If you’re an income-focused investor, there is room for you on Barchart’s Top 100 Stocks to Buy bandwagon. 

The 100 stocks have strong returns over the past 12 months and healthy weighted alphas, indicating high momentum.

In yesterday's Top 100 Stocks to Buy, 25 names paid dividends to their shareholders, with dividend yields ranging from a high of 7.22% to a low of 0.16%.  

If you’re an income-focused investor, some of the 25 stocks could be worth owning for your portfolio over the long haul.  

Here are three standouts worth considering now. 

Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM)

Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM) stock is up 93.41% over the past 52 weeks with a weighted alpha of 99.89. Yesterday, it moved up 15 spots in the top 100 stocks, to 63rd place. 

The Canadian-based gold producer is the world’s third largest with mines in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico. 

In 2024 it produced 3.49 million ounces of gold, slightly up from 2023. However, because of higher gold prices, its revenues increased 25% to $8.29 billion, with an operating margin after production costs of 62.8%, 710 basis points higher than in 2023. 

Gold is hot right now--it hit $3,500 for the first time--so there is a concern you might be jumping on the bandwagon at the end of the gold run, rather than the beginning. 

However, for income-focused investors, it’s important to note that Agnico-Eagle has paid a yearly dividend since 1983. Currently yielding 1.6% because of its big run over the past year, you’ll still get paid when the gold bug dies. 

Given the global economic uncertainty, I doubt that will happen in the near term. 

Of the 15 analysts covering its stock, 13 rate it a Buy (4.53 out of 5). It trades at 22.0x the 2025 EPS estimate of $5.62.

Two possible strategies to bet on AEM:

1. Sell cash-secured put options with a strike price around $100 with a 15-60 DTE. That gets you income and a better entry point.  

2. Buy 10o shares of AEM at current prices and one Sept. 19 $120 put option. Its current ask price is $10.30, less than 10% of its strike. 

American Healthcare REIT (AHR)

American Healthcare REIT (AHR) stock is up 123.92% over the past 52 weeks with a weighted alpha of 97.92. Yesterday, it moved down five spots in the top 100 stocks, to 65th place. 

As its name implies, American Healthcare REIT is a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust. It owns and operates outpatient medical office buildings, senior housing communities, skilled nursing facilities and integrated senior health campuses.

It owns 308 properties in the U.S. and six in the UK. They are divided into four segments: Integrated senior health campuses (126), outpatient medical office buildings (81), senior housing properties (70), and triple-net leased properties (19). 

The REIT was created in October 2021 through the merger of Griffin-American Healthcare REIT IV and Griffin-American Healthcare REIT III. 

In February 2024, it went public, selling 64.4 million shares at $12 for gross proceeds of $772.8 million, which included the exercise in full of the underwriters’ overallotment option.

In 2024, its NFFO (normalized funds from operations) per share was $1.41. In 2025, it expects its NFFO per share to increase by 12.1% to $1.58 at the midpoint of its guidance. 

Seven of the eight analysts covering its stock rate it a Buy (4.38 out of 5). Its shares trade at a reasonable 19x the company’s 2025 estimate.

A possible options strategy to play AHR would be to buy the July 18 $35 call. 

As I write this, it has a $1 ask price (2.9% of the strike), with a delta of 0.24407, which means you can double your money if its share price appreciates by $4.10 (14%) over the next three months and you sell before expiration.  

Grupo Financiero Galicia (GGAL)

Grupo Financiero Galicia (GGAL) stock is up 112.51% over the past 52 weeks with a weighted alpha of 75.02. Yesterday, it moved down five spots in the top 100 stocks, to 100th place.

While its near-term momentum appears to be slowing down, it’s hard to ignore its healthy 3.91% dividend yield, especially if you’re income-focused.

I was a big believer in the Argentinian financial services stock in 2024. I recommended GGAL twice: the first time in March and then again in September. 

In my March commentary, I highlighted that its main operating business, Banco Galicia, “holds nearly 11% of the private sector loans in Argentina, with more than three million customers.”

If you’re okay investing in Latin America, it’s an excellent bank stock. Its shares are up 180% in the 13 months since.

In September, I highlighted the Jan. 17/2025 $50 call, with a $1.95 ask price. You could double your money by selling the call before expiration if it appreciated by $7.12 (17.6%). 

At the time, it was trading around $39.50. By Jan. 10, a week before expiration, it was up over $72. Even if you exercised your right to buy at $50 and held, you’d still be up about 25% over seven months. 

Can it move higher? 

The glass-half-full person would say yes because the bank’s NPL (non-performing loan) ratio of 1.6% is the lowest in the past decade. 

The glass-half-empty person would consider that the ADR shares have only traded over $70 twice since their listing on the NYSE in 2011.  

The options strategy to play: sell a May 16 $55 cash-secured put for $1.15 in premium income, an annualized return of 31.8% [$1.15 ask price / $55 strike price * 365 / 24 DTE].  

The idea here is to generate some income and a better entry price. But, remember, you have the potential for unlimited losses below the $53.85 breakeven. While that’s unlikely to happen in the next three weeks, it’s a consideration.