Dividend Hikes: PPG Industries, Janus Capital, The Travelers

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Apr 21, 2011
These are today's dividend updates by The Dynamic Dividend on PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG, Financial), Janus Capital Group Inc. (JNS, Financial), The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV, Financial).

PPG Gives Shareholders Yet Another Raise

PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.57 per share today, a 3.6% increase over its previous two payouts and a 5.6% improvement over the dividend paid by the coatings and specialty products company during the same period last year.

This marks the second dividend hike in the last nine months from PPG, which has increased its annual dividend total every year dating back to 1973. As I noted last month, the company just needed to hold its payout flat through the end of the year to hit 39 consecutive years of dividend growth, so today’s upgrade is a nice surprise.

Shares of PPG are currently trading at $94.42, where they now feature a 2.41% dividend yield.

Janus Quintuples Dividend, to Pay Quarterly

Janus Capital Group Inc. (JNS) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share within this morning’s first quarter earnings release, which represents a 400% improvement over the annual dividend paid each of the previous nine years by the global investment firm.

The company’s first quarter profit rose 21% year-over-year to $37.9 million, or $0.21 per share, edging the consensus analyst view ($0.21 per share).

Shares of JNS closed at $12.64 per share on Wednesday, where they now feature a much-more-relevant 1.58% dividend yield.

Janus began returning cash to shareholders via an annual dividend in 2000.

Travelers Raises Dividend Following Big First Quarter

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.41 per share within this morning’s impressive first quarter earnings release, which is a 14% improvement over the $0.36 paid each of the previous four quarters by the insurance holding company.

Travelers posted a first quarter operating profit of $1.89 per share, easily beating the consensus analyst view of just $1.49 per share. Looking at the company’s balance sheet, it managed to raise its book value from $58.47 to $59.91 per share during the quarter, leapfrogging its current share price.

Shares of TRV closed at $59.13 on Wednesday, where they now feature a 2.77% dividend yield.

Travelers is now in position to increase its dividend total for the seventh consecutive year.