Rob Viglione

Mid-April Short Interest

Short volume reduction is likey result of many players squeezed out of the trade.

I feel more comfortable shorting when few are doing so.

The Shrinking Universe of Dividend Aristocrats

When times are tough rational agents reduce expenditures, work harder, and conserve cash. Rational companies in this environment should reign in dividend payments, hoard reserves, and take advantage of competitive weaknesses in their product markets.

The bad companies are the ones that attempt to retain dividend levels for show, or for the sake of it. Be careful of this sort of irresponsible management.

When analyzing dividend yields for long-term investors, try to think about how the company will emerge from the downturn. If stronger, or generally in tact, consider pre-downturn dividend streams in your calculations.

S&P 500 Index: 10 Highest Yielding Stocks

There's a good deal of risk to these dividends, particularly for the real estate plays. However, yields look quite tempting...