Choosing solid dividend stocks can be tricky. Buying a stock with a really high dividend yield is tempting, but many stocks with high dividends got that way because their share prices have plummeted. Often there's a genuine reason for declining shares, such as declining revenue or earnings.

Many stocks with high yields also have high dividend payout ratios, meaning a company devotes much of its earnings to those dividends. That can out a dividend at risk of being cut, which can lead to a double whammy for investors. A dividend cut negates the advantages of buying a high-dividend stock and is usually accompanied by share price erosion as disgruntled investors sell the stock.

So, in looking for three healthcare stocks with supercharged dividends to buy in a market sell-off, it makes sense to look for companies that are strong enough to handle a down market while protecting their dividends -- companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE).

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Source Fool.com