Amid six years of near-zero interest rates, income-hungry investors have increasingly turned to dividend-paying stocks.
Companies have taken note by sweetening distributions. This year is on track to set a milestone for total dividend payouts.
"Given the number of those issuers which have a history of fourth-quarter dividend increases, 2014 should post another double-digit gain," said Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices, in a statement. He added a record payment could "easily" be reached this year.
Forty dividend stocks boosted payouts last week, including Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) and General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE). Following are 25 notable hikes from the week ending Dec. 12.
25 Dividend-Paying Stocks That Just Hiked Payouts
AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: AXS) raised its quarterly payout $0.02 to $0.29 a share for a 2.36% yield.
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) hiked its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.24 per share for a 2.2% yield. The increase mark the 43rd consecutive year the global healthcare company has increased its dividend payout. Abbott is a member of the elite S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have increased their annual dividend for 25 consecutive years. Abbott's Feb. 13 payment will be its 364th consecutive quarterly dividend paid since 1924.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) boosted its quarterly payout 2.8% to $0.38 a share for a 2.52% yield. BMY has been increasing its dividend annually for the last four years.BioMed Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: BMR) increased its quarterly payout a penny to $0.26 a share for a 4.88% yield.
CoreSite Realty Corp. (NYSE: COR) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.07 to $0.42 a share for a 4.38% yield.
Douglas Emmett Inc. (NYSE: DEI) raised its quarterly payout 5% to $0.21 a share for a 3% yield.
Edison International (NYSE: EIX) increased its quarterly payout 17.6% to $0.417 a share for a 2.6% yield. "With this action today, we are taking a meaningful step to return Edison International's common stock dividend to the target payout ratio of 45% to 55% of the earnings of Southern California Edison," said Ted Carver, chairman and chief executive officer.
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Fort Dearborn Income Securities Inc. (NYSE: FDI) raised its quarterly payout a penny to $0.16 a share for a 4.57% yield.
Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. (NYSE: FBHS) fattened its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.14 a share for a 1.27% yield.
General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) goosed its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.23 a share for a 3.7% yield. This is the seventh time GE has increased its quarterly dividend in the past five years.
Graco Inc. (NYSE: GGG) grew its quarterly payout 9% to $0.30 a share for a 1.55% yield.
Hanover Insurance Group Inc. (NYSE: THG) hiked its quarterly payout $0.04 to $0.41 a share for a 2.38% yield.
J&J Snack Foods Corp. (Nasdaq: JJSF) juiced its quarterly payout $0.04 to $0.37 a share for a 1.36% yield.
Mexico Fund Inc. (NYSE: MXF) moved its quarterly payout up 2.5% to $0.7326 a share for a 14% yield.
Morningstar Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.19 a share for a 1.2% yield.
Omnicare Inc. (NYSE: OCR) raised its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.22 a share for a 1.25% yield. The boost marks the fifth consecutive dividend increase from the Cincinnati-based company.
One Liberty Properties Inc. (NYSE: OLP) enriched its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.39 a share for a 6.61% yield.
Pentair Plc. (NYSE: PNR) increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.32 a share for a 2.13% yield.
PNM Resources Inc. (NYSE: PNM) raised its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.20 a share for a 2.8% yield.
Potlatch Corp. (Nasdaq: PCH) boosted its quarterly payout 7% to $0.375 a share for a 3.64% yield. The dividend enrichment is the second from the real estate investment trust for more than a 20% boost since Q3 2013.
South Jersey Industries Inc. (NYSE: SJI) sweetened its quarterly dividend 6.3% to $0.50 a share for a 3.47% yield. The new annualized dividend of $2.01 represents a $0.12 per share increase over the previous level. The hike also marks the 16th straight year that SJI has increased its payout.
Tri-Continental Corp. (NYSE: TY) raised its quarterly payout 4.2% to $0.20 a share for a 3.9% yield.
Ventas Inc. (NYSE: VTR) hiked its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.79 a share for a 4.25% yield. Over the last 10 years, the compounded annual growth rate of VTR's dividend has been 9%.
W.P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) boosted its quarterly payout a penny to $0.95 a share for 5.45% yield. The enrichment marks WPC's 55th consecutive quarterly dividend increase.
WD-40 Co. (Nasdaq: WDFC) increased its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.38 a share for a yield just shy of 2%.
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