Entertainment juggernaut and Dow component Walt Disney (DIS) made a shift in its dividend payment policy, opting to begin paying its dividend semi-annually. Last week the company said it would send shareholders two semi-annual payments of 66 cents per share. The Magic Kingdom’s new dividend adds to an annual payout of $1.32 per share, a 14.8% rise over the $1.15 annual dividend Disney paid last year. The new, semi-annual dividend is payable July 29 to shareholders of record as of July 6. Disney shares go ex-dividend on July 1. Based on the new dividend, DIS has a dividend yield of 1.15%. In addition to Disney’s dividend increase, last week brought us six other high-profile dividend stocks increasing payouts.