Top 5 Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now

Blue-chip stocks are marginally lower this afternoon after a series of economic reports released today painted a conflicting picture of the financial health of the American consumer. With roughly an hour left in the trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) is off by 71 points, or 0.46%.

To start with the bad news: the Department of Commerce released data today suggesting that the economic recovery is still proceeding in fits and starts. According to its report, consumer spending fell by 0.2% in April -- the weakest reading since last May. Economists had forecast a decline of only 0.1%.

Now to the good news: A separate report showed that consumer confidence is at the highest level since 2007. The University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters Consumer Sentiment Index advanced to 84.5 this month from 76.4 in April. The consensus estimate called for a reading of 83.8.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Banco Santander S.A.(STD)

Banco Santander, S.A. provides a range of banking and financial products. It accepts customer demand, time, and notice deposits, and international and domestic interbank deposits, as well as offers auto financing, personal loans, and credit cards; and automated cash dispensers, savings books updaters, telephone banking services, and electronic and Internet banking services. The company also engages corporate banking, treasury, and investment banking activities. It provides transaction banking services in cash management, trade finance, and basic financing; and corporate finance services for mergers and acquisitions, and asset and capital structuring, as well as involves in the origination activities and risk management, and distribution of structured products and debt in the credit markets; structuring and trading activities in financial markets of interest rate and exchange rate instruments; and activities relating to the equity markets. In addition, it engages in the des ign and management of mutual and pension funds, and life and general insurance products. The company operates primarily in Spain, the United Kingdom, other European countries, Brazil and other Latin American countries, and the United States. As of December 31, 2010, it had 6,063 branch offices in continental Europe; 1,416 branches in the United Kingdom; 5,882 branches in Latin America; and 721 branches in the United States. The company was formerly known as Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. and changed its name to Banco Santander, S.A. in June 2007. Banco Santander, S.A. was founded in 1857 and is based in Madrid, Spain.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Independent Bank Corp.(INDB)

Independent Bank Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Rockland Trust Company that provides various banking services in Massachusetts. It offers various deposit products, including demand deposits, interest checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, and money market accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial and industrial loans to business and corporate enterprises for working capital and other business-related purposes, and floor plan financing; commercial real estate loans that include commercial mortgages that are secured by non-residential properties, as well as mortgages for construction loans on non-residential properties; and small business loans to businesses with commercial credit needs. It also provides consumer real estate loans, which consist of residential mortgages, and home equity loans and lines that are secured primarily by owner-occupied residences; mortgages for the construction of residential properties; and consumer loans that comprise personal loans, automobile loans, installment loans, and overdraft protection. In addition, the company offers investment management and trust services to individuals, institutions, small businesses, and charitable institutions. Independent Bank Corp. operates 67 full service and 3 limited service retail branches, 8 commercial banking centers, 4 investment management offices, and 4 mortgage lending centers. The company was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Rockland, Massachusetts.

Top 10 Cheap Companies To Watch For 2014: Prudential Bancorp Inc. of Pennsylvania(PBIP)

Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania operates as the holding company for Prudential Savings Bank that provides various financial products and services in Pennsylvania. Its deposit products include interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing checking, money market, savings, and certificate of deposit accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises single-family residential mortgage loans, construction and land development loans, non-residential or commercial real estate mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, commercial business loans, and consumer loans. The company also provides securities and insurance products, as well as automated teller machine and online banking services. As of September 30, 2010, it operated a main office and six branch offices located in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties. The company was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania is a subsidiary of Prudential Mutu al Holding Company.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Delaware Investments Dividend & Income Fund Inc. (DDF)

Delaware Investments Dividend and Income Fund, Inc. is a close-ended balanced mutual fund launched by Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. It is managed by Delaware Management Business Trust. The fund invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of the United States. It seeks to invest 65 percent of its corpus in stocks and 35% in fixed income securities. The fund primarily invests in value stocks of large cap companies. It also invests in convertible securities, preferred stocks, other equity-related securities, and real estate investment trusts. For the fixed income component of the fund�s portfolio the fund invests in high yield corporate bonds rated BB or lower in terms of quality. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P 500 Index. Delaware Investments Dividend and Income Fund, Inc. was formed on March 25, 1993 and is domiciled in the United States.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO)

Brown & Brown, Inc., a diversified insurance agency, engages in the marketing and sale of insurance products and services in the United States. Its Retail division provides insurance products and services to commercial, public and quasi-public entity, professional, and individual customers. This division offers property insurance relating to physical damage to property, and resultant interruption of business or extra expense caused by fire, windstorm, or other perils; casualty insurance relating to legal liabilities, workers� compensation, and commercial and private passenger automobile coverage; fidelity and surety bonds; group and individual life, accident, disability, health, hospitalization, medical, and dental insurance, as well as provides risk management and loss control surveys and analysis, and consultation services. The company�s National Programs division offers professional liability and related package insurance products for dentists, lawyers, accountants, o ptometrists, opticians, insurance agents, financial service representatives, benefit administrators, real estate brokers, real estate title agents, and escrow agents. This division also markets its products and services to specific industries, trade groups, public and quasi-public entities, and market niches through independent agents. The company�s Wholesale Brokerage division markets and sells excess and surplus commercial insurance products and services to retail insurance agencies; and reinsurance products and services to insurance companies. Its Services division offers insurance-related services, including third-party claims administration and comprehensive medical utilization management services for the workers� compensation and various liability arenas; medicare set-aside services; and social security disability and medicare benefits advocacy services. Brown & Brown, Inc. was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida.