Are you confident and secure in your investing process? It appears many people were not. From the famed Canadian dividend investor Derek Foster who sold all his dividend investments in February to co-workers who have moved to the sidelines waiting on the bottom. Many investors who lost confidence and exited the market missed the significant rally over the last couple of months.Below are several companies showing confidence in the future by rewarding their shareholders with higher cash dividends:
G&K Services (GKSR) rents uniforms, and offers uniforms and other related products for sale. This past week, the company increased its quarterly dividend by 7% to $0.075/share. The dividend is payable on September 24, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 17, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 1.31%.
HCC Insurance (HCC) is a multi-line insurer specializes in aviation, marine, medical stop-loss, offshore energy and property and casualty insurance in the U.S. and the U.K. Recently, the company increased its quarterly dividend by 8% to $0.135/ahare. The dividend is payable to stockholders of record on October 1, 2009, and will be paid on or about October 14, 2009. HCC is a Dividend Achiever and has increased its dividend for 13 consecutive years. The current yield based on the new dividend is 2.06%.
Delta Natural Gas (DGAS) distributes or transports natural gas to some 38,000 retail customers in central and southeastern Kentucky; and transports natural gas to industrial customers. Last Friday, the company boosted its quarterly dividend 1.6% to $0.325/share. The dividend will be paid September 15, 2009 to all common shareholders of record as of August 31, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 5.18%.
MGE Energy (MGEE) is the holding company is Madison Gas & Electric, which generates and distributes electricity and distributes natural gas in Wisconsin. This past week, the company raised its quarter dividend to $0.3684/share. The dividend is payable Sept. 15, 2009, to shareholders of record Sept. 1, 2009. MGEE is a Dividend Achiever and Dividend Champion, and has increased its dividend for 33 consecutive years. The current yield based on the new dividend is 4.01%.
Westlake Chemical (WLK) is an integrated manufacturer of petrochemicals, polymers and fabricated vinyl products. Monday, the company raised its quarterly dividend 9.5% to $0.0575/share. The dividend is payable September 17, 2009, to stockholders of record on September 2, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 0.93%.
Alliance Financial (ALNC) provides financial and banking products and services via 29 customer service facilities and a trust administration center in New York. Tuesday, the company boosted its quarterly dividend 7.7% to $0.28/share. The dividend is payable October 2, 2009 to shareholders of record on September 17, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 4.01%.
Guess? (GES) offers one of the world's leading lifestyle collections of contemporary apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Wednesday, the company raised its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.125/share. The current yield based on the new dividend is 1.56%.
ESSA Bancorp (ESSA) is a holding company of ESSA Bank & Trust, a full-service, community-oriented savings association. Wednesday, the company jumped its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.05/share. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 1.48%.
Altria (MO) Yesterday, the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.4% to $0.34/share. The quarterly dividend is payable on October 9, 2009 to stockholders of record as of September 15, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 7.44%.
Lawson Products (LAWS) primarily distributes replacement fasteners and other parts. Thursday doubled its quaterly dividend to $0.06/share. The dividend is payable October 13, 2009 to stockholders of record September 29, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 1.26%.
Increasing dividends are a positive sign that companies have confidence in the future. For stocks with a long string of consecutive dividend increases, see this list.
Full Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned stocks. See a list of all my income holdings here.
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Tags: [ALNC] [DGAS] [ESSA] [GES] [GKSR] [HCC] [LAWS] [MGEE] [MO] [WLK]