The deluge of dividend stocks dealing out more dinero to shareholders continued last week, and leading the charge higher was farm equipment maker Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE). The iconic American company, which is famous for its green and yellow tractor products, baled-up a quarterly dividend increase of 17%, or 6 cents, to 41 cents per share from the 35 cents. The dividend is payable Aug. 1 to shareholders of record on June 30. It was the ninth quarterly dividend increase since early 2004.
Another iconic company announcing a dividend increase was H.J. Heinz (NYSE: HNZ). The ketchup maker slowly poured out a thicker quarterly dividend of 6.7% to 48 cents per share. The food maker’s new dividend garnish will be paid on July 10 to stockholders of record on June 24.
Still another familiar company pouring an increased dividend last week was beer and beverage maker Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP). The firm tapped shareholders with a 14% increase in its quarterly dividend to 32 cents per share. The new keg of coins is payable June 15 to shareholders of record on June 6.
Of course, farm equipment, ketchup and beer companies weren’t the only ones spreading the wealth. Here are six more companies offering dividend increases last week.
Bunge Ltd. (NYSE: BG): The global agriculture and food producer cooked up an 8.7% dividend increase in its quarterly payout to 25 cents per share. The new dividend is payable on Sept. 2 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 16.
Dillard’s (NYSE: DDS): The retailer raised its quarterly dividend by 25%, dressing up its payout to 5 cents per share from 4 cents. The new dividend is payable on Aug. 1 to shareholders of record on June 30. The company’s board also announced a share repurchase program authorizing management to repurchase up to $250 million of its class A common stock in the open market and through privately negotiated transactions.
Donaldson Company (NYSE: DCI): The filtration systems and parts maker sifted through its financials and found a 15% increase in its quarterly dividend. The new payout of 15 cents per share will be made on June 24 to shareholders of record as of June 10. The increase represents the 223rd consecutive quarterly cash dividend paid by Donaldson over the past 55 years.
McKesson Corp. (NYSE: MCK): The health-care services and information technology company made a healthy dividend increase of 2 cents per share. The increase to 20 cents per share from 18 cents will be payable on July 1 to stockholders of record on June 10.
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH): The health-care services and insurance firm paid an increased claim to shareholders of 30% to 16.25 cents per share. The new dividend is payable on June 21 to shareholders of record on June 7.
Viacom (NYSE: VIA-B). The entertainment giant, and producers of such TV hits as “Jersey Shore,” buffed-up and tanned its quarterly dividend by 67% to 25 cents per share from 15 cents per share. The new payout will be made July 1 to shareholders of record as of June 15. In addition to the success of “Jersey Shore,” the company said big box office sales from films such as “True Grit” and “The Fighter” helped lift its latest quarterly profits.
At the time of publication, Jim Woods held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this article.
