Dividend-Paying Stocks List: T, BA, PFE, plus 22 More

dividend-paying stocks listDividend hikes continue to roll in as 2014 comes to a close - just take a look at our new dividend-paying stocks list.

This year is certain to be a record one for dividend payouts with another double-digit gain, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

Over the last two weeks, 58 companies increased payouts, including AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Boeing Inc. (NYSE: BA), and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE).

Following are 25 of the most notable, recent dividend stock hikes.

25 Dividend Stocks That Just Hiked Payouts

3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) moved its quarterly dividend up 20% to $1.025 a share for a 2.5% share. The diversified manufacturer and maker of Post-It Notes and Scotch Tape projects its per-share earnings could grow by as much as 12% in 2015, as its appetite for acquisitions helps drive growth.

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.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) hiked its quarterly payout $0.02 to $0.24 a share for a 2.1% yield. The Feb. 13 payout will mark the 364th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the global healthcare company.

Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN) increased its quarterly dividend $0.18, or 30%, to $0.79 per share for a yield approaching 2%. Shares of the biotech giant are up a healthy 43.29% year to date.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) raised its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.47 a share for a 5.5% yield. This is the 31st year in a row AT&T has increased its quarterly dividend.

Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) boosted its quarterly payout $0.18, or 25%, to $0.91 a share for a 2.36% yield. The aerospace giant also boosted its share buyback to $12 billion, the largest in its history.

Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (Nasdaq: CALM) moved its quarterly dividend up 32% to $0.25 a share for a 2.38% yield.

Camden National Corp. (Nasdaq: CAC) upped its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.30 a share for a 3% yield.

If you aren't a Money Morning Member, sign up now for free to see 18 more companies that made our dividend-paying stocks list this week. 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

Choice Hotels International Inc. (Nasdaq: CHH) hiked its quarterly payout 5.4% to $0.195 a share for a 1.37% yield.

CubeSmart (NYSE: CUBE) sweetened its quarterly payout $0.03 to $0.16 a share for a 2.83% yield.

CVS Health Corp. (NYSE: CVS) enriched its quarterly dividend 27% to $0.35 a share for a 1.42% yield. The pharmacy chain garnered national attention earlier this year when it declared it would stop selling tobacco products. Shares are up 37% year to date, and analysts expect healthy gains in 2015.

Eli Lily & Co. (NYSE: LLY) boosted its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.50 a share for a 2.84% yield. The enhancement from the global healthcare leader raises its annual payout to $2 per share.

Ensign Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ENSG) enriched its quarterly payout 7% to $0.075 a share for a 0.66% yield.

First of Long Island Corp. (Nasdaq: FLIC) fattened its quarterly dividend 2.8% to $0.19 a share for a 2.65% yield.

Horizon Bancorp (Nasdaq: HBNC) hiked its quarterly payout 7.7% to $0.14 a share for a 2.12% yield.

Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Co. (NYSE: KYN) boosted its quarterly dividend 0.8% to $0.655 a share for a near 7% yield.

Mackinac Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: MFNC) upped its quarterly payout 50% to $0.075 a share for a 2.55% yield.

Moody's Corp. (NYSE: MCO) moved its quarterly dividend up $0.06 to $0.34 a share for a 1.39% yield. The credit rating agency also authorized a new $1 billion share repurchase program.

Owens Realty Mortgage Inc. (NYSE: ORM) raised its quarterly dividend $0.07, or 140%, to $0.12 a share for a near 10% yield.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) increased its dividend $0.02 to $0.28 a share for a 3.54% yield. The increase is the drug giant's fourth consecutive annual dividend enrichment.

Roper Industries Inc. (NYSE: ROP) raised its quarterly dividend a nickel to $0.25 a share for a 0.63% yield.

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Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp. (NYSE: SBY) increased its quarterly payout 50% to $0.06 a share for a 1.44% yield.

Spirit Realty Capital Inc. (NYSE: SRC) sweetened its quarterly dividend 2.3% to $0.17 a share for a 5.71% yield.

TerraForm Power Inc. (Nasdaq: TERP) boosted its quarterly payout 57% to $0.27 for a 3.57% yield.

Waddell & Reed Financial Inc. (NYSE: WDR) raised its quarterly payout $0.09 to $0.43 a share for a 3. 46% yield.

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) raised its quarterly dividend 15.3% to $0.083 a share for a 0.75% yield. Activist investor Bill Ackman recently amassed an 8.3% stake in the animal drug company.

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

Now for Today's Top Story: Christmas came early this year, for the market that is, by way of a gift from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The gift was headline news that the "third revision" of third-quarter GDP showed the U.S. economy grew at a whopping 5% annualized rate, not the 3.9% rate posted in the "second revision." Well, here's what's really going on inside the latest GDP number. Are you sitting down?