Below are several companies that have recently raised the bar by increasing their cash dividends:
Belo Corp. (BLC) operates as a television company owning 20 television stations. March 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 60% to $0.08 per share. The dividend is payable on June 1, 2012, to shareholders of record on May 11, 2012 for each outstanding share of Series A common stock and Series B common stock. The yield based on the new payout is 4.4%.
Taubman Centers, Inc. (TCO) operates as a real estate investment trust. March 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.8% to $0.4625 per share. The dividend is payable March 30, 2012 to shareholders of record on March 15, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) operates retail stores in various formats worldwide. March 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.3975 per share. The dividend is payable April 4, 2012 to shareholders of record on March 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
Excel Trust, Inc. (EXL) engages in financing, developing, leasing, owning and managing community and power centers, grocery anchored neighborhood centers and freestanding retail properties. February 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.6% to $0.1625 per share. The dividend is payable April 16, 2012 to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 5.4%.
Weingarten Realty Investors (WRI) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The company engages in the management, acquisition, and development of real estate. February 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.5% to $0.29 per share. The dividend is payable on March 15, 2012 to shareholders of record on March 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.5%.
Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) provides various insurance and mortgage guaranty products in North America. February 29ththe company increased its quarterly dividend 1.4% to $0.1775 per share. The dividend is payable March 20, 2012, to shareholders of record on March 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 6.5%.
Deere & Company (DE) provides products and services primarily for agriculture and forestry worldwide. February 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.46 per share. The dividend is payable on May 1, 2012 to stockholders of record on March 30, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.
Waste Management, Inc. (WM) provides waste management services to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in North America. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividnd 4.4% to $0.355 per share. The dividend is payable March 23, 2012 to stockholders of record on March 9, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.0%.
Ensco plc (ESV) provides offshore contract drilling services to the oil and gas industry. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7% to $0.375 per share. The dividend is payable on 23 March 2012 to shareholders as of the 12 March 2012 record date. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.
Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. (PWOD) operates as the holding company for Jersey Shore State Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services to individuals, partnerships, non-profit organizations, and corporations in Pennsylvania. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.2% to $0.47 per share. The dividend is payable March 22, 2012 to shareholders of record March 14, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.
Symetra Financial Corporation (SYA) provides group and individual insurance products and retirement products in the United States and the District of Columbia. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 17% to $0.07 per share. The dividend is payable March 30, 2012 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
Sempra Energy (SRE) operates as an energy services holding company worldwide. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.60 per share. The dividend is payable April 15, 2012, to shareholders of record on March 26, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) engages in the manufacture and marketing of health care products worldwide. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.7% to $0.74 per share. The dividend is payable on April 3, 2012 to stockholders of record on March 9, 2012. This is the 40th consecutive year Kimberly-Clark has raised its dividend; and the 78th straight year the company has paid dividends. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.
BankUnited, Inc. (BKU) operates as the holding company for BankUnited that provides various banking products and services to consumers, and commercial and middle-market businesses. February 28th the company increased its quarterly dividend 21% to $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable on April 16, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on April 2, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.
Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) provides a range of banking products and services to individual and corporate customers in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas. February 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.20 per share. The dividend is payable April 2, 2012, to shareholders of record March 15, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.
Southwest Gas Corporation (SWX) engages in the purchase, distribution, and transportation of natural gas in Arizona, Nevada, and California. February 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 11.3% to $0.295 per share. The dividend is payable on June 1, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 16, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
Innophos Holdings, Inc. (IPHS) engages in the production and sale of specialty phosphates primarily in North America. February 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.27 per share. The dividend is payable on April 30, 2012 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 16, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (CY) designs, develops, manufactures, and markets mixed-signal programmable solutions worldwide. February 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 22% to $0.11 per share. The dividend is payable April 19, 2012 to shareholders at the close of business on March 29, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.
Harris Corporation (HRS) operates as a communications and information technology company that serves government and commercial markets worldwide. February 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 18% to $0.33 per share. The dividend is payable March 16, 2012, to shareholders of record March 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
St. Jude Medical, Inc. (STJ) develops, manufactures, and distributes cardiovascular and implantable neurostimulation medical devices worldwide. Febreuary 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.23 per share. The dividend is payable April 30, 2012, to shareholders of record on March 30, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.
UniSource Energy Corporation (UNS) engages in the electric generation and energy delivery businesses. February 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $0.43 per share. The dividend is payable on March 22, 2012 to common shareholders of record as of March 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.6%.
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) is a public real estate investment trust. It engages in acquisition, development, and management of properties. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.22 per share. the dividend is payable on April 17, 2012, to shareholders of record as of March 30, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.9%.
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of health care products worldwide. February 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.25% to $0.51 per share. This marks the 40th consecutive year that ABT has increased its dividend payout and the 353rd consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid since 1924. The dividend is payable May 15, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 13, 2012. 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 and those expected to in 2012; 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: Long ABT, WMT, KMB in my Dividend Growth Portfolio and UNS in my High-Yield Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.
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