With the first two weeks of September behind us, we finally saw a strong burst of activity on the dividend increase front, led by two industry giants. Microsoft (MSFT) rewarded patient investors who’ve watched the stock languish a bit over the year with a big double-digit percentage increase, while McDonald’s (MCD) went the other way, disappointing income investors with a small annual increase.
Both were among 17 companies made it onto our Companies Increasing Dividends for the week of September 16. (Note: All dividend yields are as of September 20):
Regulated public utility holding company Artesian Resources (ARNTA) raised its quarterly dividend 1.5% to 20.88 cents per share, payable on Nov. 22 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 8.
ARNTA Dividend Yield: 3.77%
Aerospace and defense company Air Industries (AIRI) raised its quarterly dividend 100% to 12.5 cents per share, payable on Oct. 15 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 30.
AIRI Dividend Yield: 6.35%
Bank holding company First of Long Island (FLIC) raised its quarterly dividend 4% to 26 cents per share, payable on Oct. 11 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 3.
FLIC Dividend Yield: 2.73%
Hotel property real estate investment trust Host Hotels (HST) raised its quarterly dividend 9% to 12 cents per share, payable on Oct. 15 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 30.
HST Dividend Yield: 2.63%
Electric power holding company Idacorp (IDA) raised its quarterly dividend 13.2% to 43 cents per share, payable on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 6.
IDA Dividend Yield: 3.57%
Financial bank holding company International Bancshares (IBOC) raised its dividend 15% to 23 cents per share, payable on Oct. 15 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 30.
IBOC Dividend Yield: 2.11%
Closed-end investment company Kayne Anderson (KYN) increased its quarterly dividend 2.6% to 59.5 cents per share, payable on Oct. 11 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 4, with an ex-dividend date of October 2. This represents the 12th consecutive quarterly dividend increase.
KYN Dividend Yield: 6.6%
Grocery and department-store retailer Kroger (KR) raised its quarterly dividend 10% to 16.5 cents per share, payable on Dec. 1 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 15.
KR Dividend Yield: 1.61%
Global restaurant franchise giant McDonald’s (MCD) raised its quarterly dividend 5% to 81 cents per share, payable on Dec. 16 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 2. This is the 37th consecutive annual dividend increase for MCD.
MCD Dividend Yield: 3.33%
Software giant Microsoft (MSFT) raised its quarterly dividend 22% to 28 cents per share, payable on Dec. 12 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 21, with an ex-dividend date of November 19. This is MSFT’s 4th consecutive annual dividend increase.
MSFT Dividend Yield: 3.42%
Poultry processor Sanderson Farms (SAFM) raised its quarterly dividend 17% to 20 cents per share, payable on Oct. 15 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 1.
SAFM Dividend Yield: 1.18%
Global children’s publishing house Scholastic (SCHL) raised its quarterly dividend 20% to 15 cents per share, payable on Dec. 16 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 31.
SCHL Dividend Yield: 2.02%
Semiconductor manufacturer Texas Instruments (TXN) raised its quarterly dividend 7% to 30 cents per share, payable on Nov. 18 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 31.
TXN Dividend Yield: 2.94%
Bank and financial holding company Washington Trust (WASH) raised its quarterly dividend 4% to 26 cents per share, payable on Oct. 11 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 30.
WASH Dividend Yield: 3.35%
Real estate finance and property real estate investment trust W.P. Carey (WPC) raised its quarterly dividend 2.4% to 86 cents per share, payable on Oct. 15 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 30. This is the 50th consecutive quarterly dividend increase for WPC.
WPC Dividend Yield: 5.23%
Quick-service restaurant company Yum! Brands (YUM), which licenses KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands, raised its quarterly dividend 10% to 37 cents per share, payable on Nov. 1 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 11. The increase is the 9th consecutive annual double-digit percentage rise in YUM’s dividend.
YUM Dividend Yield: 2.05%
Residential mortgage real estate investment trust Zais Financial (ZFC) raised its quarterly dividend 11% to 50 cents per share, payable on Oct. 11 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 30.
ZFC Dividend Yield: 11.08%
Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing he was long MSFT. For more payout winners, see previous weeks’ lists of Companies Increasing Dividends.
