Friday, December 2, 2011

15 CEO's Showing Confidence With Increased Dividends

It is very easy for a CEO to get on a conference call and talk about confidence in the future while communicating glowing projections, but do they really believe what they are saying? Are there any actions that would make you believe what they are saying? Senior management purchasing company stock is a strong indicator of confidence in the future. Another indicator is sticking with a dividend plan, including regular increases.

Below are several select companies with a management confident enough to increase their cash dividends:

First Pactrust Bancorp, Inc. (BANC) operates as a holding company for Pacific Trust Bank that provides retail banking services primarily in San Diego and Riverside Counties, California. December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.3% to $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable on January 3, 2012 to shareholders of record as of December 16, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.4%.

OGE Energy Corp. (OGE) operates as an energy and energy services provider that offers physical delivery and related services for electricity and natural gas primarily in the south central United States. December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.7% to $0.3925 per share. The dividend is payable Jan. 30, 2012, to shareholders of record Jan. 10, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA), a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in acquiring, owning, and operating apartment communities primarily in the Sunbelt region of the United States. December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.2% to $0.66 per share. The dividend is payable on January 31, 2012 to shareholders of record on January 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.6%.

Ecolab Inc. (ECL) develops and markets products and services for the hospitality, foodservice, healthcare, and industrial markets primarily in the United States. December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.20 per share. The dividend is payable January 17, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.4%.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (ARE), a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the ownership, operation, management, development, acquisition, and redevelopment of properties for the life sciences industry. December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.3% to $0.49 per share. The dividend is payable January 17, 2012, to stockholders of record on December 30, 2011, with an ex-dividend date of December 28, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

The Toro Company (TTC) designs, manufactures, and markets professional turf maintenance equipment and services worldwide. November 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable January 9, 2012, to stockholders of record on December 16, 2011, with an ex-dividend date of December 14, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.5%.

Oriental Financial Group Inc. (OFG), a financial holding company, provides a range of financial services to mid and high net worth individuals, and families, including professionals and owners of small and mid-sized businesses primarily in Puerto Rico. November 30th the company increased it quarterly dividend 20% to $0.06 per share. The dividend is payable January 13, 2012, to holders of record on December 30, 2011, with an ex-dividend date of December 28, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.

Seadrill Limited (SDRL), an offshore drilling contractor, provides offshore drilling services to the oil and gas industries worldwide. It also offers platform drilling, well intervention, and engineering services. November 30th the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.3% to $0.76 per share. The dividend is payable on December 20, 2011, to stockholders of record on December 12, 2011, with an ex-dividend date of December 8, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 8.7%.

The Walt Disney Company (DIS) operates as an entertainment company worldwide. November 30th the company increased its annual dividend 50% to $0.60 per share. The dividend is payable on January 18, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 16, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.7%.

Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc. (BFED) operates as the bank holding company for Beacon Federal that provides various banking services. November 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 40% to $0.07 per share. The dividend is payable to stockholders of record as of December 13, 2011, and is expected to be paid on December 23, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.

RGC Resources, Inc. (RGCO) operates as an energy services company. November 29th the company increased its quarterlt dividend 2.9% to $0.175 per share. The dividend is payable on February 1, 2012 to shareholders of record on January 16, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.

Rimage Corporation (RIMG) provides workflow-integrated digital publishing systems that are used by businesses to produce recordable CD, DVD, and blu-ray discs with customized content and durable disc labeling. November 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 70% to $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable on December 15, 2011 to shareholders of record on November 30, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 6.0%.

First Keystone Corporation (FKYS) operates as the holding company for First Keystone National Bank that provides commercial banking product and services, and trust services to individuals and small to medium sized businesses. November 28th the company increased its its quarterly dividend 4.2% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable December 30, 2011 to shareholders of record as of December 13, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 5.3%.

Commercial Bancshares, Inc. (CMOH) operates as the holding company for The Commercial Savings Bank that provides retail and commercial banking services in Ohio. November 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.2% to $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable December 15, 2011 to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.

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: [DIS] [ECL] [OGE] [ARE] [SDRL] [BANC] [MAA] [TTC] [OFG] [BFED] [RGCO] [RIMG] [FKYS] [CMOH]