It was only a few months ago that many experts declared dividend investing dead, after almost all financial companies in the US cut or eliminated their distributions to shareholders. In recent months there has been a slow but steady trend of many companies showing their confidence in the economic rebound by raising distributions. Over the past week several dividend payers announced that their boards of directors have approved increases in cash dividends they send out to their stockholders quarterly. Especially bullish was the fact that most of the companies were established dividend payers with long histories of consistent dividend increases.
The companies which raised distributions are listed below:
Nucor Corporation (NUE, Financial), engages in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products in North America, increased its quarterly dividend by 2.9% to 36 cents per share. Nucor Corporation is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend for thirty-six years in a row. The stock currently yields 3.20%. (analysis)
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (KMP, Financial) announced its preliminary projections for next year, stating that it expects KMP to declare cash distributions of $4.40 per unit for 2010, a 4.8 percent increase over its 2009 budget target of $4.20 per unit. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: KMP) is a leading pipeline transportation and energy storage company in North America. KMP owns an interest in or operates more than 28,000 miles of pipelines and 170 terminals. The company is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend for thirteen years in a row. The stock currently yields 7.40%. (analysis)
Enbridge Inc. (ENB, Financial), which engages in the transportation and distribution of crude oil and natural gas primarily in Canada and the United States, increased its quarterly dividend by 15% to 42.5 cents per share. Enbridge Inc. is an international dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend in each of the past fifteen years. The stock currently yields 3.20%.
New Jersey Resources (NJR, Financial), which provides retail and wholesale energy services in two segments, Natural Gas Distribution and Energy Services, increased its quarterly dividend by 9.7% to 34 cents per share. New Jersey Resources is a dividend achiever, which has increased its dividend in each of the last twelve years and has paid quarterly dividends since 1952. The stock currently yields 3.40%.
Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT, Financial), which is a real-estate investment trust which invests in health care and human service related facilities, including acute care hospitals, behavioral healthcare facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, sub-acute facilities, surgery centers, childcare centers, and medical office buildings, increased its quarterly dividend from 59.5 cents to 60 cents per share. Universal Health Realty Income Trust is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend for twenty-two consecutive years. The stock currently yields 7.90%.
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO, Financial), which manufactures and resells welding and cutting products worldwide, increased its quarterly dividend by 3.7% to 28 cents per share. Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend for over fourteen years. The stock currently yields 2.00%.
Full disclosure: Long KMR and NUE
Dividend Growth Investor
http://dividendgrowthinvestor.com
The companies which raised distributions are listed below:
Nucor Corporation (NUE, Financial), engages in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products in North America, increased its quarterly dividend by 2.9% to 36 cents per share. Nucor Corporation is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend for thirty-six years in a row. The stock currently yields 3.20%. (analysis)
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (KMP, Financial) announced its preliminary projections for next year, stating that it expects KMP to declare cash distributions of $4.40 per unit for 2010, a 4.8 percent increase over its 2009 budget target of $4.20 per unit. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: KMP) is a leading pipeline transportation and energy storage company in North America. KMP owns an interest in or operates more than 28,000 miles of pipelines and 170 terminals. The company is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend for thirteen years in a row. The stock currently yields 7.40%. (analysis)
Enbridge Inc. (ENB, Financial), which engages in the transportation and distribution of crude oil and natural gas primarily in Canada and the United States, increased its quarterly dividend by 15% to 42.5 cents per share. Enbridge Inc. is an international dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend in each of the past fifteen years. The stock currently yields 3.20%.
New Jersey Resources (NJR, Financial), which provides retail and wholesale energy services in two segments, Natural Gas Distribution and Energy Services, increased its quarterly dividend by 9.7% to 34 cents per share. New Jersey Resources is a dividend achiever, which has increased its dividend in each of the last twelve years and has paid quarterly dividends since 1952. The stock currently yields 3.40%.
Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT, Financial), which is a real-estate investment trust which invests in health care and human service related facilities, including acute care hospitals, behavioral healthcare facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, sub-acute facilities, surgery centers, childcare centers, and medical office buildings, increased its quarterly dividend from 59.5 cents to 60 cents per share. Universal Health Realty Income Trust is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend for twenty-two consecutive years. The stock currently yields 7.90%.
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO, Financial), which manufactures and resells welding and cutting products worldwide, increased its quarterly dividend by 3.7% to 28 cents per share. Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend for over fourteen years. The stock currently yields 2.00%.
Full disclosure: Long KMR and NUE
Dividend Growth Investor
http://dividendgrowthinvestor.com
