Dividend Yield: 10.1%
Market Cap: $181 million

Main Street Capital (MAIN) is a business development company specializing in equity and debt investments in small and middle-market companies.

With economic conditions improving and small companies looking to enter growth mode instead of just staying on the defensive, Main Street could see some brisk business in 2010. The company pays a monthly dividend instead of a quarterly payout, meaning a steady flow of cash for income investors.

Dividends are an often overlooked but crucial part of a successful retirement strategy. These quarterly offerings can provide a regular "paycheck" for retirees -- especially when the company is a high-yielding blue chip with a track record of boosting its dividend year after year.

But dividends don't just have to be a quiet way to grow your nest egg. They can really supercharge your returns when you buy into a great stock that also happens to be cash-rich. On top of the appreciation you see in your shares, you'll also get a great bonus checked mailed four times a year -- or more, depending on the dividend schedule.

Analyst upgrades

• Oppenheimer upgraded Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SVNT) to Perform from Underperform after the FDA's Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 14-1 in favor of approving Krystexxa for gout.
• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) to Buy from Underperform and raised its target to $27 from $18 based on expectations that margin expansion will be higher than Street expectations.
• UBS said Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has limited downside risk given the improved outlook for the graphics processor market and professional solutions business. Shares were upgraded to Neutral from Sell and its target was raised to $11.50 from $8.
• BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Macquarie.
• Neutral Tandem (NASDAQ: TNDM) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
• Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at SunTrust.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Blackboard, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Texas Roadhouse, China Digital and Main Street were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Suntrust initiated shares of Blackboard (NASDAQ:BBBB) with a Neutral rating, as they sees risk to 2008 Street estimates due to minimal margin expansion.
  
• Deutsche Bank started shares of Ruth's Chris Steak House (NASDAQ:RUTH) with a Hold rating, as they find it difficult to recommend a high-end dining chain in this economic environment.
• The firm also initiated Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ:TXRH) with a Buy rating and $15 target, citing the company's solid balance sheet, consistent operating history and low valuation.
  
• Piper expects shares of China Digital (NYSE:STV) will move higher as investors recognize the growth potential of the conditional access card market in China. The firm started shares off with a Buy rating and $43 target.
  
• Morgan Keegan resumed coverage of Main Street (NASDAQ:MAIN) with an Outperform rating and sees fair value range $15.50 to $17.00 based on MAIN's current yield of 9.2%.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Societe Generale initiated Centrica PLC (CPYYY) with a Sell rating.
  
• Conceptus (NASDAQ:CPTS) was initiated with a Buy rating and $27 target at Oppenheimer.
  
• JP Morgan resumed coverage of Eastman Kodak (NASDAQ:EK) with an Underweight rating, and Infinera (INASDAQ:INFN) and Starent Networks (NASDAQ:STAR) with Overweight ratings.