6 Stocks With Dividend Increases This Week

Last week's list of stocks increasing dividends was little light, but some big names have come out of the woodwork in dividend stock news recently. Gold miner GoldCorp Inc. (NYSE: GG ) doubled its dividend, food products blue chip Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE ) added to its already plump yield and some important small-cap tech stocks got in on the action, too.  Here's this week's roundup of the latest dividend increases and high-yield dividend stocks: Sara Lee Dividend Increase On Thursday, food-products giant Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE ) declared a quarterly dividend of 11.5 cents per share, an increase of about 5% over its prior dividend of 11 cents per share. The bump now gives Sara Lee a yield of about 3.2%. Sara Lee is currently interviewing executives for its top spot, but that open position hasn't held back shares. The blue-chip stock is up about 20% year to date, compared with just about 7% for the S&P 500 index. The stock rallied this fall on rumors of a buyout, but talks with Apollo Global Management have reportedly fallen through. GoldCorp Dividend Increase GoldCorp Inc. (NYSE: GG ) reported earnings this week that were quadruple last year's numbers. No surprise, given how gold prices have been on a tear. And investors have even more to be happy about as the gold-mining stock reported a dramatic doubling of its dividend yield. -GoldCorp increased its quarterly dividend from 4.5 cents a share to 9 cents a share. That gives the gold company a dividend yield of 0.8%. Since GG just paid a dividend on Oct. 22, it will be another three months until this higher yield turns up in payouts. GoldCorp stock is up about 13% year-to-date, double the S&P 500 index in 2010. Perrigo Dividend Increase Health-care mid cap Perrigo Co. (NASDAQ: PRGO ) isn't quite a dividend heavyweight, but it's worth noting the company’s 12% increase in its quarterly payday from 6.25 cents to 7 cents a share. That gives the stock a new yield of about 0.7%. The dividend is payable Dec. 14 to shareholders of record Nov. 26. Perrigo has had a breakout 2010, with gains of about 68% so far this year. The company will announce third-quarter earnings Nov. 2 and is expected to see 15% to 20% EPS growth. Evercore Dividend Increase Evercore Partners (NYSE: EVR ), an independent investment banking advisory firm, has cashed in big time as cash-rich companies have been on a spree of mergers and acquisitions. Evercore had a 48% jump in third-quarter revenue, and a significant 20% bump to its dividend from 15 cents a share to 18 cents. EVR has also authorized a 2 million-share buyback program. Evercore now has a dividend yield of about 2.3%. The small-cap company has struggled in 2010, posting a loss year to date despite a gain for the broader markets. However, since July 1 Evercore is up about 30% and its recent strong earnings report may signal better times ahead. AEP Dividend Increase Utility stock American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP ) has signed off on a 9.5% quarterly dividend increase, from 42 cents to 46 cents a share.  That gives AEP stock a dividend yield just shy of 5%. The next payout from the Ohio utility stock will be Dec. 10 to shareholders of record Nov. 10. The American Electric Power board formalized the dividend increase this week, after previous hints it would do so. Rumblings of an increase emerged after a strong third-quarter report earlier in October that included a 25% jump in earnings. Shares of AEP stock are up about 15% since July 1. DDi Dividend Increase Circuit board small cap DDi Corp. (NASDAQ: DDIC ) may be modest in size, but its dividend yield is now one of the best in the tech sector. After strong third-quarter earnings, DDi boosted its dividend from 6 cents a share to 10 cents a share,  a 66% increase. DDIC stock now has a dividend yield of just over 4%. DDi also had some good earnings news Thursday.  DDIC saw net sales jump 27% over last year, while income increased by about 8%. DDi shares have doubled so far in 2010, and it appears that the big profits are far from over if it is confidence enough for big payout increase. In other dividend stock news:  Moody’s (NYSE: MCO ) maintained its quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share and dividend yield of 1.6%. Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI ) maintained its quarterly dividend of 29 cents per share and its dividend yield of 3.0%. Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH ) maintained its quarterly dividend of 26 cents per share and dividend yield of 3.2%. DPL Inc. (NYSE: DPL ) maintained its quarterly dividend of 30.25 cents per share and dividend yield of 4.5%. Jeff Reeves is editor of InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he did not own a position in any of the stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JeffReevesIP .
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