Dividend Investing News: PPC plus 21 New Payout Hikes

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Dividend Investing News, Jan. 19, 2015: Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (NYSE: PPC) surprised investors last Thursday when it announced it's returning some $1.5 billion to shareholders via a special cash dividend.

Investors of record Jan. 30 will receive $5.77 a share payable on Feb. 17. PPC shares surged nearly 10% on the news.

Pilgrim courted Hillshire Foods last May with a $6.4 billion bid. It was eventually outbid by Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN).

Tyson shares have been mostly flat since the June 9 news of the Hillshire-Tyson deal. But PPC stock rose more than 30% in the same time period. It's now up nearly 130% from its 52-week low in February 2014.

Following are the 21 other dividend stocks that boosted payouts or announced special dividends during the week ending Jan. 16.

Dividend Stocks That Raised Payouts Last Week

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.

Blackrock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) boosted its quarterly dividend 13% to $2.18 a share for a 2.51% yield. Since initiating a $0.20 per share quarterly dividend in September 2003, Blackrock has raised payouts every year except 2009. That year, the world's largest asset manager bought Barclays Global Investors (which owned iShares) for $15.2 billion.

Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT) raised its monthly dividend $0.02, or 25%, to $0.10 a share for a near 4% yield.

Consolidated Edison Inc. (NYSE: ED) upped its quarterly payout 3.2% to $0.65 a share for a 3.76% yield. The electric and gas giant has been increasing its dividend annually for the last 40 years.

Cousins Properties Inc. (NYSE: CUZ) increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.08 a share for a 2.85% yield.

Fastenal Co. (Nasdaq: FAST) fattened its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.28 a share for a 2.48% yield. The Winona, Minn.-based company began paying annual dividends in 1991, semi-annual dividends in 2003, and quarterly dividends in 2011.

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Dividend Stocks That Raised Payouts Last Week

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