From Barron's 3-19-07 One of the only two companies in the survey to achieve 5 stars.

From Barron's 3-19-07 One of the only two companies in the survey to achieve 5 stars.

From Barron's 3-19-07 One of North America's largest truckers, Arkansas Best (ABFS) "is expanding into faster-growing segments of the market." S&P expects the company, which has negligible long-term debt and over $5 a share in cash, to earn $4.27 this year and $4.50 next, versus 2006's $3.30.

From Barron's 3-19-07 The health-care facilities owned by Medical Properties Trust (MPW) focus on acute-care and in-patient rehabilitation hospitals. S&P thinks "strong rent coverage and a valuation discount to peers more than offset" the Alabama real-estate investment trust's exposure to changes in government reimbursement policies. In 2006, Medical Properties delivered 80% revenue growth and a 30% gain in funds from operations (FFO), an important metric for REITs. The trust's dividend yield is 7.3%; health-care REITs' average is 5.5%.

From Barron's 3-19-07 Back in January, Health Management Associates (HMA) voted a $10-a-share bonus, worth $2.4 billion, which was paid March 1. Willens describes this as a "self-LBO" (leveraged buyout), with the company recapitalizing its balance sheet via the issuance of $3.25 billion of new senior secured credit facilities.

From Barron's 3-19-07 In February, General Maritime (GMR), a leading owner and operator of midsize crude-oil tankers, declared a $15 extra, valued at $491 million. According to Willens, that represents more than one-third of the company's market capitalization. It's payable March 23, the record date was March 9 and the ex-date is March 26.

From Barron's 3-19-07 Then, on March 2, dairy giant Dean Foods (DF) also announced a $15 special payout, which will return some $2 billion to its shareholders. The distribution and record dates are April 2 and March 27, and the stock goes ex-dividend April 3. The bonus will be financed by a recapitalization, through $4.8 billion in new senior secured credit facilities.