Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) closed yesterday at $33.77. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $24.63 and 52-week high of $38.24. Campbell Soup stock has been showing support around 33.12 and resistance in the 34.12 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bullish and S&P gives CPB a neutral 3 STAR (out of 5) hold rating. CPB appears on the Investors Observer Analysts Favorites list. For a hedged play on this stock, look at a May '10 32.50 covered call (CPB EZ) for a net debit in the $31.52 area. That is also the break even stock price for this trade. This covered call has an 184 day duration, provides 6.66% downside protection and a 3.11% assigned return rate for a 6.17% annualized return rate (comparison purposes only). Campbell Soup has a current annual dividend yield of 2.99%.

I got the same craving!

 a number of companies have raised their dividend (like INTC for instance).

I wonder if these companies wouldn't be better served saving their capital for a rainy day that should come soon, what with multiple states in budget crises for 2010 and there's only so much money the government can throw at the banks

Dividends would be much more attractive to current shareholders and new investors