After a very quiet period last week that saw a mere three companies raise dividends, Wall Street payout performers came back with a roar.
Eight companies — including a tobacco producer, a retailer and a cruise ship operator — made it onto InvestorPlace‘s Companies Increasing Dividends list this week, and one stock announced a big special dividend. (Note: All yields as of Sept. 13 closing prices unless otherwise noted.)
Energy services holding company New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR) increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to 40 cents per share, payable Oct. 1 to shareholders of record on Sept. 24. NJR’s new yield is 3.45%.
Health care operator Omnicare (NYSE:OCR) doubled its quarterly dividend to 14 cents per share, payable Sept. 28 to stockholders of record on Sept. 24. This is the fourth increase to the company’s quarterly cash dividend since August 2010. Omnicare also announced that its board of directors approved an additional $350 million in share repurchases, which brings the total available authorization for buybacks to $498 million. OCR now yields 1.59%.
Tobacco products maker Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) increased its quarterly dividend 10.4% to 85 cents per share, payable Oct. 11 to stockholders of record as of Sept. 27. The increase is Philip Morris’ fifth since its 2008 spin-off from Altria (NYSE:MO). PM’s new yield is 3.8%.
Fertilizer and industrial feed producer Potash (NYSE:POT) increased its quarterly dividend 50% to 21 cents per share, payable Nov. 5 to shareholders of record on Oct. 15. POT’s new yield is 1.97%.
Closed-end investment management company RMR Real Estate Income Fund (NYSE:RIF) increased its quarterly dividend 16% to 29 cents per share, payable Sept. 28 to holders of record on Sept. 20. RIF now yields 6.4%.
Cruise operator Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) increased its quarterly dividend 20% to 12 cents per share, payable Oct. 9 to shareholders of record on Sept. 25. RCL’s new yield is 1.56%.
Management company Solar Senior Capital LTD (NASDAQ:SUNS) increased its quarterly dividend 17.5% to 11.75 cents per share, payable Oct. 2 to stockholders of record on Sept. 20. Solar Senior’s new yield is 7.64%.
RV and bus manufacturer Thor Industries (NYSE:THO) raised its quarterly dividend 20% to 18 cents per share, payable Oct. 5 to shareholders of record Sept. 24. This is the third increase in Thor’s regular quarterly dividend in three years. THO now yields 2%.
Lastly, teen fashion retailer American Eagle (NYSE:AEO) declared a special dividend of $1.50 per share, payable in addition to its regular 11-cent quarterly dividend. The $1.61 dividend is payable Oct. 10 to stockholders of record on Sept. 26. AEO currently yields 1.86%.
Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. For more payout winners, see previous weeks’ list of Companies Increasing Dividends.
