This is the group of companies who raised their dividend during the week: First Pactrust Bancorp Inc., Oge Energy Corp., Midamerica Apartment Communities Inc., Ecolab Inc., and Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.

First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. (BANC)

First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. is a bank holding company with headquarters in Chula Vista, Calif. First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. has a market cap of $136.7 million; its shares were traded at around $11.66 with a P/E ratio of 14.05 and P/S ratio of 2.98. On December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.3% to $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable on January 3, 2012 to shareholders of record as of December 16, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.4%.

First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. announced results for the third quarter of 2011. The company earned net income of $0.6 million and net income to common of $0.5 million for the quarter ending September 31, 2011.

OGE Energy Corp. (OGE)

OGE Energy Corp. is a public utility holding company. OGE Energy Corp. has a market cap of $5.14 billion; its shares were traded at around $52.44 with a P/E ratio of 15.42 and P/S ratio of 1.38. On December 1, the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.7% to $0.3925 per share. The dividend is payable Jan. 30, 2012, to shareholders of record Jan. 10, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. announced results for the third quarter of 2011. The company earned net income of $0.6 million and net income to common of $0.5 million for the quarter ending September 31, 2011.

Mario Gabelli and John Keeley own shares of OGE stock.

Chairman and CEO Peter B. Delaney, Vice President Corp Strategy Development and Marketing S. Craig Johnston, and President and COO Enogex Holdings LLC E Keith Mitchell sold shares of OGE stock.

Director James H Brandi bought shares of OGE stock.

Midamerica Apartment Communities Inc. (MAA)

Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. is a real estate investment trust which owns and operates apartments. Midamerica Apartment Communities Inc. has a market cap of $2.19 billion; its shares were traded at around $57.82 with a P/E ratio of 15.93 and P/S ratio of 5.45. On December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.2% to $0.66 per share. The dividend is payable on January 31, 2012 to shareholders of record on January 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.6%.

MAA announced earnings results for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. Net income available for common shareholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $13.8 million, or $0.37 per diluted common share, as compared to net income available for common shareholders of $3.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Kenneth Fisher owns shares of MAA stock.

President and CEO H. Eric Bolton Jr. sold shares of MAA stock.

Ecolab Inc. (ECL)

Ecolab Inc. is the global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection control products and services. Ecolab Inc. has a market cap of $12.96 billion; its shares were traded at around $55.84 with a P/E ratio of 22.89 and P/S ratio of 2.13. On December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.20 per share. The dividend is payable January 17, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.4%.

Ecolab delivered strong third quarter results as adjusted earnings per share increased 14% over last year. Ecolab's reported sales rose 11% to a record $1.7 billion in the third quarter of 2011.

Chris Davis, Tom Gayner, and Jean-Marie Eveillard own shares of ECL.

10% Owner William H. Gates III bought shares of ECL stock.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. landlord and developer of choice to the life science industry, is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused principally on the ownership, operation, management, selective redevelopment, development and acquisition of life science properties. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. has a market cap of $4.09 billion; its shares were traded at around $66.09 with a P/E ratio of 15.05 and P/S ratio of 8.4. On December 1st the company increased its quarterly dividend 4.3% to $0.49 per share. The dividend is payable January 17, 2012, to stockholders of record on December 30, 2011, with an ex-dividend date of December 28, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

Ron Baron, Kenneth Fisher, and Chris Davis own shares of ARE stock.

CEO Joel S. Marcus, CFO Dean A. Shigenaga, and COO Stephen Richardson sold shares of ARE stock.

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