Friday, February 3, 2012

24 Stocks Growing Their Cash Dividends

Dividend growth investing in its classic form focuses on identifying solid companies with a long record of growing their dividends each year; and an expectation that they will continue to do so into the future. The focus is not solely on yield but a combination of yield and dividend growth. Often it is the lower yield, higher growth, security that will provide the best return over time.

Here are several stocks living up to shareholders' expectations by raising their cash dividends:

Sunoco, Inc. (SUN) refines and markets petroleum products, and manufactures chemicals in the United States. February 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 33% to $0.20 per share. The dividend is payable March 8, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 15, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.

CME Group Inc. (CME) operates the CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX regulatory exchanges worldwide. February 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 59% to $2.23 per share. The dividend is payable on March 26, 2012, to shareholders of record as of March 9, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.

Bemis Company, Inc. (BMS) manufactures and sells flexible packaging products and pressure sensitive materials. February 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.2% to $0.25 per share compared to the previous quarterly dividend of 24 cents per share. The cash dividend is payable on March 1, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 15, 2012. This marks the 29th consecutive year that the Company has increased its dividend payment. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.

Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP) engages in the design, development, manufacture, and market of semiconductor products for embedded control applications. February 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.349 per share. The dividend is payable on March 6, 2012, to stockholders of record on February 21, 2012. Microchip initiated quarterly cash dividend payments in the third quarter of fiscal year 2003. The yield based on the new payout is 3.7%.

Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. (APTS) is a Maryland corporation formed primarily to acquire and operate multifamily properties in select targeted markets throughout the United States. February 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 4% to $0.13 per share. The dividend is payable April 16, 2012 to all common stockholders of record as of March 30, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 8.5%.

Hasbro, Inc. (HAS) engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of games and toys, and other entertainment offerings worldwide.February 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.36 per share. The dividend is payable on May 15, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 1, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.

TECO Energy, Inc. (TE) an electric and gas utility company engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy. February 2nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.5% to $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable Feb. 28 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 13. The yield based on the new payout is 4.9%.

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB) engages in the development, redevelopment, acquisition, ownership, and operation of multifamily communities in the United States. February 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.7% to $0.97 per share. The dividend is payable on April 16, 2012 to stockholders of record as of March 30, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Tupperware Brands Corporation (TUP) operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. February 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.36 per share. The dividend is payable on April 6, 2012 to shareholders of record as of March 20, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.3%.

Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) provides mail processing equipment and integrated mail solutions worldwide. February 1st the company raised its quarterly dividend 1.4% to $0.375 per share. The dividend is payable March 12, 2012, to stockholders of record on February 17, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 7.8%.

Neenah Paper, Inc. (NP) engages in the production and sale of technical products and fine papers worldwide. January 31st the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable on March 2, 2012 to stockholders of record as of close of business on February 10, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.

Access National Corporation (ANCX) operates as the bank holding company for Access National Bank that provides commercial credit, deposit, and mortgage services. January 31st the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% of $0.05 per share, representing the fourth increase over the last year. The dividend is payable on February 24, 2012 to shareholders of record as of February 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.

National Instruments Corporation (NATI) manufactures and supplies measurement and automation products. January 31st the company increased its quarterly 40% to $0.14 per share. The dividend is payable on March 5 to shareholders of record on Feb. 13. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.

Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) engages in the manufacture and sale of pressure-sensitive materials; office and consumer products; and various tickets, tags, labels, and other converted products worldwide. January 31st the company increased its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.27 per share. The dividend is payable March 21, 2012 to shareholders of record on March 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.

Limited Brands, Inc. (LTD) operates as a retailer of women's intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care products, and accessories in the United States and Canada. January 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable on March 9, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 24, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.3%.

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (ASCA) operates as a gaming and entertainment company in the United States. January 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 19% to $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2012 to stockholders of record as of Feb. 29, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.

Bryn Mawr Bank Corporation (BMTC) operates as the holding company for The Bryn Mawr Trust Company, which provides various commercial and retail banking services. January 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2012 to shareholders of record as of February 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

PetMed Express, Inc. (PETS), doing business as 1-800-PetMeds, operates a pet pharmacy in the United States. January 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 10, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.8%.

Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO) operates as an international energy company with operations in the United States, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. January 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 13% to $0.17 cents per share. The dividend is payable on March 12, 2012, to stockholders of record on Feb. 16, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

GATX Corporation (GMT) leases, operates, and manages assets in the rail, marine, and industrial equipment markets. January 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.4% to $0.30 per share. The dividend is payable March 31, 2012, to shareholders of record on March 2, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

CMS Energy Corporation (CMS) operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. January 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable Feb. 29, 2012 to shareholders of record on Feb. 10, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.4%.

SLM Corporation (SLM) originates, services, and collects student loans. January 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.5% to $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable on March 16, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 2. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.

Markwest Energy Partners, L.P. (MWE) engages in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas. The company increased its quarterly distribution 4.1% to $0.76 per unit. The distribution is payable February 14, 2012, to unitholders of record on February 6, 2012. The ex-dividend date is February 2, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 5.2%.

Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. (CHKM) owns, operates, develops, and acquires natural gas gathering systems and other midstream energy assets in the United States. January 26th the company increased its quarterly distribution 4% to $0.39 per unit. The distribution will be payable on February 14, 2012 to all unitholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2012, together with the distribution to the general partner. The yield based on the new payout is 5.4%.

Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently raised their dividends and those expected to in 2012; 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 TE. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

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Tags: [MRO] [PBI] [HAS] [TUP] [LTD] [AVY] [BMS] [TE] [PETS] [SUN] [CME] [MCHP] [APTS] [AVB] [NP] [ANCX] [NATI] [ASCA] [BMTC] [GMT] [CMS] [SLM] [MWE] [CHKM]