4 Stocks Going Ex-Dividend Tomorrow: WR, IPG, JWN, FDX

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Tomorrow, March 7, 2013, 22 U.S. common stocks are scheduled to go ex-dividend. The dividend yields on these stocks range from 0.5% to 7.9%. All of these stocks can be found on our stocks going ex-dividend section of our dividend calendar.

Highlighted Stocks Going Ex-Dividend Tomorrow:

Westar Energy

Owners of Westar Energy (NYSE: WR) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 34 cents per share. At a price of $32.15 as of 9:36 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 4.3%.

The average volume for Westar Energy has been 666,400 shares per day over the past 30 days. Westar Energy has a market cap of $4.0 billion and is part of the utilities industry. Shares are up 12.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

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Westar Energy, Inc., an electric utility, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Kansas. It produces electricity through various sources, including coal, wind, nuclear, natural gas, oil, and diesel. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.83. Currently there are 4 analysts that rate Westar Energy a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Westar Energy as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in net income, revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, expanding profit margins and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated. You can view the full Westar Energy Ratings Report now.

• See our top-yielding stocks list.

Interpublic Group of Cos

Owners of Interpublic Group of Cos (NYSE: IPG) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 8 cents per share. At a price of $12.95 as of 9:36 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 2.3%.

The average volume for Interpublic Group of Cos has been 5.2 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Interpublic Group of Cos has a market cap of $5.3 billion and is part of the media industry. Shares are up 17.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

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The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides advertising and marketing services worldwide. Its services include consumer advertising, digital marketing, communications planning and media buying, public relations, and specialized communications disciplines. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.65. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Interpublic Group of Cos a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 2 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Interpublic Group of Cos as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in stock price during the past year, attractive valuation levels, good cash flow from operations, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and increase in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity. You can view the full Interpublic Group of Cos Ratings Report now.

• See our top-yielding stocks list.

Nordstrom

Owners of Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 30 cents per share. At a price of $54.38 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 2.2%.

The average volume for Nordstrom has been 2.2 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Nordstrom has a market cap of $10.8 billion and is part of the retail industry. Shares are up 1.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys dividend stocks that have the potential for a 3% to 4% yield and 10% growth. Get his best picks for less than $50/year.

Nordstrom, Inc., a fashion specialty retailer, offers apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories for women, men, and children in the United States. It operates in two segments, Retail and Credit. The Retail segment offers a selection of brand name and private label merchandise. The company has a P/E ratio of 15.12. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Nordstrom a buy, 2 analysts rate it a sell, and 8 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Nordstrom as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and growth in earnings per share. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself. You can view the full Nordstrom Ratings Report now.

• See our top-yielding stocks list.

FedEx Corporation

Owners of FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 14 cents per share. At a price of $109.30 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 0.5%.

The average volume for FedEx Corporation has been 2.0 million shares per day over the past 30 days. FedEx Corporation has a market cap of $33.3 billion and is part of the transportation industry. Shares are up 17.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys dividend stocks that have the potential for a 3% to 4% yield and 10% growth. Get his best picks for less than $50/year.

FedEx Corporation provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. It operates in four segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.98. Currently there are 14 analysts that rate FedEx Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 7 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates FedEx Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels, notable return on equity and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. You can view the full FedEx Corporation Ratings Report now.

• See our top-yielding stocks list.

More About Dividends:

One benefit of owning a stock is the potential that you will be paid a dividend. The distribution of dividend payments is another way for a company to share its profit with you. A dividend means that the company pays you a certain amount of money, either as a one-time payment or more commonly on a quarterly basis, for each share of stock you own.

Many times, dividends come at the expense of greater price appreciation, because the company is distributing its profits to shareholders rather than reinvesting the profits back into the growth of the company. However, companies that pay dividends can be very attractive to investors when they offer a steady stream of income. There are some important terms and dates an investor should be familiar with before purchasing any dividend-paying companies. Let's work through an example to help better explain some of these terms:

On March 1, ABC Widget Company has decided that because it holds excess cash and lacks investment opportunities, it would like to reward shareholders with a regular quarterly dividend payment. The date for this particular announcement is known as the declaration date. It is on this date that the company announces the specific dividend payment along with the holder of record date (aka record date) and the payment date. The company announces that a dividend payment of 25 cents per share will be payable March 31, 2012 (the payment date) to all shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2012 (holder of record date). What does this all mean? Well the short story is that the company looks at its records on March 16 and anyone listed on the books as an owner of ABC Widget company will be eligible for the dividend payment (on March 31).

The one other important term to remember is the ex-dividend date. The ex-dividend date (typically two trading days before the holder of record date for U.S. securities) is the day in which a company begins trading without the dividend. In order to have a claim on a dividend, shares must be purchased no later than the last business day before the ex-dividend date. A company trading ex-dividend will have the upcoming dividend subtracted from the share price at the start of the trading day. Many times, the price of a stock will increase in anticipation of the upcoming dividend as the ex-dividend date approaches, yet will fall back by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date.

• See our dividend calendar.

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.