Notable Dividend News: WRB, ADI, VOD, TEL

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May 17, 2011
These are today's notable dividend hikes featured by The Dynamic Dividend: W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB, Financial), Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI, Financial), Vodafone Group (VOD, Financial), TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL, Financial).


W.R. Berkley Hits 10 Straight Years of Dividend Growth

W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share this afternoon, representing a 14.3% improvement over the insurance holding company’s previous four payouts. Shares of WRB are currently trading at $32.37, where they now feature a 0.99% dividend yield.


W.R. Berkley is currently on pace to pay an increased dividend total for the tenth consecutive year. The company has more than tripled its payout since its streak began in 2002.


Analog Devices Ups Dividend 14% After Sparkling Q2

Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share within its impressive second quarter earnings release, pushing its payout higher by 14% and sending shares soaring in extended trading.


Analog posted adjusted second quarter earnings of $0.75 per share on $791 million in revenue, blowing away the consensus view on both counts. Analysts were expecting a profit of just $0.68 per share on sales of only $746 million.


Looking ahead, the company expects to earn $0.70 to $0.75 per share on $765 to $795 million in revenue during its third quarter. Both ranges sit completely above the average analyst forecasts ($0.69 per share and $759 million, respectively).


Shares of ADI popped to $42.00 (+4.40%) in extended trading, where they now feature a 2.38% dividend yield.


Analog Devices has improved its annual dividend total every year since initiating its payout in 2003, raising its rate by 525% over that short period.


Vodafone Rings Up A Bigger Dividend

Vodafone Group (VOD) declared a final dividend of 6.05 pence within this morning’s year-end results, which is a 7.1% improvement over the dividend paid during the same period last year. The move brings the global communications company’s 2011 dividend total to 8.9 pence, also a 7.1% improvement over last year.


Vodafone has raised its annual dividend total every year dating back to 2000, pushing its payout higher by 600% over that span. The company’s 12-year dividend growth streak makes it a Class E Dividend Dynamo.


Shares of VOD received a nice pop to $28.00 (+3.02%) in pre-market trading, where the new payout (and current exchange rate) produces a 5.17% dividend yield. (The Nasdaq-traded ADR represents ten ordinary shares, and the yield indicated does not take into account fees or taxes.)


TE Connectivity Boosts Dividend 12.5%

TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share after today’s closing bell, which represents a 12.5% improvement over the $0.16 paid each of the previous ten quarters by manufacturer of power/data connection products.


Shares of TEL closed Monday’s session trading at $36.58, where they now feature a 1.97% dividend yield.


TE Connectivity has now raised its payout twice since it was spun-off by Tyco International (TYC) in 2007, pushing its dividend higher by a total of 29% over that span. The company was originally known as Tyco Electronics before changing its name earlier this year.