It's still a great time to look for more value in dividend-paying stocks as interest rates remain low.
More than half of S&P 500 stocks sport a dividend yield above the 10-year Treasury's 1.82%. Further, dividend stocks offer capital appreciation potential. Investors can't get that from Treasuries.
From December 2010 through 2014, the S&P 500 rose 65%. Dividends per share climbed 74% in that same time period, according to Yale University economist Robert Shiller. Thus investors weren't just rewarded with rising stock values; they also benefited via dividend payments.
Last week, 56 companies hiked payouts, including Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) and Markwest Energy (NYSE: MWE). Following are 30 notable dividend boosts for the week ending Jan. 23.
30 Dividend-Paying Stocks That Just Hiked Payouts
Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) raised its quarterly dividend 60% to $0.20 a share for a 1.17% yield. The hike came after record Q4 income of $125 million, or $0.94 per share.
Alexander's Inc. (NYSE: ALX) increased its quarterly payout a quarter to $3.50 a share for a 2.9% yield. Its annual dividend rate per share goes up a dollar to $14.00.
Alliant Energy Corp. (NYSE: LNT) increased its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.55 a share for a 3.13% yield. The energy service provider has been paying dividends for 277 consecutive quarters since 1946.
Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE: BHB) boosted its quarterly dividend 4.3% to $0.245 a share for a 3% yield.
City National Corp. (NYSE: CYN) raised its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.35 a share for a 1.57% yield.
Dorchester Minerals LP (Nasdaq: DMLP) raised its quarterly dividend 8.5% to $0.48 a share for a 7.47% yield.
Dynagas LNG Partners LP (NYSE: DLNG) hiked its quarterly payout 8.3% to $0.422 a share for a 10% yield.
EnLink Midstream Partners (NYSE: ENLK) upped its quarterly payout 1.4% to $0.375 a share for a 5.1% yield.
First American Financial Corp. (NYSE: FAF) fattened its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.25 a share for a 2.9% yield.
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Global Partners LP (NYSE: GLP) goosed its quarterly payout 1.9% to $0.66 a share for a 7.3% yield.
Graham Holdings Co. (NYSE: GHC) grew its quarterly dividend a dime to $2.65 a share for a 1.18% yield.
HCI Group Inc. (NYSE: HCI) boosted its quarterly payout 9% to $0.30 a share for a 2.6% yield. The hike is the sixth since HCI started dividend payments in 2010.
Hoegh LNG Partners LP (NYSE: HMLP) increased its quarterly dividend 84% to $0.33 a share for a 6.45% yield.
Holly Energy Partners LP (NYSE: HEP) juiced its quarterly dividend 1.4% to $0.53 a share for a 6.5% yield. The increase marks the company's 41st consecutive dividend boost.
Kayne Anderson Energy Development Co. (NYSE: KED) raised its quarterly dividend 1% to $0.52 a share for a 6.27% yield. Dividends have grown 14.3% year over year.
Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE: KMI) boosted its quarterly distribution a penny to $0.45 a share for a 4.26% yield. That amounts to $1.80 annually in payouts. A "good year" was cited for the 10% year-over-year dividend increase.
Markwest Energy Partners LP (NYSE: MWE) moved its quarterly dividend up a penny to $0.90 a share for a 5.9% yield.
Mercantile Bank Corp. (Nasdaq: MBWM) raised its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.14 a share for a near 3% yield.
NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG) increased its quarterly dividend 3.6% to $0.145 a share for a 2.32% yield.
Oiltanking Partners LP (NYSE: OILT) upped its quarterly payout 4.6% to $0.285 a share for a 2.5% yield.
ONE Gas Inc. (NYSE: OGS) goosed its quarterly payout $0.02, or 7%, to $0.30 a share for a 2.6% yield. The company expects an average annual dividend increase of 6% to 8% through 2019.
Park Electrochemical Corp. (NYSE: PKE) announced a special $1.50 per share cash dividend. The extra dividend is payable Feb. 24 to shareholders of record Feb. 10. The special dividend, together with PKE's regular $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, brings its total shareholder return via regular and special dividends to $15.90 per share since FY2005.
Phillips 66 Partners LP (NYSE: PSXP) hiked its quarterly payout 7.3% to $0.34 a share for a 1.81% yield.
Realty Income Corp. (NYSE: O) raised its monthly dividend 3% to $0.189 a share for a 4.24% yield. This is the 79th dividend increase since Realty listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994.
Southwest Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: OKSB) sweetened its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.06 a share for a 1.53% yield.
Summit Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: SMLP) raised its quarterly dividend 3.7% to $0.56 a share for a 6.26% yield.
Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP) increased its quarterly payout 5.8% to $0.77 a share for a 3.4% yield.
Tesoro Logistics LP (NYSE: TLLP) raised its quarterly dividend 4% to $0.66 a share for a 4.9% yield.
Union Bankshares Inc. (NYSE: UNB) upped its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.27 a share for a 4.5% yield.
Washington Federal Inc. (Nasdaq: WAFD) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.13 a share for a 2.53% yield. The Feb. 16 distribution will be WAFD's 128th consecutive quarterly cash payout.
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