Top investors know the importance of closely following the dividend news of the companies they follow. Dividend news announcements can indicate an upcoming change in the current yield of stocks that you own or are just watching. Positive dividend news typically leads to a positive reaction by the market, since dividend increases indicate that a company is optimistic about their future prospects.
Goldman Sachs announced today that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 31 percent to $.46 per share. This marks the first Goldman Sachs dividend increase since December 2005.
The discount retailer has been a terrific holding for investors this year. Already the stock has announced a 2:1 split and increased their dividend by 21 percent.
Apple announced today that the world’s largest company will initiate a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share beginning this summer.
Since last year’s 21 percent dividend increase, WMT shares have gained 14 percent and have outpaced the 6 percent gain in the Dow Jones index.
St. Jude Medical announced today that the company will offer their shareholders a 10 percent dividend increase to $.23 per share each quarter.
Mosaic announced today that the company will boost their dividend payout by 150 percent to $.50 per share.
France Telecom SA announced today that the company will cut its dividend forecast for 2012 and 2013 due to an uncertain macro-economic environment and competitive pressures.
Time Warner announced this morning that the media company will raise their quarterly dividend by 11 percent to $.26 per share and initiated a new $4 billion stock repurchase plan.
Rayonier announced today that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 11 percent and will give investors a three-for-two stock split.
Altera announced yesterday that the company will boost their quarterly dividend by 33 percent to $.08 per share.
Gannett announced today that they will double their dividend as profits at the newspaper company plunged 22 percent.
Walgreens today announced their biggest dividend increase ever and also authorized a $2 billion stock buyback program.
Cummins announced today that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 52 percent to $.40 per share.
PACCAR announced today that the company will give their investors a 50 percent quarterly dividend increase to $.18 per share.
Dividend investors received good news today as Standard & Poors released a report showing that dividend payments improved again in the second quarter.
This latest dividend increase from General Mills will push the current yield on their stock to 3.3 percent.
Medtronic announced today that the company will raise their quarterly dividend by 8 percent to $.2425 per share.
Duke Energy announced today that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 2 percent to $.25 per share.
Best Buy announced today that the company had authorized a $5 billion stock repurchase program and will increase their quarterly dividend by 7 percent to $.16 per share.
This year’s dividend hike is less than half the 25 percent dividend increase from PetSmart in 2010. However, the retailer did announce a new $450 million stock buyback program.
A new CEO is not going to change the short-term challenges facing the company. Being a successful executive at Apple is no guarantee of success at J.C. Penney’s.
Vail Resorts announced today that the company will initiate a quarterly dividend program of $.15 per share.
Caterpillar has now paid a regular dividend every quarterly since 1933 and has given their shareholders a dividend increase for 18 consecutive years.
Target announced a 20% dividend increase this quarter to $.30 per share.
Following the penny per share increase, FedEx stock will offer investors a current dividend yield of 0.6% based on today’s closing price.
This mega stock repurchase program represents about 8% of Walmart’s current market cap of $188.8 billion.
Rockwell Automation announced today that the company will give their shareholders a 21% dividend increase to $.425 per share.
The dividend increase comes as Heinz reported strong fourth quarter earnings results and raised their guidance for fiscal 2012 and 2013.
Today’s announcement marks the 9th dividend increase in the past 7 years for Deere investors.
This marks the 2nd time in the past 12 months that AmerisourceBergen has increased their dividend.
Citigroup announced today that the company will officially reinstate their quarterly dividend at $.01 per share in June.
Cypress Semiconductor announced today that the company will initiate a quarterly dividend of $.09 per share beginning in July.
Intel Corporation announced today that the company is raising their quarterly dividend again this year.
This marks the fourth dividend increase in the past 12 months from Yamana Gold.
This marks the 112th consecutive year that the Union Pacific has been paying dividends to their shareholders.
This marks the 39th consecutive year that Pepsi has raised their dividend.
This is the first dividend increase since Harley-Davidson reduced their dividend by 70% in early 2009.
This marks the 49th consecutive year that the dividend aristocrat has raised their quarterly dividend.
This marks the 24th consecutive year that Chevron has raised their quarterly dividend.
Costco announced yesterday that the company will give their shareholders a dividend increase and will initiate a $4 billion stock repurchase program.
Humana announced today that the company will initiate a quarterly dividend program in July.
General Electric announced this week that the company is increasing their quarterly dividend by 7% to $.15 per share.
The Travelers Companies announced today that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 14% to $.41 per share.
Amgen announced today that the company will pay their first dividend ever in the second quarter of 2011.
Hudson City Bancorp announced today that the company will cut their quarterly dividend by 47% to $.08 per share.
This marks the 10th straight year that the utility stock has given their shareholders a dividend increase.
United Technologies announced today that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 13% to $.48 per share.
This marks the 55th consecutive year that Procter & Gamble has increased their dividend.
Ingersoll-Rand announced this week that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 71% to $.12 per share.
This announcement of a 250% dividend increase by PNC is a step in the right direction towards restoring their dividend that once paid out $.66 per share every quarter.
Seagate Technology announced this week that the company will reinstate their quarterly dividend at $.18 per share.
Newmont Mining announced at their annual Investors Day conference that the company will be changing their dividend policy in order to link future payments directly to gold prices.
In the first quarter of 2011, 117 stocks in the S&P 500 index either initiated a dividend or increased their dividend. That’s up 50% from last year.
International Paper announced today that the company was giving another dividend increase to their shareholders.
Investors learned today of a small Oracle dividend increase of 20% to $.06 per share.
Bank of America announced today that investors should expect no dividend increase from Bank of America this year.
BNY Mellon announced today that the company will give their investors a 44% dividend increase to $.13 per share.
Citigroup announced today that the company is offering a 1-for-10 reverse stock split and resuming their quarterly dividend at $.01 per share.
BB&T announced on Friday that the bank stock is increasing their quarterly dividend by 7% to $.16 per share.
The dividend increase is the result of a special dividend $.07 per share that Wells Fargo will pay in the first quarter.
The dividend increase has been a long time in coming, but will lift the current dividend yield on JPM stock to 2.2%.
Cisco Systems announced yesterday that the company will initiate a quarterly dividend payment of $.06 per share beginning in April.
Air Products & Chemicals announced today that the company is raising their quarterly dividend by 18% to $.58 per share. This marks the 29th straight year that Air Products has given their shareholders a dividend increase.
Patterson Companies announced today that the company will raise their quarterly dividend by 20% to $.12 per share and increase their stock repurchase program.
Williams-Sonoma announced today that the company is increasing their quarterly dividend by 13% to $.17 per share.
The big dividend increase from HP was completely unexpected since the tech company had not raised their dividend since 1998.
Xilinx announced ahead of their annual analyst day meeting that the company had increased their quarterly dividend by 19%.
Lennox International announced yesterday that the company is increasing their quarterly dividend by 20% to $.18 per share.
Steel Dynamics announced today that the company is increasing their quarterly dividend by 33% and raising their first quarter earnings forecast.
Qualcomm announced yesterday that the company is increasing their quarterly dividend by 13%.
Investors will take the small dividend increase from Staples, but it won’t offset the company’s falling stock price
Tyco International announced today that the company is raising their quarterly dividend by 20% to $.25 per share.
The Bank of Nova Scotia is the 3rd largest bank in Canada and is only the second Canadian bank stock to increase their dividend since the recession.
Piedmont Natural Gas announced a quarterly dividend increase of 4% to $.29 per share.
Wal-Mart Stores announced yesterday that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 21% to $.365 per share. Walmart’s dividend yield has taken on greater importance in recent years as their stock price has lagged the broader market indices.
Fred’s announced today that the company will increase their quarterly dividend by 25% to $.05 per share.
Pep Boys has been trying to find a buyer, but unfortunately nobody wants to buy Pep Boys.
St. Jude Medical announced today that the medical device company will start paying a dividend in April of $.21 per share.
Kohl’s announced yesterday that the company will initiate a quarterly dividend program for the first time ever at $.25 per share.
Health insurance stocks are starting to feel more confident about their cash flows and are finally paying reasonable dividends to their shareholders.
Home Depot announced today that the company is increasing their quarterly dividend by 6% to $.25 per share.
Barnes & Noble announced today that the company is suspending their quarterly dividend.
The dividend increase just adds to Coca Cola’s legacy as a dividend aristocrat and reflects the company’s confidence in their long-term cash flows.
Shares in Family Dollar Stores spiked over 21% today on news that Trian Capital wants to take the discount retailer private.
Comcast announced today that the company is raising their quarterly dividend by 19% and accelerating their stock repurchases for 2011.
The dividend increase is nothing new for Sherwin-Williams, the dividend aristocrat has now raised their dividend for 32 consecutive years.
This marks the 44th consecutive year that the dividend aristocrat has increased their dividend payout.
Omnicom Group announced today that the company is raising their quarterly dividend by 25% to $.25 per share.
ConocoPhillips announced today that the company will offer investors a 20% dividend rate increase this quarter to $.66 per share.
Rio Tinto announced today that the company will pay a final dividend of $.63 per share which effectively doubles their dividend payment from last year.
The move to double their dividend will increase the current dividend yield on Polo Ralph Lauren stock to 0.7%.
Wyndham Worldwide announced today that the company is raising their quarterly dividend by 25% to $.15 per share.
Today’s dividend announcement marks the 53rd consecutive year that 3M has increased their dividend payment.
This marks the seventh consecutive year that L-3 Communications has increased their dividend.
Owens & Minor announced today that the company is increasing their quarterly dividend by 13% to $.20 per share.
This is the first quarterly dividend from CNA Financial since the insurer paid out $.15 per share in August 2008.
Hasbro announced that the company is increasing their quarterly dividend by 20% to $.30 per share.
This announcement marks the 17th consecutive year that Ross Stores has increased their dividend.
Aetna announced on Friday that the company is significantly increasing their dividend and moving from a nominal annual dividend to a quarterly payment cycle.