Stocks enjoyed another strong week to the upside, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average vaulted back above the 18,000 mark in midday Friday trading. Despite justified concern over volatile oil prices, uncertainty over the Greek and EU debt-deal negotiations, and a mixed corporate earnings season, the bulls just keep on buying.
For this week’s bevy of dividend stocks increasing payouts, the timing against this bullish backdrop is once again fortuitous.
Leading the pack higher this week was tech-giant and NASDAQ bellwether Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO).
The network equipment maker has long been a barometer of sorts when it comes to the health of the corporate IT segment. It has also been one of the key dividend stocks increasing payouts that makes tech and income investors feel great about the market.
This week, Cisco boosted the connection on its dividend by 10.5% to 21 cents per share from 19 cents. The better payout will begin on Apr. 22 to shareholders of record as of Apr. 2. The stock becomes ex-dividend on March 31. Cisco’s new dividend yield is 2.86%.
In addition to CSCO, there were eight other dividend stocks increasing payouts this week. Here’s a rundown of each.
Dominion Resources, Inc. (NYSE:D) turned up the dial on its quarterly payout by 7.9% to 64.75 cents per share from 60 cents. The energy generation and transport giant’s new dividend will be sent March 20 to shareholder of record as of Feb. 27. Shares become ex-dividend Feb. 25.
D Dividend Yield: 3.54%
Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) approved a 16% increase in its quarterly dividend to 29 cents per share from 25 cents. The credit and business information provider will pay the new dividend on March 13 to shareholders of record as of March 4. EFX goes ex-dividend on March 2.
EFX Dividend Yield: 1.27%
Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP) poured a bigger glass of dividends for shareholders, increasing the size of its payout by 10.8% to 41 cents per share from 37 cents. The bigger glass of cash will be paid March 16 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 27. TAP investors get cut off (i.e. the stock goes ex-dividend) on Feb. 25.
TAP Dividend Yield: 2.26%
Owens Corning (NYSE:OC) increased the clarity of its dividend, as the manufacturer of specialty glass materials increased its dividend 6.25% to 17 cents per share from 16 cents. The sharper dividend will be paid Apr. 2 to shareholders of record as of March 13. The shares become ex-dividend on March 11.
OC Dividend Yield: 1.77%
Pennsylvania R.E.I.T. (NYSE:PEI) upped the rent it pays to shareholders by 5% to 21 cents per share from 20 cents. The regional real estate investment trust will make the new income payment on March 16 to shareholders of record as of March 2. The stock becomes ex-dividend on Feb. 26.
PEI Dividend Yield: 3.25%
Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX) broadcast a new 10.2% bigger payment to shareholders of 35 cents per share from 31.75 cents. The cable and media giant’s new dividend will begin airing on March 15 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 28. The stock will go ex-dividend on Feb. 25.
TWX Dividend Yield: 1.67%
The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) wired a 24% increase to shareholders of 15.5 cents per share from 12.5 cents. The iconic money transfer firm said it would deliver the new dividend March 31 to shareholders of record as of March 17. WU shares become ex-dividend March 13. WU Dividend Yield: 3.31%
Williams Companies Inc (NYSE:WMB) approved a 1.8% jump in its quarterly payment to 58 cents per share from 57 cents. The natural gas giant said the new dividend will be paid March 30 to shareholders of record as of March 13. Shares will become ex-dividend on March 11.
WNB Dividend Yield: 4.69%
As of this writing, Jim Woods was long CSCO.
