NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jan 20, 2012) - With the global financial markets in disarray, dividend stocks have become one of the top destinations for investors over the last year. Rick Helm, portfolio manager of the Cohen and Steers Dividend Value fund, recently told USA Today that some investors believe it's more likely that companies will raise dividends than that economic growth will boost stock prices. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Business Development Company (BDC) industry and provides research reports on Prospect Capital (NASDAQ: [ PSEC ]) and Apollo Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: [ AINV ]). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

[ www.fivestarequities.com/PSEC ]

[ www.fivestarequities.com/AINV ]

According to S&P Capital IQ, the 2.1% total return by the Standard & Poor's 500 in 2011 was entirely due to the 2.1 percent dividend yield. S&P Capital IQ adds that dividend paying stocks outperformed stocks that didn't pay dividends. Stocks that paid a dividend gained 1.4 percent on average in 2011, vs. a 7.6 percent average loss for S&P 500 stocks that didn't pay a dividend.

As reported in USA Today, roughly 75 percent of S&P 500 companies are expected to boost their dividends in 2012. Investors expect to see at least an 11 percent increase in dividends, and possibly much more, according to S&P Capital IQ.

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the Business Development Company industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at [ www.fivestarequities.com ] and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Business Development Companies are considered one of the premier destinations for dividend investors, with several firms having dividend yields exceeding 10 percent. Presently Apollo Investment Corp pays an annual dividend of $1.12 for a yield of around 15.6 percent. Prospect Capital Corporation pays an annual dividend of $1.22 for a yield of around 12.2 percent.

Five Star Equities provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. Five Star Equities has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at:

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