This week was alive with dividend increases, with investors seeing payout bumps from a software leader, a top chip manufacturer and two fast-food giants, among others.

In all, 15 companies made it to the InvestorPlace Companies Increasing Dividends list this week. (Note: All new yields as of Sept. 20 closing prices unless otherwise noted.)

Specialty chemical manufacturer American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) increased its semi-annual dividend 50% to 7 cents per share, payable Oct. 12 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 28. The dividend marks 18 consecutive years of payouts for the company. AVD’s new yield is 0.4%.

Commercial real estate investment trust CapLease (NYSE:LSE) raised its quarterly dividend by 8% to 7 cents per share, payable Oct. 15 to stockholders of record as of Sept. 28. LSE now yields a hefty 5.24%.

Commercial food producer and Real America Index component ConAgra (NYSE:CAG) increased its quarterly dividend 4% to 25 cents per share, payable Dec. 4 to stockholders of record as of Oct. 31. CAG’s new yield is 3.64%.

Global health care products manufacturer Covidien (NYSE:COV) increased its quarterly dividend 16% to 26 cents per share, payable Nov. 5 to shareholders of record on Oct. 11. COV’s new yield has grown to 1.51%.

Restaurant chain Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ:CBRL) increased its quarterly dividend 25% to 50 cents per share, payable Nov. 5 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 19. CBRL also approved a new share repurchase program for up to $100 million of the company’s outstanding common stock. Cracker Barrel now yields 3%.

Global sweetener and ingredients manufacturer Ingredion (NYSE:INGR) increased its quarterly dividend 30% to 26 cents per share, payable Oct. 25 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 3. This marks Ingredion’s third dividend increase in the past 18 months, resulting in a current 1.86% yield for INGR shares.

Financial services company Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) increased its quarterly dividend 25% to 10 cents per share, payable Oct. 18 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 28. FITB now yields 2.55%.

Financial services company The First of Long Island Corp. (NASDAQ:FLIC) increased its quarterly dividend 8.7% to to 25 cents per share, payable Oct. 12 to shareholders of record on Oct. 3. FLIC’s new yield is 3.21%.

Climate control solutions manufacturer Lennox (NYSE:LII) warmed the hearts of its investors by increasing its quarterly dividend 11% to 20 cents per share, payable Oct. 15 to stockholders of record as of Oct. 4. LII now yields 1.44%.

The Golden Arches of McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) had investors glowing after the company hiked its quarterly dividend 10% to 77 cents per share, payable Dec. 17 to shareholders as of Dec. 3. McDonald’s has raised its dividend each and every year since paying its first dividend in 1976, making it a Dependable Dividend Stock. MCD currently yields 3%.

Software giant Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is going to let a little bit more money out of its $64 billion war chest as it increased its quarterly dividend 15% to 23 cents per share, payable Dec. 13 to shareholders of record on Nov. 15. The increase is the company’s eighth since Microsoft started paying regular dividends in 2004. Microsoft also currently is in third place in InvestorPlace‘s Ten Best Stocks of 2012 contest. MSFT now yields 2.94%.

Semiconductor maker Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN) increased its quarterly dividend 24% to 21 cents per share, payable Nov. 19 to stockholders of record on Oct. 31. This is TXN’s ninth consecutive year of dividend increases. It currently yields 2.33%.

Real estate and finance company Newcastle Investment (NYSE:NCT) increased its quarterly dividend 10% to 22 cents per share, payable Oct. 31 to shareholders of record on Oct. 1. NCT now yields an impressive 10.95%.

Bank holding and financial company Washington Trust (NASDAQ:WASH) increased its quarterly dividend 4% to 24 cents per share, payable Oct. 12 to shareholders of record on Oct. 1. The increase is the second of the year for WASH, boosting its yield to 3.61%.

Global fast-food titan Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM) — parent of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut — increased its quarterly dividend 18% to 33.5 cents per share, payable Nov. 2 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 12. YUM now yields 1.95%.

Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he was long MSFT. For more payout winners, see our previous weeks’ lists of Companies Increasing Dividends.