Dividend-Paying Stocks: The Newest Payout Increases and Special Dividends

Dividend-paying stocks update: Presently, 421 companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index pay a cash dividend - the most since September 1998's tally of 423.

Barring any unexpected cuts, S&P 500 dividend stocks are on track to post a 10.5% increase in annual cash dividends paid in 2014, according to Howard Silverblatt, S&P Dow Jones Indices senior index analyst. That follows last year's 12% advance.

"Since I look at dividends as a paycheck," Silverblatt wrote in S&P Capital IQ's June 2 Outlook report, "how many of you can claim a back-to-back double-digit annual increase in your pay?"

Silverblatt estimates that S&P 500 members will pony up $38.7 billion in dividends this year, more than double the $16.3 billion shelled out in 2001.

Last week, 19 companies sweetened their payouts, two declared stock dividends, and four reported special dividends. Following are the 25 dividend enrichments announced in the week ending June 13.

Dividend Stocks That Just Boosted Payouts

dividend-paying stocksAAON Inc. (Nasdaq: AAON) announced a 3-for-2 stock dividend payable July 16 to shareholders of record June 27.

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) declared a 2-for-1 stock dividend payable July 9 to shareholders of record June 23.

Baytex Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTE) boosted its monthly payout 9.1% to $0.21 a share for a near 6% yield.

Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) raised its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.19 a share for a 2.65% yield. It was the electronic retailer's first increase in two years. Chief Executive Officer Hubert Joy said the boost is "indicative of our improved cash position and our confidence in the cash generating power of our multi-channel business model."

Casey General Stores Inc. (Nasdaq: CASY) increased its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.20 a share for a 1.1% yield. The convenience store company said it has evaluated a master limited partnership structure.

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Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) hiked its quarterly dividend a dime to $0.70 a share for a 2.62% yield. The world's No. 1 manufacturer of construction and mining equipment has been paying dividends every year since its inception in 1925 and has more than tripled them since 1998.

Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corp. (NYSE: CHMI) upped its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.51 a share for a 10.56% yield.

Cohen & Steers REIT/Preferred Income Fund (NYSE: RNP) raised its quarterly payout $0.03 to $0.33 a share for a 7.39% yield.

C.R. Bard Inc. (NYSE: BCR) increased its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.22 a share for a yield approaching 1%. Last week, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee unanimously recommended the use of C.R. Bard's Lutonix drug-coated balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty catheter to treat patients with femoral and popliteal arterial blockages.

Culp Inc. (NYSE: CFI) announced a $0.40 per share special dividend payable on July 15 to shareholders of record July 1.

Delek US Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DK) declared a special $0.10 a share dividend payable July 17 to shareholders of record June 26.

DWS High Income Opportunity Fund (NYSE: DHG) boosted its monthly payout 2.4% to $0.087 a share for a yield of 7.08%. Find additional monthly dividend payers here.

Embraer SA (NYSE ADR: ERJ) announced a $0.09 per share special dividend payable on July 24 to shareholders of record June 26.

ENSCO Plc. (NYSE: ESV) raised its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $0.375 a share for a 5.6% yield.

Essex Property Trust Inc. (NYSE: ESS) upped its quarterly payout $0.09 to $1.30 a share for a yield just shy of 3%.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) fattened its quarterly dividend a nickel to $0.20 a share for a 0.57% yield. Payouts were initiated in 2002 and have risen annually except for the financially troubled year of 2009.

InterDigital Inc. (Nasdaq: IDCC) increased its quarterly dividend a dime to $0.20 a share for a 1.78% yield.

Manhattan Bridge Capital Inc. (NYSE: LOAN) moved its quarterly payout up a nickel to $0.07 a share for a near 10% yield.

National Fuel Gas Co. (NYSE: NFG) raised its quarterly dividend 2.7% to $0.385 a share for a 2.06% yield.

Oil Drill Corp. of America (NYSE: ODC) juiced its quarterly payout a penny to $0.20 a share for a 2.62% yield.

STRATS Dominion Resources Securities Series 05-06 (NYSE: GJP) sweetened its monthly payment 3.3% to $0.063 a share for a 3.61% yield.

Tandy Leather Factory Inc. (NYSE: TLF) announced a special $0.25 per share dividend payable on Aug. 1 to shareholders of record June 25.

Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) goosed its quarterly payout $0.09 to $0.52 a share for a 3.63% yield. The 112-year-old Minneapolis-based retailer has paid uninterrupted dividends since its initial public offering in 1967 and has been raising them for some 35 consecutive years.

Tri-Continental Corp. (NYSE: TY) raised its quarterly dividend 7.2% to $0.18 a share for a 3.58% yield.

Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE: UHT) upped its quarterly payout 0.8% to $0.63 a share for a 5.8% yield.

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