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. Since 2000, Walt Disney Co. (DIS) has paid an annual dividend and Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (RT) pays a semi-annual dividend. Going in the other direction, Realty Income Corp. (O) and Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (AOD) pay monthly dividends.
Fri. Apr. 30, 2010
commentary
How Often Should A Stock Pay And Raise Dividends? *
Fri. Jan. 29, 2010
commentary
10 Dividend Stocks Increasing Yield On Cost *
Most casual income investors focus on current yield, which is important. However, if your objective is to build a portfolio of securities with increasing income, then Yield on Cost is an excellent metric to measure your progress. Yield on Cost is simply the annual dividend rate times number of shares owned divided by what you paid for the investment (basis). As companies increase their dividend, your yield on cost goes up.
Fri. Oct. 23, 2009
commentary
15 Hot Dividend Increases *
Dividends from a quality, well-diversified portfolio are much more predictable than capital gains and best of all, they are passive. You don’t have to do anything, they just show up in your brokerage account each quarter. Inflation? Not to worry, the good companies routinely raise their dividends well in excess of the inflation rate.
16 Dividend Stocks Growing Future Yield *
Read more…