Who has a high-paying dividend with promising growth and future returns?

I am graduating this semester. My father wants to buy me some stock as a graduation gift. My idea is a high-paying dividend with promising growth and future returns. This would be a long-term investment for me to sit on for my working years. Please give me some ideas for a few companies that may give me what I want. Thanks!

Okay. Think about this. If you buy a dividend-yielding stock, this will mean you will have to declare the dividends as income. More importantly, dividends stocks should not be your first pick, as it sounds like you are young...since you are getting out of college. Now, if you were 45, that would be an entirely different story.
Now I don't know what degree you will be receiving, but I would imagine you had at least one economics class. Dividends are nothing more than an opportunity cost of capital. Companies issue out dividends becuase they cannot use the money to grow anyfurther...they reached a peak in the growth and value. So they issue Dividends to investors as a means to hold onto them. Its essentially a quite deal, where they pay you back some of your money in exchange for the rest of your money. Sound stupid. It is, but almost no one knows that this is exactly what is going on. I didn't until I got into this industry.
If you bought a stock this mystery stock you are looking for at $20/share. And then next quarter, they annouced a $.50/share dividend (by the way, they don't owe dividends...so there is never a guarantee you will get one) and their market price is 22.50/share at the time. 15 days later, after something called an 'ex-date' the stock exchange where that companies stock is listed will drop the price of the stock $.50. Why do they do that: So that day traders cant get in, but a truck load of shares, get the dividend, and then bail without losing money. This is now a prohibitted action. So what does this mean to you: If you have 1000 shares, valued at 22.50/share, before the ex-date you would have $22,500. After the ex-date you would have $22,000 worth and you would receive a check from them for $500, which is your dividend and is therefore taxable to your current income tax level. So if you are in the 15% tax bracket, you would have to pay $75 dollars in taxes. Essentially, you had $22,500...and now you would have $22,425 (stocks and cash combined). How is this a benefit? Its not and it this is why I don't have my clients seek this out.

My advise is this. Either A) put the money into a Roth IRA, and make contributions into it. B) dump the money into a single stock you are interested in (meaning a sector you would actually be interested in following) and when doing this stick with Mega or Large cap stocks, as they tend to be safer. Learn more about the other Caps later.
or C) hold onto the money. Buy some books on investing and learn about where your strong suits are before you commit that money. That way your aren't asking for a fish, rather you are learning how to fish.

Good luck and congradulations on graduating!
On a side note, you may also want to look into iShares and ETFs if you are thinking about option C. My area of focus is on Natural Resources (they are getting smaller) and the Energy sector (Not Ethanol!!!!!)
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You need just as much knowledge investing in Mutual Funds as you would a single stock. Intrinsic valuation models still need to be conducted. Just like picking a stock without any real knowledge behind it can be hazardous, the same is true with Mutual Funds.

Dont buy just one company. Buy a mutual fund like an international or emerging markets fund. If you want to get really risky try a commodities (oil & gas) or China fund.

any oil company!!!

I'd agree with Max Power. I wouldn't go for a single stock, but a mutual fund. Additionally, I wouldn't recommend anything High Yield, cause you'll just be paying taxes on it every year. You are right about looking for something with good growth potential over the long term, and since we probably are looking at a recession in the short term, you'll have to keep that in mind as you search for an investment.

But to answer your question, some of the banking powerhouses are getting slammed because of the whole mortgage/credit debacle. I expect they will hit bottom early next year. You may want to look at them at the time for a nice value play with strong growth potential and a dividend. Citibank and Bank of America. Believe me though, they are still going to take some beating between now and 1QTR next year.

Buying stocks need knowldge of the companies
Better by Mutual fund
50% equity mutual funds and 30% balanced funds and 10 % Bonds and 10% bank fixed deposits