More and more companies today seek to attract investors by offering dividend payouts - and yield-hungry investors love their dividend stocks.
The Wall Street Journal noted on Nov. 18 that 51 of the top 100 Nasdaq stocks currently pay dividends. That's in stark contrast to December 1999, when a mere nine of the top 100 Nasdaq companies paid dividends.
Last quarter, according to FactSet, companies announced a combined 2.5% increase in dividend payouts, totaling almost $75.5 billion. And with companies sitting on a record pile of cash, more dividend increases are on the horizon.
Companies that continually raise their dividend payouts offer great value to investors. Here's a list of 25 dividend stocks that increased their payouts in the past couple weeks.
25 Dividend-Paying Stocks That Just Hiked Payouts
Bancroft Fund Ltd. (NYSE: BCV) boosted its dividend 66.7% to $0.20 a share, up from $0.12. Shares yield 4.34%.
Chemical Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: CHFC) raised its dividend 4.5% to $0.23 a share, up from $0.22. The stock yields 2.96%.
EMC Insurance Group Inc. (Nasdaq: EMCI) increased its quarterly dividend to $0.23 a share, up from $0.21. Shares yield 3.06%.
Endura Royalty Trust (NYSE: NDRO) enhanced its monthly dividend 0.7% to $0.153 per share. The stock carries an 11.46% yield.
FutureFuel Corp (NYSE: FF) gassed its quarterly dividend 9.1% to $0.12 a share, up from $0.11. The stock yields 2.63%.
Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. (NYS: GAB) juiced its quarterly dividend 42.9% to $0.20 a share, up from $0.14. Shares yield 11.20%.
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Gabelli Global Multimedia Trust Inc. (NYSE: GGT) raised its quarterly dividend to $0.32 a share, up from $0.20. The 60% increase gives shares a 12.02% yield.
Gabelli Dividend & Income Fund (NYSE: GDV) increased its monthly dividend 11% to $0.10 a share, up from $0.09. The stock carries a 5% yield.
H&Q Healthcare Investors (NYSE: HQH) hiked its quarterly dividend 19% to $0.50 a share, up from $0.42. The new yield is a healthy 7.62%.
H&Q Life Sciences Investors (NYSE: HQL) hoisted its quarterly dividend 17.6% to $0.40 a share, up from $0.34. Shares yield 8.13%.
International Game Tech (NYSE: IGT) increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.11 a share, up from $0.10. The stock yields 2.59%.
Laclede Group Inc. (NYSE: LG) lifted its quarterly dividend to $0.44 a share, up from $0.42. The 3.5% increase gives shares a 3.75% yield.
Lancaster Colony Corp. (Nasdaq: LANC) raised its dividend 10% to $0.44 a share, up from $0.40. The stock has a yield of 2.05%.
Marine Petroleum Trust (NYSE: MARPS) moved its quarterly dividend to $0.37 a share, up from $0.35. The 7.7% increase gives shares a 9% yield.
Mesa Royalty Trust (NYSE: MTR) raised its monthly dividend 3.9% to $0.156 a share for an 8.7% yield.
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National Bankshares Inc. (NYSE: NKSH) sweetened its quarterly dividend 7.4% to $0.58 a share, up from $0.54. The stock carries a yield of 3.11%.
Neenah Paper Inc. (NYSE: NP) pushed its dividend up to $0.24 a share, from $0.20, a 20% increase. Shares yield 2.4%. It was the Alpharetta, Ga.-based company's third payout increase this year, double its disbursement amount at the end of 2012.
Pinnacle Foods Inc. (NYSE: PF) puffed up its quarterly dividend 16.7% to $0.21 a share, from $0.18. The stock carries a yield just under 3%.
Salem Comm. Corp. (Nasdaq: SALM) raised its quarterly dividend 4.8% to $0.55 a share, for a 2.5% yield.
San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: SJT) upped its monthly payout 13.3% to $0.109 a share. The stock yields 4.44%.
Southwest Georgia Financial Corp. (NYSE: SGB) doubled its quarterly dividend to $0.08 a share. The bank boasts a 3.22% yield.
SY Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: SYBT) boosted its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.21 a share, up from $0.20. Shares yield 2.69%.
Teche Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TSH) raised its quarterly dividend 1.3% to $0.38 a share for a 3% yield.
Williams Co. Inc. (NYSE: WMB) lifted its dividend 3.8% to $0.38 a share for a 4.31% yield.
Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE: GDO) goosed its monthly payment 0.9% to $0.116 per share. The stock yields 7.85%.
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