Notable Dividend Stocks: SYA, MSA, NC, QUAD, OPNT

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May 11, 2011
These are the dividend hikes featured by The Dynamic Dividend today: Symetra Financial Corporation (SYA, Financial), Mine Safety Appliances (MSA, Financial), NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC, Financial), Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD, Financial), OPNET Technologies, Inc. (OPNT, Financial).


Symetra’s First Dividend Hike: A 20% Increase

Symetra Financial Corporation (SYA) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share after today’s closing bell, which is a 20% improvement over previous payouts from the financial services company. This is the first time Symetra, which completed its public offering in January of last year, has given its shareholders a raise. The company initiated a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share almost exactly one year ago today (May 12, 2010), and maintained that rate until today’s announcement.


Shares of SYA closed at $13.54 on Wednesday, where they now feature a 1.77% dividend yield.


MSA Reaches 40 Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth

Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share this afternoon, a 4% improvement over its previous four payouts. This marks the 40th consecutive year the safety product company has given its shareholders a raise. Shares of MSA are currently trading at $38.60, where they now feature a 2.69% dividend yield.


Mine Safety Appliances has improved its dividend total every year dating back to 1972, making it a Class C Dividend Dynamo. Assuming the company can make it through the end of the year without an unforeseen cut to its payout, it will attain Class B status when we turn the calendar to 2012.


NACCO Raises Dividend for 26th Straight Year

NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.5325 per share today, a 1.9% improvement over its previous four payouts. This marks the 26th consecutive year the company has given its shareholders a raise.


Shares of NC are currentlry trading at $100.96, where they now feature a 2.11% dividend yield.


NACCO has improved its dividend total every year dating back to 1986, although its dividend hikes have been pretty unspectacular lately. This is the third consecutive year NACCO has raised its payout less than 2%, and you have to go back to 2004 to find a dividend hike of more than 5%. The recent stinginess is curious, considering the company carries a forward payout ratio under 20% (even after today’s dividend boost).


Quad/Graphics Initiates Quarterly Dividend

Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share within its first quarter earnings release. This will be the first time the provider of print solutions has returned cash to its shareholders as a public company.


Analysts currently expect the company, which began trading publicly last July, to earn $5.45 per share in 2012. That gives Quad/Graphics a very manageable 14.7% forward payout ratio to begin its dividend-paying era.


Shares of QUAD opened Wednesday’s session trading at $41.87, where they now feature a 1.91% dividend yield.


OPNET Boosts Dividend by 20%

OPNET Technologies, Inc. (OPNT) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share within its fourth quarter earnings release, pushing its payout higher by 20%.


OPNET initiated its quarterly payout in May 2009, and has given its shareholders a raise every 12 months during its young dividend-paying era. Last year the company improved its payout by 11%.


Shares of OPNT opened Wednesday’s session trading at $41.57, where they feature a 1.15% dividend yield.