Dividends are an effective income generation tool for both short- and long-term investors. To capitalize on dividends, investors must ensure that they purchase the stock before the ex-dividend date and hold the stock through this period. Payments for dividends usually occur two to six weeks after the Ex-Date. For more information please check out Everything Investors Need to Know About Ex-Dividend Dates.

Portland General Electric (POR ) offers a dividend yield of 3.50% based on Friday’s closing price of $34.24 and pays a dividend of $1.20. The stock is down 16.57% from its 52-week high. Dividend.com currently rates Portland General Electric as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars and a dividend reliability of 4.0 (sector average is 3.9).

The Toro Company (TTC ) offers a dividend yield of 1.46% based on Friday’s closing price of $68.47 and pays a dividend of $1.00. The stock is down 3.00% from its 52-week high. Dividend.com currently rates The Toro Company as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars and a dividend reliability of 4.0 (sector average is 3.8).

ProAssurance Corp. (PRA ) offers a dividend yield of 2.65% based on Friday’s closing price of $46.87 and pays a dividend of $1.24. The stock is down 3.04% from its 52-week high. Dividend.com currently rates ProAssurance as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars and a dividend reliability of 4.0 (sector average is 3.6).

Vail Resorts (MTN ) offers a dividend yield of 2.30% based on Friday’s closing price of $108.34 and pays a dividend of $2.49. The stock is down 0.61% from its 52-week high. Dividend.com currently rates Vail Resorts as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars and a dividend reliability of 3.5 (sector average is 3.7).

Philip Morris International (PM ) offers a dividend yield of 4.84% based on Friday’s closing price of $82.66 and pays a dividend of $4.00. The stock is down 9.79% from its 52-week high. Dividend.com currently rates Philip Morris as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars and a dividend reliability of 3.5 (sector average is 3.9).

Curtiss-Wright Corp. (CW ) offers a dividend yield of 0.70% based on Friday’s closing price of $74.11 and pays a dividend of $0.52. The stock is down 4.46% from its 52-week high. Dividend.com currently rates Curtiss-Wright as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.3 stars out of 5 stars and a dividend reliability of 4.0 (sector average is 3.8).

Getty Realty Corp. (GTY ) offers a dividend yield of 5.11% based on Friday’s closing price of $17.22 and pays a dividend of $0.88. The stock is down 11.83% from its 52-week high. Dividend.com currently rates Getty Realty as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.1 stars out of 5 stars and a dividend reliability of 3.5 (sector average is 3.6).