This is the group of companies who raised their dividend during the week: Verizon Communications Inc., Brinker International Inc., Airgas Inc., Hcc Insurance Holdings Inc., and Wesbanco Inc.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, Financial)
Verizon Communications, formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, is one of the world's providers of high-growth communications services. Verizon Communications Inc. has a market cap of $100.6 billion; its shares were traded at around $35.56 with a P/E ratio of 16.4 and P/S ratio of 1. On September 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.6% to $0.50 per share. The dividend is payable on Nov. 1, 2011, to shareowners of record at the close of business on Oct. 7, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 5.6%.
Joel Greenblatt, Kenneth Fisher, and John Hussman own shares of VZ stock.
EVP and General Counsel Randal S Milch sold shares of VZ stock.
Brinker International Inc. (EAT, Financial)
Brinker International either owns, operates, franchises, or is involved in the ownership of restaurants under the names Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Maggiano's Little Italy, Cozymel's Coastal Grill, Corner Bakery Cafe, Big Bowl Asian Kitchen, and Rockfish Seafood Grill. On August 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on Sept. 29, 2011 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 9, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
Brinker International, Inc. announced results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended June 29, 2011. Total revenues decreased 3.4 percent to $717.5 million primarily driven by a 7.5 percent decrease in capacity due to the additional operating week in the fourth quarter fiscal 2010.
Joel Greenblatt, Richard Snow, and Kenneth Fisher own shares of EAT stock.
Director George R Jr Mrkonic sold shares of EAT stock.
Airgas Inc. (ARG, Financial)
Airgas, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the largest U. Airgas Inc. has a market cap of $4.93 billion; its shares were traded at around $62.77 with a P/E ratio of 17.9 and P/S ratio of 1.2. On August 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.32 per share. The dividend will be payable on September 30, 2011 to shareholders of record as of September 15, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.
Ron Baron and Mario Gabelli own shares of ARG stock.
Senior VP and CFO Robert M Mclaughlin sold shares of ARG stock.
Director John P Clancey bought shares of ARG stock.
HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. (HCC, Financial)
HCC, through its subsidiaries, provides specialized property & casualty insurance coverages, managing general agency services & insurance related services both to commercial customers & individuals. Hcc Insurance Holdings Inc. has a market cap of $3.17 billion; its shares were traded at around $27.86 with a P/E ratio of 9.6 and P/S ratio of 1.4. On August 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend to 0.155 per share. The dividend is payable to stockholders of record on October 3, 2011 and will be paid on or about October 17, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. released results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2011. Net earnings were $69.5 million for the second quarter of 2011, compared to $83.4 million for the second quarter of 2010.
Third Avenue Management and John Rogers own shares of HCC stock.
CEO John Niels Molbeck Jr, Director Deborah H Midanek, and Director James E Oesterreicher bought shares of HCC stock.
Wesbanco Inc. (WSBC, Financial)
WESBANCO, INC. is a multi-bank holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in general banking business. Wesbanco Inc. has a market cap of $476.1 million; its shares were traded at around $17.9 with a P/E ratio of 11.3 and P/S ratio of 1.5. On August 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on October 1, 2011 to shareholders of record on September 9, 2011. This is the second increase in the quarterly dividend rate this year and represents an annualized 14.3% increase in WesBanco's dividend during 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.
Director Ernest S Fragale, Director Donald P Wood, and Director Vaughn L Kiger bought shares of WSBC stock.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, Financial)
Verizon Communications, formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, is one of the world's providers of high-growth communications services. Verizon Communications Inc. has a market cap of $100.6 billion; its shares were traded at around $35.56 with a P/E ratio of 16.4 and P/S ratio of 1. On September 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.6% to $0.50 per share. The dividend is payable on Nov. 1, 2011, to shareowners of record at the close of business on Oct. 7, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 5.6%.
Joel Greenblatt, Kenneth Fisher, and John Hussman own shares of VZ stock.
EVP and General Counsel Randal S Milch sold shares of VZ stock.
Brinker International Inc. (EAT, Financial)
Brinker International either owns, operates, franchises, or is involved in the ownership of restaurants under the names Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Maggiano's Little Italy, Cozymel's Coastal Grill, Corner Bakery Cafe, Big Bowl Asian Kitchen, and Rockfish Seafood Grill. On August 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on Sept. 29, 2011 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 9, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
Brinker International, Inc. announced results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended June 29, 2011. Total revenues decreased 3.4 percent to $717.5 million primarily driven by a 7.5 percent decrease in capacity due to the additional operating week in the fourth quarter fiscal 2010.
Joel Greenblatt, Richard Snow, and Kenneth Fisher own shares of EAT stock.
Director George R Jr Mrkonic sold shares of EAT stock.
Airgas Inc. (ARG, Financial)
Airgas, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the largest U. Airgas Inc. has a market cap of $4.93 billion; its shares were traded at around $62.77 with a P/E ratio of 17.9 and P/S ratio of 1.2. On August 29th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.32 per share. The dividend will be payable on September 30, 2011 to shareholders of record as of September 15, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.
Ron Baron and Mario Gabelli own shares of ARG stock.
Senior VP and CFO Robert M Mclaughlin sold shares of ARG stock.
Director John P Clancey bought shares of ARG stock.
HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. (HCC, Financial)
HCC, through its subsidiaries, provides specialized property & casualty insurance coverages, managing general agency services & insurance related services both to commercial customers & individuals. Hcc Insurance Holdings Inc. has a market cap of $3.17 billion; its shares were traded at around $27.86 with a P/E ratio of 9.6 and P/S ratio of 1.4. On August 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend to 0.155 per share. The dividend is payable to stockholders of record on October 3, 2011 and will be paid on or about October 17, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. released results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2011. Net earnings were $69.5 million for the second quarter of 2011, compared to $83.4 million for the second quarter of 2010.
Third Avenue Management and John Rogers own shares of HCC stock.
CEO John Niels Molbeck Jr, Director Deborah H Midanek, and Director James E Oesterreicher bought shares of HCC stock.
Wesbanco Inc. (WSBC, Financial)
WESBANCO, INC. is a multi-bank holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in general banking business. Wesbanco Inc. has a market cap of $476.1 million; its shares were traded at around $17.9 with a P/E ratio of 11.3 and P/S ratio of 1.5. On August 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on October 1, 2011 to shareholders of record on September 9, 2011. This is the second increase in the quarterly dividend rate this year and represents an annualized 14.3% increase in WesBanco's dividend during 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.
Director Ernest S Fragale, Director Donald P Wood, and Director Vaughn L Kiger bought shares of WSBC stock.
