and refiners. As of December 31, 2009, it had total estimated proved reserves of 1,067 million barrels of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids, as well as 7.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The company was founded in 1954 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Moreover, EOG has made smart moves to enhance production. In the Eagle Ford, the company has increased well density, boosting overall production from the play. Meanwhile, EOG pioneered the use of railcars to get oil out of the Bakken in light of a lack of pipeline capacity serving the area, and Bakken rival Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR  ) now moves more than two-thirds of its Bakken production out of the region by rail. In addition, both EOG and Apache (NYSE: APA  ) have used rail transport to get Permian Basin oil to more lucrative Gulf Coast markets in Louisiana, where it can get higher Brent crude prices for the oil.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  There are numerous drillers making major investments in the Permian Basin. The list is long, but it includes Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN), Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD), Concho Resources (NYSE: CXO), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) and Apache (NYSE: APA).

• [By Oil and Gas Investments Bulletin]

  But with all the majors who've signed up for Canadian LNG -- Chevron (CVX), Apache (APA), Shell (RDS.A), BP (BP), and most recently Malaysian major Petronas (PNADF.OB) announcing it will invest $20 billion to develop its Pacific Northwest LNG project near Prince Rupert -- we're talking about a development almost unprecedented in our petroleum sector.

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  Unrest in your portfolio?
  Aside from the fear of higher gas prices, investors might be interested to know what kind of effect this will have on their portfolios. For producers that don't have assets in Egypt, this could potentially provide a little boost because they might get a slightly higher premium for their product. Then again, there are a couple companies that could be hurt by production losses from their Egyptian assets.

  Company Total Production in Egypt (bpd) % of Company's Production BP (NYSE: BP  ) 41,000 1.75% Royal Dutch Shell 100,000 2.8% Apache (NYSE: APA  ) 100,000

  11.7%

Jefferies Analyst Cuts Price Target on Apple (AAPL)

Jefferies reported on Friday that it has lowered its price target on Apple Inc. (AAPL).

Analyst Peter Misek reported that he has maintained a “Hold” rating on APPL and has cut his cut price target on the company from $450 to $425. This price target suggests a 10% decline from the stock’s current price of $472.69.

Looking ahead, the analyst has increased third quarter estimates from $7.58 to $8.14 per share. For FY2014, estimates have been lowered from $38.78 to $37.95 per share.

The analyst also reduced shipping estimates for FY2014 from 162 million to 147 million units. He noted that sources in Asia have indicated that iPhone demand might not be strong due to “paying a high premium for a product over a year old, made of plastic, has a 4″ screen, and often linked to a content store that is not superior to alternatives.”

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Apple shares were down $2.24, or 0.47%, during pre-market trading Friday. The stock is down 11% YTD.

Investors brace for clarity on Fed's taper

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke first hinted in May that "in the next few meetings" the Fed may begin tapering its bond buying program. The initial comment sent stocks on a volatile ride. The market has since recovered.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) After months of agonizing over the so-called "taper", investors will finally get some answers from the Federal Reserve this week.

At the conclusion of its two-day policymaking meeting on Wednesday, the U.S. central bank is expected to give a clear indication on when it will start to scale back on the massive economic stimulus programs that have fueled the growth and juiced financial markets since the financial crisis five years ago.

Chairman Ben Bernanke first hinted in May that the Fed may "in the next few meetings" begin tapering its policy of buying $85 billion in bonds each month. The initial comment sparked worry and confusion about the timing and the scale of the tapering, sending stocks on a volatile ride.

After some bumps, the stock rally has resumed, with the Dow and S&P 500 back up near their all-time highs. A key metric for measuring market volatility, the VIX, has dropped back to a level associated with calm markets, while CNNMoney's Fear & Greed Index sits in neutral.

Bond yields had spiked after Bernanke's comment in May and continue to hover near two-year highs, with the Treasury's 10-year note yielding just below 3%. Because this is the benchmark on which other consumer loans are set, it has led to a spike in mortgage rates lately.

Experts say that these sharp moves will likely push the Fed to move cautiously as it curtails its bond buying program to help investors digest the change and limit market volatility.

"When the Fed starts to taper, it will only be taking its foot off the accelerator; it will not be stepping on the brake," said Gary Thayer, chief macro strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors.

Investors will also be closely listening to Bernanke's post-meeting press conference for specific details on these plans, and also the Fed's outlook on the economy.

Prior to the central bank's meeting Wednesday, investors will also have a chance to react to former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers' decision on Sunday to withdraw his name from consideration to succeed Bernanke as head of the Fed.

Investors cheered on Sunday, sending stock futures higher on Summers' move, as it will avoid a contentious Senate confirmation process. However, overall, the cheer isn't expected to last, because markets participants have viewed the race as a non-event.

Bond markets could react with "downward pressure" on the 10-year Treasury note yield, ac! cording to Steven Englander, global head of foreign exchange strategy at Citi.

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In addition to the Fed, investors will have a few earnings reports to chew on, as FedEx (FDX, Fortune 500) and Oracle (ORCL, Fortune 500) open up their books. Also following Twitter's announcement last week that it is has filed for a planned IPO, investors will be on the watch for documents that reveal its financial information, even though there is the possibility the company might decide to keep that private for now too.

On the economic front, investors will have reports on regional manufacturing activity, inflation, housing starts and existing home sales to parse through.

And while Syria has been on the backburner in anticipation of a diplomatic deal for some time, investors may breathe an official sigh of relief after Russia and the United States reached a groundbreaking deal on a framework to eliminate the war-torn country's chemical weapons.

Retail War for Holiday Sales Begins, with the Exception of Amazon

Consider the holiday sales season started, even though Labor Day weekend has not begun. A number of large retailers are stocking up for the period, and some already have announced promotions to draw consumers while the weather is still warm. Notably absent in this trend is e-commerce powerhouse Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), which probably thinks it does not need any gimmicks to bolster holiday sales.

Toys”R”Us already has said it will be aggressive on prices:

Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced that it has enhanced its "Price Match Guarantee" on items available in its Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores nationwide to include selected online retailer pricing, removing any doubt before holiday shopping begins in earnest that customers are receiving the best available prices. As part of this enhancement, the company will match online pricing from Walmart.com, Target.com, BestBuy.com, Sears.com, Kmart.com, buybuyBaby.com, Meijer.com, FredMeyer.com, diapers.com, BabyDepot.com and Amazon.com on in-store purchases of identical items.

That it would match retail giants Amazon and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), which have sales much larger than Toys”R”Us does, is some measure that it is desperate to lift revenue from now until the end of December.

Walmart also showed it already has begun to set programs to bring in holiday customers as well:

In front of 6,000 Walmart associates at Walmart's annual holiday meeting Wednesday, chief merchandising and marketing officer Duncan Mac Naughton introduced free layaway with no opening fee. Beginning Sept. 13 through Dec. 13, layaway will kick off the retailer's official start to the holiday season.

from the brands they know and love like Apple, Google, Samsung, Sony and more. A few of the top electronics the retailer expects to be popular layaway gifts include:

Tablets such as the iPad, iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy and Google Nexus
Smartphones like the iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy 3 (prepaid only)
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles and new releases
Big screen (60″+) smart TVs

What can Amazon possibly be thinking, since most of the programs of other retailers are plans to take some of its sales (even if they are not saying so). Likely at the core of what might be considered arrogance by the e-commerce firm is this information about the period that included the holidays last year.

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Net sales increased 22% to $21.27 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with $17.43 billion in fourth quarter 2011. Excluding the $178 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales grew 23% compared with fourth quarter 2011

Amazon management thinks (without having said so in public) that its revenue growth in the final quarter of 2013 could be as much as 20%. It does not need to match any prices or set layaway deals at all.

August Car Sales Climb Sharply

Automakers reported August sales throughout the day today, and the month was a big one for most carmakers. Based on analysts' estimates, the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate for 2013 is now forecast at 15.8 million units sold. Last year's sales total reached 14.5 million.

Retail sales at most of the automakers rose more than total sales, indicating that fleet sales are playing a much smaller role in the carmakers' revenues. That is good for profits because fleet sales typically occur when the company makes too many of one model and has to dump them at lower prices. Fewer fleet sales ultimately translates into higher profits.

Here are the number of total sales as reported by the carmakers so far today:

Chrysler Group up 12% from August 2012 Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) up 12% year-over-year General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) up 15% from August 2012 Nissan up 22% from August 2012 Toyota Motor Co. (NYSE: TM) up 23% year-over-year

Chrysler Group's year-over-year sales rose to 165,552 units, as every one of the company's brands posted a gain. Ram light truck sales led the gains, up 29% for the month and up 25% for the first eight months of 2013. Chrysler's fleet sales are believed to have dropped from 30% a year ago to around 20% this year. The company forecast total auto sales from all manufacturers at 16.1 million for 2013.

Ford's retail sales jumped 20% compared with August 2012 sales, and small car sales rose 30%. Ford reported that 44% of total small car sales of 30,148 units came from its hybrid electric cars.

GM's sales were forecast to rise 11%, but came out even better than expected. Retail sales improved 22% year-over-year in August, while fleet sales declined by 8%.

Hyundai/Kia has not reported sales numbers for August yet. Analysts’ estimates call for a rise of 9.2% year-over-year.

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) does not report sales until after markets close. Projections call for sales to be up 20% year-over-year.

Nissan's year-over-year increase in August totaled 22%. The company claimed a record 120,498 U.S. sales last month.

Toyota has not published details on August sales yet, but the company did report an 22.8% year-over-year sales increase, well above the expected increase of 15%.

Volkswagen's year-over-year increase is expected to be around 4.4%.

U.S. new car sales fell to 10.4 million in 2009 but have climbed back on the strength of double-digit increases in each of the past three years. The expected total sales increase in 2013 now reaches nearly 9%.

These Stocks Will Reward Investors for Years

The stocks that have richly rewarded their shareholders for several decades have some qualities in common. In particular, they offer products and services that people and businesses can hardly do without. There are certain everyday things that people are reluctant to spend less on, even in times of financial distress.

Investors can use history as a guide: The stocks that will be around to reward investors down the line probably share the qualities that allowed them to reward shareholders in the past -- namely, strong brands, reliable cash flows, and a history of making dividend payments.

Stocks for the long run
Companies including Pepsico (NYSE: PEP  ) , Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ  ) , and 3M Company (NYSE: MMM  ) have churned out rising profits year in and year out for decades.

Pepsi's namesake soda, as well as its many other consumer brands, can be found in nearly every home across America. Pepsi has taken steps to diversify its product portfolio outside of carbonated beverages, and its stable of offerings now includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, and Quaker Oats. In all, Pepsi holds 22 brands that bring in at least $1 billion each in annual sales.

Pepsi's diverse product portfolio contributed to 17% growth in second-quarter core earnings per share, along with 4% organic growth.

Johnson & Johnson, meanwhile, is one of the most recognizable companies in existence. Its operations are diversified between medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products. Some of its universally known consumer brands include Band-Aids and Listerine.

This helped J&J post 8.5% sales growth in the second quarter -- nearly $18 billion.

3M is an industrial giant and offers products to a wide range of industries, including transportation, health care, and technology.  Its well-known products include Post-it and Scotch tape. 3M grew sales 3% year over year in the second quarter.

As a testament to the reliability of their respective businesses, each of these stocks has richly rewarded its investors with regular dividend payments. Even better, each of these stocks has been able to increase its payouts on a regular basis, too.

Pepsi has increased its dividend for 41 years in a row. J&J does even better, having boosted its payout for an incredible 50 years in a row. Meanwhile, 3M is no slouch: This year marks the 55th consecutive year that 3M has increased its dividend, and it has paid uninterrupted dividends to shareholders for an amazing 96 years in a row.

Recent dip serves as an opportunity
As these stocks have dipped in tandem with the broader market, investors have the chance to buy them at more attractive prices.

Pepsi, J&J, and 3M are all down over the past month, with Pepsi losing 7% over that time frame. It's true that these stocks are still up strongly to begin 2013, but investors looking for a pullback to get into these high-quality names have their opportunity.

As a result of their recent declines, Pepsi, J&J, and 3M exchange hands for between 18 and 20 times their trailing earnings per share. Admittedly, these stocks are far from being bargains, but 18 or 20 times EPS is close to the broader market's P/E, which stands in the mid to high teens.

And as the saying goes, premium businesses command premium valuations. Because these stocks hold such great track records, it's no surprise that investors would (and should) pay an above-average price.

Another benefit of lower prices is that their dividend yields are now at higher levels for new investors. These stocks yield between 2% and 3% annually. 3M offers the lowest yield, but its 2.2% yield still matches the yield on the S&P 500. Pepsi and J&J yield 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively, which handily beats the yield on the broader market.

The Foolish conclusion
These stocks have paid rich rewards to investors over many years, made possible because of their strong brands and the fact that their products and services are purchased every day, in a good economy or bad. And these steady dividend-payers have come off their recent highs, meaning investors can buy shares at more attractive prices. Long-term investors should hang on to these stocks with confidence, and new investors should consider buying in at these levels.

The best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of. Click here now to keep reading.

Low-Cost Loans for Members of the Military

Where can members of the military get emergency loans other than through payday lenders? Wasn't the law supposed to stop payday lending to members of the military?

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Several sources of low-interest (or no-interest) loans are available to members of the military to help them pay emergency expenses. These are alternatives to the high-cost payday lenders that have traditionally targeted military personnel.

Members of the military can take out small interest-free loans for emergencies through the emergency-relief fund for their branch of the military. Contact the community service office at your base for details, or visit Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society or Coast Guard Mutual Assistance.

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Loans are usually limited to about $1,000 and are approved on a case-by-case basis. You generally must provide information about the bills you have trouble paying or other documents showing the urgency of your need. Loans are typically made to help with essential home repairs, car repairs, security deposits when moving, disaster relief, food, rent, mortgage payments, medical costs or funeral expenses. Before receiving a loan, you usually meet with a caseworker, who can also work with you to establish a budget and help stabilize your finances.

Military credit unions are another good source. They often offer short-term loans at reasonable interest rates, and some even offer small emergency loans to members of the military with a quick or even no credit check.

And you're right -- the law did crack down on high-cost payday lenders, which used to line the streets near military bases. The Military Lending Act of 2007 caps interest on many of these loans to members of the military at 36% (before then, some lenders were charging more than 400% interest). But the law does have some loopholes -- it applies only to closed-end loans of $2,000 or less with a term of 91 or fewer days -- so some lenders have been offering high-interest loans with longer terms, loans of larger amounts or loans without fixed ending dates.

For more information about the Military Lending Act and how to protect yourself from high-interest payday loans, see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's What Military Families Should Know About Payday Loans. You can also submit complaints about payday loans to the CFPB through its payday loan complaint page or by calling 855-411-2372.

For more information about personal finances for military families, see 10 Best Financial Benefits for Military Families, the Financial Field Manual: The Personal Finance Guide for Military Families, and our Military Families Special Report.

In honor of Veterans Day, also see our Free Social Security Advice for U.S. Veterans special program.

Got a question? Ask Kim at askkim@kiplinger.com.