3 Ex-Dividend Stocks With Buy Ratings

Written by: Alexandra Zendrian 05/01/12 - 8:32 AM EDT

Tickers in this article: CLMT PAA CMS

CMS Energy

The energy company reported on April 26 first-quarter earnings of $67 million, or 25 cents a share, down from year-earlier earnings of $135 million, or 52 cents.

"The stock continues to trade at a discount to its peer group on both this year's and next year's potential earnings despite having what we believe are better than average earnings and dividend growth prospects," Hilliard Lyons analysts wrote in an April 27 report. "We regard CMS as a good choice for total return utility accounts."

Forward Annual Dividend Yield: 4.2%

Plains All American Pipeline

The energy transportation company is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings on May 6. Analysts, on average, expect earnings of $1.50 a share on revenue of $8.21 billion in revenue.

"We reinstate coverage of PAA with an Outperform rating and $82 target price," Credit Suisse analysts wrote in an April 13 report. "We expect PAA to continue to outperform and deliver above-average distribution growth owing to its leverage to positive crude oil midstream fundamentals."