Dividend-Paying Retail Stocks

With the holiday season over and 2011 upon us, investors must yet again look forward and not backward when analyzing their investment options. One sector that always is at the forefront in December is retail, with shoppers flocking to the malls and shopping online at an ever-growing rate to find gifts for their friends and family. 2010 was a good year for the sector, as exemplified by the S&P Retail SPDR (NYSE:XRT), which was up 35% over last year. The holiday spending was also very strong; especially online, with Americans spending an estimated $30 billion online, a 13% increase over 2009.

While some may argue that now may not be the best time to jump into the sector (after all, January and February are traditionally terrible months for retail), there still may be some upside here. But for investors looking for more incentive, here are three retail stocks that offer potential investors the protection of dividends. American Eagle (NYSE:AEO), The Buckle (NYSE:BKE) and The Finish Line (Nasdaq:FINL).

Source: Investopedia

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