Here are four stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, August 22nd:

Avianca Holdings S.A. : This airline holding company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 50% over the last 60 days.

Avianca Holdings S.A. Price and Consensus

Avianca Holdings S.A. price-consensus-chart | Avianca Holdings S.A. Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has a dividend yield of 6%, compared with the industry average of 0%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 3.6%.

Avianca Holdings S.A. Dividend Yield (TTM)

Avianca Holdings S.A. dividend-yield-ttm | Avianca Holdings S.A. Quote

Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (NMM Quick QuoteNMM - Free Report) : This operator of dry cargo carriers has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing more than 100% over the last 60 days.

Navios Maritime Partners LP Price and Consensus

Navios Maritime Partners LP price-consensus-chart | Navios Maritime Partners LP Quote

This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has a dividend yield of 7.5%, compared with the industry average of 0%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 13.9%.

Navios Maritime Partners LP Dividend Yield (TTM)

Navios Maritime Partners LP dividend-yield-ttm | Navios Maritime Partners LP Quote

Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (CNSL Quick QuoteCNSL - Free Report) : This telecommunications company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 45.5% over the last 60 days.

Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. Price and Consensus

Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. Quote

This Zacks Rank #2 company has a dividend yield of 33.8%, compared with the industry average of 0%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 10%.

Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. Dividend Yield (TTM)

Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. dividend-yield-ttm | Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. Quote

Senior Housing Properties Trust : This real estate investment trust company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 0.7% over the last 60 days.

Senior Housing Properties Trust Price and Consensus

Senior Housing Properties Trust price-consensus-chart | Senior Housing Properties Trust Quote

This Zacks Rank #2 company has a dividend yield of 7%, compared with the industry average of 4.3%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 8.6%.

Senior Housing Properties Trust Dividend Yield (TTM)

Senior Housing Properties Trust dividend-yield-ttm | Senior Housing Properties Trust Quote

See the full list of top ranked stocks here.

Find more top income stocks with some of our great premium screens.

It’s Illegal in 42 States, But Investors Will Make Billions Legally

In addition to the companies you read about above, today you get details on the newly-legalized industry that’s tapping into a “habit” that Americans spend an estimated $150 billion on every year.

That’s twice as much as they spend on marijuana, legally or otherwise.

Zacks special report revealing how investors can profit from this new opportunity. As more states legalize this activity, the industry could expand by as much as 15X. Zacks’ has just released a Special Report revealing 5 top stocks to watch in this space.

See these 5 “sin stocks” now>>