8 Big-Name Stocks Raising Dividends and Expectations

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Feb 24, 2014

Have you ever pondered the concept of forever or infinity? It is truly mind boggling! What is even more astonishing is that when I buy a stock, my target holding period is forever. For most people, myself included, that is hard to grasp and to carry out. When things start going bad, our primal instinct of flight kicks in and we want to sell. In many cases, that is the time we should be buying. Holding a stock through an economic downturn is much easier when it pays a rising dividend.

Below are several companies giving their shareholders a reason not to sell by increasing their cash dividends:

Feb. 20, the company increased its quarterly dividend xxx per share. The dividend is payable.

The yield based on the new payout is xxx%.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO, Financial), a beverage company, engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company primarily offers sparkling beverages and still beverages. Feb. 20, the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.9% to $0.305 per share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT, Financial) operates retail stores in various formats worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. Feb. 20, the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.1% to $0.48 per share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 11, 20143. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.

AbbVie Inc. (ABBV, Financial), a research-based biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of pharmaceutical products worldwide. Feb. 20, the company increased its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.42 per share. The dividend is payable May 15, 2014 to stockholders of record on April 15, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.

The Allstate Corporation (ALL, Financial) engages in the provision of personal property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and retirement and investment products. Feb. 19, the company increased its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.28 per share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 3, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL, Financial) engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the United States. Feb. 19, the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $0.30 per share. The dividend is payable April 20, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 20, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.

T. Rowe Price Group Inc. (TROW, Financial) is a publicly owned asset management holding company. The firm primarily provides its services to individual and institutional investors, retirement plans, and financial intermediaries. Feb. 19, the company increased its quarterly dividend 15.8% to $0.44 per share. The dividend is payable March 28, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Genuine Parts Company (GPC, Financial) distributes automotive replacement parts, industrial replacement parts, office products, and electrical/electronic materials. February 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7% to $0.575 per share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 7, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.

NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE, Financial) engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy in the United States and Canada. Feb. 14, the company increased its quarterly dividend 9.8% to $0.725 per share. The dividend is payable March 17, 2014 to stockholders of record on Feb. 28, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.1%.

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 KO, WMT, ABBV, GPC in my Dividend Growth Portfolio. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

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