Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, October 8th:

MPLX LP (MPLX Quick QuoteMPLX - Free Report) : This master limited partnership (MLP) company which is engaged in providing a wide range of midstream energy services, including fuel distribution solutions, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 5.7% over the last 60 days.

This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has a dividend yield of 7.6%, compared with the industry average of 4.6%.

FMC (FMC Quick QuoteFMC - Free Report) : This agricultural sciences company which offers innovative solutions to farmers globally. It has a robust product portfolio and a development pipeline in crop protection, plant health, and professional pest and turf management, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing nearly 0.6% over the last 60 days.

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 3.6%, compared with the industry average of 1.8%.

Middlefield Banc (MBCN Quick QuoteMBCN - Free Report) : This bank holding company which offers its customers a broad range of banking services, including checking, savings, and negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts; money market accounts; time certificates of deposit, commercial loans, real estate loans, and various types of consumer loans; safe deposit facilities, and traveller's checks, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing nearly 0.5% over the last 60 days.

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 2.8%, compared with the industry average of 2.7%.

See the full list of top ranked stocks here.

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