This week a few companies made their shareholders happy by giving them an increase in cash dividends:

Northwestern Corp. (NWE) provides electricity and natural gas in Montana, South
Dakota, and Nebraska. February 12th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.34/share. The dividend is payable on March 31, 2010, to common shareholders of record as of March 15, 2010, the ex-dividend date is March 11, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 5.42%.

Hubbell (HUB.A) produces electrical and electronic products for commercial, industrial, telecommunications, utility and residential applications. February 12the the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.36/share. The dividend will be paid on April 9, 2010 to shareholders of record on March 8, 2010. The ex-dividend date is March 4, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.19%.

Genuine Parts (GPC) is a leading wholesale distributor of automotive replacement parts, industrial parts and supplies, and office products. February 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3% to $0.41/share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2010 to shareholders of record March 5, 2010. The ex-dividend date is March 3, 2010. GPC is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 54 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 4.03%. [Analysis]

Cooper Industries (CBE) is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of electrical products, tools, and hardware. February 16th the company increases its quarterly dividend to $0.27/share. The dividend will be paid on April 1, 2010 to shareholders of record as of February 26, 2010. The ex-dividend date is February 24, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.27%.

PSEG (PEG) is the holding company for Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G), with a service area that encompasses 70% of New Jersey. February 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.0% to $0.3425/share. The dividend rate is $1.37 annualized. The first dividend in 2010 is payable on March 31, 2010, to shareholders of record on March 10, 2010. The ex-dividend date is March 8, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 4.46%.

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) is the world’s largest bottler of Coca-Cola beverage products, distributing to about 78% of the North American market. Coca-Cola Co. holds about 35% of CCE’s common stock. February 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.09/share. The dividend is payable March 25, 2010 to shareowners of record on March 12, 2010. The ex-dividend date is March 10, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.84%.

Rogers Comm (RCI) is a Canadian communications and media company operates in three segments: Wireless, Cable and Media. February 17th the company increases its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.32/share. The dividend will be paid on April 1, 2010 to shareholders of record on March 5, 2010. The ex-dividend date is March 3, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.9%. The yield based on the new payout is 3.89%.

Albemarle (ALB) makes specialty chemicals, intermediates and catalysts for polymers, petroleum refining, agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals. February 17th the company raises its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.14/share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business as of March 15, 2010. The ex-dividend date is March 11. The yield based on the new payout is 1.48%.

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) is the largest U.S. producer of paints, is also a major seller of wallcoverings and related products. February 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend $0.36/share. The dividend is payable on March 12, 2010, to shareholders of record on February 26, 2010. The ex-dividend date is February 24, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 2.2%. SHW is a Dividend Aristocrat and has raised its dividend for 32 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.21%.

Ventas (VTR) is a real estate investment trust invests in health care facilities, including senior housing, specialty care facilities, hospitals, and medical office buildings. February 18th the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.535/share. The yield based on the new payout is 4.76%.

Validus Holdings (VR) focuses its underwriting efforts on “short tail” risks, primarily in the property reinsurance market. February 18th the company increases its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.22/share. The dividend is payable on March 31, 2010 to shareholders and warrant holders of record on March 15, 2010. The ex-dividend date is March 11, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.25%.

Tiffany & Co. (TIF) is a leading international retailer, designer, manufacturer, and distributor of fine jewelry and gift items. February 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend 18% to $0.20/share. The dividend will be paid on April 12, 2010 to stockholders of record on March 22, 2010. The ex-dividend date is March 18, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.85%.

Coca-Cola (KO) is the world’s largest soft drink company with a sizable fruit juice business. February 18th the company increases its quarterly dividend 7% to $0.44/share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2010, to shareowners of record as of March 15, 2010. KO is a Dividend Aristocrat and has raised its dividend for 48 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.15%. [Analysis]

T. Rowe Price (TROW) operates one of the largest no-load mutual fund complexes in the United States. February 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend by 8% to $0.27/share. The dividend is payable March 29, 2010 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 16, 2010. TROW is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 23 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.18%.

Your employer may not have given you a raise this year, but if you are invested in good dividend stocks, you will get a dividend increase from them. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.

Full Disclosure: Long GPC, KO. See a list of all my income holdings here.

(Photo Credit)

Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (TEG), an electric and natural gas utility holding company, showed this week it has the power to light up dividend investors with its 51st annual dividend increase. On Tuesday, TEG increased its quarterly dividend $0.01 to $0.68 per share. The dividend is payable on March 20, 2009, to shareholders of record February 27, 2009. At the new rate TEG is yielding around 6.5%. Linked here is my most recent analysis of TEG.

With the decline in construction, it is no secret that companies like Sherwin-Williams (SHW) are challenged. That makes their recent $0.005 increase in their quarterly dividend all the more impressive. The dividend is payable on March 13, 2009 to shareholders of record on February 27, 2009. The dividend yield on SHW shares is over 3%. This is the 31st consecutive year SHW has raised its dividend. Linked here is my most recent analysis of SHW.

Other companies looking to join the elite ranks by increasing their dividends include:

• FPL Group (FPL) Raises Qtr. Dividend by 6.2% to $0.4725/share (yield 3.80%)
• Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG) Increases Qtr. Dividend by 3.1% (yield 4.52%)
• XTO Energy (XTO) Bumps its Qtr. Dividend to $0.125/share (yield 1.55%)
• Comcast (CMCSA) Boosts Qtr. Dividend 8% to $0.0675/share (yield 2.06%)
• Rogers Communications (RCI) Raises Qtr Dividend to $0.29/share (yield 3.22%)
  
• Albemarle (ALB) Increases Qtr. Dividend by 4.2% to $0.125/share (yielding 2.39%)
• RenaissanceRe (RNR) Bumps Qtr. Dividend by $0.01 to $0.24/share (yielding 2.12%)
• SCANA Corporation (SCG) Boosts Quarterly Dividend by 2% (yield 5.89%)
  

For more companies around the world with a long string of consecutive dividend increases, see Dividends Value’s Stock Ideas page.

Full Disclosure: Long KO, TEG

(Photo: Steve Woods)