Dividend stocks had a tough slog in the holiday-shortened week, as the major averages sold off on a spike in oil prices and tensions in Libya and the broader Middle East. But while investors were justifiably worried about global developments, regarding stock dividend information there was anything but cause for concern.

In fact, it was another banner week for high yield dividend stock investors, as another bevy of big names busted out bigger bucks to shareholders. As we’ve seen throughout earnings season, the stalwart names raising payouts have come from a variety of sectors. This week, home improvement, clothing, toothpaste and gold firms highlight the cast of dividend stars.

Here are 10 dividend divas increasing payouts last week.

Allstate (NYSE: ALL). The largest publicly traded U.S. home and auto insurer moved to insure shareholders that it was sharing the wealth. The company raised its dividend for the first time since 2008, upping its quarterly payout 5% to 21 cents per share. The new dividend will be paid on Apr. 1 to shareholders of record on March 11. The company last announced a dividend increase in February 2008, when the payout was lifted to 41 cents a share from 38 cents. However, the dividend was cut to 20 cents a year later after three straight quarterly losses.

BlackRock (NYSE: BLK). The investment manager boosted its dividend by 37.5%, raising the quarterly largess to shareholders to $1.375 per share. The dividend is payable March 23 to shareholders of record as of March 7. BlackRock shares surged on the news, as investors clearly have a taste for the way this powerhouse firm manages assets.

CME Group (NASDAQ: CME). The trading exchange operator that allows investors to bet on all kinds of derivatives placed its bet in favor of shareholders last week. The company upped its quarterly dividend by 22%, to $1.40 per share. The new payout will be made on March 25 to shareholders of record as March 10.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL). The consumer products giant, and maker of the popular Colgate brand toothpaste, pasted an increased quarterly payout of 5 cents a share. The new quarterly dividend of 58 cents per share will be paid on May 16 to shareholders of record on Apr. 26.

Gap, Inc. (NYSE: GPS). The popular clothing retailer donned a new dividend that’s 13% higher than its current payout. The new dividend of 11.25 cents per share will be paid on or after Apr. 27 to shareholders of record on Apr. 6. The fresh payout came along with a stronger-than-expected surge in fourth-quarter profit, as well as a fiscal 2011 view that bested Wall Street estimates.

Genuine Parts (NYSE: GPC). The parent company of the Napa Auto Parts chain, and the distributor of automotive and industrial replacement parts, replaced its warn out dividend with 10% more horsepower. The new quarterly dividend of 45 cents a share will be paid on Apr. 1 to shareholders of record March 11. The increased payout marks the company’s 55th consecutive annual dividend increase.

Goldcorp (NYSE: GG). The gold mining giant buffed up a shiny new monthly dividend increase of 11%. The monthly dividend of 3.33 cents per will be payable to shareholders of record as of March 17. Goldcorp is the only gold producer to pay a monthly dividend. According to the company, the payout increase is being driven by increasing cash flows due to growing gold production, and a continued strong metals market.

Home Depot (NYSE: HD). The home improvement retailer renovated its quarterly dividend, raising the payout by 6% to 25 cents per share. The new dividend is payable on March 24 to shareholders of record on March 10. Accompanying the new payout was a 72% surge in fiscal fourth-quarter profit, and a 3.9% increase in comparable-store sales. The stellar results in the fiscal Q4 were accompanied by a confirmation of the company’s positive 2011 outlook.

Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN). The upscale department store operator upped its quarterly dividend by 15%. Nordstrom’s new dividend of 23 cents a share will be paid on March 15 to shareholders of record as of March 4. Since the company’s 2-for-1 stock split in June 2005, its quarterly payout has been raised five times.

Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). The power plant operator powered-up a new cash payout, increasing its quarterly dividend by 23%. The new payout of 48 cents per share will be made Apr. 15 to shareholders of record on March 18. The increase came along with a 14% rise in full-year, 2010 profit.

At the time of publication, Jim Woods held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this article.