6 Dividend Stocks Working Even When I’m Not *

D4L — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:30:45 +0000

This past week I have been vacationing more than 1,500 miles from my home. As with most vacations, I have not done much work this week. However, a quick check of my brokerage account shows that my dividend stocks have been very busy this week. It is nice to know my income portfolio never takes a day off. What’s even better is the portfolio is frequently getting a raise through higher cash dividend payments.

Here are several select companies that have recently provided their shareholders a raise with increased cash dividends:

Stage Stores (SSI) is a specialty department store retailer operating in the U.S., offering brand name and private label apparel, accessories, intimates, home, gifts, outerwear, cosmetics & footwear. June 14th the company increased quarterly divdiend 50% to $0.075/share. The new quarterly dividend rate of will be applicable to dividends declared after June 23, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.34%.

BioMed Realty Trust (BMR) acquires, develops and manages laboratory and office space for the life science industry. June 15th the company increases its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $0.15/share. The dividend is equivalent to an annualized dividend of $0.60 per common share. The yield based on the new payout is 3.33%.

Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC) develops, manufactures and markets sorbent products. June 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7% to $0.16/share. The dividends will be payable on September 3, 2010, to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 20, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.82%.

John Wiley & Sons (JW-A) is a global publisher that produces print and electronic products, providing content and solutions to customers worldwide. June 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.16/share. The dividend is payable on July 14, 2010 to shareholders of record on July 6, 2010. The ex-dividend date is July 2, 2010. JWA-A is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.65%.

CreXus Investment (CXS) is a specialty finance company that acquires, manages, and finances, commercial mortgage loans and other commercial real estate-related assets. June 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 71% to $0.12/share. The dividend is payable July 28, 2010 to common shareholders of record on June 28, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 24, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.88%.

Annaly Capital (NLY) owns and manages a portfolio of agency mortgage-backed securities and operates a fixed income asset management business. June 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.6% to $0.68/share. The dividend is payable July 29, 2010 to common shareholders of record on June 29, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 25, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 15.54%.

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 income holdings here.

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Wal-Mart Has Gone Shopping *

D4L — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:30:24 +0000

What do you do when the economy tanks and the stock market follows suit, but you are still generating a lot of cash? Many people would look for bargains in the market. Wal-Mart (WMT) [analysis] has done just that.

On June 5th, WMT announced a new share repurchase program that gives the company authorization to repurchase $15 billion of its shares. The new plan replaces the previous $15 billion program, which was announced June 1, 2007 and had approximately $3.4 billion of remaining authorization.

CEO Mike Duke said, “We remain committed to returning value to our shareholders through share repurchase and dividends.” In the last five years Wal-Mart has repurchased approximately $21 billion worth of its shares, Duke said. In addition, WMT raised its dividend in 2009 by 15% to $1.09/share.

Below are some companies rewarding their shareholders with increasing cash dividends:

VSE Corporation (VSEC) increased its dividend to $0.20/share annually, yielding 0.76%
Oil-Dri Corporation (ODC) raised its dividend 7% to $0.15/share, yielding 3.00%
Florida Public Utilities (FPU) bumped its quarterly dividend 2.1% to $0.12/share, yielding 3.71%
C. R. Bard (BCR) boosted its quarterly dividend 6% to $0.17/share, yielding 0.93%
Clorox (CLX) increased its dividend 8.7% to $0.50/share, yielding 3.73% – Analysis
Target (TGT) raised its quarterly dividend 6% to $0.17/share, yielding 1.72%
National Fuel Gas (NFG) bumped its quarterly dividend by 3.1% to $0.335/share, yielding 3.76%

One sign of confident and competent management is willingness and ability to raise their company’s dividend during a severe economic downturn. For companies with a long string of consecutive dividend increases, see this list.

Full Disclosure: Long WMT, CLX. See a list of all my income holdings here.

Dividends Value » ODC

6 Dividend Stocks Working Even When I’m Not *

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Wal-Mart Has Gone Shopping *

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