When things start going bad, our primal instinct of flight kicks in and we want to sell. In many cases, that is the time we should be buying. Holding a stock through an economic downturn is much easier when it pays a rising dividend.
Below are several companies giving their shareholders a reason not to sell by increasing their cash dividends:
Jabil Circuit, Inc. (JBL) provides electronic manufacturing services and solutions in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. October 20th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.08 per share. The dividend is payable on December 1, 2011, to stockholders of record on November 15, 2011, with an ex-dividend date of November 11, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.7%.
Matthews International Corporation (MATW) designs, manufactures, and markets memorialization products and brand solutions for the cemetery and funeral home industries. October 20th the company increased its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.09 per share. The dividend is payable November 14, 2011 to stockholders of record October 31, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.1%.
Barnes Group Inc. (B) operates as an international logistical services company, and aerospace and industrial components manufacturer. October 20th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.10 per share. The dividend will be payable December 9, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.9%.
Watsco, Inc. (WSO) distributes air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment, and related parts and supplies. October 20th the company increased it quarterly dividend 9% to $0.62 per share. The increase will be reflected in the Company’s next regular dividend payment in January 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.4%.
Met-Pro Corporation (MPR) manufactures and sells product recovery and pollution control equipment. October 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.071 per share. The dividend is payable on December 16, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (WHG) manages investment assets and provides services for its clients. October 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 26% to $0.37 per share. The dividend is payable on January 2, 2012 to stockholders of record on December 15, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.2%.
Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO) is a diversified insurance agency that markets and sells insurance products and services. October 19th the division increased its quarterly dividend 6.25% to $0.085 per share. The dividend is payable on November 16, 2011, to shareholders of record on November 2, 2011. This is the eighteenth consecutive year of dividend growth for the Company. The yield based on the new payout is 1.7%.
Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc. (SUSQ) provides retail and commercial banking, and financial services in the mid-Atlantic region. October 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 50% to $0.03 per common share. The dividend is payable on November 21, 2011 to shareholders of record November 1, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.9%.
Stepan Company (SCL) engages in the production and sale of specialty and intermediate chemicals to manufacturers in various industries worldwide. October 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.7% to $0.28 per share. This marks the forty-fourth consecutive annual dividend increase. The yield based on the new payout is 1.5%.
Visa Inc. (V) operates retail electronic payments network worldwide. October 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 47% to $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable on December 6, 2011, to shareholders of record as of November 18, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.0%.
B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS) engages in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of shelf-stable foods. October 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend 9.5% to $0.23 per share. The dividend is payable on January 30, 2012 to shareholders of record as of December 30, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 5.1%.
Markwest Energy Partners, L.P. (MWE) engages in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas. October 18th the company increased its quarterly distribution 14% to $0.73 per unit. The distribution is payable November 14, 2011, to unitholders of record on November 7, 2011. The ex-dividend date is November 3, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 6.2%.
Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN), an integrated solid waste services company, provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services. October 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to to $0.09 per share. The dividend is payable on November 16, 2011, to stockholders of record on the close of business on November 2, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.0%.
Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB) operates as the holding company for Bar Harbor Bank & Trust that provides various banking products and services. October 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.8% to $0.28 cents per share. The dividend is payable to all shareholders of record as of the close of business November 16, 2011 and will be paid on December 15, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.9%.
Ameren Corporation (AEE) operates as a public utility company in Missouri and Illinois, the United States. October 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.9% to 0.385 cents per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 30, 2011, to shareholders of record on Dec. 7, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 5.1%.
A. Schulman, Inc. (SHLM) supplies plastic compounds and resins to consumer products, industrial, automotive, and packaging markets. October 14th the company increased its quarterly dividend to 10% to $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable November 1, 2011, to shareholders of record on October 24, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.6%.
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 aforementioned securities. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.
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