Friday, May 18, 2012

Clorox, Northrop Grumman, Tiffany, Safeway and Several Other Stocks Raised Dividends

Every investor wants to earn more. It is how we define "more" and how we go about earning it that defines the type of investor we are. Income investors want more income. Yield is a significant determinate of income. Instead of buying a current high-yield stock, investors in dividend growth stocks prefer to build their own. Granted, the current yield may never be classified as high-yield, but over time the yield-on-cost can reach epic heights.

This week several companies below chose to build a higher yield for their shareholders with higher cash dividends:

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC), a professional services company, provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital. May 17th the compay increased its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.23 per share. The dividend is payable August 15 to shareholders of record on July 11. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.

The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States. May 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 15.9% to $0.30 per share. The dividend is payable June 25, 2012, to holders of record at the close of business on June 8. The yield based on the new payout is 4.0%.

Tiffany & Co. (TIF) engages in the design, manufacture, and retail of fine jewelry worldwide. May 17th the company increased is dividend 10% ro $0.32 per share. The dividend is payable July 10, 2012 to stockholders of record on June 20, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) provides products, services, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical service sectors to government and commercial customers worldwide. May 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.55 per share. The dividend is payable June 13, 2012, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 28, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.7%.

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PEI) is a publicly owned equity real estate investment trust that owns, manages, develops, acquires, and leases mall and power and strip centers primarily in the Eastern United States. May 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to 0.16 per share. The dividend will be paid on June 15, 2012 to common shareholders of record on June 1, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.8%.

Republic Bancorp, Inc. (RBCAA) provides banking, tax refund solutions, and mortgage banking services to individuals and businesses in the United States. May 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7% to $0.165 per share. The dividend is payable July 20, 2012 to shareholders of record as of June 15, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the United States. May 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.8% to $0.27 per share. The dividend is payable July 20, 2012 to shareholders of record on June 21, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.9%.

STAG Industrial, Inc. (STAG) is a real estate investment trust engaged in investment and management of real estate assets. May 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.8% to $0.27 per share. The dividend is payable July 13, 2012 to all common stockholders of record on June 29, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 7.7%.

Pacific Continental Corporation (PCBK) operates as the bank holding company for Pacific Continental Bank that provides commercial banking services primarily in Oregon and Washington. May 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.06 per share. The dividend is payable June 15, 2012, to shareholders of record on June 4, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.

Insperity, Inc. (NSP) provides an array of human resources and business solutions to help enhance business performance for small and medium-sized businesses. May 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 13% to $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable on June 22, 2012, to all stockholders of record as of June 1, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.

Safeway Inc. (SWY) operates as a food and drug retailer in North America. May 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 21% to to $0.175 per share. The dividend is payable on July 12, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 21, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.7%.

NiSource Inc. (NI) through its subsidiaries, provides natural gas, electricity, and other products and services. May 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.3% to $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable Aug. 20, 2012, to stockholders of record at the close of business July 31, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.

The Clorox Company (CLX) manufactures and markets consumer and institutional products worldwide. May 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.64 per share. The dividend is payable on Aug. 10, 2012, to stockholders of record as of July 25, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.7%.

Protective Life Corporation (PL) engage in the production, distribution, and administration of insurance and investment products in the United States. May 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.18 per shsre. The dividend is payable June 11, 2012 to share owners of record at the close of business on May 25, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.

Cabot Corporation (CBT) operates as a specialty chemicals and performance materials company. May 11th the company increased its quarterly dividend 11.1% to $0.20 per share. The dividend is payable on June 15, 2012, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.

Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) provides specialized insurance products and related services in the North America and internationally. May 11th the company increased its quarterly dividend 17% to $0.21 per share. The dividend is payable on June 12, 2012 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 29, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) provides water and wastewater services to residential, commercial, industrial, public, and other customers in the United States and Canada. May 11th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.7% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable on September 3, 2012 to all shareholders of record as of July 6, 2012. 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 CLX in my Dividend Growth Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

Related Posts
- 7 Dividend Stocks To Build Your Future Security
- How To Know When To Sell A Dividend Stock
- 7 Dividend Stocks Delivering The Secret To Successful Investing
- There's Gold In Them Thar Dividend Stocks
- Buy And Hold Is Not Buy And Forget
(Photo Credit)

Tags: [CLX] [NOC] [SWY] [TIF] [MMC] [WMB] [PEI] [RBCAA] [XEL] [STAG] [PCBK] [NSP] [NI] [PL] [CBT] [AIZ] [AWK]