Dividends Value » SWY http://dividendsvalue.com Dividend Investing & Value Investing For A Superior Portfolio Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:26:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 13 Dividend Stocks Raising Their Payouts And Yields * http://dividendsvalue.com/6533/13-dividend-stocks-raising-their-payouts-and-yields/ http://dividendsvalue.com/6533/13-dividend-stocks-raising-their-payouts-and-yields/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 07:30:08 +0000 D4L http://dividendsvalue.com/?p=6533 In a down-market when many people are rushing to buy gold, I take comfort that I already have mine. No, not that kind, but something much better! A growing stream of dividend income from solid companies. While everyone else is panicked about their portfolio’s decline, I see a downturn as an incredible buying opportunity. Lower prices, rising yields and growing dividends, its hard to beat that combination.

Below are several select companies that recently announced dividend increases:

Portland General Electric (POR) is an integrated Oregon-based electric utility serves about 1.6 million people, approximately 43% of the state’s population. May 14th the company increases its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.26/share. The dividend is payable on or before July 15, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 25, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 23, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 5.29%.

Nordstrom (JWN) is a specialty retailer of apparel and accessories, widely known for its emphasis on service, operates about 193 stores in 28 states. May 18th the company raised its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.20/share. The dividend is payable on June 15, 2010, to shareholders of record on May 28, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 26, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.10%.

First Financial (THFF) provides various financial services from 48 branch offices in west-central Indiana and east-central Illinois. May 18th the company raised its semi-annual to $0.46/share. The dividend is payable on July 1, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business June 15, 2010. THFF is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.08%.

Northrop Grumman (NOC) is the world’s third largest producer of military arms and equipment, and also has a large government IT services business. May 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 9.3% to $0.47/share. The dividend is payable June 12, 2010, to shareholders of record as of the close of business June 1, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 28, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.02%.

ACE Limited (ACE) provides commercial insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of international clients. May 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.33/share. The yield based on the new payout is 2.59%.

Xcel Energy (XEL) was created through the August 2000 merger of Northern States Power and New Century Energies. May 19th the company raised its quarterly dividend 3% to $0.2525/share. The dividend is payable July 20, 2010, to shareholders of record on June 24, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 22, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 4.82%.

Safeway (SWY) is a major food retailer operating about 1,725 stores in the U.S. and Canada. May 19th the company raised its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.12/share. The dividend is payable on July 15, 2010, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 24, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 22, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.09%.

Republic Bancorp (RBCAA) provides banking, mortgage banking, and tax refund solutions to individuals and businesses in the United States. May 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.143/share. The dividend is payable July 16, 2010 to shareholders of record as of June 18, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 16, 2010. RBCAA is a Dividend Achiever. The yield based on the new payout is 2.41%.

Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) is the third largest marketer, bottler and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in North America. May 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 67% to $0.25/share. The dividend is payable in on July 9, 2010, to shareholders of record on June 21, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 17. The yield based on the new payout is 2.72%.

Clorox (CLX) producer of household cleaning, grocery and specialty food products is also a leading producer of natural personal care products. May 19th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.55/share. The dividend is payable Aug. 13, 2010, to stockholders of record on July 28, 2010. The ex-dividend date is July 26, 2010. CLX is a Dividend Aristocrat and has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.50%.

Ship Finance (SFL) owns an international fleet of crude oil tankers, which are leased under long-term, fixed-price charters. May 20th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.33/share. The yield based on the new payout is 7.84%.

Tiffany (TIF) is a leading international retailer, designer, manufacturer, and distributor of fine jewelry and gift items. May 20th the company raised its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.25/share. The dividend is payable on on July 12, 2010 to stockholders of record on June 21, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 17. The yield based on the new payout is 2.39%.

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) provides rail freight transportation over a network serving the principal centers of Canada, as well as the U.S. Midwest and Northeast. May 20th the company raised its quarterly dividend 9% to C$0.27/share. The increased dividend is payable on July 26, 2010, to holders of record at the close of business on June 25, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2%.

Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently increased 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 CLX.  See a list of all my income holdings here.

(Photo Credit)

]]> http://dividendsvalue.com/6533/13-dividend-stocks-raising-their-payouts-and-yields/feed/ 3 8 Stocks Compounding Their Dividends * http://dividendsvalue.com/5222/8-stocks-compounding-their-dividends/ http://dividendsvalue.com/5222/8-stocks-compounding-their-dividends/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:30:24 +0000 D4L http://dividendsvalue.com/?p=5222 Compound interest is what occurs when interest previously earned is added to the principle and is considered when calculating future interest – i.e. earning interest on interest. So, what’s more powerful than compound interest? Compound dividends! Compound dividends are like compound interest on steroids – you are not only earning on reinvested dividends, but the dividend rate is increasing.

Here are several companies compounding their dividends by recently raising their cash distributions to shareholders:

Safeway (SWY) is a major food retailer that operates about 1,750 stores in the U.S. and Canada. December 11th the company increased its quarterly cash dividend to $0.10/share. The dividend is payable on January 14, 2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 24, 2009. The ex-dividend date is December 22. The yield based on the new payout is 1.87%.

Pfizer (PFE) is the world’s largest pharmaceutical company. It produces a wide range of drugs across a broad therapeutic spectrum. December 14th the company raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.18/share. The dividend is payable March 2, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 5, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.91%.

General Mills (GIS) is a major producer of packaged consumer food products, including Big G cereals and Betty Crocker desserts/baking mixes. December 14th the company boosted its quarterly dividend 12% $0.49/share. The dividend is payable February 1, 2010, to shareholders of record January 11, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.87%.

Hatteras Financial (HTS) is a REIT investing in adjustable-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate single-family residential mortgage pass-through securities. December 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $1.20/share. The dividend will be paid on January 22, 2010, to stockholders of record on December 28, 2009, with an ex-dividend date of December 23, 2009. The yield based on the new payout is 15.82%.

Moody’s (MCO) is a leading global credit rating, research and risk analysis concern. December 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.105/share. The dividend is payable March 10, 2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 1.56%.

BCE (BCE) is a Canadian wireline and wireless telecommunications company. December 17th the company raised its annual dividend 7% to $1.74/share. The first quarter installment is payable on April 15, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 15, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 6.80%.

Waste Management (WM) is the largest U.S. trash hauling/disposal company. December 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.315/share. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the Company has increased its quarterly dividend. The yield based on the new payout is 3.85%.

Urstadt Biddle Properties (UBA) this REIT owns and manages commercial real estate properties primarily in the northeastern United States. December 17th the company boosted its quarterly dividend to $0.2425/share. The dividends are payable January 22, 2010 to stockholders of record on January 8, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 6.44%.

To maximize the compounding effect, a company must raise their dividends each year. 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.

(Photo Credit)

]]> http://dividendsvalue.com/5222/8-stocks-compounding-their-dividends/feed/ 2 IBM Assumes Familiar Leadership Role * http://dividendsvalue.com/2971/ibm-assumes-familiar-leadership-role/ http://dividendsvalue.com/2971/ibm-assumes-familiar-leadership-role/#comments Fri, 01 May 2009 10:30:26 +0000 D4L http://dividendsvalue.com/?p=2971 IBM (IBM), a name once synonymous with blue-chip technology, faced a near-death experience in the early 1990′s when it misjudged the  importance of PCs at a time when demand for mainframes was waning and corporate downsizing was in full swing. IBM has never been able to regain it technology bellwether crown from Microsoft (MSFT) and Intel (INTC), but it has taken steps to regain its leadership role.

Last Tuesday, IBM stood up and was counted as a leader. At a time when the ill-prepared and the fearful are cutting dividends and hoarding cash, IBM increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.55/share and announced a $3 billion share repurchase program. The company has increased its quarterly dividend by 175% percent since 2006 and this is the 14th consecutive increase. The dividend is payable June 10, 2009 to stockholders of record May 8, 2009.  based on the new rate, IBM is currently yielding: 2.10%

Below are many other companies joining IBM as leaders andrewarding their shareholders with higher cash dividends:

  • Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) increased its qtr. dividend 2% to $0.43/share. Yield 3.54% (analysis)
  • Donegal Group (DGICA) raised its qtr. dividend to $0.112/share. Yield: 3.07%
  • Valmont Industries (VMI) ups its qtr. dividend 15.4% to $0.15/share, Yield: 0.95%
  • Bemis (BMS) boosts qtr dividend to $0.225/share. Yield: 3.72%
  • Costco Wholesale (COST) increased its qtr dividend to $0.18/share. Yield: 1.50%
  • BOK Financial (BOKF) raised its qtr. dividend 6.7% to $0.24/share. Yield: 2.48%
  • W.W. Grainger (GWW) ups its qtr. dividend 15% to $0.46/share. Yield: 2.22%
  • Talisman Energy (TLM) boosts its semi-annual dividend 12.5% to $0.1125/share. Yield: 1.47%
  • ExxonMobil (XOM) increased its qtr. dividend to $0.42/share. Yield: 2.45%
  • UGI Corporation (UGI) raised its qtr dividend 4% to $0.20/share. Yield: 3.35%
  • Safeway (SWY) ups qtr. dividend 21% to $0.10/share. Yield: 1.56%
  • Occidental (OXY) boosts qtr. dividend 3.1% to $0.33/share. Yield: 2.23%

Hopefully, this is just the beginning and in the coming weeks we will continue to see more dividend increases. For more companies with a long string of consecutive dividend increases, see this list.

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

(Photo: Steve Woods)

]]> http://dividendsvalue.com/2971/ibm-assumes-familiar-leadership-role/feed/ 1 The Few, The Proud, The Dividend Raisers! * http://dividendsvalue.com/2416/the-few-the-proud-the-dividend-raisers/ http://dividendsvalue.com/2416/the-few-the-proud-the-dividend-raisers/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:30:45 +0000 D4L http://dividendsvalue.com/?p=2416 This last week was similar to each of the two prior weeks in that we saw another large bank slash its dividend by more than 80%. Last Friday, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) cut its dividend by 85% to $0.05. The company said it would help them retain an additional $5 billion in common equity each year.

During the week several big name companies declared dividends, including:

  • Safeway (SWY) $0.0828/share – yield 1.87%
  • General Mills (GIS) $0.43/share – yield 3.46%
  • Microsoft (MSFT) $0.13/share – yield 3.43% – (Analysis)
  • Heinz (HNZ) $0.415/share – yield 5.40%
  • Target (TGT) $0.16/share – yielding 2.35% - (Analysis)
  • Kraft (KFT) $0.29/share – yield 5.25% - (Analysis)

It is great when companies, like those above, follow through and pay their regular dividends at the appointed time. But it is even more important for companies to follow through and raise their dividend at the appropriate time.  Unfortunately, fewer companies are increasing their dividends. This week there were only two to note:

Piedmont Natural Gas Company Inc. (PNY) is an energy services company that distributes natural gas to 1,016,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. On March 6th, the company declared a 3.8% increase in its quarterly dividend of $0.27/share. The dividend is payable April 15, 2009, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 25, 2009. The stock now yields 4.85%. This is the 31st consecutive year PNY has raised its dividend. The company is a dividend Achiever and a dividend Champion.

Warwick Valley Telephone Company (WWVY) provides telephone, Internet and video services to customers in the towns of Warwick, Goshen and Wallkill, New York and West Milford and Vernon townships, New Jersey. On March 10th, the company increased its quarterly cash dividend by 10% to $0.22/share up from $0.20/share. The dividend will be paid on March 31, 2009 to shareholders of record as of March 20, 2009.  Wisner H. Buckbee, Chairman of the Board, said “This dividend increase demonstrates the Board’s confidence in the continued strong performance of WVT’s business, our cash generation capabilities, and our firm commitment to our shareholders.” The stock now yields 9.78%.

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

Full Disclosure: No position in any of the aforementioned securities.

(Photo: Steve Woods)

]]> http://dividendsvalue.com/2416/the-few-the-proud-the-dividend-raisers/feed/ 0