$Merck(MRK)$  bullish Its dividend yield of just under 2.9% at the current share price is respectable, but not exactly thrilling. Think bigger picture, though. Merck is a solid income-producing stock with great potential for capital appreciation. Let's also not forget how consistently (and how much) this company has grown its dividend payments.

Merck, of course, is one of the world's top pharmaceutical companies. Diabetes treatment Januvia, HPV vaccine Gardasil, and MMRV vaccine Proquad are all parts of its portfolio, although its biggest breadwinner right now is cancer-fighting drug Keytruda. That drug accounts for more than one-third of Merck's total revenue, yet its reach is still growing.