Here we go again. With Europe teetering on the brink of recession, China's manufacturing base softening, and a toxic U.S. jobs outlook, investors once again turn to income-generating stocks, and a few energy giants at are at the top of the list.

By and large, “income” is generally derived from dividend-paying stocks, which investors are mopping up with increased regularity.

Since mid-May, when oil prices, and stocks in general, began losing steam, big dividend exchange-traded funds like SPDR S&P Dividend (SDY), Wisdom Tree Dividends (DTN), and Vanguard High Dividend Yield  ...