Friday, July 27, 2012

This Major Oil Producer Just Increased Its Dividend 40%

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) engages in refining, transporting, and marketing petroleum products primarily in the United States. July 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 40% to $0.35 per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 10, 2012 to shareholders of record as of the close of business Aug. 16, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

Below are other companies increasing their cash dividends during the last week:

Intel Corporation (INTC) designs, manufactures, and sells integrated digital technology platforms primarily in the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and Japan. July 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $0.225 per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 1, 2012 to stockholders of record on Aug. 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.5%.

Cleco Corporation (CLN) operates as a utility holding company primarily in Louisiana. July 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8% to to $0.3375 per share. The dividend is payable Aug. 15, 2012, payment. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

Exelon Corporation (EXC), a utility services holding company, engages in the generation of electricity in the United States. It generates electricity from nuclear, fossil, hydro, and renewable energy sources. July 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 38.5% to $0.525 per share. the dividend is payable Sept. 10, 2012, to shareholders of record of Exelon at 5:00 p.m. New York Time on Aug. 15, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 5.4%.

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. (NPBC) operates as the bank holding company for National Penn Bank that provides commercial banking products and services to residents and businesses primarily in eastern and central Pennsylvania. July 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 28.6% to $0.09 per share. The dividend is payable August 17, 2012 to shareholders of record as of August 4, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.0%.

ONEOK, Inc. (OKE), a diversified energy company, engages in the gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids in the United States. July 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.2% to $0.33 per share. The dividend is payable Aug. 15, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business Aug. 6, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

Newmont Mining Corporation (NEM) engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of gold and copper properties. July 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 17% to $0.35 per share of stock. The dividend is payable on September 28, 2012, to holders of record at the close of business on September 6, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

Baxter International Inc. (BAX) develops, manufactures, and markets products for people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. July 25th the company increased its dividend 34% to $0.45 per share. The dividend is payable on October 1, 2012 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.

MHI Hospitality Corporation (MDH), a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the ownership and operation of upper upscale and midscale hotels in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. July 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 50% to $0.03 per share. The quarterly dividend is payable on October 11, 2012 to shareholders of record as of September 14, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.

Simon Property Group, Inc. (SPG) is an independent equity real estate investment trust engaged in investment, ownership, and management of properties around the world. July 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5% to $1.05 per share. The dividend is payable on August 31, 2012 to stockholders of record on August 17, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.

Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB) operates as the holding company for Bar Harbor Bank & Trust that provides various banking products and services to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and municipalities. July 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.8% to $0.295 per share. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record as of the close of business August 17, 2012 and will be paid on September 14, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.5%.

Crane Co. (CR) manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States and internationally. July 23rd the company increased its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.28 per share. The dividend is payable on September 11, 2012 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 31, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.

Williams Partners L.P. (WPZ), an energy infrastructure company, focuses on connecting North America’s hydrocarbon resource plays to growing markets for natural gas and natural gas liquids. July 23rd the company increased its quarterly distribution 2% to $0.7925 per unit. The distribution is payable on Aug. 10, 2012, to unitholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 3. The yield based on the new payout is 5.9%.

Rayonier, Inc. (RYN) engages in the sale and development of real estate and timberland management, as well as in the production and sale of cellulose fibers in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia. July 23rd the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to to $0.44 per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 28, 2012, to shareholders of record on Sept. 14, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.

Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently raised their dividends; it is not a list of recommend buys. As always, due diligence should be performed before buying or selling any stock. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.

Full Disclosure: Long INTC. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

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