How 2012’s top money ideas have fared so far By: MarketWatch July 13, 2012 at 00:01 AM EDT As 2012 began, investors were encouraged to stick with defensive, dividend-paying U.S. stocks. Those strategies are paying off so far this year. Read More >> Related Stocks: AT&T Inc Astrazeneca Plc ADR Chevron Corp Colgate-Palmolive General Growth Properties Gold Trust Ishares Home Depot McDonald's Corp Microsoft SPDR GOLD Standard & Poors 500 Verizon Communications Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.