We relied upon the extensive research of institutional ETF sponsors and the rules-based strategies they follow to identify individual stocks demonstrating multi-dimensional strength. 

Eight stocks pass these filter criteria:

• Held by Vanguard multi-factor fund (VFMF) which selects stocks for value, quality and momentum within the Russell 3000
• Held by Vanguard value factor fund (VFVA) which selects stocks within Russell 3000 for value — giving the filter a value bias
• Held by Vanguard high dividend yield fund (VYM) which tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index
• Paid and increased dividend each year for at least 5 years
• Held by Vanguard ESG fund (ESGV) which is based on the Sustainalytics service which uses “traditional” ESG criteria 
• Held by Goldman Sachs fund (JUST) which tracks non-traditional ESG-types of criteria based on surveys of what the general population wants to see in a business
• Were seen technically as of 12/24/19 by BarChart.com as clear Buy ratings
• Have a 12-month trailing distribution yield of at least 3% according to BarChart.

For reference, here is the 1-year performance of the ETFs we used as data sources, compared to the performance of SPY (S&P 500).

These are the 8 stocks:

• AT&T (T) 5.22% yield
• Verizon (VZ) 4.01% yield
• Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) 3.97% yield
• Keycorp (KEY) 3.65% yield
• Regions Financial Corp (RF) 3.61% yield
• Citizens Financial Group (CFG) 3.56% yield
• Metlife (MET) 3.45%
• First Horizon National Corp (FHN) 3.38% yield

All but Verizon outperformed the Vanguard Multi-Factor fund over 1 year. First Horizon nearly matched SPY performance. All the other stocks outperformed SPY.

Five-year monthly, dividend-adjusted price charts for the 8 stocks, show the stock in black; the performance relative to the S&P 500 (SPY) in red; and the Dollar amount of dividends paid in the lower panel in green.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Here is how Morningstar describes them quantitatively:

Market-Cap / Yield / Growth

Forward Valuation

Valuation Multiples vs Historical Averages from AAII

Operational Data from AAII

Insider and Institutional Purchases from AAII

These are the analyst views as presented by MarketScreener:

As a yield-seeking investor, with an expectation that the value factor will do OK over the long-term, I may acquire some of these stocks in small size for the tactical sleeve of my portfolio.

I principally invest in funds for diversification, but sometimes tactically invest in a limited number of individual stocks in small size.

We all need a claim on the upside, but also need a solid element of protection. Above-average yield from value stocks with a modicum of momentum may provide some of that claim and some of that protection.