Dividends from a quality, well-diversified portfolio are much more predictable than capital gains and best of all, they are passive. You don't have to do anything; they just show up in your brokerage account each quarter. Inflation? Not to worry, the good companies routinely raise their dividends well in excess of the inflation rate.
Below are several companies that have recently increased their cash dividends to shareholders:
Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. (SASR, Financial) operates as the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank, which is a state chartered bank that provides commercial banking services to individuals and businesses in central Maryland and northern Virginia. Nov. 1, the company increased its quarterly dividend 16.7% to $0.14 per share. The dividend is payable Nov. 14, 2012 to shareholders of record on Nov. 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.3%.
Spectra Energy Corp (SE, Financial) engages in the ownership and operation of a portfolio of natural gas-related energy assets in North America. Oct. 31, the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.9% to $0.305 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 10, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.2%.
Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH, Financial), a healthcare services company, provides pharmaceutical and medical products and services in the U.S. and internationally. Oct. 30, the company increased its quarterly dividend 16% to $0.275 per share. The dividend is payable Jan. 15, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 2, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
Mercury General Corporation (MCY, Financial) engages in writing personal automobile insurance products. Oct. 29, the company increased its quarterly dividend 0.4% to $0.6125 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 27, 2012 to shareholders of record on Dec. 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 6.1%.
Honeywell International Inc. (HON, Financial) operates as a diversified technology and manufacturing company worldwide. Oct. 26, the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.41 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 10, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 20, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
The Macerich Company (MAC, Financial) is an independent real estate investment trust. Oct. 25, the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.5% to $0.58 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 7, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.
Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP, Financial) provides a range of financial products and services in the U.S. and internationally. Oct. 24, the company increased its quarterly dividend 29% to $0.45 per share. The dividend is payable on Nov. 16, 2012 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 5, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.
The Hershey Company (HSY, Financial) engages in manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing various chocolate and confectionery products, pantry items and gum and mint refreshment products worldwide. Oct. 24, the company increased its quarterly dividend 10.5% to $0.42 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 14, 2012, to stockholders of record Nov. 23, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
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 MCY in my High-Yield Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.
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Below are several companies that have recently increased their cash dividends to shareholders:
Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. (SASR, Financial) operates as the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank, which is a state chartered bank that provides commercial banking services to individuals and businesses in central Maryland and northern Virginia. Nov. 1, the company increased its quarterly dividend 16.7% to $0.14 per share. The dividend is payable Nov. 14, 2012 to shareholders of record on Nov. 7, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.3%.
Spectra Energy Corp (SE, Financial) engages in the ownership and operation of a portfolio of natural gas-related energy assets in North America. Oct. 31, the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.9% to $0.305 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 10, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.2%.
Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH, Financial), a healthcare services company, provides pharmaceutical and medical products and services in the U.S. and internationally. Oct. 30, the company increased its quarterly dividend 16% to $0.275 per share. The dividend is payable Jan. 15, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 2, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
Mercury General Corporation (MCY, Financial) engages in writing personal automobile insurance products. Oct. 29, the company increased its quarterly dividend 0.4% to $0.6125 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 27, 2012 to shareholders of record on Dec. 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 6.1%.
Honeywell International Inc. (HON, Financial) operates as a diversified technology and manufacturing company worldwide. Oct. 26, the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.41 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 10, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 20, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
The Macerich Company (MAC, Financial) is an independent real estate investment trust. Oct. 25, the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.5% to $0.58 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 7, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 12, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.
Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP, Financial) provides a range of financial products and services in the U.S. and internationally. Oct. 24, the company increased its quarterly dividend 29% to $0.45 per share. The dividend is payable on Nov. 16, 2012 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 5, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.
The Hershey Company (HSY, Financial) engages in manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing various chocolate and confectionery products, pantry items and gum and mint refreshment products worldwide. Oct. 24, the company increased its quarterly dividend 10.5% to $0.42 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 14, 2012, to stockholders of record Nov. 23, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
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 MCY in my High-Yield Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.
Related Posts
- 7 Dividend Stocks Delivering The Secret To Successful Investing
- There's Gold In Them Thar Dividend Stocks
- Buy And Hold Is Not Buy And Forget
- 9 Dividend Stocks With A Low P/B Ratio
- 10 Dividend Stocks Beating the S&P With Positive Returns
