It was largely a week of healing gains for the equity markets, a most welcome relief after the past two weeks of selling and wild volatility. The upbeat week provided a nice backdrop for the plethora of companies reporting earnings, as well as a host of dividend stocks that chose this week to announce they were increasing their payouts, and their respective dividend yields.
At the top of the list of high-profile dividend stocks increasing payouts is oil-services giant Halliburton (HAL). The company boosted its dividend by 20% to 18 cents per share from 15 cents. The new dividend will be payable on Dec. 26 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 5. HAL becomes ex-dividend on Dec. 3. Halliburton’s dividend yield is 1.31%.
PulteGroup (PHM) is one of the biggest homebuilders in the country, and this week it moved to build shareholder wealth by increasing its dividend 60% to 8 cents per share from 5 cents. Pulte’s new dividend will be sent Jan. 6 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 15. The shares go ex-dividend on Dec. 11. The dividend yield on PHM shares is 1.65%.
Another very high-profile, household-name dividend stocks is credit card issuer Visa (V). This week, the company issued a 20% increase in its quarterly dividend to 48 cents per share from 40 cents. The new payment will be made on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 14. V shares go ex-dividend on Nov. 12. The dividend yield on V is 0.9%.
In addition to these three high-profile dividend stocks, there were 11 other dividend stocks moving to increase payouts and boost their dividend yield. Let’s take a look at each of them now.
Pharmaceutical maker AbbVie (ABBV) declared a 16.7% increase in its dividend stock dosage to 49 cents per share from 42 cents. The new dividend is payable Feb. 13 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 15. ABBV shares go ex-dividend on Jan. 13.
ABBV Dividend Yield: 3.27%
American Electric Power (AEP) boosted the fiscal juice on its quarterly dividend by 6% to 53 cents per share from 50 cents. The enhanced payout will be made on Dec. 10 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 10. The shares become ex-dividend on Nov. 6.
AEP Dividend Yield: 3.76%
Electronics products maker Hubbell Incorporated (HUB.A) increased its fiscal circuitry by 12% to 56 cents per share from 50 cents. The new dividend will be paid Dec. 15 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 28. The shares become ex-dividend on Nov. 25.
HUB-A Dividend Yield: 1.96%
Regional and community shopping center REIT Macerich Company (MAC) increased the rent it pays to shareholders by 4.8% to 65 cents per share from 62 cents. The new payment will be sent out on Dec. 5 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 12. Shares go ex-dividend on Nov. 7.
MAC Dividend Yield: 3.83%
Petrochemical firm NewMarket Corp. (NEU) increased the potency of its fiscal blend by 27% to $1.40 per share from $1.10. The new dividend is payable Jan. 1 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 15. Shares go ex-dividend on Dec. 11.
NEU Dividend Yield: 1.45%
Natural gas and energy services giant ONEOK, Inc. (OKE) increased its fiscal flow 3% to 59 cents per share from 57.5 cents. The new dividend is payable Nov. 14 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 3. OKE shares become ex-dividend on Oct. 30.
OKE Dividend Yield: 3.9%
Specialty chemical giant Parker Hannifin Corp. (PH) lifted its dividend payment 31% to 63 cents per share from 48 cents. The much higher dividend payout will be delivered Dec. 5 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 10. PH shares will become ex-dividend on Nov. 6.
PH Dividend Yield: 2.16%
Hard drive maker Seagate Technology (STX) increased the fiscal storage capacity it sends to shareholders by 26% to 54 cents per share from 43 cents. The larger dividend is scheduled for payment on Nov. 25 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 11. STX goes ex-dividend on Nov. 6.
STX Dividend Yield: 3.76%
Amusement park operator Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (SIX) shared the fiscal mirth with shareholders, boosting its dividend 10.6% to 52 cents per share from 47. The new dividend rollercoaster will begin Dec. 8 for shareholders of record as of Nov. 25. Six Flags goes ex-dividend on Nov. 21.
SIX Dividend Yield: 5.3%
V.F. Corporation (VFC) is the manufacturer of many of America’s favorite clothing brands. This week, it sent out a new fiscal wardrobe to shareholders in the form of a 22% increase in its quarterly dividend to 32 cents per share from 26.25 cents. The new payment will be donned Dec. 19 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 9. The shares become ex-dividend on Dec. 5.
VFC Dividend Yield: 1.92%
Natural gas transport giant Williams Partners L.P. (WPZ) will send out more fiscal fuel to shareholders, as the company upped its payment 1.3% to 92.85 cents per share from 91.65 cents. The new dividend is scheduled for delivery on Nov. 7 to common unitholders of record as of Oct. 31. WPZ becomes ex-dividend Oct. 29.
WPZ Dividend Yield: 7.4%
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
