5 Companies Providing Shareholders More Cash Through Increased Dividends

In the U.S. and Canada, most companies pay dividends quarterly. In other parts of the world, it is not uncommon for companies to pay an annual or a semi-annual dividend. That is not to say that North American companies sometimes choose not to pay quarterly dividends. For many years McDonald’s (MCD) paid an annual dividend. Walt Disney Co. (DIS) paid an annual dividend through 2014 and in July 2015 started paying a semi-annual dividend. Going in the other direction, Realty Income Corp. (O) pays a monthly dividend.

Though I prefer quarterly dividends, there is something more important than frequency -- dividend increases. Below are several companies satisfying their shareholders desire for more cash by increasing their dividends:

Medtronic (MDT) recently increased its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.54 per share. The dividend is payable Jul. 25, 2019 to stockholders of record on Jul. 8, 2019, with an ex-dividend date of Jul. 5, 2019. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Darden Restaurants (DRI) recently increased its quarterly dividend 17% to $0.88 per share. The dividend is payable Aug. 1, 2019 to stockholders of record on Jul. 10, 2019, with an ex-dividend date of Jul 9, 2019. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) recently increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable Jul. 15, 2019 to stockholders of record on Jun. 28, 2019, with an ex-dividend date of Jun. 27, 2019. The yield based on the new payout is 3.5%.

Reaves Utility Income Fund (UTG) recently increased its quarterly dividend 5.9% to $0.18 per share. The dividend is payable Jul. 31, 2019 to stockholders of record on Jul. 23, 2019, with an ex-dividend date of Jul. 22, 2019. The yield based on the new payout is 6.1%.

Nathan's Famous (NATH) recently increased its quarterly dividend 40% to $0.35 per share. The dividend is payable Jun. 28, 2019 to stockholders of record on Jun. 24, 2019, with an ex-dividend date of Jun. 21, 2019. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.

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.

Full Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned securities.

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Tags: MDT, DRI, FITB, UTG, NATH,
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