Stocks That Pay Dividends on Pace to Break Payout Record Before 2015

stocks that pay dividendsStocks that pay dividends continue to reward investors with new payout hikes and special dividends in the final weeks before 2015. As a result, this year is on pace to be a record-breaking one for payouts.

Of particular note last week were a couple of enriched dividend payouts from Franklin Resources Inc. (NYSE: BEN).

The global investment management company boosted its quarterly payout 25% to $0.15 per share for a 1.03% yield. The company also declared a special $0.50-per-share dividend payable Jan. 9 to stockholders of record Dec. 31. BEN has been growing its dividend without interruption for the last 32 years.

Last week, 52 companies hiked payouts and eight announced special dividends. Following are 24 notable dividend stocks that sweetened the deal for investors during the week ending Dec. 5.

Stocks That Pay Dividends: 24 New Increases

Allegiant Travel Co. (Nasdaq: ALGT) announced a special $2.50-per-share dividend payable Jan. 6 to shareholders of record Dec. 19. The company said the roughly $44 million payout demonstrates its "commitment to returning cash to shareholders."

American Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: AFG) declared a special $1-per-share dividend payable Dec. 24 to shareholders of record Dec. 15.

The Power of Dividend Stocks

  • Stability. Research shows that dividend-paying stocks have outperformed non-dividend payers in four of the last five decades. And during periods when the Fed's monetary policy is neutral or easing, the gain for dividend-paying stocks is 12.3% vs. 6.2% in neutral environments and 10.0% vs. -2.5% in easing periods.
  • Performance. Dividend-paying stocks outperform non-dividend paying stocks by even more in down markets than they do in up markets. That's because dividend payers attract investors when the share price falls and the dividend yield rises.
  • Growth. Investors can substantially expand their asset base when they consistently reinvest dividends. In fact, 85% to 90% of total stock market returns come from dividends and the reinvestment of those dividends.

American Tower Corp. (NYSE: AMT) raised its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.38 a share for a 1.51% yield.

Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO) boosted its quarterly dividend 2.5% to $0.71 a share for a 4% yield.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRW) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.38 a share for a 2% yield.

Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW) raised its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.12 a share for a 2.25% yield.

Culp Inc. (NYSE: CFI) hiked its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.06 a share for a 1.14% yield.

DuPont Fabros Technology Inc. (NYSE: DFT) upped its quarterly payout $0.07 to $0.42 a share for a 5% yield.

If you aren't a Money Morning Member, sign up now for free to see 17 more stocks that pay dividends that just raised payouts. You'll also get this dividend investing report with three superior picks to help grow your income: The Best Dividend Strategy for Building Fortune in a Low-Yield Era

Hillenbrand Inc. (NYSE: HI) raised its quarterly payout 1.3% to $0.20 a share for a 2.43% yield.

IDT Corp. (NYSE: IDT) increased its quarterly payout a penny to $0.18 a share for a 4% yield.

Insperity Inc. (NYSE: NSP) announced a special $2-per-share dividend payable Dec. 26 to shareholders of record Dec. 15.

Kimco Realty Corp.  (NYSE: KIM) hiked its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.24 a share for a 3.8% yield.

Landstar System Inc. (Nasdaq: LSTR) declared a special $1-per-share dividend payable Jan. 26 to shareholders of record Jan. 12.

Mid-American Apartment Communities Inc. (NYSE: MAA) raised its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.77 a share for a 4.28% yield.

MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA) moved its quarterly dividend up 45% to $0.16 a share for a 0.72% yield. The credit card giant also approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $3.75 billion of its common stock.

Nucor Corp. (NYSE: NUE) nudged its dividend up 0.7% to $0.375 a share for a 2.74% yield. The Feb. 11 payout will mark Nucor's 167th consecutive quarterly dividend.

ProAssurance Corp. (NYSE: PRA) increased its quarterly payout a penny to $0.31 a share for a 2.62% yield. The insurance firm also announced a special $2.65-per-share dividend payable Jan. 9 to shareholders of record Dec. 30.

Saga Communications Inc. (NYSEMKT: SGA) declared a special $1.20-per-share dividend payable Dec. 29 to shareholders of record Dec. 15.

SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) sweetened its quarterly dividend a dime to $0.60 a share for a 2% yield.

Stryker Corp. (NYSE: SYK) hiked its quarterly payout 13.1% to $0.345 a share for a 1.46% yield. The company cited a strong balance sheet and cash flow for another double-digit increase to its dividend rate.

Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE: SNV) fattened its quarterly payout $0.03 to $0.10 a share for a 1.51% yield.

Toro Co. (NYSE: TTC) boosted its quarterly payout a nickel to $0.25 a share for a 1.6% yield. The hike came on the heels of a record fiscal Q4 profit revealing a whopping 138% increase in earnings per share.

[epom key="ddec3ef33420ef7c9964a4695c349764" redirect="" sourceid="" imported="false"]

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) hiked its annual cash dividend 34% to $1.15 a share, up from $0.86, for a 1.23% yield. The increase comes as the movie, theme park, and TV company comes off a record year of earnings results. DIS has been showering shareholders with faster dividend growth over the last several years. Four years ago, its annual payout was just $0.40 a share.

Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE: UHT) upped its quarterly payout 0.8% to $0.635 a share for a 5.25% yield.

Wisconsin Energy Corp. (NYSE: WEC) increased its quarterly dividend 8.3% to $0.4225 a share for a 3.37% yield. The company targets a dividend payout ratio of 65% to 70% of earnings.

Don't forget to claim your free report on stocks that pay dividends: The Best Dividend Strategy for Building a Fortune in the Low-Yield Era

Now for Today's Top Story: When Apple launched the iPhone 6 with two larger screen sizes in September, almost overnight critics said the Silicon Valley legend was falling behind Samsung Electronics, which had pioneered smartphones with bigger screens back in 2012. But although Samsung is still the top global smartphone maker by market share, it's quickly falling behind Apple where it matters most - in the making of money...