Constellation Energy NYSE CEG almost collapsed from its exposure to the credit market before it was rescued by the white knight from Omaha, Warren Buffett. If you dont trust management to make sound decisions, stay far away from that company. Understand how the company makes money. US Bancorp is current and Constellation Energy Group is former Motley Fool Income Investor, were committed to finding great dividendpaying companies with good management, strong financial statements, and the ability to weather any kind of market.

The old adage says, If you can trust your bank, and the same goes for any other company.

Nearterm money should be in money markets, bonds, or CDs. The Foolish bottom lineAlthough some of the biggest names in finance and energy have been the poster children for widowandorphan stocks, you can find dividendpaying, stable companies in many industries and in many countries. At the Motley Fool Income Investor, were committed to finding great dividendpaying companies with good management, strong financial statements, and the ability to weather any kind of market.

No stock is safe bad management, changing market, or an of God can undermine even the longestrunning business. Even when the headlines are negative, many solid, stable, dividendpaying companies have been going about the business of providing reasonably safe returnsSteady but unspectacular rates of returnSolid and growing dividendsIndustries that are neither highly cyclical, faddish, or particularly growthoriented. In fact, studies have shown that dividend payers can actually grow faster than nondividend payers belying the reputation of widow and orphan stocks as boring and stodgy.

No stock is safe bad management, changing market, or an of God can undermine even the longestrunning business. Even when the headlines are negative, many solid, stable, dividendpaying companies have been going about the business of providing reasonably safe returnsSteady but unspectacular rates of returnSolid and growing dividendsIndustries that are neither highly cyclical, faddish, or particularly growthoriented. In fact, studies have shown that dividend payers can actually grow faster than nondividend payers belying the reputation of widow and orphan stocks as boring and stodgy. Banks and utilities have historically been the poster companies for widowandorphan portfolio.