Friday, May 3, 2013

PepsiCo, IBM and 7 Other Dividend Stocks Raising Their Payouts

When you purchase individual stocks, risk is inherent. Sometimes bad things happen to good stocks. Eventually, every investor will hold a stock that falls out of favor and endures a double-digit decline. Understanding this from the onset makes it easier to deal with. To minimize the risk of significant declines, your core portfolio should focus on blue-chip dividend growth stocks.

Listed below are select companies that have recently elected to raise their payout and yield by increasing their cash dividends to shareholders:

American Campus Communities, Inc. (ACC) is an independent equity real estate investment trust. May 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.36 per share. The dividend is payable May 30, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 16, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK), a diversified utility company, engages in the regulated and unregulated energy, and information services businesses. May 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.5% to $0.385 per share. The dividend is payable July 5, 2013 to all shareholders of record at the close of business on June 17, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.

Airgas, Inc. (ARG) engages in the distribution of industrial, medical, and specialty gases in the United States. May 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.48 per share. The dividend is payable June 28, 2013 to shareholders of record as of June 14, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.

DTE Energy Company (DTE) operates as an energy company. May 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.6% to $0.655 per share. The dividend is payable July 15, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business June 17, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 3.6%.

PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) operates as a food and beverage company worldwide. April 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.6% to $0.5675 per share. The dividend is payable June 28, 2013, to shareholders of record as of June 7, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. April 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.95 per share. The dividend is payable June 10, 2013 to stockholders of record May 10, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 1.9%.

Spectra Energy Partners, LP (SEP) engages in the transportation of natural gas through interstate pipeline systems. April 29th the partnership increased its quarterly distribution 1.3% to $0.50125. The distribution is payable May 15, 2013, to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 9, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 5.3%.

Artesian Resources Corporation (ARTNA) provides water, wastewater, and other services on the Delmarva Peninsula. April 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.5% to $0.2057 per share. The dividend is payable May 22, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 10, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 3.5%.

National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI), a real estate investment trust (REIT), invests in health care properties, primarily in the long-term care industry in the United States. April 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.8% to $0.735 per share. The dividend is payable August 9, 2013 to shareholders of record on June 28, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 4.5%.

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 PEP in my Dividend Growth Portfolio, and long NHI in my High-Yield Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

Related Posts
- 12 Dividend Stocks For A Powerful Income Stream
- 10 Dividend Stocks With A 10% Yield In 10 Years
- Free Cash Flow Payout vs. Dividend Payout
- 9 Dividend Stocks Trading at a Double-Digit Discount
- 6 High-Dividend, Low P/E Value Stocks

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Tags: [PEP] [IBM] [ARG] [CPK] [NHI] [ACC] [DTE] [SEP] [ARTNA]