Guru Stocks Raising Dividends: CATO, POR, VIA, SPAN, HPQ

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May 28, 2012
This is the group of companies who raised their dividend during the week:

Cato Corp A (CATO, Financial)

Joel Greenblatt owns 7,488 shares as of 03/31/2012, a decrease of 76.83% of from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.018% of the $1.15 billion portfolio of Gotham Capital. On May 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable June 25, 2012 to shareholders of record on June 11, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 3.5%.

On May 17, 2012, the Cato Corp. posted record net income of $31.7 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the first quarter, up from $30.5 million, or $1.04 per share, in the same period of 2011. The retailer's sales for the first quarter climbed to $272.8 million in the latest quarter from $270.9 million a year earlier, a 1 percent increase. Same-store sales dropped 2 percent in the quarter.

SVP, Controller Jeffrey R Shock and SVP, Controller Jeffrey R Shock sold shares of CATO stock.

Portland Gen El (POR, Financial)

Portland General Electric, headquartered in Portland, Ore. Portland Gen El has a market cap of $1.85 billion; its shares were traded at around $25.2 with a P/E ratio of 14.5 and P/S ratio of 1. On May 23rd the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.9% to $0.27 per share. The dividend is payable July 16, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 25, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.4%.

Portland General Electric Company reported net income of $49 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012, compared with $69 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2011. Total revenues for the first quarter of 2012 decreased $5 million, or 1%, compared with the first quarter of 2011.

Ken Fisher, HOTCHKIS & WILEY, and David Dreman own shares of POR stock.

Viacom Inc Cl A (VIA, Financial)

Viacom is a global entertainment content company whose family of prominent and respected brands includes the multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, BET Networks, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment and DreamWorks. Viacom Inc Cl A has a market cap of $2.62 billion; its shares were traded at around $52.16 with a P/E ratio of 12.5 and P/S ratio of 0.2. On May 23rd the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.275 per share. The dividend is payable on July 2, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.

Viacom Inc. reported a significant increase in profits and higher consolidated revenues for the fiscal second quarter, which ended March 31, 2012. Revenues in the second quarter increased 2% to $3.33 billion, driven primarily by higher Media Networks affiliate revenues. Operating income grew 23% to $932 million, reflecting the overall increase in revenues, as well as lower expenses principally related to the Filmed Entertainment segment.

Joel Greenblatt, Donald Yacktman, and Mario Gabelli own shares of VIA stock.

Span-america Md (SPAN, Financial)

SPAN-AMERICA MEDICAL SYS, INC. manufactures and distributes a variety of polyurethane foam products and contract packaging products for the medical, consumer and industrial markets. Span-america Md has a market cap of $50.9 million; its shares were traded at around $17.87 with a P/E ratio of 10.3 and P/S ratio of 1.e On May 18th the company increased its quarterly dividend 13.6% to $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable June 6, 2012, to shareholders of record on May 29, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Span-America Medical Systems, Inc. reported strong growth in sales and net income for the second fiscal quarter and six months ended March 31, 2012. Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 rose 74% to $1.8 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared with $1.1 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Net sales for the second quarter of 2012 increased 56% to $20.9 million compared with net sales of $13.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

CFO Richard C Coggins and VP - R&D and Engineering Reagan James R O sold shares of SPAN stock.

Director Dan R Lee bought shares of SPAN stock.

Hewlett Packard (HPQ, Financial)

Hewlett Packard is one of the global providers of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home. Hewlett Packard has a market cap of $42.43 billion; its shares were traded at around $22.3 with a P/E ratio of 4.8 and P/S ratio of 0.3. On May 7th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.132 per share. The dividend is payable on July 5, 2012, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 13, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.

HP announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2012. For the quarter, net revenue of $30.7 billion was down 3% year over year both as reported and when adjusted for the effects of currency.

Michael Price, David Dreman, and NWQ Managers own shares of HPQ stock.

Director John H Hammergren bought shares of HPQ stock.

EVP IPG Vyomesh Joshi and SVP, Controller & PAO James T Murrin sold shares of HPQ stock.