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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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?