15 Companies Increasing Dividends

by Marc Bastow | December 7, 2012 2:28 pm

[1]With the fiscal cliff looming large and big-time tax implications coming closer, a horde of companies have either announced special one-time dividends sped up their fourth-quarter payments into calendar year 2012. To date, more than 200 companies[2] have either accelerated dividends or announced special dividends.

This week, 15 firms joined our list of Companies Increasing Dividends[3], with eight announcing expedited payouts. (Note: All new yields are as of Dec. 7 midday prices.)

Global pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers (NYSE:BMY[4]) raised its quarterly dividend 3% to 25 cents per share, payable Feb. 1, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 4.
BMY Dividend Yield: 4.32%

West Coast office and multifamily real estate investment trust Douglas Emmett (NYSE:DEI[5]) raised its quarterly dividend 20% to 18 cents per share, payable Jan. 15, 2013, to shareholders of record on Dec. 31, 2012.
DEI Dividend Yield: 2.59%

Global chemical producer Eastman Chemical (NYSE:EMN[6]) raised its quarterly dividend 15% to 30 cents per share, payable Dec. 30 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17.
EMN Dividend Yield: 1.68%

Hospitality and food services product developer Ecolab (NYSE:ECL[7]), a Dependable Dividend Stock[8], raised its quarterly dividend 15% to 23 cents per share, payable Dec. 28 to shareholders of record on Dec. 18. This represents the company’s 21st consecutive annual dividend increase.
ECL Dividend Yield: 1.1%

Crude oil and liquid petroleum distributor Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB[9]) raised its quarterly dividend 12% to 31.5 cents per share, payable March 1, 2013, to shareholders of record on Feb. 15.
ENB Dividend Yield: 2.67%

Power electronics design and original equipment manufacturing company Espey Manufacturing & Electronics (AMEX:ESP[10]) raised its quarterly dividend 11% to 25 cents per share, payable Dec. 20 to all shareholders of record on Dec. 13.
ESP Dividend Yield: 3.66%

Financial holding company First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF[11]) raised its semi-annual dividend 1.1% to 48 cents per share, payable on Jan. 2, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business Dec. 14, 2012.
THFF Dividend Yield: 3.26%

Fluid handling solutions firm Graco (NYSE:GGG[12]) raised its quarterly dividend 11.1% to 25 cents per share, payable Feb. 6, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 22.
GGG Dividend Yield: 1.76%

Oil and gas well driller Helmerich & Payne (NYSE:HP[13]) raised its quarterly dividend 115% to 15 cents per share, payable March 1, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 15.
HP Dividend Yield: 1.09%

Welding, cutting and brazing products manufacturer Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO[14]) raised its quarterly dividend 17.6% to 20 cents per share, payable Dec. 28 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17.
LECO Dividend Yield: 1.68%

Analog integrated circuits manufacturer Linear Technology (NASDAQ:LLTC[15]) raised its quarterly dividend 4% to 26 cents per share, payable Dec. 28 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17. This marks the 21st consecutive year the company has increased its dividend.
LTTC Dividend Yield: 2.98%

Mid America Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA[16]), a Sunbelt-area REIT, raised its quarterly dividend 5.3% to 69.5 cents per share, payable Jan. 31, 2013, to shareholders of record on Jan. 15.
MAA Dividend Yield: 4.41%

Fiber optic and copper data cable provider Optical Cable (NASDAQ:OCC[17]) raised its quarterly dividend 33% to 2 cents per share, payable on or about Dec. 21 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17.
OCC Dividend Yield: 1.42%

Healthcare REIT Universal Health Realty Income (NYSE:UHT[18]) raised its quarterly dividend 8.7% to 62 cents per share, payable Dec. 31 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 17.
UHT Dividend Yield: 5.05%

Coatings and paint maker Valspar (NYSE:VAL[19]) raised its quarterly dividend 15% to 23 cents per share, payable Dec. 28 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17. Valspar has boosted its dividend for 35 consecutive years.
VAL Dividend Yield: 1.5%

Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. For more payout winners, see previous weeks’ lists of Companies Increasing Dividends[3].

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/12/15-companies-increasing-dividends-dec-3-7-bmy-ecl-val/

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