Guru Stocks Raising Dividends: Stage Stores Inc., BioMed Realty Trust Inc., OilDri Corp. of America, Wiley John & Sons Inc., Crexus Investment Corp

This is the group of companies who raised their dividend during the week: Stage Stores Inc. (SSI, Financial), BioMed Realty Trust Inc. (BMR, Financial), OilDri Corp. of America (ODC, Financial), Wiley John & Sons Inc. (JW-A, Financial), and Crexus Investment Corp (CXS, Financial).

Stage Stores Inc. (SSI)

Stage Stores operates retail stores offering moderately priced, nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family in small towns and communities located primarily throughout the south central United States. Stage Stores Inc. has a market cap of $450.6 million; its shares were traded at around $11.72 with a P/E ratio of 14.2 and P/S ratio of 0.3. On June 14th the company increased quarterly dividend 50% to $0.075/share. The new quarterly dividend rate of will be applicable to dividends declared after June 23, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.34%.

Stage Stores, Inc. reported net income for the first quarter ended May 1, 2010 of $2.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $0.9 million, or $(0.02) per diluted share, for the prior year first quarter ended May 2, 2009. For the first quarter the company reported total assets of $0.82 billion.

Stage Stores Inc. is owned by John Keeley.

Director Cheryl N Turpin, Director David Y Schwartz, and Director Alan J Barocas bought shares of SSI stock.

BioMed Realty Trust Inc. (BMR)

Biomed Realty Trust is focused on acquiring, owning, leasing, managing and selectively developing laboratory and office space for lease to life science tenants, including biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, scientific research institutes, government agencies and other entities involved in the life science industry. Biomed Realty Trust Inc. has a market cap of $1.91 billion; its shares were traded at around $16.82 with a P/E ratio of 9.2 and P/S ratio of 5.3. June 15th the company increases its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $0.15/share. The dividend is equivalent to an annualized dividend of $0.60 per common share. The yield based on the new payout is 3.33%.

BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. Total revenues for the first quarter were $92.8 million, compared to $94.0 million for the same period in 2009. Rental revenues for the first quarter were $70.6 million, compared to $68.4 million for the same period in 2009, an increase of 3.2%. Net income available to common stockholders for the first quarter was $4.3 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to $19.0 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the same period in 2009. FFO for the quarter was $34.0 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to $47.7 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, for the same period in 2009.

BioMed Realty Trust Inc. is owned by Kenneth Fisher.

Executive VP, Real Estate Matthew G Mcdevitt and VP, Chief Accounting Officer Greg Lubushkin sold shares of BMR stock.

OilDri Corp. of America (ODC)

OIL-DRI CORP. OF AMERICA develops, manufactures and markets sorbent products and related services for the consumer, industrial, environmental, agricultural and fluid purification markets. Oildri Corp. Of America has a market cap of $119.7 million; its shares were traded at around $23 with a P/E ratio of 17.6 and P/S ratio of 0.5. June 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7% to $0.16/share. The dividends will be payable on September 3, 2010, to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 20, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.82%.

Oil-Dri Corporation of America reported net sales for the third quarter of $56,259,000, a 3% decrease compared with net sales of $58,053,000 for the same quarter of the previous year. Net income for the third quarter was $2,586,000, or $0.35 per diluted share, a 6% increase compared with net income of $2,416,000, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the same quarter one year ago.

President and CEO Daniel S Jaffee, Director Arnold W Donald, and Vice President Thomas F Cofsky sold shares of ODC stock.

Wiley John & Sons Inc. (JW-A)

Wiley John & Sons Inc. is a global publisher of print and electronic products, specializing in scientific, technical, and medical books and journals; professional and consumer books and subscription services; and textbooks and other educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students as well as lifelong learners. June 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.16/share. The dividend is payable on July 14, 2010 to shareholders of record on July 6, 2010. The ex-dividend date is July 2, 2010. JWA-A is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.65%.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. announces fourth quarter results. For the fourth quarter, revenue grew 8% to $436 million, or 5% on a currency neutral basis. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose 12% in the quarter, or 17% on a currency neutral basis.

Crexus Investment Corp (CXS)

Crexus Investment Corp has a market cap of $234.6 million; its shares were traded at around $12.95. June 17th the company increased its quarterly dividend 71% to $0.12/share. The dividend is payable July 28, 2010 to common shareholders of record on June 28, 2010. The ex-dividend date is June 24, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 3.88%.

CreXus Investment Corp. reported a GAAP net loss of $295,000 or $0.02 basis net loss per average share for the period ending September 30, 2009. For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, the annualized yield on average earning assets was 0.11%.

Director Ronald Daniel Kazel, Head of Commercial Underwrtng Jeffrey Conti, and Director Robert B Eastep bought shares of CXS stock.