Dividend Stocks: 23 New Increases for Yield Seekers Today

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Dividend stocks update: Although there are several ways to build a successful portfolio, the one method that stands the test of time is investing in dividend growth stocks.

A Morgan Stanley study showed that 42% of the stock market's total returns since 1930 are thanks to dividends. In four of the past eight decades, dividends contributed more to equity returns than capital appreciation.

Rather than focusing on yield alone, investors looking for reliable long-term income should focus on a company's ability to increase its dividend.

Indeed, companies that grow dividends have achieved the best results over the last three decades, gaining 10.3% annually compared to 7.6% for payers that don't increase dividends, according to Ned Davis Research.

Stable, growing payouts are a sign that a company has competitive advantages, a strong balance sheet, and solid management confidence that earnings and cash flow will continue to support future disbursements.

Following are the 23 dividend stocks that increased payouts for the week ending April 4.

Dividend-Paying Stocks That Just Boosted Their Payouts

Americana Bancorp (Nasdaq: ASBI) doubled its quarterly dividend to $0.02 a share. Allowing the New Castle, Ind.-based bank to increase its payout 100% was an 18.8% increase in net income in FY2013 and rosy outlook for 2014.

Bank of the Ozarks Inc. (Nasdaq: OZRK) boosted its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.22 a share for a 1.5% yield. Shares of the Little Rock, Ariz.-based bank are up an impressive 21% so far this year.

Calamos Convertible High Income Fund (Nasdaq: CHY) raised its monthly distribution 17.6% to $0.10 a share for a yield of 8.58%.

Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund (Nasdaq: CHW) increased its monthly payout 12.9% to $0.07 a share for a 9.22% yield.

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Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (Nasdaq: CSQ) sweetened its monthly disbursement 17.9% to $0.08 a share for a 8.82% yield.

Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (Nasdaq: CALM) fattened its quarterly dividend 63.7% to $0.59 a share for a 2.4% yield.

China Unicom Ltd. (NYSE ADR: CHU) hiked its annual payout 33% to $0.257 a share for a near 2% yield.

China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (NYSE ADR: LFC) lifted its annual dividend 113% to $0.72 share for a 1.71% yield.

CNOOC Ltd. (NYSE ADR: CEO) hoisted is semi-annual payout 28% to $4.125 a share for a 4.72% yield.

Compania de Minas Buenaventura SA (NYSE: BVN) moved its semi-annual dividend up 10% to $0.011 a share.

CPFL Energia SA (NYSE ADR: CPL) raised its semi-annual payout 53.8% to $0.523 a share for a 5.19% yield.

ING Prime Rate Trust (NYSE: PPR) increased is monthly disbursement 10.5% to $0.31 a share for a 6.5% yield.

Luxottica Group SpA (NYSE ADR: LUX) lifted its annual dividend 18% to $0.89 a share for a 1.57% yield. The maker of Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Dolce & Gabbana frames recently teamed up with Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOGL) to help with designs for Google Glass.

MFS Special Value (NYSE: MFV) moved its monthly payout up 0.6% to $0.058 a share for a 9.36% yield.

Nordic American Tankers Ltd (NYSE: NAT) hiked its quarterly dividend 91.7% to $0.23 a share for a 9.38% yield.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC) increased its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.48 a share for a 2% yield. The Pittsburgh, Pa.-based bank is the latest big bank to boost its payout. Shares are up 13% year to date, handily beating the S&P's 0.9% increase.

Sabine Royalty Trust (NUSE: SBR) sweetened its monthly payout 112.6% to $0.42 a share for a 7.57% yield.

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Select Income REIT (NYSE: SIR) boosted its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.48 a share for a 6% yield.

Tallgrass Energy Partners LP (NYSE: TEP) increased its quarterly payout 3.2% to $0.32 a share for a yield of 3.6%.

Ternium SA (NYSE ADR: TX) raised its annual dividend 1.4% to $0.75 a share for a 2.46% yield.

TJX Cos. Inc. (NYSE: TJX) increased its quarterly payout 20.7% to $0.17 a share for a 1.14% yield. Shares of the parent company to retailers including T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods are down some 3.4% since January, heftier than the broader consumer discretionary sector's 1.7% slump.

Zweig Fund Inc. (NYSE: ZF) upped its quarterly dividend 1.6% to $0.25 a share for a 4.83% yield.

Zweig Total Return Inc. (NYSE: ZTR) raised its monthly disbursement 1.1% to $0.091 a share for a yield of 7.7%.

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