Friday, March 7, 2014

13 Companies Providing Shareholders More Cash Through Increased Dividends

In the U.S. and Canada, most companies pay dividends quarterly. In other parts of the world, it is not uncommon for companies to pay an annual or a semi-annual dividend. That is not to say that North American companies sometimes choose not to pay quarterly dividends. For many years McDonald’s (MCD) paid an annual dividend. Since 2000, Walt Disney Co. (DIS) has paid an annual dividend and Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (RT) pays a semi-annual dividend. Going in the other direction, Realty Income Corp. (O) and Gas Natural Inc. (EGAS) pay monthly dividends.

Though I prefer quarterly dividends, there is something more important than frequency -- dividend increases. Below are several companies satisfying their shareholders desire for more cash by increasing their dividends:

WGL Holdings, Inc. (WGL) sells and delivers natural gas, and provides energy-related products and services. March 6th the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.8% to $0.44 per share. The dividend is payable May 1, 2014 to stockholders of record on April 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.5%.

Horace Mann Educators Corporation (HMN) operates as a multiline insurance company in the United States. March 6th the company increased its quarterly dividend 17.9% to $0.23 per share. The dividend is payable March 31, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 17, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.

Taubman Centers, Inc. (TCO) operates as a real estate investment trust. March 6th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.54 per share. The dividend is payable March 31, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 17, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. (PNY), an energy services company, distributes natural gas in the United States. It operates in two segments, Regulated Utility and Non-Utility Activities. March 6th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.2% to $0.32 per share. The dividend is payable April 15, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 25, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.

General Dynamics Corporation (GD), an aerospace and defense company, provides business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions; military and commercial shipbuilding; and communications and information technology products and services. March 5th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10.7% to $0.62 per share. The dividend is payable payable on May 9, 2014 to stockholders of record on April 11, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Miller Industries, Inc. (MLR) manufactures and sells vehicle towing and recovery equipment. March 5th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable March 24, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 17, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.

Symetra Financial Corporation (SYA) provides group and life insurance products and retirement products in the United States and the District of Columbia. March 5th the company increased its quarterly dividend 11.1% to $0.10 per share. The dividend is payable March 28, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 18, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.

Saul Centers Inc. (BFS) is an equity real estate investment trust. March 4th the company increased its quarterly dividend 11.1% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable April 30, 2014 to stockholders of record on April 16, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.

GameStop Corp. (GME) operates as a video game retailer. March 4th the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.33 per share. The dividend is payable March 25, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 17, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.5%.

Agree Realty Corporation (ADC), a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the ownership, development, acquisition, and management of retail properties, which are primarily leased to national and regional retail companies. March 4th the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.9% to $0.43 per share. The dividend is payable April 8, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 31, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 5.4%.

QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) designs, develops, manufactures, and markets digital communications products and services based on code division multiple access (CDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and other technologies. March 4th the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.42 per share. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) provides a range of banking products and services to individual and corporate customers. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.8% to $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.

NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NRF), a real estate investment trust (REIT), operates as a commercial real estate (CRE) investment and asset management company. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 19% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable March 14, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 6.7%.

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 MCD, GD, PNY, O in my Dividend Growth Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

Related Posts
- 9 Dividend Stocks Beating The 4% Rule
- How To Buy Dividend Stocks At The Bottom
- 8 High-Yielding Dividend Aristocrats Not Afraid to Raise Their Dividends
- Three Keys For Successful Dividend Growth Investing
- 12 Dividend Stocks With A Quick Payback

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Tags: [MCD] [GD] [O] [DIS] [RT] [EGAS] [MLR] [SYA] [BFS] [GME] [ADC] [QCOM] [SFNC] [NRF] [WGL] [HMN] [TCO] [PNY]