For 40 consecutive years Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG, Financial) has not missed a dividend increase. August 8, the company continued its streak by increasing its quarterly divided 3.6% to $0.29 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 15, 2012 to shareholders of record on Sept. 14, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 5.0%.
Below are several other companies increasing their cash dividends during the last week:
Briggs & Stratton Corporation (BGG, Financial) designs, manufactures, markets, and services air cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment worldwide. August 8, the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 1, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business Aug. 20, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.
Questar Corp. (STR, Financial) operates as an integrated natural gas company in the U.S. August 7, the company increased its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable on September 10 to shareholders of record on August 17. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.
Alterra Capital Holdings Limited (ALTE, Financial) provides specialty insurance and reinsurance products to corporations, public entities and property and casualty insurers in North America, Europe and internationally. August 7, the company increased its quarterly dividend 14.3% to $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on Sept. 4, 2012, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 21, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
Knoll Inc. (KNL, Financial) designs, manufactures, and sells office furniture products and accessories in the United States, Canada and Europe. August 7, the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 28, 2012 to all shareholders of record on Sept. 14, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.
Terra Nitrogen Company LP (TNH, Financial) engages in the production and sale of nitrogen fertilizer products. August 6, the company increased its quarterly distribution to $4.21 per unit. The distribution is payable Aug. 29, 2012, to holders of record as of Aug. 17, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 7.2%.
SeaCube Container Leasing Ltd. (BOX, Financial) operates as a container leasing company worldwide. August 6, the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.6% to $0.29 per share. The dividend is payable on Sept. 14, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 6.4%.
LTC Properties Inc. (LTC, Financial) operates as a health care real estate investment trust (REIT) in the U.S. August 6, the company increased its monthly dividend 6.9% to $0.155 per share for the months of August and September 2012, payable on Aug. 31 and Sept. 28, 2012, respectively, to stockholders of record on Aug. 23 and Sept. 20, 2012, respectively. The yield based on the new payout is 5.3%.
National Health Investors Inc. (NHI, Financial), a real estate investment trust (REIT), invests in health care properties, primarily in the long-term care industry in the U.S. August 6, the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.1% to $0.67 per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 28, 2012 and payable on Nov. 9, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 5.1%.
Crawford & Company (CRD-A) provides claims management solutions to risk management and insurance industry worldwide. August 6, the company increased its quarterly dividend 33% to $0.04 per share. The dividend is payable on Aug. 30, 2012, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 21, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW, Financial) manufactures various industrial products and equipment worldwide. August 3, the company increased its quarterly dividend 6% to $0.38 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 10, 2012 to stockholders of record as of Sept. 28, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently raised 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 LEG, ITW in my Dividend Growth Portfolio and NHI in my High-Yield Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.
Below are several other companies increasing their cash dividends during the last week:
Briggs & Stratton Corporation (BGG, Financial) designs, manufactures, markets, and services air cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment worldwide. August 8, the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 1, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business Aug. 20, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.
Questar Corp. (STR, Financial) operates as an integrated natural gas company in the U.S. August 7, the company increased its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable on September 10 to shareholders of record on August 17. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.
Alterra Capital Holdings Limited (ALTE, Financial) provides specialty insurance and reinsurance products to corporations, public entities and property and casualty insurers in North America, Europe and internationally. August 7, the company increased its quarterly dividend 14.3% to $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on Sept. 4, 2012, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 21, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
Knoll Inc. (KNL, Financial) designs, manufactures, and sells office furniture products and accessories in the United States, Canada and Europe. August 7, the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 28, 2012 to all shareholders of record on Sept. 14, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.
Terra Nitrogen Company LP (TNH, Financial) engages in the production and sale of nitrogen fertilizer products. August 6, the company increased its quarterly distribution to $4.21 per unit. The distribution is payable Aug. 29, 2012, to holders of record as of Aug. 17, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 7.2%.
SeaCube Container Leasing Ltd. (BOX, Financial) operates as a container leasing company worldwide. August 6, the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.6% to $0.29 per share. The dividend is payable on Sept. 14, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 6.4%.
LTC Properties Inc. (LTC, Financial) operates as a health care real estate investment trust (REIT) in the U.S. August 6, the company increased its monthly dividend 6.9% to $0.155 per share for the months of August and September 2012, payable on Aug. 31 and Sept. 28, 2012, respectively, to stockholders of record on Aug. 23 and Sept. 20, 2012, respectively. The yield based on the new payout is 5.3%.
National Health Investors Inc. (NHI, Financial), a real estate investment trust (REIT), invests in health care properties, primarily in the long-term care industry in the U.S. August 6, the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.1% to $0.67 per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 28, 2012 and payable on Nov. 9, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 5.1%.
Crawford & Company (CRD-A) provides claims management solutions to risk management and insurance industry worldwide. August 6, the company increased its quarterly dividend 33% to $0.04 per share. The dividend is payable on Aug. 30, 2012, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 21, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW, Financial) manufactures various industrial products and equipment worldwide. August 3, the company increased its quarterly dividend 6% to $0.38 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 10, 2012 to stockholders of record as of Sept. 28, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently raised 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 LEG, ITW in my Dividend Growth Portfolio and NHI in my High-Yield Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.
