8 Stocks Trying to Be 'Good' by Raising Their Dividends

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Oct 14, 2013
Virtually everything in this world can be placed into a few basic categories. This is especially true for Dividend Stocks when looking at their historic performance and expectations for the future. Consider these three broad categories: The Good: As you might guess, these are the dividend stocks that are doing exactly what they should do – consistently raising their dividends each year in spite of troubled economic times. The Bad: Companies that held their dividends flat. The Ugly: Companies that cut their dividends.

Here are several companies in, or trying to join, the "Good" category that recently rewarded its shareholders with increased cash distributions:

RPM International Inc. (RPM, Financial) manufactures, markets and sells specialty chemical products for industrial and consumer markets in the United States and internationally. Oct. 10, the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 31, 2013, to stockholders of record as of Oct. 21, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.

Hospitality Properties Trust (HPT, Financial), a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in buying, owning, and leasing hotels. Oct. 10, the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.48 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 25, 2013 and distributed on or about Nov. 22, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 6.8%.

Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (QCOR, Financial), a biopharmaceutical company, provides drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, nephrotic syndrome, and infantile spasms indications. Oct. 10, the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.30 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 30, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 22, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.

United Technologies Corporation (UTX, Financial) provides technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. Oct. 9, the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.589 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 10 to shareowners of record at the close of business Nov. 15. The ex-dividend date will be Nov. 13. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Genesis Energy LP (GEL, Financial) operates in the midstream segment of the oil and gas industry in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Oct. 9, the company increased its quarterly distribution 10.6% to $0.5225 per unit. The distribution is payable Nov. 14, 2013, to common unitholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 1, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 4.3%.

Select Income REIT (SIR, Financial) is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, which owns properties that are primarily net leased to single tenants. SIR is headquartered in Newton, Mass. Oct. 9, the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.5% to $0.46 per share. The dividend is payable to holders of record of common shares as of the close of business on Oct. 24, 2013, and will be distributed on or about Nov. 20, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 7.3%.

Gladstone Investment Corporation (GAIN, Financial) is a publicly traded business development company that seeks to make debt and equity investments in small and mid-sized businesses in the United States. Oct. 8, the company increased its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.06 per share. The dividend is payable on Oct. 31, 2013, to stockholders of record on Oct. 22, 2013, with an ex-dividend date of Oct. 18, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 10.6%.

Thoratec Corporation (THOR, Financial) engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of proprietary medical devices used for circulatory support. Oct. 4, the company increased its quarterly dividend 27.8% to $0.23 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 28, 2013, to stockholders of record on Oct. 18, 2013, with an ex-dividend date of Oct. 16, 2013. 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: No position in the aforementioned securities. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

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