Invest in high quality dividend paying companies that can manage their cash flow and payout ratio and be rewarded with constant dividend increases. A dividend increase is something every dividend growth investor can get excited about. Who wouldn’t love earning a little more from an investment without having to add additional capital? I enjoy highlighting these dividend raises every now and then. Let’s run down the list and see if any of these recent dividend raisers are in your portfolio.
First up, electric utility Edison International (EIX) just announced a 13% dividend increase from the current annual dividend rate of $1.92.
Next is a company that can be found in several dividend growth portfolios, Mastercard Incorporated (MA). MA will be boosting its dividend by $0.03 cents which may not sound like a lot but represents an impressive 16% increase to $0.22 cents a share, from the current $0.19 cents a share.
Weight loss meal provider Medifast, Inc. (MED) just announced a monster 28% dividend increase raising its quarterly payout from $0.25 cents to $0.32 cents.
Residential REIT Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA) also recently announced a generous bump in their distribution of 6.1% declaring a new quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, up from the current $0.82 cents a share.
In the insurance space we have Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE) giving shareholders a 7.2% bump in dividends increasing their quarterly payment to $0.7825 per share from the old rate of $0.73 per share.
Here’s one I never heard of but have indulged on their products, J&J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF). Makers of the Super Pretzel, ICEE and more is raising their dividend 7.7% to $0.42 per share from the prior dividend of $0.39.
Medical appliance manufacture Stryker Corporation (SYK) is also giving investors something to cheer about as it raised its dividend by 11.8% giving shareholders a quarterly dividend of $0.425 per share up from the prior dividend of $0.38.
Popular REIT W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC) also recently announced a modest distribution raise of 0.5%. Of course the current yield of 6.7% more than makes up for the token quarterly raise to $0.99 cents per share from the prior dividend of $0.985 cents.
Finally, diversified REIT, Douglas Emmett, Inc. (DEI) just boosted its payout by 4.5% offering a current yield of 2.4% raising its quarterly dividend to $0.23 cents a share from $0.22 a share.
Getting a dividend raise is always a welcome gesture. The above companies are just some the most recent to declare dividend increases during the first week of December. As you can see they represent various sectors and most raised their respective dividends by a healthy amount. Are any of the companies mentioned in your portfolio? Please let me know below.
Disclosure: Long NONE
A huge flurry of dividend increase announcements came in yesterday. I got one that isnt on this list — from Ventas (VTR), a neat 6% raise 🙂
R2R
Roadmap2Retire recently posted…Passive Income Update – Nov 2016
Thanks for the VTR news!
It’s not all bad news among the health REITs 🙂
Hi R2R,
A definite flurry of dividend raises recently announced and more coming almost daily. The beauty of following a DGI path. Thanks for the VTR news too! Kind of takes some of the sting off of HCP. As always, I appreciate your comment.
A timely article since I just bought some MAA! I like their market locations and the trend moving forward towards renting instead of owning. A 6% dividend increase is certainly welcome as well!
I also own some WPC but am a little more cautious about them moving forward. However it is indeed fun to see a dividend increase every quarter!
TheDividendLife.com
Hi TDL,
MAA is not a very popular REIT among our fellow dividend bloggers but does look like a interesting pick. Congrats on picking some up and enjoying a nice bump in payout going forward. WPC, on the other hand, is found in many portfolios online. That’s a REIT that seems to have things figured out. Thank you for commenting.
I love this time of year. Been getting a lot of dividend raises from my Canadian Banks. I’m expecting more from my telcos and utilities.
My Road to Wealth and Freedom recently posted…Donald Trump will Make Investors Rich
Hi MRtWaF,
I don’t think any dividend investor ever gets bored reading about dividend raises. It’s just one part of the trifecta of dividend growth investing. Dividend raises, reinvestment and adding fresh capital combined really get that dividend snowball growing. I’ve been happy with my Canadian banks too. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
None of those are in my portfolio. Would be nice though lol. Haven’t had a raise since CVX announced I believe. Should have some soon though. Did get an announcement for a special dividend for January so that is almost as good lol
Doug recently posted…November Dividends
Hi Doug,
Dividend raises, special dividends, etc. are always good news to a dividend growth investor. The more known dividend growers you hold in your portfolio the greater the odds you’ll be enjoying dividend raises more frequently. At least CVX is keeping the streak going. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
And GE increased their dividend as well from 0.23 to 0.24. What a surprise!
Hi Finstermoor,
Thanks for sharing the GE news too. A raise is a raise, even if it’s a token one. Thank you for commenting.
nice ! I love getting raises. WPC is a great REIT and I have been looking at ERIE recently.
-Brian
Brian recently posted…November Dividends 2016!
Hi Brian,
Everyone loves getting a raise. Still not sure why people are not on board the DGI bus. It’s a strategy that works well over time. WPC is a very popular name among our fellow bloggers. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Nice listing here – I just wished I owned one of the stocks on the list haha Thanks for taking the time to summarize it for us.
Bert
Dividend Diplomats recently posted…Lanny’s December Dividend Stock Watch List
Hi DD,
Dividend raises are being announced almost daily. I’m sure that in short time you will own a name that has raised its dividend. As always, I appreciate your comment.
Add PFE to the list.
anonymous recently posted…Give me your money, your attention, or your privacy.
Hi anonymous,
Thanks for the addition of PFE. There have been a lot of raises from many different sectors recently. Thanks for commenting.
You own some really great companies Keith!
The selection in Canada is just not the same 🙁
One of my goals for 2017 was to have 50% of the companies I own increase their Divi’s.
Divi Cents recently posted…GOALS FOR 2017
Hi DC,
Well, among the names mentioned in this post I own none. Of course, that doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed some dividend raises from some of my current holdings. I think it’s vital to focus on companies growing their dividends long term rather than just going after a high current yield. A portfolio definitely has room for both types of stocks but I feel that the majority of ones holdings should be in the dividend growers. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.