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.This week as the weather turns cold, the dividend increases warming up. Below are several companies heating up their yields with increased cash dividends:
Reynolds American (RAI) is the second largest U.S. cigarette manufacturer and was formed via the mid-2004 merger of R.J. Reynolds and Brown & Williamson. October 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.9% to $0.49/share and announces a two-for-one stock split. The dividend will be payable on January 3, 2011, to shareholders of record on December 10, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 8, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.16%.
Mesabi Trust (MSB) holds interests in various iron ore properties in the Mesabi Iron Range, including its interest as assignor in the Amended Assignment of Peters Lease and Cloquet Lease. October 18th the company raised its quarterly distribution 13.75% to $0.91/unit. The distribution is payable on November 20, 2010 to Mesabi Trust unitholders of record at the close of business on October 30, 2010. The ex-distribution date is October 28, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 9.8%.
Rayonier (RYN) is an international forest products company primarily engaged in activities associated with timberland management. October 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.54/share. The dividend is payable December 31, 2010, to shareholders of record on December 10, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 8, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 4.30%.
NewMarket (NEU) primarily develops, manufactures, and blends fuel and lubricant additive products, and markets and sells these products worldwide. October 18th the company raised its quarterly dividend 17.3% to $0.44/share. The dividend is payable January 1, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 13, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.49%.
Shenandoah Telecom (SHEN) provides regulated and unregulated telecommunications services to end-user customers and other communications providers in the southeastern United States. October 19th the company raised its annual dividend 3.1% to $0.33/share. The dividend will be payable December 1, 2010, to shareholders of record on November 9, 2009. The ex-dividend date is November 5, 2010. SHEN is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.76%.
American Electric Power (AEP) is electric utility holding company has subsidiaries operating in 11 states in the U.S. October 19th the company increased its dividend 9.5% to $0.46/share. The yield based on the new payout is 4.60%.
Western Gas Partners (WES) engages in the business of gathering, compressing, treating and transporting natural gas for its ultimate parent, Anadarko Petroleum Corp., and others. October 19th the company raised its quarterly dividend 5.7% to $0.37/share. The distribution is payable on November 12, 2010 to unitholders of record at the close of business on October 29, 2010. The ex-dividend date is October 27, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 5.11%.
Global Partners (GLP) engages in the wholesale and commercial distribution of refined petroleum products and provides ancillary services in the U.S. and internationally. October 20th the company raised its quarterly dividend 1.5% to $0.495/share. The distribution will be paid November 12, 2010 to unitholders of record as of the close of business November 3, 2010. The ex-dividend date is November 1, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 7.74%.
Stepan Company (SCL) produces specialty and intermediate chemicals, which are sold to other manufacturers and then made into a variety of end products. October 20th the company raised its dividend 8.3% to $0.26/share. The dividend is payable on December 15, 2010, to stockholders of record on November 30, 2010. The ex-dividend date is November 26, 2010. SCL is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 43 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.57%.
Brown & Brown (BRO) provides insurance and reinsurance products and services, as well as risk management, employee benefit administration, and managed health care services. October 20th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.23% to $0.08/yield. The dividend will be paid on November 17, 2010, to shareholders of record on November 3, 2010. The ex-dividend date is November 1, 2010. BRO is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.47%.
Eaton Vance (EV) is a Boston-based holding company the is primarily engaged in investment management. October 20th the company raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.18/share. The dividend is payable November 10, 2010 to shareholders of record on October 29, 2010. The ex-dividend date is October 27, 2010. EV is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 30 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.44%.
Magellan Midstream (MMP) is engaged in the transportation, storage and distribution of refined petroleum products. October 20th the company increased its quarterly distribution 1.7% to $0.745/unit. The distribution is payable November 12, 2010, to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 5, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 5.65%.
Kinder Morgan (KMP) is one of the largest pipeline master limited partnerships (MLPs) in the U.S. October 20th the partnership raised its quarterly distribution 1.8% to $1.11/unit. The distribution is payable on Nov. 12, 2010, to unitholders of record as of Oct. 29, 2010. The ex-dividend date is October 27, 2010. KMP is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 30 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 6.25%.
ONEOK Partners (OKS) is a leading transporter of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) in the Mid-Continent area to market centers in the U.S. October 20th the company increased its quarterly cash distribution 0.9% to $1.13/unit. The distribution is payable November 12, 2010, to unitholders of record as of October 29, 2010. The ex-distribution date is October 27, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 5.73%.
VF Corporation (VFC) designs and manufactures or sources from independent contractors a variety of apparel and footwear for all ages. October 21st the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.63 per share. VFC is a Dividend Aristocrat and has raised its dividend for 36 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.00%.
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is the world's second largest copper producer and a major producer of gold and molybdenum. October 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend 67% to $0.50/share. The yield based on the new payout is 2.11%
Cass Information (CASS) provides payment and information processing services to manufacturing, distribution, and retail enterprises in the United States. October 21st the company raised its quarterly dividend 14.3% to $0.16/share. The dividend is payable December 15, 2010 to shareholders of record December 3, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 1, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.82%.
Met-Pro (MPR) makes products for the air and water pollution control, fluid handling and filtration markets. October 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.066/share. The dividend is payable on December 17, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 1, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.38%.
ONEOK (OKE) is an Oklahoma-based integrated natural gas company with an energy marketing and trading business. October 21st the company raised its quarterly dividend 4.4% to $0.48/share. The dividend is payable November 12, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business October 29, 2010. The ex-dividend date is October 27, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.90%
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: No position in the aforementioned stocks. See a list of all my income holdings here.
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Tags: [AEP] [BRO] [CASS] [EV] [FCX] [GLP] [KMP] [MMP] [MPR] [MSB] [NEU] [OKE] [OKS] [RAI] [RYN] [SCL] [SHEN] [VFC] [WES]