Dividends Value » UBSI

9 Dividend Stocks Working Hard During The Holidays *

D4L — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:30:07 +0000

As we officially head into the holiday season, many of us in the U.S. did not have to go into work today in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Though not much is happening at the office, there are still many working for me today. Not people, but my Dividend Stocks. It is great to know while I am relaxing with family and watching the big game, those stocks are hard at work providing me an additional income stream.

Several companies this week provided their investors a Thanksgiving bonus in the form of higher cash dividends:

Roper (ROP) makes high-tech industrial equipment and analytical instruments, primarily for oil and gas producers, semiconductor equipment makers, and industrial companies. November 23rd the company increased its quarterly dividend 15% to $0.095/share. The dividend is payable on January 29, 2010, to stockholders of record as of January 08, 2010. The ex-dividend date is January 6. ROP is a Dividend Achiever and has increased its dividend for 16 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 0.71%.

United Bankshares (UBSI) is a multi-bank holding company operates 114 full service offices in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and Washington, DC. November 23rd the company raised its quarterly dividend 3.4% to $0.30/share. The dividend is payable on January 4 to shareholders of record on December 11. The yield based on the new payout is 6.87%.

Haynes International (HAYN) develops, manufactures and markets technologically advanced, high-performance alloys used in aerospace, chemical processing and land-based gas turbine industries. November 23rd the company declared its first quarterly dividend. of $0.20/share. The dividend is payable to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2009. The yield based on the new payout is 3.13%.

Hormel Foods (HRL) is a leading processor of branded, convenience meat products
(primarily pork) for the consumer market. November 24th the company boosted its quarterly dividend 15% to $0.21/share. The dividend will be paid February 15, 2010, to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 23, 2010. The ex-dividend date is January 2010. HRL is a Dividend Achiever and has increased its dividend for 43 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.20%.

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) provides a wide range of medical devices and diagnostic products
used in hospitals, doctors’ offices, research labs and other settings. November 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 12.1% to $0.37/share. The dividend will be payable on January 4, 2010 to holders of record on December 14, 2009. BDX is a Dividend Aristocrat and has increased its dividend for 36 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.96%.

York Water (YORW) impounds, purifies and distributes water in York County and Adams County, Pennsylvania. November 24th the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.128/share. The dividend is payable January 15, 2010 to shareholders as of record date December 31, 2009. The ex-dividend date is December 29, 2009. The yield based on the new payout is 3.53%.

RGC Resources (RGCO) distributes and sells natural gas in Virginia to residential, commercial and industrial users through underground mains and service lines. November 24th the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.33/share. The dividend will be paid on February 1, 2010 to shareholders of record on January 15, 2010. The ex-dividend date is January 13, 2009. The yield based on the new payout is 4.77%.

Oritani Financial (ORIT) owns Oritani Savings Bank, which operates 19 offices in Bergen, Hudson and Passaic Counties in New Jersey. November 24th the company boosted its quarterly dividend to $0.075/share. The dividend will be payable to stockholders of record as of December 7, 2009 and will be paid on December 21, 2009. The ex-dividend date is December 17, 2009. The yield based on the new payout is 2.33%.

McCormick (MKC) produces spices, seasonings and flavorings for the retail food, food service and industrial markets. November 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.3% to $0.26/share. The dividend is payable January 15, 2010 to shareholders of record December 31, 2009. MKC is a Dividend Achiever and has increased its dividend for 23 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.86%.

Stocks that work the hardest for you are those that consistently grow their dividends. For a list of stocks 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 Credit)

The Dividend Freeze *

D4L — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:30:15 +0000

As summer turns to fall and the heat begins to moderate, winter and its freezing temperatures are just around the corner. However, some companies have been frozen in place for the last year; more specifically, their dividends have been frozen at the same rate for more than a year.

A lot of press is given to companies cutting their dividends. In this spot we normally look at dividend increases. However, this week there were none. So let’s look at some companies that have opted to neither raise nor cut their dividends, but instead freeze them at the current rate. Here are 13 select companies with 25 or more years of consecutive dividend increases that have not raised their dividends in the last 12 months:

American States Water (AWR)
This utility primarily serves water customers in California, as well as in Arizona. It also provides electric service to a small section of San Bernardino County.
Last Increase: 11/7/2007 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 54

Parker-Hannifin Corp. (PH)
This company is a global maker of industrial pumps, valves, and hydraulics. Its products are used in everything from jet engines to trucks and autos and utility turbines.
Last Increase: 8/21/2008 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 52

Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
This diversified manufacturer operates a portfolio of about 750 industrial and consumer businesses located throughout the world.
Last Increase: 9/26/2008 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 45

Tennant Company (TNC)
This company designs, manufactures, and markets cleaning solutions.
Last Increase: 2/27/2008 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 37

Mine Safety Appliances (MSA)
This company develops, manufactures and supplies products that protect people’s health and safety. Products include self-contained breathing apparatus and gas masks.
Last Increase: 5/21/2008 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 37

Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP)
This company offers contract drilling services for oil and gas wells in the United States and internationally.
Last Increase: 8/13/2008 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 37

United Bankshares Inc. (UBSI)
This multi-bank holding company operates 114 full service offices inWest Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio andWashington, DC.
Last Increase: 12/12/2007 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 35

CenturyLink Inc. (CTL)
This telecom company has operations concentrated in rural markets in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin. CTL acquired larger peer Embarq in a stock deal in July 2009.
Last Increase: 9/5/2008 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 35

Gorman-Rupp Company (GRC)
This company manufactures pumps and related equipment for water, wastewater, construction, industrial, petroleum, fire protection, military and other liquid-handling applications.
Last Increase: 2/13/2008 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 34

Chemical Financial (CHFC)
This holding company owns Chemical Bank, which provides commercial banking products and services through 129 banking offices, 141 ATMs and 2 loan production offices in Michigan.
Last Increase: 2/27/2008 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 34

Hershey Company (HSY)
Hershey is a major producer of chocolate or confectionery products.
Last Increase: 8/22/2007 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 33

Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI)
This company supplies building controls and energy management systems, automotive seating, and batteries.
Last Increase: 12/12/2007 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 33

M&T Bank Corp. (MTB)
This bank holding company for M&T Bank has offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia,West Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, andWashington, DC.
Last Increase: 8/30/2007 – Years of Consecutive Increases: 27

Needless to say, each of the above companies’ string of consecutive dividend increases is in jeopardy, and none of the stocks are on my current buy list. To the contrary, the ones I own are being closely monitored for a potential sell. Though this list might seem long, here is a much longer list of companies that have kept their streak alive.

Full Disclosure: Long CTL, ITW. See a list of all my income holdings here.

(Photo Quentin Houyoux)

NIKE (NKE), Donaldson (DCI), Hormel (HRL), McCormick (MKC) and Others Increase Dividends *

D4L — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Dividend investing in the classic implementation focuses on identifying solid companies with a record of growing their dividends each year; and an expectation that it will continue into the future. The focus is not solely on yield but a combination of yield and dividend growth. Often it is the lower yield, higher growth, security that will provide the best return over time.

Here are several stocks living up to shareholders’ expectations by raising their cash dividends:

NIKE (NKE) Boosts Dividend by 8.7% to $0.25/share (2.07%)
Donaldson (DCI) Boosts Qtr. Dividend 5% to $0.115/share (1.53%)
South Jersey Industries (SJI) Raises Dividend 10% to $0.2975/share (3.11%)
United Bankshares (UBSI) Increases Dividend 3% to $0.29/share (3.41%)
Hormel Foods (HRL) Raises Annual Dividend 2.6% to $0.76/share (2.89%)
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) Boosts Qtr. Dividend by 15.8% to $0.33/share (2.08%)
RGC Resources (RGCO) Increases Dividend by 10% to $0.32/share (4.97%)
The York Water Company’s (YORW) Boosts Qtr. Dividend by 4.1% to $0.126/share(4.48%)
McCormick & Company (MKC) Boosts Dividend 9% to $0.24/share (3.23%)
Landauer (LDR) Increases Dividend 5% to $0.525/share (3.47%)

After running these companies through my D4L-PreScreen.xls model, DCI and BDX, both Dividend Achievers, had NPV of MMA Differentials close enough to earn a more complete evaluation. HRL, MKC and LDR had positive NPV of MMA Differentials, but below the level required level for a more detailed evaluation. None of the others warranted additional consideration.

Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned stocks.

(Photo: Steve Woods)