Dividend Stocks: 25 New Increases for Yield Seekers

dividend stocksDividend stocks are back in favor on Wall Street.  

They lost some appeal last year when investors' primary focus was on growth. But with greater emphasis now on value, dividend payers are back in fashion.

"We're giving more weight to dividends just because we don't really see the engines of [economic] growth," Scott Armiger, manager of the $5.6 billion Wilmington, Del.-based Christina Trust, told The Wall Street Journal earlier this month. "A substantial dividend puts a floor under the price of a stock."

Indeed, dividend stocks have bested year-to-date gains of the broad market. The iShares Select Dividend ETF (NYSE: DVY), a basket of regular dividend payers, is up 5% so far this year. In comparison, the S&P 500 Index has logged a meager 0.9% year-to-date gain amid a volatile first quarter and shaky start to Q2.

Boding well for income seekers is that annual dividends by S&P 500 companies are projected to grow 9.9% this year to a record $39.98 a share, up from $34.80 a share in 2013, according to data provider FactSet.

In the week ending April 17, 20 companies hiked their dividends, two declared a special dividend, two initiated dividends, and one announced a stock dividend (which distributes shares instead of cash).

Dividend-Paying Stocks That Just Boosted Their Payouts

ARC Group Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: ARCW) announced a 3-for-2 stock dividend for shareholders of record April 24. Pay date is May 1. The leading global provider of 3D printing solutions said the stock dividend is aimed at increasing "liquidity in our stock."

Aptar Group Inc. (NYSE: ATR) boosted its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.28 a share for 1.68% yield.

CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) raised its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.16 a share for a 2.27% yield. The company behind the largest railroad in the eastern United States has been paying dividends every year since 1922.

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Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.24 a share for a 1.7% yield. Fresh off passing the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest stress test, DFS also announced a $3.2 billion share buyback.

Dorchester Minerals LP (Nasdaq: DMLP) increased its quarterly dividend 5.9% to $0.49 a share for a 6.76% yield.

E-House (China) Holdings Ltd. (NYSE ADR: EJ) hiked its annual dividend a nickel to $0.20 a share for a yield just shy of 2%.

First Republic Bank (NYSE: FRC) fattened its quarterly payout $0.02 to $0.14 a share for 1.08% yield.

Global High Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: GHI) grew its monthly distribution 2% to $0.066 a share for a yield of 8.23%.

Independent Bank Michigan (Nasdaq: IBCP) initiated a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share for a 1.8% yield. "The six cent per share quarterly dividend also reflects our desire to initiate a meaningful dividend while still preserving capital for potential future growth," President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) William B. Kessel said in a statement.

Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE: KMI) moved its quarterly dividend higher by a penny to $0.42 a share for a near 5% yield.

LyondellBassell Indus. NV (NYSE: LYB) raised its quarterly disbursement 16.7% to $0.97 a share for a 34% yield.

Northwest Bancorp (Nasdaq: NWBI) announced a special $1 per share dividend for shareholders of record May 1. Pay date is May 15. Shares of the Warren, Pa. bank yield 3.5%. NWBI was recently recognized by Forbes as one of America's 50 Most Trustworthy Financial Companies.

ONE Gas Inc. (NYSE: OGS) initiated a quarterly dividend of $0.28 per share for a 3.12% yield. "This dividend represents an important first step in returning value to our shareholders," Pierce H. Norton II, ONE Gas president and CEO, said in a statement. "It reflects our confidence in ONE Gas and its ability to generate solid earnings for our investors."

Pacific Continental Corp. (Nasdaq: PCBK) declared a special $0.11 per share dividend for shareholders of record April 28. Pay date is May 12. Shares of the Eugene, Ore.-headquartered bank yield 2.83%.

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Peoples Federal Bancshares (Nasdaq: PEOP) padded its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.15 a share for a 1.10% yield.

People's United Financial Inc. (Nasdaq: PBCT) raised its quarterly payout 1.5% to $0.165 a share for a 4.54% yield.

PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE: PPG) boosted its quarterly dividend $0.06 to $0.67 a share for a 1.3% yield. The increase marks 42 straight years of dividend boosts from the Pittsburg, Pa.-company.

Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE: PFK) upped is monthly distribution 2.1% to $0.08 a share for a yield of 3.63%.

Seaspan Corp. (NYSE: SSW) sweetened its quarterly payout 10.4% to $0.32 a share for a 6.22% yield.

Sonoco Products Co. (NYSE: SON) boosted its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.32 a share for a 3.04% yield. The increase marks the 32nd consecutive year of dividend enrichments from the Hartsville, S.C. company.

Strategic Global Inc. Fund Inc. (NYSE: SGL) hiked its monthly payout 0.2% to $0.052 a share for a 6.85% yield.

Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP) raised its quarterly dividend 8.6% to $0.64 per share for a 2.43% yield.

TransMontaigne Partners (NYSE: TLP) upped its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.66 a share for a 5.75% yield.

Two River Bancorp. (Nasdaq: TRCB) increased its quarterly payout 50% to $0.03 a share for a 1.48% yield.

Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR) goosed its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.75 a share for a 2% yield. The 103-year-old company has been paying uninterrupted payouts since 1929.

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