This week, the dividend spotlight primarily was focused on banking stocks, as a large number increased their payouts amid the results of the Fed’s financial stress tests. As we pointed out Thursday, seven banking stocks increased dividends this week.
But banks weren’t the only dividend divas on display this week. A host of other firms also moved to make shareholders happy. In addition to the banking stocks, nine other companies made it onto our Companies Increasing Dividends list this week:
Industrial gases firm Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE:APD) blew up its dividend 10.3% to 64 cents per share. The dividend is payable on May 14 to shareholders of record as of April 2. The new dividend yield, based on the March 15 closing price of $91.62 (the day the dividend was announced), is 2.79%. This marks the 30th consecutive year that Air Products has increased its dividend payment.
Life science industry REIT Biomed Realty Trust (NYSE:BMR) upped its payout 7.5% to 21.5 cents per share. The new dividend is payable April 16 to shareholders of record as of March 30. The new dividend yield, based on the March 15 closing price of $18.74, is 4.59%.
Oil and natural gas producer Canadian Natural Resource (NYSE:CNQ) turned up the heat on its quarterly dividend to 10.5 cents per share (Canadian). The new dividend is payable April 1 to shareholders of record as of March 19. The payout increase represents a 17% boost from the prior quarter. The new dividend yield, based on the March 9 closing price of $35.77, is 1.17%.
Mining firm Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE:CLF) dug deep into its balance sheet and unearthed a 123% increase in its quarterly payout to 62.5 cents per share. The new dividend will be paid on June 1 to shareholders of record as of April 29. The new dividend yield, based on the March 13 closing price of $64.91, is 3.85%.
Global investment management firm Cohen & Steers Inc. (NYSE:CNS) moved to please its investors, raising its payout by 20% to 18 cents per share. The new dividend is payable April 13 to shareholders of record as of March 29. The new dividend yield, based on the March 13 closing price of $31.01, is 2.32%.
See Also: Financials Pump up Payouts After Stress Test
Dental, veterinary and rehabilitation products distributor Patterson Companies (NASDAQ:PDCO) moved to rehabilitate its quarterly payout, increasing its dividend 16.7% to 14 cents per share. The new dividend is payable on April 27 to shareholders of record as April 11. The new dividend yield, based on the March 14 closing price of $32.05, is 1.75%.
Equity REIT RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE:RLJ) booked a 10% increase in its quarterly payout to 16.5 cents per share. The new dividend is payable April 13 to shareholders of record as of March 30. The new dividend yield, based on the March 15 closing price of $17.36, is 3.8%.
Financial products and services holding company State Street (NYSE:STT) let go of some of its capital and returned it to shareholders. The company raised its payout 33% to 24 cents per share. The new dividend is payable April 16 to shareholders of record as of April 2. The new dividend yield, based on the March 14 closing price of $44.88, is 2.14%.
Programmable integrated circuit maker Xilinx (NASDAQ:XLNX) programmed a 15.8% increase in its quarterly payout to 22 cents per share. The new dividend is payable on June 6 to shareholders of record as of May 16. The new dividend yield, based on the March 13 closing price of $36.94, is 2.38%.
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. For more payout winners, see previous weeks’ lists of Companies Increasing Dividends.
