Best Dividend Companies For 2014

American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP  ) reported earnings last week, the first of the big utilities (read "dividend stocks") to run its Q2 numbers. While AEP missed slightly on both top- and bottom=line expectations, there's more to this dividend stock's story that you need to know. Let's take a look.

Number crunching
For Q2 2013, American Electric reported revenue of $3.58 billion, just shy of analysts' $3.64 billion estimate. Sales have remained relatively steady over the past couple of years, despite a more erratic bottom line.

AEP Revenue Quarterly YoY Growth data by YCharts

For this quarter, adjusted EPS clocked in at $0.73, underwhelming analyst expectations by a penny. Neither top-line nor bottom-line metrics were much off the mark, and Mr. Market seems to have thought better of its day-of stock-price punishment. By Friday afternoon, shares were back up beyond its July 25 earnings report price.

Best Dividend Companies For 2014: The Cushing MLP Total Return Fund(SRV)

Cushing MLP Total Return Fund is a closed-end mutual fund launched by Swank Capital, LLC. The fund is managed by Swank Energy Income Advisors L.P. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe with a focus in United States. The fund typically invests in MLPs, Other Natural Resource Companies, and global commodities. It primarily invests in the securities of MLPs, other equity securities, debt securities, and securities of non-U.S. issuers employing a fundamental analysis. Cushing MLP Total Return Fund was formed on May 23, 2007 and is domiciled in Dallas.

Best Dividend Companies For 2014: Engineer Inform(ENG.MI)

Engineering Ingegneria Informatica SpA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various information technology services in Italy and internationally. It offers system integration and consultancy, software solutions, and business process and information technology outsourcing services. The company provides its solutions to the public administration, finance, industry and services, telecommunications, utilities, healthcare, transport, energy, and media sectors. Engineering Ingegneria Informatica SpA was founded in 1980 and is based in Rome, Italy.

Top Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Williams Creek Explorations Lim(WCX.V)

Williams Creek Gold Limited engages in the exploration of precious and base mineral properties with a primary focus on exploring gold prospects in Canada. The company holds interests in the Westport project that includes 28 crown granted mineral claims; and the Pine properties, which comprise 4 crown granted mineral claims located in the Cariboo Mining Division, British Columbia. It also owns a 100% interest in three crown granted mineral claims in the Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia; and a net 30% interest in the ATW diamond property in the MacKenzie Mining District of the Northwest Territories. The company was formerly known as Williams Creek Explorations Limited and changed its name to Williams Creek Gold Limited on June 14, 2011. Williams Creek Gold Limited was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.