The highlight of the week for the equity markets last week came Friday, as the S&P 500, on the backs of many high-profile dividend stocks, jumped to a new all-time high.
Although the S&P hasn’t been a huge performer year to date (up about 3.2%), the move Friday was good enough to notch the new high.
Among the bevy of high-profile dividend stocks increasing payouts this week were representatives from big financial, big consumer products, big retail and big airlines.
Here are 10 dividend stocks increasing payouts for last week.
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) approved an 11.5% increase in its quarterly payment to shareholders to 29 cents per share from 26 cents. The financial giant and credit issuer’s new dividend is payable on Aug. 10 to shareholders of record as of July 2. AXP goes ex-dividend on June 30.
AXP Dividend Yield: 1.45%
Ashland Inc (NYSE:ASH) moved its dividend higher by 14.7% to 39 cents per share from 34 cents. The diversified chemical company will make its new dividend mixture available June 15 to shareholders of record as of May 29. The shares become ex-dividend on May 27.
ASH Dividend Yield: 1.23%
Clorox Co (NYSE:CLX) increased the potency of its quarterly payment, boosting its dividend 4.1% to 77 cents per share form 74 cents. The cleaning products maker said the dividend will be payable Aug. 7 to shareholders of record as of July 22. The stock goes ex-dividend July 20.
CLX Dividend Yield: 2.82%
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) said it would lift the altitude on its quarterly dividend by a full 50% to 13.5 cents per share from 9 cents. The loftier dividend will be paid to investors from the third quarter of 2015, although no official payment dates or ex-dividend dates have been released.
DAL Dividend Yield: 1.15%
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS) dug into its own fiscal books and uncovered a 12.8% increase in its quarterly dividend to 44 cents per share from 39 cents. The new dividend will be paid on June 16 to shareholders of record as of May 29. The shares go ex-dividend on May 27.
FDS Dividend Yield: 1.07%
HollyFrontier Corp (NYSE:HFC) refined its quarterly payment higher by a penny, or 3.1%, to 33 cents per share from 32 cents. The petroleum refiner’s new dividend will be paid on June 26, to shareholders of record as of June 5. HFC goes ex-dividend on June 3.
HFC Dividend Yield: 3.06%
Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M) bumped the payment it makes to shareholders by 15.2% to 36 cents per share from the current 31.25 cents per share. The new dividend is payable July 1 to shareholders of record as of June 15. The department store giant’s shares will become ex-dividend on June 11.
M Dividend Yield: 2.16%
Mosaic Co (NYSE:MOS) sweetened the smell of its dividend by 10% to 27.5 cents per share from 25 cents. The fertilizer and potash maker’s new payment will be available on June 18 to shareholders of record as of June 4. MOS shares go ex-dividend on June 2.
MOS Dividend Yield: 2.36%
New Residential Investment Corp (NYSE:NRZ) is a REIT that focuses on managing residential property. This week, it said it would return more of the rent it pays to shareholders, boosting its payment 18.4% to 45 cents per share from 38 cents. The increased dividend is payable on July 24 to shareholders of record as of May 26. The stock is ex-dividend on May 21.
NRZ Dividend Yield: 10.35%
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp (NYSE:WAB) accelerated its dividend, propelling its payment to shareholders higher by 33.3% to 8 cents per share from 6 cents. The bigger payment will be made Aug. 31 to shareholders of record Aug. 17. WAB becomes ex-dividend on Aug. 13.
WAB Dividend Yield: 0.32%
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
