This year has been one in which many investors have been flocking to safe stocks, including ones that pay dividends. As a result, many normally safe stocks that generate only modest gains have been producing oversized returns for investors.

Three stocks that have dwarfed the S&P 500 this year and that are up over 20% and also pay a high rate of dividends include Merck (NYSE: MRK), General Mills (NYSE: GIS), and Chevron (NYSE: CVX). I'll take a closer look at why these stocks are doing so well and whether they're still good buys today.

Merck has been a high-flying healthcare stock this year as its shares are up over 40% thus far. The business has been doing well. In Merck's third-quarter earnings, the company reported sales of just under $15 billion for the period ended Sept. 30, which rose 14% year over year. Top-selling cancer drug Keytruda led the way at $5.4 billion in sales, which were up 20% from the prior-year period.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com