Friday, February 15, 2013

14 Stocks Taking Their Dividends Up A Notch

Throughout history there have always been great companies that stand head-and-shoulders above their peers and the competition. They are loved by their shareholders, hated by the competition and known by all. Just as all great companies have something in common, great dividend companies also have something in common. All great dividend companies have at least one characteristic in common – they consistently raise their dividends each year.

Below are several companies stepping up with higher cash dividends:

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties in the United States and internationally. February 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend 18.5% to $0.64 per share. The dividend is payable on April 15, 2013, to stockholders of record as of March 8, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.

PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) engages in the manufacture and sale of snacks, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, dairy products, and other foods worldwide. February 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.6% to $0.5675 per share. The increase will take effect with the June 2013 payment. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

Northwestern Corporation (NWE), doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides electricity and natural gas in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska, the United States. February 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.7% to $0.38 per share. The dividend is payable March 31, 2013, to common shareholders of record as of March 15, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 4.0%.

Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR), an independent research company, provides pragmatic and forward-thinking advice to business and technology customers worldwide. February 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7% to $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable March 20, 2013, to shareholders of record on March 6, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Lorillard, Inc. (LO) manufactures and sells cigarettes in the United States. February 13th the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.5% increase to $0.55 per share. The dividend is payable March 11, 2013 to stockholders of record as of March 1, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 5.3%.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPS) engages in the ownership, manufacture, and distribution of non-alcoholic beverages in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. February 13th the company increased its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.38 per common share. The dividend is payable April 5, 2013, to shareholders of record as of close of business on March 15, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 3.6%.

Ellington Financial LLC (EFC)is a specialty finance company that acquires and manages mortgage-related assets. February 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.77 per share for the fourth quarter of 2012, payable on March 15, 2013 to shareholders of record on March 1, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 11.9%.

Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) provides advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. February 12th the company increased its quarterly dividend 33% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable April 2, 2013 to Omnicom Group common shareholders of record at the close of business on March 5, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) provides banking and payments technology solutions worldwide. February 12th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable March 29, 2013, to shareholders of record as of the close of business March 15, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Huntsman Corporation (HUN) engages in the manufacture and sale of differentiated organic and inorganic chemical products worldwide. February 12th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable on March 29, 2013 to stockholders of record as of March 15, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI) provides distribution, third-party logistics, and other supply-chain management services to healthcare providers and suppliers of medical and surgical products. February 11th the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable March 29, 2013, to shareholders of record as of March 15, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) produces and markets inorganic mineral products primarily in North America and the United Kingdom. February 11th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.545 per share. The dividend is dividend payable March 15, 2013, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 1, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.

Avista Corporation (AVA), an energy company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy and other energy-related businesses primarily in the United States and Canada. February 8th the company increased its quarterly dividend to 5.2% to $0.305 per share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 22, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.

Hasbro, Inc. (HAS) engages in the provision of children’s and family leisure time products and services worldwide. February 7th the company increased its dividend 11% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable May 15, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 1, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 4.0%.

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 PEP, OMI in my Dividend Growth Portfolio and long AVA in my High-Yield Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

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