Guru Stocks Raising Dividends: International Business Machines Corp, W.W. Grainger Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc.

This is the group of companies who raised their dividend during the week: International Business Machines Corp (IBM, Financial), W.W. Grainger Inc. (GWW, Financial), Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM, Financial), Chevron Corp. (CVX, Financial), and Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc. (CFR, Financial)

International Business Machines Corp (IBM)

IBM uses advanced information technology to provide customer solutions. International Business Machines Corp has a market cap of $167.57 billion; its shares were traded at around $129 with a P/E ratio of 12.5 and P/S ratio of 1.8. International Business Machines Corp had an annual average earning growth of 10.7% over the past 10 years. The company increased its dividend by 18% to 55 cents/share. This is the 15th year in a row that IBM has increased its quarterly cash dividend. This dividend achiever yields 2%.

George Soros, John Rogers, and Ruane Cunniff own shares of IBM stock.

Chairman, Pres., and CEO Samuel J Palmisano, Sr. VP and CFO Mark Loughridge, and Director Kenneth I Chenault sold shares of IBM stock.

W.W. Grainger Inc. (GWW)

Grainger offers a breadth of MRO solutions by combining products, services, and information. W.w. Grainger Inc. has a market cap of $8.03 billion; its shares were traded at around $110.54 with a P/E ratio of 20 and P/S ratio of 1.3. W.w. Grainger Inc. had an annual average earning growth of 12.7% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated W.w. Grainger Inc. the business predictability rank of 2.5-star. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 17% from $0.46 to $0.54 per share. This is the thirty-ninth dividend increase in a row for this dividend aristocrat. The stock yields 2%.

Sr. VP and General Counsel John L Howard, Sr VP-Communications & Inv Rel Nancy A Hobor, and Vice President and Controller Gregory S Irving sold shares of GWW stock.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM)

Exxon Mobil Corporation's principal business is energy, involving exploration for, and production of, crude oil and natural gas, manufacturing of petroleum products and transportation and sale of crudeoil, natural gas and petroleum products. Exxon Mobil Corp. has a market cap of $319.96 billion; its shares were traded at around $67.77 with a P/E ratio of 16.9 and P/S ratio of 1.1. Exxon Mobil Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 11.2% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Exxon Mobil Corp. the business predictability rank of 3.5-star. The company raised its quarterly dividends to 44 cents/share, up from 42 cents/share. This is the twenty-eight consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend aristocrat. The stock yields 2.60%.

John Hussman, Jean-Marie Eveillard, and Warren Buffett own shares of XOM stock.

Vice President Alan J Kelly, Vice President and Secretary David S Rosenthal, and Vice President Richard Michael Kruger sold shares of XOM stock.

Chevron Corp. (CVX)

Chevron is the fifth-largest integrated energy company in the world. Chevron Corp. has a market cap of $163.56 billion; its shares were traded at around $81.44 with a P/E ratio of 16.8 and P/S ratio of 1. Chevron Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 11.5% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Chevron Corp. the business predictability rank of 3-star. The company raised its quarterly dividends by 5.90% 72 cents/share. This is the twenty-third consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend achiever. The stock yields 3.50%.

On April 30, 2010, Chevron Corporation reported earnings of $4.55 billion ($2.27 per share - diluted) for the first quarter 2010, compared with $1.84 billion ($0.92 per share – diluted) in the 2009 first quarter. Earnings in the first quarter 2010 include charges of $175 million ($0.09 per share) associated with employee reductions in the downstream businesses and corporate staffs.

John Hussman, Charles Brandes, NWQ Managers own shares of CVX stock.

Executive Vice President Michael K Wirth, Director Robert J Eaton, and Vice Pres. and Comptroller Mark A Humphrey sold shares of CVX stock.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc. (CFR)

Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc. is a financial holding company. Cullen/frost Bankers Inc. has a market cap of $3.58 billion; its shares were traded at around $59.36 with a P/E ratio of 21 and P/S ratio of 4.3. Cullen/frost Bankers Inc. had an annual average earning growth of 5.9% over the past 10 years. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 4.70% to 45cents/share. This is the seventeenth consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend achiever. The stock yields 3%.

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. reported results for the fourth quarter. Cullen/Frost reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 of $51.5 million, or $.86 per diluted common share, compared to fourth quarter 2008 earnings of $53.0 million, or $.89 per diluted common share.

Richard Aster Jr owns shares of CFR stock.

Group EVP / CFO Phillip D Green, Director Carlos Alvarez, and Director R Denny Alexander sold shares of CFR stock.