5 Best Financial Stocks To Own Right Now

Carlo Allegri/Invision/APRon Swanson (the "Parks & Recreation" character played by Nick Offerman) follows an iffy investing strategy. Reality TV shows offer a handful of average Americans the chance to race around the world, outwit, outplay and outlast their rivals, or lose weight, all to win serious money. Luckily, the rest of us saps tuning in can hope to better our financial futures from the comfort of our couches -- without eating bugs or faking love for a millionaire. Because some of the best sitcom characters can offer us some excellent (and hilarious) money advice. Admittedly, sometimes, their advice is off base. But, even then, you can learn from their mistakes. Here are three of my favorite fiscally savvy (or at least fiscally enthusiastic) characters, and what they have to teach us. 1. Don't Make Your Nest Egg Out of Gold Alone

Ron Swanson: "You won't find any bank statements either. I've heavily invested in gold which I've buried in several different locations around Pawnee. Or have I?"

Top 5 Dow Dividend Companies To Invest In 2015: Doral Financial Corporation (DRL)

Doral Financial Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Doral Bank that provides retail banking services to general public and institutions. It operates through four segments: Puerto Rico, the United States, Liquidating Operations, and Treasury. The company accepts deposits; obtains borrowings; originates and invests in loans, including residential real estate mortgage loans; invests in mortgage-backed securities and other investment securities; and offers traditional banking services. It also offers commercial and construction loan products; and purchases assigned interests in senior credit facilities from the syndicated leverage loan market in the United States. In addition, the company provides consumer loans, such as consumer credit, personal loans, loans on savings deposits, and other consumer loans. Further, it offers commercial real estate loans; commercial loans, including lines of credit and term facilities, and working capital for specific purposes, su ch as to finance the purchase of assets, equipment, or inventory; and construction lending products, as well as industrial and land loans. Additionally, the company originates, purchases, and sells mortgage loans; and offers property, casualty, life, and title insurance products primarily to its mortgage loan customers. It operates a network of 26 branches in Puerto Rico; 3 branches in the metropolitan area of New York; and 5 branches in the northwest area of Florida. Doral Financial Corporation was founded in 1972 and is based San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  For investors looking for exposure to the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico, banking stocks Doral Financial Corp (NYSE: DRL), First Bancorp (NYSE: FBP), OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG) and Popular Inc (NASDAQ: BPOP) offer the best bet as these Puerto Rico stocks trade on major US exchanges rather than the OTC. However, it should be mentioned that there has been a slowdown in Puerto Rico�� economy which has also shrunk in five of the past seven fiscal years. Then last�February, Puerto Rico�� debt was cut to speculative grade by the three largest credit-rating companies while�Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has proposed a series of budget cuts to help tackle the island�� mounting debt load -including the freezing public workers��salaries and the closing about 100 schools.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Own Right Now: Consumer Portfolio Services Inc.(CPSS)

Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. operates as a specialty finance company in the United States. It engages in purchasing and serving retail automobile contracts originated by franchised automobile dealers and select independent dealers in the sale of new and used automobiles, light trucks, and passenger vans. The company, through its automobile contract purchases, provides indirect financing to dealer customers for borrowers with limited credit histories, low incomes, or past credit problems. It serves as an alternative source of financing for dealers, allowing sales to customers who might not be able to obtain financing. The company also directly finances consumers for vehicle purchases. Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. provides its automobile contracts through its headquarters and three servicing branches in Virginia, Florida, and Illinois. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Finally, we have Consumer Portfolio Services (NASDAQ: CPSS  ) driving past where the pros were parked. Consumer Portfolio Services provides indirect automobile financing, primarily to folks with dodgy credit histories buying late-model used cars. This is a risky niche when the economy's souring, but business is booming these days.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Own Right Now: Acadia Realty Trust (AKR)

Acadia Realty Trust (the Trust), incorporated on March 04, 1993, is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Trust is focused on the ownership, acquisition, redevelopment, and management of retail properties and urban/infill mixed-use properties with a retail component located primarily in barrier-to-entry, supply constrained, densely-populated metropolitan areas in the United States along the East Coast and in Chicago. Its primary objective is to acquire and manage commercial retail properties. It operates in four segments: Core Portfolio, Opportunity Funds, Notes Receivable and Other. The Trust also has private equity investments in other retail real estate related opportunities, in which it has a minority interest. As of December 31, 2012, the Trust controlled 99% of the Operating Partnership as the sole general partner. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company sold 12 of the 14 self-storage properties with two properties remaining under contract.

The Company owns a 22.2% interest in an approximately one million square foot retail portfolio (the Brandywine Portfolio) located in Wilmington, Delaware, a 49% interest in a 311,000 square foot shopping center located in White Plains, New York (Crossroads) and a 50% interest in an approximately 28,000 square foot retail portfolio located in Georgetown, Washington D.C. (the Georgetown Portfolio). These investments are accounted for under the equity method. Through Mervyns I and Mervyns II, the Company invested in a consortium to acquire Mervyns, consisting of 262 stores (REALCO) and its retail operations (OPCO), from Target Corporation.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated 100 properties, which the Company owns or has an ownership interest in, within its Core Portfolio or within its Opportunity Funds. Its Core Portfolio consists of those properties either 100% owned by, or partially owned through joint venture interests by the Operating Partnership, or subsidiaries thereof, not including those properties ow! ned through its Opportunity Funds. These 100 properties primarily consist of urban/street retail, dense suburban neighborhood and community shopping centers and mixed-use properties with a retail component. The properties the Company operates are located primarily in barrier-to-entry, densely-populated metropolitan areas in the United States along the East Coast and in Chicago. There are 72 properties in its Core Portfolio totaling approximately 5.3 million square feet. Fund I has three remaining properties comprising approximately 0.1 million square feet. Fund II has six properties, four of which (representing 0.6 million square feet) are operating, one is under construction, and one is in the design phase. Fund III has 14 properties, nine of which (representing 1.7 million square feet) are operating and five of which are in the design phase. Fund IV has five properties, four of which are operating with one under design. The majority of its operating income is derived from rental revenues from these 100 properties, including recoveries from tenants, offset by operating and overhead expenses.

The Company�� Core Portfolio consists primarily of urban/street retail properties and neighborhood and community shopping centers located in barrier-to-entry supply constrained markets. As of December 31, 2012, there are 72 operating properties in Its Core Portfolio totaling approximately 5.3 million square feet of gross leasable area (GLA). The Core Portfolio properties are located in 12 states and the District of Columbia and primarily consist of urban/street retail, dense suburban neighborhood and community shopping centers and mixed-use properties with a retail component. Its shopping centers are predominately anchored by supermarkets or value-oriented retail. The properties are diverse in size, ranging from approximately 3,000 to 875,000 square feet and as of December 31, 2012, were, in total, 94% occupied. As of December 31, 2012, the Company owned and operated 20 properties totaling approximat! ely 2.5 m! illion square feet of GLA in its Opportunity Funds, excluding eight properties under redevelopment. In addition to shopping centers, the Opportunity Funds have invested in mixed-use properties, which generally include retail activities. The Opportunity Fund properties are located in eight states and the District of Columbia and as of December 31, 2012, were, in total, 88% occupied.

As of December 31, 2012, within its Core Portfolio and Opportunity Funds, the Company had approximately 650 leases. A majority of its rental revenues were from national retailers and consist of rents received under long-term leases. These leases generally provide for the monthly payment of fixed minimum rent and the tenants' pro-rata share of the real estate taxes, insurance, utilities and common area maintenance of the shopping centers. During the year ended December 31, 2012, certain of its leases also provide for the payment of rent based on a percentage of a tenant's gross sales in excess of a stipulated annual amount, either in addition to, or in place of, minimum rents. Minimum rents, percentage rents and expense reimbursements accounted for approximately 92% of its total revenues.

Three of its Core Portfolio properties and five of its Opportunity Fund properties are subject to long-term ground leases in which a third party owns and has leased the underlying land to the Company. The Company pays rent for the use of the land and is responsible for all costs and expenses associated with the building and improvements at all eight locations. During 2012, no individual property contributed in excess of 10% of its total revenues.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Retail properties real estate investment trust Acadia (AKR) raised its quarterly dividend 9.5% to 23 cents per share, payable on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 15.
  AKR Dividend Yield: 3.51%
  

5 Best Financial Stocks To Own Right Now: BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation(BKCC)

BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation is a private equity firm specializing in investments in middle market companies. The firm invests in all industries. It prefers to invest between $10 million and $50 million and can invest more or less in companies with EBITDA or operating cash flow between $10 million and $50 million. The firm invests in the form of senior and junior secured, unsecured, and subordinated debt securities and loans including cash flow, asset backed, and junior lien facilities and equity securities. It's equity investments can be structured in the form of warrants, preferred stock, common equity co-investments, and direct investments in common stock. The firm debt investments are principally structured to provide for current cash interest and to a lesser extent non-cash interest, particularly with subordinated debt investments, through a pay-in-kind (PIK) feature. It can also make non-control investments. Blackrock Kelso Capital Corporation was founded in 2 005 and is based in New York, New York with an additional office in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Regarded Solutions]

  The Team Alpha portfolio consists of Ford (F) Chevron (CVX) Apple (AAPL), McDonald's (MCD), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), AT&T (T), General Electric (GE), BlackRock Kelso Capital (BKCC), KKR Financial (KFN), Procter & Gamble (PG), CSX Corp. (CSX), Realty Income (O), Coca-Cola (KO), Annaly Capital (NLY), Cisco (CSCO), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Newmont Mining (NEM), and Wells Fargo (WFC), and Intel (INTC).

• [By Sally Jones]

  Highlight: BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation (BKCC)

  The share price is currently $9.62 or 11.1% off the 52-week high of $10.82. Its yield is 10.80%.