Friday, November 2, 2012

8 Dividend Stocks Heating Up Their Yields

Dividends from a quality, well-diversified portfolio are much more predictable than capital gains and best of all, they are passive. You don't have to do anything, they just show up in your brokerage account each quarter. Inflation? Not to worry, the good companies routinely raise their dividends well in excess of the inflation rate.

Below are several companies that have recently increased their cash dividends to shareholders:

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. (SASR) operates as the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank, which is a state chartered bank that provides commercial banking services to individuals and businesses in central Maryland and northern Virginia. November 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 16.7% to $0.14 per share. The dividend is payable November 14, 2012 to shareholders of record on November 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.3%.

Spectra Energy Corp (SE) engages in the ownership and operation of a portfolio of natural gas-related energy assets in North America. October 31st the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.9% to $0.305 per share. The dividend is payable December 10, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.2%.

Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH), a healthcare services company, provides pharmaceutical and medical products and services in the United States and internationally. October 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 16% to $0.275 per share. The dividend is payable Jan. 15, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 2, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.

Mercury General Corporation (MCY) engages in writing personal automobile insurance products. October 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 0.4% to $0.6125 per share. The dividend is payable December 27, 2012 to shareholders of record on December 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 6.1%.

Honeywell International Inc. (HON) operates as a diversified technology and manufacturing company worldwide. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.41 per share. The dividend is payable December 10, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.

The Macerich Company (MAC) is an independent real estate investment trust. October 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.5% to $0.58 per share. The dividend is payable December 7, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.

Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. October 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 29% to $0.45 per share. The dividend is payable on November 16, 2012 to shareholders of record as of November 5, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

The Hershey Company (HSY) engages in manufacturing, marketing, selling, and distributing various chocolate and confectionery products, pantry items, and gum and mint refreshment products worldwide. October 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10.5% to $0.42 per share. The dividend is payable December 14, 2012, to stockholders of record November 23, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.

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 MCY in my High-Yield Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

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