Last week marked the first really big number of high-profile companies reporting earnings, and overall the market has been pleased with results. In fact, many of the market’s biggest dividend stocks reported results over the period, and many of those dividend stocks — as well as many smaller dividend stocks — moved to increase their payouts to shareholders.
Given the big number of big-name dividend stocks increasing payouts, let’s just dig right in to the data.
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE:AMP) increased its quarterly dividend by 15.5%, from 58 cents to 67 cents per share. The financial services firm will make the payment available on May 15 to shareholders of record as of May 4. The stock will go ex-dividend on April 30.
AMP Dividend Yield: 2.09%.
Avery Dennison Corp (NYSE:AVY) packaged a new payment to shareholders that is 5.7% higher than the prior payment. The labeling and packing materials firm upped its dividend from 35 cents to 37 cents per share. The new payment is slated for delivery on June 17 to owners of record as of June 3. AVY goes ex-dividend on June 1.
AVY Dividend Yield: 2.84%.
Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) raised its quarterly dividend payment by 20% from 25 cents to 30 cents per share. The technology and specialty materials company will make the new dividend available on May 15 to shareholders of record as of May 4. CE shares will become ex-dividend on Apr. 30.
CE Dividend Yield: 1.82%.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is famous for its low-priced, bulk retail operations. The company increased the price it pays to shareholders by 12.7% from 35.5 cents to 40 cents per share. The new dividend is payable May 15 to shareholders of record as of May 1. The stock goes ex-dividend on April 29.
COST Dividend Yield: 1.08%.
E I Du Pont De Nemours And Co (NYSE:DD), or simply DuPont, gave shareholders a fresh coat of fiscal paint, boosting the dividend payment 4.3% from 47 cents to 49 cents per share. The new dividend is payable June 12 to shareholders of record as of May 15. DD stock will become ex-dividend on May 13.
DD Dividend Yield: 2.72%.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) put a Band-Aid on shareholders’ accounts with a 7.1% bigger dividend from 70 cents to 75 cents per share. The larger-sized dividend is payable on June 9 to shareholders of record as of May 26. JNJ shares go ex-dividend May 21.
JNJ Dividend Yield: 2.96%.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) put the pedal to the metal on its quarterly payment, as the investment bank increased its quarterly dividend 50% from 10 cents to 15 cents per share. The new payment will be delivered May 15 to shareholders of record as of April 30. MS stock goes ex-dividend April 28.
MS Dividend Yield: 1.61%.
NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) has seen its benchmark index, the NASDAQ Composite, hit new all-time highs last week. So, the timing couldn’t be better for a 66.7% increase in its quarterly dividend, from 15 cents to 25 cents per share. The new dividend is payable June 26 to shareholders of record as of June 12. The stock becomes ex-dividend on June 10.
NDAQ Dividend Yield: 2.06%.
Nielsen NV (NYSE:NLSN) should get higher ratings from shareholders as the company approved a 12% increase in its dividend from 25 cents to 28 cents per share. The new dividend is payable June 18 to shareholders of record as of June 4. The stock goes ex-dividend June 2.
NLSN Dividend Yield: 2.43%.
Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ:NTRS) is the holding company of financial services firm, the Northern Trust Company. The company gave shareholders a reason to trust its board as it approved a 9.1% bigger dividend from 33 cents to 36 cents per share. The new payment will be made July 1 to shareholders of record as of June 5. NTRS will go ex-dividend on June 3.
NTRS Dividend Yield: 1.96%.
Principal Financial Group Inc (NYES:PFG) is an asset management and financial services firm. The company managed a 5.6% increase in its quarterly dividend from 36 to 38 cents per share. The new dividend will be paid on June 26 to shareholders of record on June 8. PFG goes ex-dividend on June 4.
PFG Dividend Yield: 2.93%.
Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) added another 3% to its dividend, moving its quarterly payment from 64.36 cents to 66.29 cents per share. The consumer products giant will make its new dividend payable on May 15 to shareholders of record as of April 27. The shares went ex-dividend on April 23.
PG Dividend Yield: 3.28%.
Rockwell Collins, Inc. (NYSE:COL) added 10% to shareholder payments, upping its dividend from 30 cents to 33 cents per share. The new dividend is payable June 8 to shareholders of record as of May 19. Shares of the aerospace and defense products maker will become ex-dividend on May 15.
COL Dividend Yield: 1.35%.
Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) increased the rent it pays out to shareholders by 14.3% from $1.40 to $1.60 per share. The REIT’s new payment will be sent May 29 to shareholders of record as of May 15. SPG will go ex-dividend on May 13.
SPG Dividend Yield: 3.15%.
Southern Co (NYSE:SO) powered up a 3.3% increase in its quarterly payout from 52.5 cents to 54.25 cents per share. The utility company will pay the new dividend on June 6 to shareholders of record as of May 18. SO goes ex-dividend on May 14.
SO Dividend Yield: 4.87%.
Travelers Companies Inc (NYSE:TRV) moved to insure shareholders, increasing its dividend by 10.9% from 55 cents to 61 cents per share. The insurance giant’s new payment will be available June 30 to shareholders of record as of June 10. TRV shares will go ex-dividend on June 8.
TRV Dividend Yield: 2.34%.
Western Refining, Inc. (NYSE:WNR) altered the fiscal viscosity it pours to shareholders by 13.3% from 30 cents to 34 cents per share. The oil and gas refining firm will pay the new dividend on May 20 to shareholders of record as of May 5. The stock becomes ex-dividend on May 1.
WNR Dividend Yield: 2.94%.
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) increased the fiscal spin cycle on its dividend by 20% from 75 cents to 90 cents per share. The higher payment will be ready on June 15 to shareholders of record as of May 15. WHR shares will become ex-dividend on May 13.
WHR Dividend Yield: 1.80%.
As of this writing, Jim Woods was long MS.
