5 Recent Dividend Increases

What separates income investors from dividend investors is the concept of a growing dividend. This dividend growth is the life-blood of a thriving dividend portfolio. The income derived from a quality, well-diversified portfolio is much more predictable than capital gains and the good companies routinely raise their dividends well in excess of the inflation rate.

Recently, the following companies announced increased cash dividends:

Entergy Corp. (ETR) is an electric utility holding company serves 2.6 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. April 5th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.83/share. The dividend is payable June 1 to stockholders of record on May 12, reflecting the first increase in its quarterly common stock dividend since July 2007. The ex-dividend date is May 10, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 4%. The yield based on the new payout is 4.04%.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) provides retail & commercial banking products and services via 70 banking and two loan production offices in AR, TX, NC. April 6th the company raised its quarterly dividend 7% to $0.15/share. The dividend is payable April 23, 2010 to shareholders of record as of April 16, 2010. The ex-dividend date is April 14, 2010. OZRK is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 11 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.62%.

TJX (TJX) operates eight chains of off-price apparel and home fashion specialty stores in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Ireland and the U.K. April 6th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.15/share. TJX is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 11 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 1.34%.

IDEX (IEX) designs, makes and markets a broad range of pump products, dispensing equipment and other engineered products, serving a diverse customer base worldwide. April 6th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.15/share. The dividend is payable on April 30 to shareholders of record on April 15. The ex-dividend date is April 13. The yield based on the new payout is 1.79%.

Tanger Factory Outlet (SKT) is a real estate investment trust develops, acquires, owns, operates and manages factory outlet shopping centers in the United States. April 8th the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.3875/share. The dividend will be payable on May 14, 2010 to holders of record on April 30, 2010. The ex-dividend date is April 28, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.6%. SKT is a Dividend Achiever and has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.55%.

In addition to the above dividend raisers, two Dividend Achievers declared regular quarterly cash dividends. April 6th RPM International (RPM) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.205/share with a 3.70% yield. The dividend is payable on April 30, 2010 to stockholders of record as of April 16, 2010. The ex-dividend date is April 14, 2010. Also, Murphy Oil (MUR) on April 7th declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25/share with a 1.70% yield. The dividend is payable June 1, 2010 to holders of record May 14, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 12, 2010.

To provide superior long-term returns a companies need to increase their dividends on a consistent basis. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.

Full Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned securities. See a list of all my income holdings here.

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