In difficult economic times, it makes sense to scout for investment opportunities with robust business models and sustainable dividends. Despite the uncertainty, many companies are running well and are still confident about the economic future. That’s the reason they have raised dividends. With this thesis in mind, here are four stocks which have raised dividends within the recent week at a double-digit rate.

1. American Equity Investment Life Holding (AEL) is acting within the life insurance industry. The company has a market capitalization of $611.9 million, generates revenues in an amount of $1.2 billion and a net income of $45.6 million. It follows P/E ratio is 15.1 and forward price to earnings 5.0, Price/Sales 0.5 and Price/Book ratio 0.5. Dividend Yield: 1.0 percent. The company announced to raise its cash dividend by 20 percent from $0.1 to $0.12.

2. Hormel Foods (HRL) is acting within the meat products industry. The company has a market capitalization of $7.6 billion, generates revenues in an amount of $7.9 billion and a net income of $478.0 million. It follows P/E ratio is 16.3 and forward price to earnings 16.2, Price/Sales 1.0 and Price/Book ratio 2.9. Dividend Yield: 1.8 percent. The company announced to raise its cash dividend by 17.6 percent from $0.1275 to $0.15.

3. McCormick & Co. (MKC) is acting within the processed and packaged goods industry. The company has a market capitalization of $6.3 billion, generates revenues in an amount of $3.6 billion and a net income of $376.0 million. It follows P/E ratio is 16.9 and forward price to earnings 15.3, Price/Sales 1.8 and Price/Book ratio 3.7. Dividend Yield: 2.4 percent. The company announced to raise its cash dividend by 10.7 percent from $0.28 to $0.31.

4. South Jersey Industries (SJI) is acting within the gas utilities industry. The company has a market capitalization of $1.6 billion, generates revenues in an amount of $913.5 million and a net income of $78.6 million. It follows P/E ratio is 20.0 and forward price to earnings 16.3, Price/Sales 1.7 and Price/Book ratio 2.7. Dividend Yield: 2.8 percent. The company announced to raise its cash dividend by 10.3 percent from $0.365 to $0.4025.

Take a closer look at the full table of the stocks with recent dividend hikes. The average dividend growth amounts to 12.16 percent. In total, nine stocks raised dividends, of which five have a dividend growth of more than 10 percent.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

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