Virtually everything in this world can be placed into a few basic categories. This is especially true for Dividend Stocks when looking at their historic performance and expectations for the future. Consider these three broad categories: The Good: As you might guess, these are the dividend stocks that are doing exactly what they should do – consistently raising their dividends each year in spite of troubled economic times. The Bad: Companies that held their dividends flat. The Ugly: Companies that cut their dividends.Here are several companies in the "Good" category that recently rewarded their shareholders with increased cash distributions:
RPM International (RPM) makes specialty coatings and products for the structural waterproofing and corrosion control markets. January 5th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.5% to $0.205/share. The dividend is payable on January 29, 2010 to stockholders of record as of January 15, 2010. The ex-dividend date is January 13, 2009. RPM is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 37 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 4.04%.
Calumet Specialty Products (CLMT) operates refineries in Louisiana and facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas with product distribution throughout North America. January 5th the company raised its quarterly distribution to $0.455/unit. The distribution is payable on February 12, 2010 to holders of record of such units at the close of business on February 2, 2010. ex-dividend date is January 29, 2009. The yield based on the new payout is 9.63%.
Robbins & Myers (RBN) supplies engineered equipment and systems for critical applications in global energy, industrial, chemical and pharmaceutical markets. January 5th the company bumped its quarterly dividend to $0.0425/share. The dividend is payable on February 19, 2010 to shareholders of record as of January 21, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 0.72%.
Pentair (PNR) makes and markets water and fluid control devices, and electrical and electronic enclosures. January 7th the company increased its quarterly cash dividend 6% to $0.18/share. The the dividend is payable in the first quarter of 2010. PNR is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 34 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.26%.
Raising its dividend each year is the first step for a "Good" dividend stock to becoming a "Great" dividend stock. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.
Full Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned securities. See a list of all my income holdings here.
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Tags: [CLMT] [PNR] [RBN] [RPM]