It was a week dominated by headlines out of Europe, where a group of the world’s central banks — led by the U.S. Federal Reserve — announced joint action to provide easier access to dollars. The news caused the major indices in the U.S., as well as major markets around the globe, to soar.
On Wednesday, the Dow spiked 490 points, or more than 4%. Then on Friday, came hopeful news on the employment front. The Labor Department reported that 120,000 jobs were created during the month, slightly lower than the 122,000 the Street was expecting. The good news was the unemployment rate fell to 8.6%, its lowest in two-and-a-half years. With these major developments as the markets’ driving forces this week, it’s easy to forget that some of the biggest names in their respective industries announced bolstered shareholder payouts. Here are nine companies increasing dividends this week:
Real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate (NYSE:ARE) boosted its quarterly payout to shareholders by 4%, raising its dividend to 49 cents per share. The REIT, which operates properties for the life sciences industry, will pay the new dividend on Jan. 17 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 30. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec. 1 closing price of $65.46 (the day the dividend was announced), is 2.99%.
Professional dental products maker Dentsply International (NASDAQ:XRAY) broke out the fiscal drill and filled shareholders’ cavities with a 10% increase in their quarterly payout. The new dividend of 5.5 cents per share will be paid on Jan. 10 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 30. The new dividend yield, based on the Nov. 30 closing price of $36.11, is 0.61%.
Cleaning, food safety and pest-control services firm Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) sanitized its payout to shareholders with a 14% increase in its dividend. The new payout of 20 cents per share will be made on Jan. 17 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 20. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec. 1 closing price of $55.34, is 1.45%. Separately, the company announced that it has completed its $5.6 billion acquisition of water treatment company Nalco Holding.
Mid-American Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA) raised the rent it pays to shareholders by more than 5%. The new quarterly payout of 66 cents per share will be doled out on Jan. 31 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 13. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec. 1 closing price of $56.67, is 4.68%. The dividend represents the 72nd consecutive quarter that MAA has paid a dividend.
Midstream natural gas pipeline firm OGE Energy (NYSE:OGE) pumped out more cash to shareholders, increasing its quarterly payout to 39.25 cents per share from 37.5 cents. The new payout will be delivered on Jan. 30 to shareholders of record Jan. 10. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec. 1 closing price of $53.07, is 2.96%.
Deepwater oil driller
Seadrill Limited (NYSE:SDRL) dug down into its books and unearthed a 1.3% increase in its quarterly dividend. The new payout of 76 cents per share will be made on Dec. 20 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 12. The new dividend yield, based on the Nov. 30 closing price of $34.88, is 8.72%. The company said that it saw a boom in the drilling market that allowed it to meet earnings expectations for fiscal Q1.
Toro (NYSE:TTC) makes professional turf maintenance equipment, and this week it grew the quarterly dividend by 10%. The new payout of 22 cents per share will be made on Jan. 9 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 16. The new dividend yield, based on the Nov. 30 closing price of $56.47, is 1.56%.
Iconic entertainment giant Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) added a little dividend magic to its kingdom, bumping its payout by 50% to 60 cents per share from 40 cents. The new dividend will be paid on Jan. 18 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 16. The new dividend yield, based on the Nov. 30 closing price of $35.85, is 1.67%. The company recently said it bought back $5 billion worth of shares in the year ended Oct. 1.
Wisconsin Energy (NYSE:WEC), which generates electricity to customers in its state namesake as well as in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, turned up the power on its dividend. The company raised its quarterly payout to 30 cents a share. The new dividend is payable March 1 to shareholders of record as for Feb. 14. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec. 1 closing price of $33.49, is 3.58%.
Disclosure: At the time of publication, Jim Woods held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this article.
