The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) index edged 3.9% higher in May, with 70% of its 30 constituent stocks ending the month in positive territory. However, the two worst-performing Dow stocks in May -- both from the healthcare sector -- kept the index's rally in check, with one of them plunging over 25%.

Home Depot serves a $1 trillion home improvement market that should fuel long-term growth in the dividend. Verizon is starting to show signs of bouncing back from a rough couple of years, while the stock still offers an ultra-high yield.

US stock market closed in red as ten of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes declined, led lower by financials, down 2.06 per cent, followed by a 1.5 per cent loss in information technology.

The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq fell Friday as the stock market reacted to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, energy stocks were climbing on Friday, largely inspired by the huge jump in crude oil prices. Among the S&P 500's 11 sectors, energy stocks were the only ones in the green. The

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