Dividend-Paying Stocks: MSFT, MCD, and 22 More New Dividend Boosts By Diane Alter

The profusion of dividend-paying stocks that have increased payouts over the last several weeks reflects a robust second-quarter earnings season. Companies in the S&P 500 turned in 10.3% earnings growth in Q2 - the highest advance since 2011's third quarter. Last week Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), and 22 other dividend stocks raised payouts. Here's the full list of dividend hikes announced during the week ending Sept. 19, 2014. The post Dividend-Paying Stocks: MSFT, MCD, and 22 More New Dividend Boosts appeared first on Money Morning - Only the News You Can Profit From .

The profusion of dividend-paying stocks that have increased payouts over the last several weeks reflects a robust second-quarter earnings season.

Indeed, companies in the S&P 500 Index turned in 10.3% earnings growth in Q2 - the highest advance since 2011's third quarter, according to S&P Capital IQ.

Dividend-Paying Stocks: MSFTFull-year profit growth for the broad-based benchmark is currently forecast to come in at 8%, up from estimates of 7.5% in July. Furthermore, full-year earnings per share expectations of $118.39 would mark an all-time record for the index.

That bodes well for investors hoping for more dividend hikes. Last week Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD), and 22 other dividend stocks hiked payouts.

Here's the full list of dividend enrichments announced during the week ending Sept. 19.

Dividend-Paying Stocks That Just Boosted Payouts

Apollo Residential Mortgage Inc. (Nasdaq: AMTG) upped its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.44 a share for a 10.72% yield.

Artesian Resources Corp. (Nasdaq: ARTNA) hiked its quarterly dividend 1.5% to $0.2151 a share for a 4.25% yield.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc. (NYSE: BXMT) boosted its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.50 a share for a 7.2% yield.

Covanta Holding Corp. (NYSE: CVA) raised its quarterly dividend $0.06 to $0.25 a share for a 4.66% yield.

Covidien Plc. (NYSE: COV) increased its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.36 a share for a 1.6% yield.

Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Plus Fund (NYSE: EFF) boosted its monthly dividend 1.1% to $0.094 a share for a 6.38% yield.

Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust (NYSE: EFR) hiked its monthly payout 2.7% to $0.074 a share for a 6.39% yield.

Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (NYSE: EFT) increased it monthly dividend 2.8% to $0.074 a share for a 6.05% yield.

The First of Long Island Corp. (Nasdaq: FLIC) boosted its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.28 a share for a 3.06% yield.

If you aren't a Money Morning Member, sign up now for free to see 15 more dividend stocks that just raised payouts. You'll also get this dividend investing report with three superior picks to help grow your income: The Best Dividend Strategy for Building Fortune in a Low-Yield Era

Frisch's Restaurants Inc. (NYSEMKT: FRS) fattened its quarterly dividend $0.02 to $0.20 a share for a 3% yield. The 11.1% increase is the full-service family-style restaurant chain's 215th consecutive quarterly dividend. The Cincinnati-based company has reported a profit every year since going public in 1960 and has paid cash dividends to shareholders every quarter over the same period.

Great Northern Iron Ore Properties (NYSE: GNI) raised its quarterly dividend a dime to $2.60 a share for a hefty 39.19% yield.

IdaCorp Inc. (NYSE: IDA) increased its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.47 a share for a 3.12% yield. At the new rate, the Idaho-based power company's annual dividend rate is an attractive $1.88 per share.

Iron Mountain Inc. (NYSE: IRM) boosted its quarterly payout 76% to $0.475 a share for a 5.33% yield.

Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Co. (NYSE: KYN) raised its quarterly dividend a penny to $0.65 a share for a 6.22% yield.

Kayne Anderson Energy Total Return Fund (NYSE: KYE) upped its quarterly payout 1% to $0.485 a share for a 6% yield.

Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) increased its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.18 a share for a 1.42% yield. Kroger has returned more than $10 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases since reinstating dividends in 2006. The supermarket chain said it expects to continue boosting payouts.

McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) moved its quarterly dividend up $0.04 to $0.85 a share for a 3.43% yield. The 5% dividend enrichment, which comes even as the fast-food giant struggles with slumping sales and waning customer traffic, marks MCD's 38th straight annual dividend boost.

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.31 a share for 2.61% yield. The 11% dividend enhancement is in line with the software behemoth's revenue growth in its latest fiscal year, but is half last year's 22% boost. MSFT has been under pressure from activist investors to return more of its cash stash, which rose some 11% to nearly $86 billion over the last 12 months, to shareholders.

Sanderson Farms Inc. (Nasdaq: SAFM) sweetened its quarterly payout $0.02 to $0.22 a share for a yield just shy of 1%. The Mississippi poultry processor also announced a special cash dividend payment of $0.50 a share. The enriched and extra dividend are both payable on Oct. 14 to shareholders of record Sept. 30.

Sasol Ltd. (NYSE ADR: SSL) juiced its semi-annual dividend 66.8% to $1.26 a share for a 3.57% yield.

U.S. Bancorp (DE) PRFD H (NYSE: USB-H) upped its quarterly payout 1.1% to $0.223 a share for a 4.08% yield.

W.P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) goosed its quarterly dividend $0.04 to $0.94 a share for a 5.3% yield. The boost marks WPC's 54th consecutive quarterly dividend increase. Since its initial public offering in 1998, WPC has paid more than $1.5 billion in dividends to investors.

Washington Trust Bancorp (Nasdaq: WASH) hiked its quarterly dividend $0.03 to $0.32 a share for a 3.7% yield.

WSFS Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: WSFS) raised its quarterly payout $0.03 to $0.15 a share for a yield approaching 1%.

Don't forget to claim your free dividend investing report: The Best Dividend Strategy for Building a Fortune in the Low-Yield Era

Now for Today's Top Story: Even with interest rates low and the economy improving, many nervous investors - worried about a correction - are selling off. But whenever this sort of negative noise is in the air, it's often a profit opportunity. These three strategies will turn market declines to your financial advantage.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The post Dividend-Paying Stocks: MSFT, MCD, and 22 More New Dividend Boosts appeared first on Money Morning - Only the News You Can Profit From.

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.