The markets have been like the Wild West of late. Two weeks ago, stocks plunged precipitously on Federal Reserve rate-hike angst and global-growth concerns. Last week, stocks managed to fight back, with many of the markets biggest dividend stocks pushing the major indices higher.
This week, all eyes are on the Fed’s interest rate decision, and the markets should remain relatively calm until Thursday’s Federal Open Market Committee announcement.
This calm makes the present the ideal time to look at big dividend stocks, especially firms that continue to deliver by increasing payouts.
Industries leading the relatively small pack of dividend stocks increasing payouts over the past two weeks, are telecom, travel and real estate investment trusts.
Here are six dividend stocks increasing payouts.
EastGroup Properties (EGP) increased the rent it pays shareholders by 5.3% to 60 cents per share from 57 cents. The industrial REIT will make its new payout available Sept. 30 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 18. EGP shares will become ex-dividend Sept. 16.
EGP Dividend Yield: 4.53%
General Growth Properties (GGP) is a REIT that operates shopping centers, and it recently took some of the rents it collects and redistributed a bit more to shareholders. GGP boosted its dividend 5.9% to 18 cents per share from 17 cents. The higher payment will be made on Oct. 30 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 15. GGP shares will become ex-dividend on Oct. 13.
GGP Dividend Yield: 2.56%
Realty Income Corporation (O) nudged its quarterly payout by about 0.3% to 19.05 cents per share from 19 cents. The long-term lease commercial REIT will begin paying its new dollar amount to shareholders on Oct. 15 to owners of record as of Oct. 1. O shares will become ex-dividend on Sept. 29.
O Dividend Yield: 5.04%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) sent a 25% bigger fiscal boat to shareholders with an increase to 37.5 cents per share from 30 cents. The enhanced dividend will arrive in shareholder’s ports on Oct. 6 to passengers of record as of Sept. 18. RCL goes ex-dividend on Sept. 16.
RCL Dividend Yield: 1.60%
Verizon Communications (VZ) dialed up a 2.7% better dividend to 56.5 cents per share from 55 cents. The telecom giant’s new payout will be sent on Nov. 2 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 9. VZ will become ex-dividend on Oct. 7.
VZ Dividend Yield: 4.95%
Williams Cos. (WMB) turned up the heat on its quarterly payout by 8.5% to 64 cents per share from 59 cents. The natural gas production and pipeline firm will deliver its new payment on Sept. 30 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 24. WMB shares will become ex-dividend on Sept. 22.
WMB Dividend Yield: 5.61%
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
