DRIP + High Yield + Big Caps DRIP is the way to go. Most of the gold miners and producers that make up HEP are now rated "buy" or "strong buy" by the most conservative rating firms. Given the current monthly cash-distribution, it is still great to have in the portfolio. I'm a high yield dividend investor using big-cap-low-beta stocks as hedgers. The cash from HEP gives me an edge in going forward. 2012 will be a year in favour of a defensive approach. HEP offers a basket of big caps and still pays a juicy distribution. That's a no brainer, IMHO.