Guru Stocks Raising Dividends: SYY, ADP, MDU, TNC, INTC

This is the group of companies who raised their dividend during the week:

Sysco Corp. (SYY, Financial)

Sysco Corporation is the largest North American distributor of food and food related products to the foodservice or `food-prepared-away-from-home` industry. Sysco Corp. has a market cap of $16.97 billion; its shares were traded at around $28.84 with a P/E ratio of 15.2 and P/S ratio of 0.5. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 4% to 26 cents/share. This was the forty-first consecutive annual dividend increase for this stock. Yield: 3.60% (analysis)

Sysco Corporation Sales were $9.8 billion, an increase of 7.4% from $9.1 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Operating income was $506 million, an increase of 1.8% compared to $497 million in last year's first quarter, and Sysco's highest first quarter on record. Net earnings for the first quarter were $299 million, a decrease of $27 million, or 8.3%.

Sysco Corp. is owned by John Hussman, Jean-Marie Eveillard, and James Barrow.

Sr. VP, Gen Counsel and Sec Michael C Nichols, Director Phyllis Shapiro Sewell, and Director Jonathan Golden sold shares of SYY stock.

Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP, Financial)

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is one of the largest providers of computerized transaction processing, data communication, and information services in the world. Automatic Data Processing Inc. has a market cap of $22.35 billion; its shares were traded at around $45.39 with a P/E ratio of 19.2 and P/S ratio of 2.5. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 6% to 36 cents/share. This was the 36th consecutive annual dividend increase for this stock. Yield: 3.20% (analysis)

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. reported revenue growth of 6%, 4% organic, to $2.2 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Automatic Data Processing Inc. is owned by Whitney Tilson, Mario Gabelli, and George Soros.

Corporate Vice President Alan Sheiness sold shares of ADP stock

MDU Resources Group Inc. (MDU, Financial)

MDU Resources Group, Inc. provides value-added natural resource products and related services that are essential to energy and transportation infrastructure, including regulated businesses, an exploration and production company and construction companies. Mdu Resources Group Inc. has a market cap of $3.84 billion; its shares were traded at around $20.4 with a P/E ratio of 16 and P/S ratio of 0.9. The company raised dividends by 3.20% to 16.25 cents/share. This stock has consistently raised distributions for 20 years in a row. Yield: 3.20%

MDU Resources Group, Inc. reported third quarter earnings of $60.8 million, or 32 cents per common share, including a $16.5 million after-tax charge, or 9 cents per common share, related to a previously announced adverse arbitration ruling at its pipeline segment. Earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $92.4 million, or 50 cents per common share.

MDU Resources Group Inc. is owned by James Barrow and Mario Gabelli.

President and CEO Terry D Hildestad bought shares of MDU stock.

Pres. & CEO-Montana-Dakota David L Goodin and President & CEO - Knife River William E Schneider sold shares of MDU stock.

Tennant Company (TNC, Financial)

Tennant Company, is a Minneapolis-based company that specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of non-residential floor maintenance equipment and related products. Tennant Company has a market cap of $655.8 million; its shares were traded at around $34.53 with a P/E ratio of 29.6 and P/S ratio of 1.1. The company boosted its quarterly dividend by 21% from 14 cents to 17 cents/share. This marks the thirty-ninth consecutive annual dividend increase for this stock. Yield: 2%

Tennant Company reported net earnings of $7.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, on net sales of $168.6 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. In the 2009 third quarter, Tennant reported net earnings of $5.8 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, on net sales of $154.4 million. The company's performance for the 2010 third quarter also improved sequentially from the 2010 second quarter's net earnings of $6.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, on net sales of $166.1 million.

Tennant Company is owned by Mario Gabelli and John Keeley.

VP, Administration Thomas Dybsky, Vice President, The Americas Andrew J Eckert, and VP, General Counsel and Sec'y Heidi M Wilson sold shares of TNC stock.

Intel Corp. (INTC, Financial)

Intel Corporation is one of the world's largest semiconductor chip maker. Intel Corp. has a market cap of $117.68 billion; its shares were traded at around $21.135 with a P/E ratio of 11.5 and P/S ratio of 3.4. The company raised its dividends by 15% to 18 cents/share. The world’s largest chip manufacturer has raised distributions for 8 years in a row. The stock yields 3.30%

Intel Corporation reported that third-quarter revenue exceeded $11 billion for the first time, up 18 percent year-over-year to $11.1 billion. The company reported operating income of $4.1 billion, net income of $3.0 billion and EPS of 52 cents.

Intel Corp. is owned by David Tepper, Whitney Tilson, and Chris Davis.

Sr VP, CFO Stacy J Smith and Director Frank D Yeary bought shares of INTC stock.