"Last March, we featured some counterintuitive advice to buy REITs; that basket of stocks has since doubled in value," notes income specialist Roger Conrad.

The contributing editor to Personal Finance explains, "And while our favorite REITs may not be as cheap as they were 18 months ago, they do offer generous payouts that won't be affected if the Bush tax cuts sunset.

"Not only did our favorite REITs pass the toughest stress test in decades, but they also operate in attractive localities and are flush with cash thanks to recovering equity values and attractive borrowing rates.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) Q1 earnings were cut almost in half and were lower than expected.
• AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) earnings expectations for 2010 resulted in an analyst's upgrade.
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) was downgraded following its Q4 earnings report.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) beat Q4 earnings expectations but slashed its quarterly dividend.
• Crocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) posted a smaller-than-expected Q4 loss but sales and gross margins fell.
• Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) Q1 earnings and revenue fell and it offered guidance below estimates.
• Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was upgraded on confidence ahead of the company's earnings report.
• Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ) reported a bigger-than-expected drop in Q1 earnings.