Several companies this week provided their investors a Thanksgiving bonus in the form of higher cash dividends:
The York Water Company (YORW) engages in impounding, purifying, and distributing drinking water in Pennsylvania. November 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.1336 per share. The dividend is payable January 17, 2012 to shareholders as of record date December 31, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) engages in the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of flavor products and other specialty food products to the food industry worldwide. November 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 10.7% to $0.31 per share. The dividend is payable January 13, 2012 to shareholders of record December 30, 2011. This marks the 26th consecutive year that the Company has increased its quarterly dividend. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX), a medical technology company, develops, manufactures, and sells medical devices, instrument systems, and reagents worldwide. November 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 9.8% to $0.45 per share. The dividend is payable on December 30, 2011 to holders of record on December 12, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.
Cambridge Bancorp (CATC) operates as the holding company for Cambridge Trust Company that provides commercial and consumer banking, trust, and investment management services for individuals and businesses in Massachusetts. November 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.7% to 0.37 per share. The dividend is payable January 3, 2012 to shareholders of record as of December 12, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.5%.
Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) produces and markets various meat and food products in the United States and Internationally. November 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend 17.6% to $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable Feb. 15, 2012, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 23, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.
United Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI) provides commercial and retail banking services and products in the United States. November 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.3% to $0.31 per share. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record as of December 9, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 5.0%.
Chicago Rivet & Machine Co. (CVR) operates in the fastener industry in North America. November 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable December 20, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 5, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.5%.
Lancaster Colony Corporation (LANC) engages in the manufacture and marketing of consumer products focusing primarily on specialty foods for the retail and foodservice markets in the United States. November 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.36 per share. The dividend is payable December 30, 2011 to shareholders of record on December 9, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.
Homeowners Choice, Inc. (HCII), an insurance holding company, provides property and casualty insurance in Florida. November 21st the company raised its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 16, 2011 to shareholders of record on the close of business Dec. 1, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 6.3%.
Nevsun Resources Ltd. (NSU), a natural resource company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. November 21st the company increased its semi-annual dividend to $0.05 per share.The dividend is payable on January 15, 2012 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.
South Jersey Industries, Inc. (SJI) engages in the purchase, transmission, and sale of natural gas for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. November 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend 10.3% to $0.4025 per share. The dividend is payable December 29, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business December 9, 2011. SJI has paid dividends for 60 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (AEL) underwrites fixed annuity and life insurance products in the United States and the District of Columbia. November 18th the company increased its annual dividend 20% to $0.12 per share. The dividend will be payable on December 16, 2011 to shareholders of record as of December 2, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.1%.
Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (MRH) provides insurance and reinsurance solutions. November 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.105 per share. The dividend is payable on or before January 15, 2012, to all shareholders of record as of December 31, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
Haynes International Inc. (HAYN) develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes high-performance nickel-and cobalt-based alloys in sheet, coil, and plate forms for use in the various industries worldwide. November 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable December 15, 2011 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.5%.
Neenah Paper, Inc. (NP) engages in the production and sale of technical products and fine papers worldwide. November 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.12 per share, is scheduled to be paid in March 2012 to shareholders of record as of February 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) engages in finding, producing, gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas primarily in the United States. November 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 27, 2011, to holders of record at the close of business on Dec. 9. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.
The Laclede Group, Inc. (LG) engages in the retail distribution, sale, and marketing of natural gas. November 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.5% to $0.415 per share. The dividend is payable on January 4, 2012, to shareholders of record on December 12, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.
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 securities. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.
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Tags: [YORW] [MKC] [BDX] [CATC] [HRL] [UBSI] [CVR] [LANC] [HCII] [NSU] [SJI] [AEL] [MRH] [HAYN] [NP] [WMB] [LG]