Friday, November 4, 2011

18 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) has paid 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:

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities and products in the United States and internationally. November 3rd the company increased its quarterly dividend 9.4% to $0.175 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 8, 2011, to Stockholders of record Nov. 17, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.

j2 Global Communications, Inc. (JCOM) provides outsourced, value-added communication, messaging, and data backup services to businesses of all sizes, from individuals to enterprises worldwide. November 3rd the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.5% to $0.205 per share. The dividend us payable on November 28, 2011 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 14, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO) manufactures welding and cutting products worldwide. November 3rd the company increased its quarterly dividend 9.7% to $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable January 13, 2012, to holders of record as of December 31, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.8%.

Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) is a publicly owned real estate investment trust that engages in acquisitions, development, and management of neighborhood and community shopping centers. November 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.6% to $0.19 per share. The dividend is payable on January 17, 2012 to shareholders of record on January 4, 2012, representing an ex-dividend date of December 30, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.4%.

NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NRF) operates as a real estate investment trust that invests in real estate debt business, which acquires, originates, and structures debt investments secured primarily by income-producing real estate. November 2ned the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable on November 18, 2011 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 14, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 11.7%.

Vectren Corporation (VVC) provides energy delivery services to residential, commercial, and industrial and other contract customers in Indiana and west central Ohio. November 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.4% to $0.35 per share. This marks the 52nd consecutive year the annual dividends paid by Vectren and its predecessor companies have increased. The dividend will be payable December 1, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 15, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.9%.

Triangle Capital Corporation (TCAP) is a business development company specializing in private equity and venture capital investments. November 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.8% to $0.47 per share. The dividend is payable on December 28, 2011 to shareholders of record on December 14, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 11.5%.

Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (PAG) operates as an automotive retailer in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and Germany. November 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.09 per share. The dividend is payable on December 1, 2011, to shareholders of record on November 14, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.7%.

Cognex Corporation (CGNX) and its subsidiaries provide machine vision products that capture and analyze visual information to automate tasks, primarily in manufacturing processes. November 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 11% to $0.10 per share. The dividend is payable on December 16, 2011, to all shareholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.2%.

Questar Corporation (STR) operates as an integrated natural gas holding company. November 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.6% to $0.1625 per share. The dividend, payable Dec. 12, 2011, to shareholders of record on Nov. 18, 2011. This is the company’s 268th consecutive dividend and second dividend increase this year. Questar has increased its dividend 39 times in the last 39 years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.5%.

Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD) produces and markets medical devices for the healthcare industry primarily in the United States and Europe. November 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable on December 29, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 14, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.6%.

Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) operates as a diversified manufacturing and technology company. October 31st the company increased its quarterly dividend 15.9% to $0.40 per share. the dividend is payable December 9, 2011 to stockholders of record November 11, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.

Mercury General Corporation (MCY) engages in writing private passenger and commercial automobile insurance in the United States. October 31st the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.7% to $0.61 per share. The dividend is payable on December 29, 2011 to shareholders of record on December 15, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 5.8%.

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (BWP) engages in the interstate transportation and storage of natural gas in the United States. October 31st the partnership increased its quarterly distribution to $0.5275 per unit. The distribution is payable on November 17, 2011, to unitholders of record as of November 10, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 8.2%.

Cleco Corporation (CNL) operates as a utility holding company in Louisiana. October 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 11.6% to $0.3125 per share. The dividend is payable on Nov. 15, 2011 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 7, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.

NV Energy, Inc. (NVE) generates, transmits, and distributes electric energy in Nevada. October 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.3% to $0.13 per share. The dividend is payable on December 21, 2011 to shareholders of record on December 6, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.

Honeywell International Inc. (HON) operates as a diversified technology and manufacturing company worldwide. October 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.373 per share. The dividend is payable payable on December 9, 2011 to shareowners of record at the close of business on November 18, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) provides retirement savings, investment, and insurance products and services worldwide. October 27th the company increased its annual dividend 27% to $0.70 per share. The dividend is payable on Dec. 2, 2011 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 10, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

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 VVC, EMR. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

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Tags: [ADM] [JCOM] [LECO] [KIM] [NRF] [VVC] [TCAP] [PAG] [CGNX] [STR] [UTMD] [EMR] [MCY] [BWP] [CNL] [NVE] [HON] [PFG]