The biggest dividend stocks began the trading week in the red, but Wednesday brought buyers back in with vigor. However, midway through Friday trade some heavy selling caused much of the mid-week gains to evaporate.
All eyes will be on the Federal Reserve next week, as traders are looking for a clear sign of Fed rate lift-off as soon as September.
While the world awaits the first rate hike in nearly seven years, the march of dividend stocks increasing payouts plods on. This week, the triple point men on the dividend stocks patrol were big construction, big shipping and big discount retail.
Here are seven dividend stocks increasing payouts.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) increased the rent it pays shareholders by 4% to 77 cents per share from 74 cents. The office REIT’s new dividend is payable July 15 to shareholders of record as of June 30. ARE goes ex-dividend on June 26.
ARE Dividend Yield: 3.4%
Caterpillar (CAT) used the heavy fiscal machinery to unearth a 10% bigger dividend to 77 cents per share from 70 cents. The new payment will be sent Aug. 20 to shareholders of record as of July 20. No precise ex-dividend date was available.
CAT Dividend Yield: 3.2%
Casey’s General Stores (CASY) boosted its price tag paid to shareholders by 10% to 22 cents per share from 20 cents. The convenience store operator will make the new dividend payment Aug. 17 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 3. CASY goes ex-dividend on July 30.
CASY Dividend Yield: 0.9%
FedEx (FDX) delivered a 25% bigger dividend package, upping its payment a nickel a share to 25 cents from 20 cents. The new dividend will arrive in shareholder accounts on July 2 to owners of record as of June 18. FDX goes ex-dividend on June 16.
FDX Dividend Yield: 0.55%
National Fuel Gas Co (NFG) added 2.6% more energy to its dividend pipeline, raising its payout by a penny to 39.5 cents per share from 38.5 cents. The natural gas utility’s new dividend is payable July 15 to shareholder of record as of June 30. No ex-dividend date was provided.
NFG Dividend Yield: 2.5%
Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) processed a 10.7% bigger dividend to 31 cents per share from 28 cents. The IT services firm’s new payout will be sent July 30 to shareholders of record as of July 15. SAIC become ex-dividend on July 13.
SAIC Dividend Yield: 2.4%
Target Corporation (TGT) put a higher price on the dividend shelves, elevating its payment to owners by 7.7% to 56 cents per share from 52 cents. The new dividend is payable Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 19. The discount retailer’s shares will go ex-dividend on Aug. 17.
TGT Dividend Yield: 2.6%
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
