I think history could be about to repeat itself. In the downturn earlier in the decade, dividend increases waned, only to spread like wildfire in the years after. That's exactly the situation setting up in today's market.

This unknown business-development company has increased its dividend +33% per year since it went public in 2004.

An improving economy and historically low valuations have created an ideal situation for this sector.

This insurance company has increased its dividend for 26 straight years, grown revenue for more than a decade and trades at a steep discount to its historical valuations. Shares could jump +66% as they approach their historic valuation.

Bank balance sheets might make banks seem like great values, though very few are. These two securities, however, sidestep the minefield of financial institutions and not only offer investors a truly good deal but also offer rich dividend income.

One of the market's most well-known drug giants is trading at single digit valuations -- a value that won't last long. Plus, the company has paid dividends for more than 120 years and yields 5.5%.

One of the best positioned banks in the world for growth also happens to pay a fat dividend. Located amid the fastest growing economies in the world and on the cusp of the worldwide economic recovery, this bank could grow by leaps and bounds.

Funds that hold these securities aren't just immune to rate hikes -- they actually benefit from them. So, if the combination of safety, liquidity and high yields sounds intriguing, then keep on reading.

Investors should be warming up to this special type of security. After all, they can pay more than four times the average yield delivered by the S&P 500 Index -- while offering the safety of a bond with the upside of an equity.

This REIT's high-yield won't last much longer -- all signs point to a profitable recovery in its share price.