Dividend investing news, Nov. 10, 2014: The S&P 500 Index is on pace to break more dividend records this year...
S&P 500 companies' cumulative dividend payout hit a record in Q3, at more than $10 per share, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. Q3 also marked the first quarter in which total payouts surpassed $90 billion.
And Q4 is likely to beat last quarter's milestone. Over the last two weeks alone, 128 companies increased payouts. Nineteen announced special dividends.
Sixty-four dividend stocks hiked payouts last week, including Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX), Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON), and Whole Foods Market Inc. (Nasdaq: WFM). Seven declared special dividends.
Following are 35 notable dividend improvements for the week ending Nov. 7.
Dividend Investing: 35 New Payout Hikes
Agrium Inc. (NYSE: AGU) upped its quarterly payout $0.03 to $0.78 a share for a 3.17% yield.
Alon USA Energy Inc. (NYSE: ALJ) announced a special $0.21 per share dividend payable Dec. 18 to shareholders of record Dec. 2.
AmerisourceBergen Corp. (NYSE: ABC) raised its quarterly dividend 23.4% to $0.29 a share for a 1.34% yield.
Atmos Energy Corp. (NYSE: ATO) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.39 a share for a 2.9% yield.
Barrett Business Services Inc. (Nasdaq: BBSI) boosted its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.22 a share for a 3.5% yield.
Cedar Fair LP (NYSE: FUN) increased its quarterly dividend a nickel to $0.75 a share for a 6.3% yield. The hike came as FUN, one of the world's largest regional amusement-resort operators, reported its fifth consecutive year of record results.
Cohen & Steers Inc. (NYSE: CNS) declared a special $1 per share dividend payable Dec. 19 to shareholders of record Nov. 28.
Colony Financial Inc. (NYSE: CLNY) raised its quarterly payout 2.8% to $0.37 a share for a 6% yield.
DeVry Education Group Inc. (NYSE: DV) increased its semi-annual payout a penny to $0.18 a share for a 0.7% yield.
Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE: EMR) hiked its quarterly payout $0.04 to $0.47 a share for a near 3% yield.
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Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) raised its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.24 a share for a 1.32% yield. The cosmetic giant announced Friday it's buying the Frédéric Malle collection, established in Paris in 2000, offering 21 fragrances sold in stores in Paris, London, and New York.
Getty Realty Corp. (NYSE: GTY) goosed its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.22 a share for a 4.72% yield.
Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) hiked its quarterly dividend 15% to $0.51 a share for a 2.14% yield. The boost marks the tenth time since 2005 HON has increased its payout.
HSN Inc. (Nasdaq: HSNI) boosted its quarterly payout a dime, or 40%, to $0.35 a share for a 2% yield.
Innospec Inc. (Nasdaq: IOSP) increased its semiannual payout 3.7% to $0.28 a share for a 1.3% yield.
KAR Auction Services Inc. (NYSE: KAR) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.27 a share for a 3.27% yield.
L.B. Foster Co. (Nasdaq: FSTR) raised its quarterly dividend a penny, or 33%, to $0.04 a share for a 0.30% yield.
Maiden Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: MHLD) increased its quarter dividend $0.02 to $0.13 a share for a 4.16% yield.
Mercury General Corp. (NYSE: MCY) goosed its quarterly dividend 0.4% to $0.617 a share for a 4.5% yield.
NRG Yield Inc. (NYSE: NYLD) fattened its quarterly payout 2.7% to $0.37 a share for a 3.09% yield.
Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC (NYSE: OZM) juiced its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.20 a share for a 15.25% yield.
Oshkosh Corp. (NYSE: OSK) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.17 a share for a 1.5% yield.
Powell Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: POWL) raised its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.26 a share for a 2.28% yield.
Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) raised its quarterly dividend $0.07 to $0.65 a share for a 2.32% yield. In the last five fiscal years, ROK has returned $2.8 billion, or 82% of free cash flow, to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Sabra Health Care REIT Inc. (Nasdaq: SBRA) sweetened its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.39 a share for a 5.52% yield.
SemGroup Corp. (NYSE: SEMG) goosed its quarterly payout $0.03 to $0.30 a share for a 1.38% yield.
Skyworks Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: SWKS) raised its quarterly payout 18% to $0.13 a share for a 0.73% yield.
Spectra Energy Partners LP (NYSE: SEP) hiked its quarterly dividend 10.4% to $0.37 a share for a 4.1% yield.
Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX) juiced its quarterly dividend $0.06, or 23%, to $0.32 a share for a 1.65% yield. The java giant initiated dividends in 2010 and has been growing them annually ever since.
TELUS Corp. (NYSE: TU) boosted its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.35 a share for a 3.9% yield.
Universal Corp. (NYSE: UVV) upped its quarterly payout a penny to $0.52 a share for a 4.85% yield. The increase marks the tobacco supplier's 44th consecutive annual dividend enrichment.
Wendy's Co. (Nasdaq: WEN) raised its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.055 a share for a 2.65% yield.
Western Refining Inc. (NYSE: WNR) announced a special $2 per share dividend payable Dec. 1 to shareholders of record Nov. 18.
Whole Foods Market Inc. (Nasdaq: WFM) grew its quarterly dividend 8.3%, or a penny, to $0.13 a share for a 1.11% yield. The hike came after the specialty grocer reported fiscal Q4 earnings per share of $0.35, $0.03 better than expectations.
Zweig Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE: ZTR) lifted its monthly payout 1.1% to $0.09 a share for a 7.78% yield.
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