After Wednesday's article High-Yield, High-Risk Dividend Stocks, I had hoped to feature a few high-yield stocks raising their dividends this week. Patiently I watched the news wire for some announcements that fit the bill, and it didn't take long. As if they were waiting for the cue, three high-yield stocks recently announced increased cash dividends for their shareholders:Chimera Investment is a specialty finance company that invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), residential mortgage loans, real estate-related securities and various other asset classes. Monday, CIM increased it quarterly dividend 50% to $0.12/share. The dividend is payable October 30, 2009 to common shareholders of record on October 1, 2009. The ex-dividend date is September 29, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 11.82%.
Hatteras Financial (HTS) is an externally managed mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) formed to invest in adjustable-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate single-family residential mortgage pass-through securities. Tuesday, the company raised its quarterly dividend 4.5% to $1.15/share. The dividend is payable on October 23, 2009, to stockholders of record on October 2, 2009, with an ex-dividend date of September 30, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 13.94%.
Triangle Capital (TCAP) is a specialty finance company that provides customized financing solutions to lower middle market companies. Wednesday, the company bumped its quarterly dividend 2.5% to $0.41/share. The dividend is payable on October 22 to shareholders of record on October 8. The current yield based on the new dividend is 14.07%.
Though their yields are not double-digit, three additional companies provided double-digit dividend growth in their cash dividends:
The First of Long Island Corp. (FLIC) provides financial services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First National Bank of Long Island. Tuesday, the company increased its dividend 11% to $0.20/share. The dividend will be paid on October 9, 2009 to shareholders of record on October 2, 2009. To receive the dividend, you have to own the shares before September 30th. The current yield based on the new dividend is 2.98%.
Lockheed Martin (LMT) is the world's largest military weapons manufacturer and is also a significant supplier to NASA and other government agencies. Thursday, the company raised its quarterly dividend 10.5% to $0.63/share. The dividend is payable Dec. 31, 2009 to holders of record as of the close of business on Dec. 1, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 3.26%.
McDonald's (MCD) is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 32,000 local restaurants in more than 100 countries. Thursday, the company raised its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.55/share. The dividend is payable on December 15, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2009.
MCD's Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner said, "So far in 2009 we've returned nearly $4.0 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, bringing total cash returned since the beginning of 2007 to about $15.5 billion. With today's dividend increase, we expect to end the year near the high end of our three-year, $15 billion to $17 billion total cash return target."
The stock is a Dividend Aristocrat and has increased its dividend 33 consecutive years. The current yield based on the new dividend is 3.92%. [Analysis]
For long-term dividend investors, a high-yield is not the most important factor to look for, instead that honor belongs to consistently growing dividends. For stocks with a long string of consecutive dividend increases, see this list.
Full Disclosure: Long MCD. See a list of all my income holdings here.
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Tags: [FLIC] [HTS] [LMT] [MCD] [RMBS] [TCAP]