In 2012, Whirlpool Corp (NYSE:WHR) will bring connected appliances to the marketplace — another step closer to making many of its appliances “smart” by the end of 2015. Over the next 18 months, four appliances will be introduced including a refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer. Shares closed at $50.49, up $1.01, or 2.04%, on the day. Its dividend yield is 3.9, its payout ratio is 21.17 and its ex-dividend date is 2012/02/22.

SUPERVALU Inc (NYSE:SVU): Against the backdrop of minimal growth and heavy competition in the retail sector, Fitch names several “best-in-class operators,” including: Hanesbrands (NYSE:HBI), PVH, Limited Brands (NYSE:LTD), Sally Beauty (NYSE:SBH), Dollar General (NYSE:DG), GNC, and NBTY (NTY). Fitch IDs slippage at Sears (NASDAQ:SHLD), Bon-Ton (NASDAQ:BONT), RadioShack (NYSE:RSH) and SUPERVALU. SVU shares closed at $8.39, up $0.16, or 1.94%, on the day. Its dividend yield is 4.28 and its ex-date is 2012/02/28.

Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE): Evidence the eurozone crisis is turning the world upside down: with EU banks not lending to each other, cash rich multinationals, such as J&J (NYSE:JNJ), Pfizer and Peugeot (PEUGY.PK), are stepping into the gap and are lending to banks via the repo market, Reuters reports. In one key area, corporations account for 25% of the deals. PFE shares closed at $21.82, up $0.25, or 1.16%, on the day. Its dividend yield is 3.71, its payout ratio is 72.18 and its ex-dividend date is 2012/02/01.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY) plans to buy Inhibitex (NASDAQ:INHX). BMY shares closed at $33.91, down $0.31, or 0.91%, on the day. Its dividend yield is 3.89, its payout ratio is 71.24 and its ex-dividend date is 2012/01/04.

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