This week’s batch of dividend stocks increasing payouts was led by two companies, one engaged in actual war, and the other that makes its living selling a lot of war games. These two peripherally related companies are General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) and GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME).
The first is one of the largest aerospace defense contractors in the world, and the other sells a lot of video games that simulate war. Both actual war and simulated war are big business, and that business has allowed both General Dynamics and GameStop to increase dividends this week.
In the case of General Dynamics, the company boosted the altitude of quarterly dividend by 11.3%, from 62 cents to 69 cents per share. The increased payment is scheduled for takeoff on May 8 to shareholders of record on April 10. The shares become ex-dividend on April 8. General Dynamics now has a dividend yield of 2.05%.
As for GameStop, the video game retailer turned up the score on its dividend payment by 9.1%, from 33 cents to 36 cents per share. The new dividend is payable March 24 to shareholders of record as of March 17. GME shares will become ex-dividend on March 13. GameStop now has a dividend yield of 3.59%.
In addition to GD and GME, there were eight other dividend stocks increasing payouts this week, plus two additional companies that announced higher payouts last week.
Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE:BBY) added a lot of value to shareholders, as the big box electronics retailer increased its quarterly dividend 21.1%, from 19 cents to 23 cents per share. The new payment will be made on April 14 to shareholders of record as of March 24. The shares become ex-dividend March 20. In addition to the regular dividend increase, Best Buy also announced a special, one-time dividend of 51 cents per share to be paid at the same time as the regular dividend.
BBY Dividend Yield: 2.31%
Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BIG) moved to make shareholders’ wallets a little bigger, as the deep discount retailer marked up its dividend 11.8%, from 17 cents to 19 cents per share. The new payment will go into effect on April 3 to shareholders of record as of March 20. The stock will become ex-dividend on March 18.
BIG Dividend Yield: 1.38%
FMC Corp (NYSE:FMC) makes specialty industrial and agricultural chemicals, and this week it added some fiscal growth pellets to shareholders via a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend, from 15 cents to 16.5 cents per share. The enhanced payment will be made April 16 to shareholders of record as of March 31. FMC shares will be ex-dividend on March 27.
FMC Dividend Yield: 1.08%
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HRC) prescribed a 4.9% boost in its quarterly dividend, from 15.25 cents to 16 cents per share. The medical supplies and technologies firm will make the new payment available March 31 to shareholders of record as of March 17. HRC stock will be ex-dividend on March 13.
HRC Dividend Yield: 1.33%
Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. (NYSE:PNY) turned up the heat on its quarterly payment by 3.1%, from 32 cents to 33 cents per share. The natural gas utility firm said the new payment would be available April 15 to shareholders of record as of March 25. Shares go ex-dividend on March 23.
PNY Dividend Yield: 3.75%
Symetra Financial Corporation (NYSE:SYA) boosted the cash it pays shareholders by 10%, from 10 cents to 11 cents per share. The life insurance and retirement services firm will make the new dividend available March 31 to shareholders of record as of March 19. SYA stock will become ex-dividend on March 17.
SYA Dividend Yield: 1.92%
Tyco International (NYSE:TYC) sent shareholders a 13.9% present, from 18 cents to 20.5 cents per share. The security system and alarm maker will deliver the higher payment on May 20 to shareholders of record as of April 24. The stock will become ex-dividend on April 22.
TYC Dividend Yield: 1.95%
World Fuel Services Corp (NYSE:INT) boosted the fiscal octane powering shareholders by a whopping 60%, from 3.75 cents to 6 cents per share. The marine and aviation fuel maker will deliver the bigger payment on April 10 to shareholders of record on March 20. INT stock will become ex-dividend on March 18.
INT Dividend Yield: 0.44%.
Last week, there were two additional big name dividend stocks worth noting that increased their respective payouts. The first was Mead Johnson Nutrition Co (NYSE:MJN), which upped its payment by 10%, from 37.5 cents to 41.25 cents per share. The dividend is payable April 1 to shareholders of record as March 16. MJN goes ex-dividend on March 12.
MJN Dividend Yield: 1.63%
Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) added to its quarterly dividend by 17.5%, from 20 cents to 23.5 cents per share. The discount fashion retailer announced that the new dividend is payable on March 31 to shareholders of record as of March 9. Ross stock will become ex-dividend on March 5.
ROST Dividend Yield: 0.90%
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
