Many of the market’s biggest dividend stocks trudged higher this week, and that helped push the S&P 500 to new all-time highs on Wednesday, then again Thursday. And while trading volumes were light due to the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, the strength in the market’s raw performance cannot be denied, and in fact, it deserves a little more respect than many have given it.
Amid the new highs this week was another strong pack of dividend stocks moving to boost shareholder value by increasing their respective quarterly payments to owners.
Here are nine dividend stocks increasing payouts this week.
Ace Limited (NYSE:ACE) re-insured its relationship with shareholders by raising its quarterly payout 3.1% to 67 cents per share from 65 cents. The insurance giant’s new payment will be delivered July 21 to shareholders of record as of June 30. Shares go ex-dividend June 26.
ACE Dividend Yield: 2.47%
Bristow Group Inc (NYSE:BRS) operates a fleet of helicopters used in the oil and gas industry, and this week it took its quarterly dividend for a flight to 34 cents per share from 32 cents, or a 6.25% increase. The new dividend is payable on June 18 to shareholders of record as of June 5. The stock goes ex-dividend on June 3.
BRS Dividend Yield: 2.24%
Bunge Ltd (NYSE:BG) is a farm products firm that supplies fertilizer, grains and other seeds to customers around the world. This week it announced it would grow its dividend 11.8% to 38 cents per share from 34 cents. The new dividend is payable on Sept. 2 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 19. BG shares go ex-dividend on Aug. 17.
BG Dividend Yield: 1.67%
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) is another insurance company that decided to boost its dividend this week. The company said it would up its payment to 31 cents per share from 28 cents, or a 10.7% lift. The new dividend is payable on Aug. 14 to shareholders of record as of July 10. No specific ex-dividend date was provided.
MMC Dividend Yield: 2.10%
NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ:NTAP) provides data and storage solutions for IT infrastructure systems. This week, the company strengthened shareholder infrastructure with a 9.1% increased in its dividend to 18 cents per share from 16.5 cents. The new payment will be sent July 23 to shareholders of record as of business on July 10. NTAP goes ex-dividend on July 8.
NTAP Dividend Yield: 2.21%
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) boosted the fiscal rocket fuel on its quarterly payout by 14.3% to 80 cents per share from 70 cents. The more potent payout will be sent June 17 to shareholders of record as of June 1. The defense and aerospace giant’s shares will go ex-dividend on May 28.
NOC Dividend Yield: 1.99%
Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) provides accident and health insurance for customers in the U.S. and the U.K., and this week it announced it would up the premium it pays shareholders by 12.1% to 18.5 cents per share from 16.5 cents. The company said the new dividend would become effective in the third quarter, but did not yet provide official payment dates.
UNM Dividend Yield: 1.80%
Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA, NASDAQ:VIAB) enhanced the fiscal entertainment value it broadcasts to shareholders with a 21.2% increase in its quarterly dividend to 40 cents per share from 33 cents. The new dividend is payable July 1 to shareholders of record as of June 15. The entertainment giant’s shares will go ex-dividend on June 11.
VIA Dividend Yield: 2.38%
Williams Companies Inc (NYSE:WMB) is all about the production and transport of natural gas. This week, the company announced a little bit more fiscal transport to shareholders in the form of a 1.7% increase in the dividend to 59 cents per share from 58 cents. The new payment will be made on June 29 to shareholders of record as of June 12. WMB becomes ex-dividend June 10
WMB Dividend Yield: 4.38%
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
