Last week’s market action was dominated by the Federal Reserve, as the FOMC issued its first interest rate hike in more than nine years. Initial reaction to the widely anticipated rate hike was bullish for stocks.
Then on Thursday and Friday a precipitous slide in oil prices, as well as quadruple witching on Friday, teamed up to send markets firmly into the red.
The seminal Fed decision and the volatility in markets last week was the backdrop to a bevy of big-name dividends stocks increasing payouts.
Among the leading companies moving to make shareholders happy last week were a mega-cap biotechnology giant, a mammoth defense and aerospace contractor, the biggest drug retailer in the world and a Big Pharma behemoth.
Here are 12 dividend stocks increasing payouts.
AES Corporation (AES) turned up the power on its dividend by 10% to 11 cents per share from 10 cents. The diversified utility giant will make its new payment available on Feb. 16 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 2. AES shares will become ex-dividend on Jan. 29.
AES Dividend Yield: 4.76%
Amgen (AMGN) boosted the fiscal dose it delivers to shareholders each quarter by 26.6% to a dollar per share vs. 79 cents. The biotech behemoth’s new dividend will be paid on March 8 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 16. AMGN will go ex-dividend on Feb. 11.
AMGN Dividend Yield: 2.52%
Balchem Corp. (BCPC) dug into its fiscal recipe books and came out with a 13.3% more flavorful dividend to 34 cents per share from 30 cents. The specialty performance ingredient-maker for the food and feed industry will pump up its new dividend on Jan. 21 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 28. Shares will go ex-dividend on Dec. 23.
BCPC Dividend Yield: 0.56%
Boeing (BA) lifted its dividend altitude by 19.8% to $1.09 per share from 91 cents. The defense contractor and aircraft maker’s new quarterly dividend will take flight on March 4 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 12. BA becomes ex-dividend on Feb. 10.
BA Dividend Yield: 3.12%
Choice Hotels International (CHH) booked a 5.1% increase in its quarterly dividend to 20.5 cents per share from 19.5 cents. The hotel chain’s new dividend will have a vacancy on Jan. 18 to shareholders who book their room by Jan. 4. CHH shares go ex-dividend Dec. 30.
CHH Dividend Yield: 1.62%
CVS Health (CVS) filled its dividend prescription with 21.4% more fiscal potency. The drug retailer upped its dividend to 42.5 cents per share from 35 cents. The new payment will be sent on Feb. 2 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 22. CVS shares will become ex-dividend on Jan. 20.
CVS Dividend Yield: 1.79%
Franklin Resources (BEN) managed its assets so as to up its quarterly dividend 20% to 18 cents per share from 15 cents. The investment asset management firm’s new payout will begin Jan. 13 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 29. BEN shares go ex-dividend on Dec. 24.
BEN Dividend Yield: 2.06%
Moody’s Corporation (MCO) upped its dividend rating with shareholders by 8.8% to 37 cents per share from 34 cents. The credit rating agency’s new dividend will be payable on March 10 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 19. Moody’s becomes ex-dividend on Feb. 17.
MCO Dividend Yield: 1.52%
Pfizer (PFE) added a 7.1% more potent dose to its dividend to 30 cents per share from 28 cents. The Big Pharma stalwart will make its new dividend available on March 2 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 5. PFE stock will enter ex-dividend status on Feb. 3.
PFE Dividend Yield: 3.75%
PNM Resources (PNM) moved to make shareholders 10% happier with a dividend increase to 22 cents per share from 20 cents. The new electric utility producer will increase the dividend juice on Feb. 12 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 25. No specific ex-dividend date was provided.
PNM Dividend Yield: 2.98%
Roper Technologies (ROP) lassoed its balance sheet and came up with a 20% increase in its dividend to 30 cents per share from 25 cents. The industrial equipment and control components-maker will send its new dividend out on Jan. 22 to owners of record as of Jan. 8. ROP becomes ex-dividend on Jan. 6.
ROP Dividend Yield: 0.65%
Zoetis (ZTS) inoculated shareholders with a 14.5% increase in its quarterly dividend to 9.5 cents per share from 8.3 cents. The animal vaccination and medication-maker will inject its new payout on March 1 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 21. Zoetis shares become ex-dividend on Jan. 19.
ZTS Dividend Yield: 0.82%
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
