Dividend Investing News: PPC plus 21 New Payout Hikes

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 Hillsdividend investinghire 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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Finish Line Inc. (Nasdaq: FINL) hiked its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.09 a share for a 1.5% yield.

Gladstone Land Corp. (Nasdaq: LAND) goosed its monthly payout 16.7% for a yield just shy of 4%. The new per-share cash distribution rate is $0.035 per month, or $0.42 per year.

Itau Unibanco Holding SA (NYSE ADR: ITUS) increased its monthly distribution 2.8% to $0.0057 a share for a 3.76% yield.

JMP Group Inc. (NYSE: JMP) juiced it monthly payout 50% to $0.035 a share for a 5.53% yield.

Kaiser Aluminum Corp. (Nasdaq: KALU) increased its monthly dividend a nickel to $0.40 a share for a 2.27% yield.

Liberty All Star Equity Fund (NYSE: USA) boosted its quarterly payout a penny to $0.10 a share for a yield close to 7%.

Linear Technology Corp. (Nasdaq: LLTC) raised its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.30 a share for a 2.65% yield. The S&P 500 member said since it no longer has debt to repay, it plans to increase cash return to shareholders via larger dividends and share buybacks.

OCI Resources LP (Nasdaq: OCIR) hiked its quarterly dividend 1.2% to $0.53 a share for an 8.22% yield.

Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (NYSE: OHI) upped its quarterly payout a penny to $0.53 a share for a 4.81% yield. The increase is the 10th consecutive boost from the Hunt Valley, Md.-based company.

Oneok Inc. (NYSE: OKE) raised its quarterly dividend 2.5% to $0.605 a share for a 5.64% yield.

Oneok Partners LP (NYSE: OKS) hiked its quarterly distribution 1.9% to $0.79 a share for a 7.66% yield. The natural gas limited partnership said it's well positioned to continue boosting payouts through at least Q4 2016. Since April 2006, ONEOK Partners has increased its distribution 98%.

Regency Centers Corp. (NYSE: REG) raised its quarterly dividend 3.2% to $0.48 a share for a 2.8% yield.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc. (Nasdaq: RMCF) fattened its quarterly payout 9.1% to $0.12 a share for a 3.61% yield. The hike marks the 12th increase since the company began paying dividends in September 2003. The Feb. 27 dividend will be RMCF's 47th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

Shaw Communications Inc. (NYSE: SJR) raised its monthly payout 7.7% to $0.09 a share for a near 4% yield.

Sierra Bancorp. (Nasdaq: BSRR) boosted its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.10 a share for a 2.53% yield.

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Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) sweetened its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.50 a share for a 2.46% yield. The hike came as the world's largest oil services company reported a 6% year-over-year jump in revenue for the quarter ending in December.

Universal Insurance Holdings Inc. (NYSE: UVE) upped its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.12 a share for a 2.21% yield.

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