High-yielding Industrials Still Have Appeal

Article Excerpt

While the recent downturn has hurt most stocks, it’s been particularly hard on manufacturing companies such as these five. That’s because they serve narrow markets or cyclical industries. However, all of them are doing a good job controlling costs, which will help them stay profitable until the economy improves. That should also let them keep paying above-average dividends. QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. $17 (New York symbol KWR; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 10.6 million; Market cap: $180.2 million; WSSF Rating: Average) makes lubricants and specialty chemicals that protect industrial machinery from corrosion. The company recently raised its quarterly dividend for the first time since 2004, from $0.215 a share to $0.23. The new annual rate of $0.92 yields 5.4%. Quaker uses oil to make its products, so it gains from the recent drop in prices. However, the company’s prominent share of the narrow market it operates in makes it easier for it to pass along higher raw material costs to its…