My monthly High-Yield Investing newsletter is devoted exclusively to income-oriented investments. In each issue I not only introduce my readers to a variety of new high yielding investing ideas, but I also provide continued guidance on several dozen of the market's best and brightest income-generating opportunities. I organize these various picks into the following four model portfolios...

Income Anchors Portfolio -- This portfolio contains dividend-paying stocks with above-average yields (versus the S&P 500) at the time of purchase. And since dividend payments are by no means guaranteed, this portfolio focuses on financially sound companies that should have the ability to continue paying sizable dividends in the years ahead.

Ultra-High Yield Portfolio -- This portfolio focuses on quality investment opportunities that offer above-average dividend yields. These include real estate investment trusts (REITs), royalty trusts, master limited partnerships (MLPs), preferred shares and income deposit securities, among others.

Double-Barrelled Growth Portfolio -- Stocks in this portfolio offer investors the best of both worlds -- a steady income stream and strong capital gains. Although some of the stocks in this portfolio may have average or below-average dividend yields (versus the S&P 500) at the time of purchase, all are expected to deliver above-average returns over the long term.

Dividend-Focused Funds Portfolio -- This portfolio includes a mixture of income-oriented-ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and a variety of outperforming mutual funds. These funds should provide both steady income and much-needed diversification to any income portfolio.

In the analysis below I'll introduce you to several quality companies that I'm now considering adding to my Ultra-High Yield Portfolio. In addition, I'd encourage you to stay tuned for further updates throughout the next several weeks. In those updates I'll introduce you to a variety of additional stocks and funds that I'm now considering adding to my other portfolios.

"Ultra-High Yield" Watch List
Although I reserve my actual Ultra-High Yield Portfolio picks for paid subscribers to my monthly High-Yield Investing newsletter, below you'll find several securities that I now considering as possible new additions to this portfolio. I am constantly researching and following these investment ideas, and I may eventually add them to this portfolio if and when their risk/reward profiles meet my stringent investment criteria:

General Motors 7.5% (GMS, $21.00) -- If you're looking for yield, then it's hard to beat this General Motors preferred stock, which yields a hefty 9.2%. Shares of the world's leading automaker have come under pressure in recent trading after the company announced that its earnings would come in below expectations this year. Investors reacted harshly to the news by dumping GM securities, thereby bringing down share prices and providing investors with an opportunity to lock in higher yields. Although GM's common stock now delivers an enticing 7.8% yield, that payout is by no means ironclad. GM management could potentially cut that dividend in an effort to reduce costs, as the move would save the company about $1 billion a year. 

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By contrast, preferred shares like GMS offer a higher yield as well as a much more secure dividend payment. After all, these securities are called "preferred" because they have a senior claim to dividends and must be paid before the company's common shares can receive a dividend. With this in mind, the dividend payments provided to GMS shareholders should remain secure in the years ahead.

Pengrowth Energy (PGH, $20.28) -- Pengrowth is one of the largest energy trusts in North America. It produces and sells oil and gas from an extensive portfolio of oil and gas properties in Canada.

Pengrowth has been an aggressive buyer of new oil and gas reserves over the years, and as a result, the company has increased production by an average of +30% a year for the past decade. Higher production volumes should enable the trust to boost its earnings -- and dividends -- even if energy prices decline. In the meantime, PGH continues to enjoy the best of both worlds -- record high commodity prices and steady production growth. Production has grown +10% a year since 2002, while oil and gas prices have soared +34%.

PGH pays a $2.21 annual dividend. This translates into an enormous 10.9% yield based on current share prices, making the stock an excellent choice for income-oriented investors.

Important Note: The above article was merely a small excerpt from a recent issue of our premium, income-oriented investing newsletter -- High-Yield Investing. In each issue of that newsletter, editor Carla Pasternak delivers a host of other investing ideas and tips designed to help you earn steady gains and above-average income from your portfolio. To receive your copy of our most recent High-Yield Investing newsletter, as well as other guidance similar to this every month, you'll need to register for this separate publication. Please visit one of the following links to continue...

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