This is the group of companies who raised their dividend during the week: Questar Corp (STR), Stryker Corporation (SYK), Middlesex Water Company (MSEX), Inergy Holdings GP LLC (NRGP)
1. Questar Corp (STR)
Questar Corp (STR), which engages in gas and oil exploration and production, midstream field services, energy marketing, interstate gas transportation, and retail gas distribution businesses, increased its quarterly dividend by 4% to 13 cents per share. Questar Corp is a dividend aristocrat, which has raised distributions for 30 consecutive years in a row. The stock currently yields only 1.30%. Questar Corporation is a natural gas-focused energy company with five major lines of business - gas and oil exploration and productionmidstream field servicesenergy marketinginterstate gas transportationand retail gas distribution. These services are conducted through its three principal subsidiaries: Questar Market Resources (a subholding company that operates through four principal subsidiaries)Questar Pipeline Company (provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage and other energy services) and Questar Gas Company (provides retail natural gas distribution services in UtahWyoming and Idaho). Questar Corp. has a market cap of $7.08 billion; its shares were traded at around $40.65 with a P/E ratio of 13.7 and P/S ratio of 2. The dividend yield of Questar Corp. stocks is 1.3%. Questar Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 15% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Questar Corp. the business predictability rank of 3.5-star.
Questar Corp. reported $98.2 million net income for the third quarter 2009, or $0.56 per diluted share. Questar net income was $0.60 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2009. Third-quarter 2009 EBITDA was $373.7 million, down 18% from the third quarter of 2008. Questar Pipeline net income was $14.1 million in the third quarter of 2009, an 8% decrease from the year-ago period, due to lower NGL prices and higher general and administrative expense.
T Boone Pickens owns 224,000 shares as of 06/30/2009, an increase of 40% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 8.13% of the $85 million portfolio of BP Capital. Irving Kahn owns 17,950 shares as of 06/30/2009, an increase of 12.54% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.15% of the $372 million portfolio of Kahn Brothers & Company Inc. Irving Kahn owns 17,950 shares as of 06/30/2009, which accounts for 0.15% of the $372 million portfolio of Kahn Brothers & Company Inc.. John Keeley owns 57,710 shares as of 06/30/2009, which accounts for 0.03% of the $5.82 billion portfolio of Keeley Fund Management.
Buy:: Pres.& CEO Keith O Rattie bought 10,000 shares of STR stock on 08/17/2009 at the average price of 32.86, the price of the stock has increased by 23.71% since. Sell:: Sr. VP, and CFO S E Parks sold 20,000 shares of STR stock on 08/24/2009 at the average price of 35.14, the price of the stock has increased by 15.68% since. Sell:: Former CFO S E Parks sold 20,000 shares of STR stock on 08/24/2009 at the average price of 35.14, the price of the stock has increased by 15.68% since. Sell:: VP and General Counsel Thomas C Jepperson sold 5,000 shares of STR stock on 10/15/2009 at the average price of 40.03, the price of the stock has increased by 1.55% since.
2. Stryker Corporation (SYK)
Stryker Corporation (SYK), which operates as a medical technology company worldwide, has declared a cash transition dividend of $0.10 per share, payable December 16, 2009, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2009. The transition dividend will increase the total dividends paid in 2009 to $0.50 per share, up 52% from the $0.33 per share paid in 2008. Subject to further action by the Company's Board of Directors, the Company anticipates the first quarterly dividend to be paid in January 2010 at a targeted quarterly rate of $0.15 per share. Stryker Corporation is a dividend achiever, which has raised distributions for 16 consecutive years in a row. The stock yields 1.30%, based off its new quarterly rate of 15 cents/share. Stryker Corporation developsmanufacturesand markets specialty surgical and medical productsincluding orthopaedic implantsbone cementtrauma systems used in bone repairpowered surgical instrumentsendoscopic systemscraniomaxillofacial fixation devicesspecialty surgical equipment used in neurosurgery and patient care and handling equipment for the global market and provide outpatient physical and occupational rehabilitation services. Stryker Corp. has a market cap of $18.86 billion; its shares were traded at around $47.43 with a P/E ratio of 16.6 and P/S ratio of 2.9. The dividend yield of Stryker Corp. stocks is 0.9%. Stryker Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 23.4% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Stryker Corp. the business predictability rank of 4-star.
Stryker Corporation recently reported operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. Net sales were $1,653 million in both the third quarter of 2009 and the third quarter of 2008. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased 1.2% for the third quarter. Net earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $229 million, representing a 16.4% decrease compared to net earnings of $274 million for the third quarter of 2008. Diluted net earnings per share for the third quarter of 2009 were $0.57, representing a 13.6% decrease compared to $0.66 for the third quarter of 2008.
Donald Yacktman owns 152,500 shares as of 09/30/2009, an increase of 258.82% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.4% of the $1.73 billion portfolio of Yacktman Asset Management Co. Robert Olstein owns 204,000 shares as of 06/30/2009, which accounts for 1.74% of the $467 million portfolio of Olstein Financial Alert Fund. Dodge & Cox owns 15,500 shares as of 06/30/2009, which accounts for less than 0.01% of the $66.88 billion portfolio of Dodge & Cox. Kenneth Fisher owns 10,775 shares as of 09/30/2009, which accounts for less than 0.01% of the $29.78 billion portfolio of Fisher Asset Management, LLC.
Buy:: Director Srikant Datar bought 1,000 shares of SYK stock on 08/28/2009 at the average price of 41, the price of the stock has increased by 15.68% since. Buy:: Director Howard L Lance bought 3,000 shares of SYK stock on 08/10/2009 at the average price of 40.72, the price of the stock has increased by 16.48% since. Sell:: Director Donald M Engelman sold 14,136 shares of SYK stock on 08/28/2009 at the average price of 41.33, the price of the stock has increased by 14.76% since. Sell:: Director Ronda E Stryker sold 30,000 shares of SYK stock on 08/25/2009 at the average price of 41.45 and 100,000 shares of SYK stock on 08/26/2009 at the average price of 41.57, the price of the stock has increased by 14.1% since.
3. Middlesex Water Company (MSEX)
Middlesex Water Company (MSEX), which operates as a food company in North America and internationally, increased its quarterly dividend by 2.5% to 20.50 cents per share. Middlesex Water Company is a dividend champion, which has raised distributions for 36 consecutive years in a row. The stock currently yields 4.60%. Middlesex Water Company treatsstores and distributes water for residentialcommercialindustrial and fire prevention purposes. Middlesex Water Company has a market cap of $215.4 million; its shares were traded at around $16.01 with a P/E ratio of 14 and P/S ratio of 2.4. The dividend yield of Middlesex Water Company stocks is 4.5%. Middlesex Water Company had an annual average earning growth of 4.4% over the past 5 years.
Middlesex Water Company reported operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. Revenues in the Middlesex system in New Jersey decreased $0.5 million as a result of abnormally lower water consumption across all customer classes. Net income declined from $4.7 million to $4.0 million. Diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.29 for the three months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $0.35 for the same period in 2008.
Buy:: Director Walter G Reinhard bought 16 shares of MSEX stock on 08/03/2009 at the average price of 15.32, 09/01/2009 at the average price of 15.4, 10/01/2009 at the average price of 15.36, and 11/02/2009 at the average price of 15.49, the price of the stock has increased by 3.36% since. Buy:: President Dennis W Doll bought 1,000 shares of MSEX stock on 09/28/2009 at the average price of 15.45, the price of the stock has increased by 3.62% since.
4. Inergy Holdings GP LLC (NRGP)
Inergy Holdings GP LLC (NRGP), the general partner of propane supplier Inergy LP, on Monday said it will increase its quarterly cash distribution 9 percent for the three-month period ended Sept. 30. The company will raise its distribution to 85 cents per limited partner unit, up from the previous quarter's distribution of 78 cents per limited partner unit. Inergy HoldingsL.P.'s cash-generating assets primarily consist of its partnership interestsincluding incentive distribution rightsin InergyL.P.which operates a geographically diverse retail and wholesale propane supplymarketing and distribution business. Inergy Holdings' primary objective is to increase distributable cash flow to its unitholders through ownership of partnership interests in Inergy L.P.. Inergy Holdings L.p. Common Units has a market cap of $1.02 billion; its shares were traded at around $50.3 with a P/E ratio of 20.6 and P/S ratio of 0.5. The dividend yield of Inergy Holdings L.p. Common Units stocks is 6.3%.
Buy:: SVP of Inergy GP, LLC Andrew L Atterbury bought 10,168 shares of NRGP stock on 08/18/2009 at the average price of 43.7, the price of the stock has increased by 15.1% since. Sell:: Director - Inergy GP, LLC Warren H Gfeller sold 2,660 shares of NRGP stock on 09/11/2009 at the average price of 44.44, the price of the stock has increased by 13.19% since.
1. Questar Corp (STR)
Questar Corp (STR), which engages in gas and oil exploration and production, midstream field services, energy marketing, interstate gas transportation, and retail gas distribution businesses, increased its quarterly dividend by 4% to 13 cents per share. Questar Corp is a dividend aristocrat, which has raised distributions for 30 consecutive years in a row. The stock currently yields only 1.30%. Questar Corporation is a natural gas-focused energy company with five major lines of business - gas and oil exploration and productionmidstream field servicesenergy marketinginterstate gas transportationand retail gas distribution. These services are conducted through its three principal subsidiaries: Questar Market Resources (a subholding company that operates through four principal subsidiaries)Questar Pipeline Company (provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage and other energy services) and Questar Gas Company (provides retail natural gas distribution services in UtahWyoming and Idaho). Questar Corp. has a market cap of $7.08 billion; its shares were traded at around $40.65 with a P/E ratio of 13.7 and P/S ratio of 2. The dividend yield of Questar Corp. stocks is 1.3%. Questar Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 15% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Questar Corp. the business predictability rank of 3.5-star.
Questar Corp. reported $98.2 million net income for the third quarter 2009, or $0.56 per diluted share. Questar net income was $0.60 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2009. Third-quarter 2009 EBITDA was $373.7 million, down 18% from the third quarter of 2008. Questar Pipeline net income was $14.1 million in the third quarter of 2009, an 8% decrease from the year-ago period, due to lower NGL prices and higher general and administrative expense.
T Boone Pickens owns 224,000 shares as of 06/30/2009, an increase of 40% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 8.13% of the $85 million portfolio of BP Capital. Irving Kahn owns 17,950 shares as of 06/30/2009, an increase of 12.54% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.15% of the $372 million portfolio of Kahn Brothers & Company Inc. Irving Kahn owns 17,950 shares as of 06/30/2009, which accounts for 0.15% of the $372 million portfolio of Kahn Brothers & Company Inc.. John Keeley owns 57,710 shares as of 06/30/2009, which accounts for 0.03% of the $5.82 billion portfolio of Keeley Fund Management.
Buy:: Pres.& CEO Keith O Rattie bought 10,000 shares of STR stock on 08/17/2009 at the average price of 32.86, the price of the stock has increased by 23.71% since. Sell:: Sr. VP, and CFO S E Parks sold 20,000 shares of STR stock on 08/24/2009 at the average price of 35.14, the price of the stock has increased by 15.68% since. Sell:: Former CFO S E Parks sold 20,000 shares of STR stock on 08/24/2009 at the average price of 35.14, the price of the stock has increased by 15.68% since. Sell:: VP and General Counsel Thomas C Jepperson sold 5,000 shares of STR stock on 10/15/2009 at the average price of 40.03, the price of the stock has increased by 1.55% since.
2. Stryker Corporation (SYK)
Stryker Corporation (SYK), which operates as a medical technology company worldwide, has declared a cash transition dividend of $0.10 per share, payable December 16, 2009, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2009. The transition dividend will increase the total dividends paid in 2009 to $0.50 per share, up 52% from the $0.33 per share paid in 2008. Subject to further action by the Company's Board of Directors, the Company anticipates the first quarterly dividend to be paid in January 2010 at a targeted quarterly rate of $0.15 per share. Stryker Corporation is a dividend achiever, which has raised distributions for 16 consecutive years in a row. The stock yields 1.30%, based off its new quarterly rate of 15 cents/share. Stryker Corporation developsmanufacturesand markets specialty surgical and medical productsincluding orthopaedic implantsbone cementtrauma systems used in bone repairpowered surgical instrumentsendoscopic systemscraniomaxillofacial fixation devicesspecialty surgical equipment used in neurosurgery and patient care and handling equipment for the global market and provide outpatient physical and occupational rehabilitation services. Stryker Corp. has a market cap of $18.86 billion; its shares were traded at around $47.43 with a P/E ratio of 16.6 and P/S ratio of 2.9. The dividend yield of Stryker Corp. stocks is 0.9%. Stryker Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 23.4% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Stryker Corp. the business predictability rank of 4-star.
Stryker Corporation recently reported operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. Net sales were $1,653 million in both the third quarter of 2009 and the third quarter of 2008. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased 1.2% for the third quarter. Net earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $229 million, representing a 16.4% decrease compared to net earnings of $274 million for the third quarter of 2008. Diluted net earnings per share for the third quarter of 2009 were $0.57, representing a 13.6% decrease compared to $0.66 for the third quarter of 2008.
Donald Yacktman owns 152,500 shares as of 09/30/2009, an increase of 258.82% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.4% of the $1.73 billion portfolio of Yacktman Asset Management Co. Robert Olstein owns 204,000 shares as of 06/30/2009, which accounts for 1.74% of the $467 million portfolio of Olstein Financial Alert Fund. Dodge & Cox owns 15,500 shares as of 06/30/2009, which accounts for less than 0.01% of the $66.88 billion portfolio of Dodge & Cox. Kenneth Fisher owns 10,775 shares as of 09/30/2009, which accounts for less than 0.01% of the $29.78 billion portfolio of Fisher Asset Management, LLC.
Buy:: Director Srikant Datar bought 1,000 shares of SYK stock on 08/28/2009 at the average price of 41, the price of the stock has increased by 15.68% since. Buy:: Director Howard L Lance bought 3,000 shares of SYK stock on 08/10/2009 at the average price of 40.72, the price of the stock has increased by 16.48% since. Sell:: Director Donald M Engelman sold 14,136 shares of SYK stock on 08/28/2009 at the average price of 41.33, the price of the stock has increased by 14.76% since. Sell:: Director Ronda E Stryker sold 30,000 shares of SYK stock on 08/25/2009 at the average price of 41.45 and 100,000 shares of SYK stock on 08/26/2009 at the average price of 41.57, the price of the stock has increased by 14.1% since.
3. Middlesex Water Company (MSEX)
Middlesex Water Company (MSEX), which operates as a food company in North America and internationally, increased its quarterly dividend by 2.5% to 20.50 cents per share. Middlesex Water Company is a dividend champion, which has raised distributions for 36 consecutive years in a row. The stock currently yields 4.60%. Middlesex Water Company treatsstores and distributes water for residentialcommercialindustrial and fire prevention purposes. Middlesex Water Company has a market cap of $215.4 million; its shares were traded at around $16.01 with a P/E ratio of 14 and P/S ratio of 2.4. The dividend yield of Middlesex Water Company stocks is 4.5%. Middlesex Water Company had an annual average earning growth of 4.4% over the past 5 years.
Middlesex Water Company reported operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. Revenues in the Middlesex system in New Jersey decreased $0.5 million as a result of abnormally lower water consumption across all customer classes. Net income declined from $4.7 million to $4.0 million. Diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.29 for the three months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $0.35 for the same period in 2008.
Buy:: Director Walter G Reinhard bought 16 shares of MSEX stock on 08/03/2009 at the average price of 15.32, 09/01/2009 at the average price of 15.4, 10/01/2009 at the average price of 15.36, and 11/02/2009 at the average price of 15.49, the price of the stock has increased by 3.36% since. Buy:: President Dennis W Doll bought 1,000 shares of MSEX stock on 09/28/2009 at the average price of 15.45, the price of the stock has increased by 3.62% since.
4. Inergy Holdings GP LLC (NRGP)
Inergy Holdings GP LLC (NRGP), the general partner of propane supplier Inergy LP, on Monday said it will increase its quarterly cash distribution 9 percent for the three-month period ended Sept. 30. The company will raise its distribution to 85 cents per limited partner unit, up from the previous quarter's distribution of 78 cents per limited partner unit. Inergy HoldingsL.P.'s cash-generating assets primarily consist of its partnership interestsincluding incentive distribution rightsin InergyL.P.which operates a geographically diverse retail and wholesale propane supplymarketing and distribution business. Inergy Holdings' primary objective is to increase distributable cash flow to its unitholders through ownership of partnership interests in Inergy L.P.. Inergy Holdings L.p. Common Units has a market cap of $1.02 billion; its shares were traded at around $50.3 with a P/E ratio of 20.6 and P/S ratio of 0.5. The dividend yield of Inergy Holdings L.p. Common Units stocks is 6.3%.
Buy:: SVP of Inergy GP, LLC Andrew L Atterbury bought 10,168 shares of NRGP stock on 08/18/2009 at the average price of 43.7, the price of the stock has increased by 15.1% since. Sell:: Director - Inergy GP, LLC Warren H Gfeller sold 2,660 shares of NRGP stock on 09/11/2009 at the average price of 44.44, the price of the stock has increased by 13.19% since.
