Updating Our Income Stocks Washington Federal Inc., Newell Rubbermaid Inc., Alliant Energy Corp. and Buckeye Partners L.P.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL INC. $27 (NASDAQ symbol WFSL) has agreed to acquire First Mutual Bancshares, Inc. for $189.8 million in cash and stock. The price is a third more than the $143.1 million or $1.64 a share it earned in fiscal 2006. First Mutual is profitable, and will immediately add to Washington Federal’s earnings. The company also raised its quarterly dividend 2.4%. The new annual rate of $0.84 yields 3.1%. Buy. NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. $26 (New York symbol NWL) continues to make progress with its restructuring plan. In the second quarter of 2007, earnings before one-time costs rose 19.6%, to $0.55 a share from $0.46 a year earlier. The plan will help Newell to keep paying its $0.84 dividend (3.2% yield). Buy. ALLIANT ENERGY CORP. $38 (New York symbol LNT) has sold all of its international operations as part its plan to focus on core utility operations in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The company used the cash from these sales to buy back…