With the fiscal cliff looming large and big-time tax implications coming closer, a horde of companies have either announced special one-time dividends sped up their fourth-quarter payments into calendar year 2012. To date, more than 200 companies have either accelerated dividends or announced special dividends.
This week, 15 firms joined our list of Companies Increasing Dividends, with eight announcing expedited payouts. (Note: All new yields are as of Dec. 7 midday prices.)
Global pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers (NYSE:BMY) raised its quarterly dividend 3% to 25 cents per share, payable Feb. 1, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 4.
BMY Dividend Yield: 4.32%
West Coast office and multifamily real estate investment trust Douglas Emmett (NYSE:DEI) raised its quarterly dividend 20% to 18 cents per share, payable Jan. 15, 2013, to shareholders of record on Dec. 31, 2012.
DEI Dividend Yield: 2.59%
Global chemical producer Eastman Chemical (NYSE:EMN) raised its quarterly dividend 15% to 30 cents per share, payable Dec. 30 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17.
EMN Dividend Yield: 1.68%
Hospitality and food services product developer Ecolab (NYSE:ECL), a Dependable Dividend Stock, raised its quarterly dividend 15% to 23 cents per share, payable Dec. 28 to shareholders of record on Dec. 18. This represents the company’s 21st consecutive annual dividend increase.
ECL Dividend Yield: 1.1%
Crude oil and liquid petroleum distributor Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) raised its quarterly dividend 12% to 31.5 cents per share, payable March 1, 2013, to shareholders of record on Feb. 15.
ENB Dividend Yield: 2.67%
Power electronics design and original equipment manufacturing company Espey Manufacturing & Electronics (AMEX:ESP) raised its quarterly dividend 11% to 25 cents per share, payable Dec. 20 to all shareholders of record on Dec. 13.
ESP Dividend Yield: 3.66%
Financial holding company First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) raised its semi-annual dividend 1.1% to 48 cents per share, payable on Jan. 2, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business Dec. 14, 2012.
THFF Dividend Yield: 3.26%
Fluid handling solutions firm Graco (NYSE:GGG) raised its quarterly dividend 11.1% to 25 cents per share, payable Feb. 6, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 22.
GGG Dividend Yield: 1.76%
Oil and gas well driller Helmerich & Payne (NYSE:HP) raised its quarterly dividend 115% to 15 cents per share, payable March 1, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 15.
HP Dividend Yield: 1.09%
Welding, cutting and brazing products manufacturer Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO) raised its quarterly dividend 17.6% to 20 cents per share, payable Dec. 28 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17.
LECO Dividend Yield: 1.68%
Analog integrated circuits manufacturer Linear Technology (NASDAQ:LLTC) raised its quarterly dividend 4% to 26 cents per share, payable Dec. 28 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17. This marks the 21st consecutive year the company has increased its dividend.
LTTC Dividend Yield: 2.98%
Mid America Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA), a Sunbelt-area REIT, raised its quarterly dividend 5.3% to 69.5 cents per share, payable Jan. 31, 2013, to shareholders of record on Jan. 15.
MAA Dividend Yield: 4.41%
Fiber optic and copper data cable provider Optical Cable (NASDAQ:OCC) raised its quarterly dividend 33% to 2 cents per share, payable on or about Dec. 21 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17.
OCC Dividend Yield: 1.42%
Healthcare REIT Universal Health Realty Income (NYSE:UHT) raised its quarterly dividend 8.7% to 62 cents per share, payable Dec. 31 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 17.
UHT Dividend Yield: 5.05%
Coatings and paint maker Valspar (NYSE:VAL) raised its quarterly dividend 15% to 23 cents per share, payable Dec. 28 to shareholders of record on Dec. 17. Valspar has boosted its dividend for 35 consecutive years.
VAL Dividend Yield: 1.5%
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’ lists of Companies Increasing Dividends.
