16 Confident and Secure Companies Boosting Dividends *

D4L — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:30:19 +0000

Are you confident and secure in your investing process? It appears many people are not, including the famed Canadian dividend investor Derek Foster who sold all his investments and friends/family who jump in and out of the market. I believe that most investors will lose money in the stock market over their lifetime. It is not that the market is a bad place to invest your money, but left unchecked the psychology of the market will lead you to do just the opposite of what you should to be doing. We must follow a process we are 100% confident in. Doubt is the gateway to destructive behavior. For me, dividend growth investing is what I am confident and secure in.

Below are several companies confident and secure enough in their business to increase their cash dividends:

EXCO Resources (XCO) is an independent oil and natural gas company that acquires, develops, and exploits onshore properties located in the continental U.S. August 5th the company increased its quarterly dividend 33% to $0.04/share. The dividend is payable on September 15, 2010 to holders of record on August 31, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.05%.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (RBA) in an auctioneer of industrial equipment sells, through unreserved public auctions, a range of industrial equipments, trucks, and other assets used in the agricultural industries. August 6th the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.105/share. The yield based on the new payout is 2.31%.

Buckeye GP Holdings L.P. (BGH) owns a small general partnership interest and incentive distribution rights in Buckeye Partners L.P. August 6th the partnership increased its quarterly distribution 4.7% to $0.45/unit. The distribution is payable on August 31, 2010 to unitholders of record on August 16, 2010. The ex-distribution date is August 12, 2010. Yield on the distribution is 4.1%. The yield based on the new payout is 4.17%.

Carlisle Co. (CSL) is a diversified manufacturer of rubber roofing and insulation, small tires and wheels, heavy duty braking systems, foodservice plastics, and specialty wire. August 6th the company raised its quarterly dividend 6.3% to $0.17/share. The dividend is payable on September 1, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 17, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 15, 2010. CSL is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 34 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.15%.

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is a diversified manufacturer operates a portfolio of about 840 industrial and consumer businesses throughout the world. August 6th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.34/share. The dividend will be paid on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 to stockholders of record on Thursday, September 30, 2010. The ex-dividend date is September 28, 2010. ITW is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 47 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.01%.

Chemed Corp. (CHE) provides hospice services for patients with severe, life-limiting illnesses; and also provides plumbing and drain cleaning services. August 6th the company raised its quarterly dividend 16.7% to $0.14/share. The dividend is payable on September 7, 2010, to shareholders of record as of August 16, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 12, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.05%.

CMS Energy (CMS) principal subsidiary is Consumers Energy, the largest utility in Michigan and the sixth largest gas and 13th largest electric utility in the U.S. August 6th the company raised its quarterly dividend 40% to $0.21/share. The yield based on the new payout is 4.97%.

Harleysville Group (HGIC) underwrites a broad array of personal and commercial coverages. These insurance coverages are marketed primarily in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. August 6th the company raised its quarterly dividend 11% to $0.36/share. The dividend is payable September 30, 2010, to shareholders of record on September 15, 2010. The ex-dividend date is September 13, 2010. HGIC is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 24 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 4.55%.

Aflac (AFL) provides supplemental health and life insurance in the U.S. and Japan. Products are marketed at worksites and help fill gaps in primary insurance coverage. Approximately 75% of revenues comes from Japan and 25% from the U.S. August 10th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $0.30/share. The dividend is payable on December 1, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 17, 2010. AFL is a Dividend Aristocrat and has raised its dividend for 28 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.42%.

Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) is a leading international supplier of products for the consumer lawn and garden and professional turf and horticulture markets. August 10th the company raised its quarterly dividend by 100% to $0.25/share. The yield based on the new payout is 2.11%.

Questar Corp. (STR) is engaged in gas transportation and storage, and retail gas distribution primarily in Utah. August 10th
the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.7% to $0.14/share. The dividend is payable September 13, 2010 to shareholders of record on August 20, 2010, is a $0.01 increase from the previous quarter. The ex-dividend date is August 18, 2010. STR is a Dividend Aristocrat and has raised its dividend for 31 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.31%.

CAE (CAE) provides simulation and modeling technologies and integrated training services and products to the civil aviation industry and defense forces around the globe. August 11th the company raised its quarterly dividend 33.3% to $0.04/share. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.69%.

Connecticut Water Service (CTWS) is a provider of regulated water utility services to customers in Connecticut also conducts unregulated operations. August 12th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.2% to $0.2325/share. The dividend is payable on September 15, 2010, for shareholders of record as of September 1, 2010, and an ex-dividend date of August 30, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 4.36%.

Textainer (TGH) engage in the purchase, management, leasing, and resale of a fleet of marine cargo containers worldwide. August 12th the company raised its quarterly dividend 4.2% to $0.25/share. The dividend is payable on September 1, 2010 to shareholders of record as of August 23, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 19, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.63%.

Parker Hannifin (PH) is a global maker of industrial pumps, valves, pneumatics, and hydraulics. Its products are used in everything from jet engines to trucks and autos and utility turbines. August 12th the company increased its quarterly dividend 4% to $0.27/share. The dividend is payable September 3, 2010 to shareholders of record as of August 23, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 19, 2010. PH is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 54 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.72%.

Torchmark (TMK) derives most of its earnings from its life and health insurance operations. August 12th the company raised its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.16/share. The dividend is payable November 1, 2010, to shareholders of record as of October 2, 2010. The ex-dividend date is September 30, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.25%.

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: Long HGIC. See a list of all my income holdings here.

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Dividend Stocks: Lowering Risk By Increasing Dividends *

D4L — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:30:53 +0000

If your goal is to accumulate wealth for a comfortable retirement, then there is no risk-free path. Throughout time every angle has been tried and failed. Inherently, individual stocks will carry higher risk due to the lack of diversification when evaluated on a stand-alone basis. However, you can mitigate some of this risk by selecting solid dividend paying companies with a track record of increasing their dividends each year.

Below are several companies stepping forward in uncertain time and rewarding their shareholders with higher cash dividends:

Chemed (CHE) provides hospice services for patients with severe, life-limiting illnesses; and also provides plumbing and drain cleaning services. This past week, the company raised its quarterly dividend 100% to $0.12/share. The dividend is payable on September 4, 2009, to shareholders of record as of August 17, 2009. It is the 153rd consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Chemed in its 38 years as a public company. The current yield based on the new dividend is 1.10%.

Broadridge Financial (BR) provides technology-based outsourcing solutions to the financial services industry. On Tuesday, the company increased its annual dividend for fiscal year 2010 to $0.56/share from $0.28/share. The current yield based on the new dividend is 2.86%.

Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) is a real estate investment trust owns and operates manufactured housing communities throughout the U.S. Earlier this week, the company boosted its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.30/share. The dividend will be paid on October 9, 2009 to shareholders of record on September 25, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 2.80%.

Kinross Gold (KGC) is the fourth largest primary gold producer in North America and is the fifth largest in the world. The company has nine mines in Canada, the U.S., Brazil, Russia and Chile. Yesterday, the company boosted its quarterly dividend by 25% to $0.05/share. The current yield based on the new dividend is 1.01%.

Consolidated Water (CWCO) develops and operates seawater desalination plants and water distribution systems in the Cayman Islands, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, and The Bahamas. Thursday, the company increased it quarterly dividend to $0.075/share. The current yield based on the new dividend is 1.50%.

Connecticut Water Service (CTWS) is a provider of regulated water utility services to customers in Connecticut also conducts unregulated operations. On August 12th, the company increased its quarterly dividend by 2.2% to $0.2275/share. The dividend is payable September 15, 2009, to shareholders of record as of September 1, 2009. The ex-dividend date is September 29. CTWS is a Dividend Champion that has increased its dividend for 40 consecutive years. The current yield based on the new dividend is 4.08%.

Many companies have chosen to reward their shareholders with annual dividend increases. For stocks with a long string of consecutive dividend increases, see this list.

Full Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned stock. See a list of all my income holdings here.

Dividends Value » CHE

16 Confident and Secure Companies Boosting Dividends *

(Photo Credit)

Dividend Stocks: Lowering Risk By Increasing Dividends *

(Photo Credit)