The markets saw a lot of volatility last week, as investor disappointment over a lack of bigger European Central Bank stimulus drove stocks lower midweek.
Stocks surged Friday on a strong November jobs report that all but assures the Federal Reserve will pull the trigger on the first interest rate hike in nearly a decade. The volatile trade and big market reaction to the news was the backdrop for another round of dividend stocks increasing payouts.
Last week the cadre of big dividend stocks moving to increase shareholder payments included an industrial cleaning and sanitizing products maker, an oil and natural gas pipeline operator and a residential homebuilder, among several others.
Here are eight dividend stocks increasing payouts.
Eastman Chemical (EMN) went into its fiscal lab and came out with a 15% bigger payment to shareholders of 46 cents per share from 40 cents. The diversified chemical company will make its new payment available on Jan. 4 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 14. Eastman shares become ex-dividend on Dec. 10.
EMN Dividend Yield: 2.56%
Ecolab (ECL) cleaned up its fiscal lab and came up with a 6.1% increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend to 35 cents per share from 33 cents. The cleaning, sanitizing and food safety products and services firm will wipe down its new payment to shareholders on Jan. 15 to owners of record as Dec. 15. ECL goes ex-dividend on Dec. 11.
ECL Dividend Yield: 1.17%
Enbridge (ENB) pumped a 14% bigger fiscal reward to shareholders to 53 cents per share from 46.5 cents. The crude oil and natural gas pipeline operator will deliver the bigger dividend on March 1 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 16. ENB is ex-dividend as of Feb. 11.
ENB Dividend Yield: 4.85%
Graco (GGG) increased its quarterly payment by 10% to 33 cents per share from 30 cents. The industrial products and fluid handling solutions maker will deliver its new payment on Feb. 3 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 19. Graco shares will become ex-dividend on Jan. 14.
GGG Dividend Yield: 1.81%
Nucor Corporation (NUE) bumped up its quarterly payout by a slight 0.7% to 37.5 cents per share from 37.25. The steel producer will forge its new dividend on Feb. 11 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 31. No ex-dividend date was provided.
NUE Dividend Yield: 3.72%
PulteGroup (PHM) has developed a 12.5% bigger dividend dwelling to 9 cents per share from 8 cents. The homebuilder’s new payout will be ready for occupation on Jan. 5 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 15. The residential construction firm’s shares will become ex-dividend on Dec. 11.
PHM Dividend Yield: 1.87%
SL Green Realty (SLG) boosted the rent it pays to shareholders by 20% to 72 cents per share from 60 cents. The New York City office property REIT will make its new payment available on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 4. Shares of SLG will become ex-dividend on Dec. 30.
SLG Dividend Yield: 2.47%
Wisconsin Energy (WEC) turned up the power on its quarterly payout by 8.2% to 49.5 cents per share from 45.75 cents. The Wisconsin and Michigan Upper Peninsula natural gas power supplier will send its new dividend on March 1 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 12. WEC shares will become ex-dividend on Feb. 10.
WEC Dividend Yield: 4.01%
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
