8 Companies Increasing Dividends Last Week

The total number of companies increasing dividends last week was slightly
smaller than it's been over the past month; however, this week's batch of
income-generating equities contains some of the biggest names on the marquee.
The hands-down winner in the premier dividend sweepstakes this week is venerable
retailer Walmart (NYSE: WMT ). The discount behemoth upped its quarterly
dividend by 21%, increasing the payout to 36.50 per share. The new dividend is
payable on Apr. 4 to shareholders of record on March 11. The new largess to
shareholders of the world's largest retailer came along with the company's
reported 27% increase in fourth-quarter net income. Walmart said it benefited
from cost-cutting and strong sales overseas. The only fly in the earnings
ointment was the company's U.S. operations, which fell for the seventh
consecutive quarter. So, what other big names raised dividends last week?  Here
are seven dividend divas sharing the spoils of victory. Big 5 Sporting Goods
(NASDAQ: BGFV ). The retailer upped its quarterly dividend big time, upping the
payout to 75 cents a share from 5 cents a share. The new cash dividend will be
paid on March 22 to shareholders of record as on March 8. News of the new payout
came along with better-than-expected fourth-quarter EPS of 25 cents, which was
better than consensus Street estimates for 23 cents per share. The numbers were
lower than the same quarter a year ago, however there was also one less week in
the quarter this year, which materially affected revenue. Devon Energy (NYSE:
DVN ). The natural gas provider fired up its quarterly payout, raising its
dividend by about 6%. The new payout of 17 cents per share will be made on June
30 to shareholders of record as of June 15. In February, the company said
fourth-quarter earnings dipped 16%; however, the numbers did best analysts'
expectations. Fred's Inc. (NASDAQ: FRED ). The discount general merchandise
retailer raised its dividend by 25% to 5 cents per share from 4 cents. The new
dividend is payable on March 15 to shareholders of record as of March 10. The
company's announcement came along with a 2% rise in February sales to $153.6
million from $150.6 million in the same four-week period a year ago. The
company, which operates 676 discount general merchandise stores, including 24
franchised Fred's stores, also reported comparable store sales in February
rose 0.9%. General Dynamics (NYSE: GD ). The defense contractor and maker of
Gulfstream jets upped its quarterly dividend to 47 cents per share, which
represents a 12% increase from the current payout of 42 cents per share. The
defense giant will send out the new dividend ordinance on May 6 to shareholders
of record as of April 8. The last time General Dynamics raised its dividend this
much was back in 1993. Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE: THG ). The company, which
offers a variety of property and casualty insurance products, took steps to
insure that shareholders are pleased by upping its quarterly dividend. The new
payout of 27.5 cents per share represents a 10% increase over the current
dividend. The increased dividend is payable March 29 to shareholders of record
as of March 15. Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD ). Canada's second-biggest
bank upped its quarterly payout to 66 Canadian cents a share from 61 Canadian
cents a share. Canada's banking regulators were instructed to put dividend
increases on hold during the financial tumult caused by the Great Recession, but
last fall those restrictions on dividends were lifted. The new payout will be
made on April 30 to shareholders of record on April 5. The new dividend came in
concert with the banks better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter profit. Wyndham
Worldwide (NYSE: WYN ). The hotelier checked in with a quarterly dividend
upgrade to 15 cents per share from the previous payout of 12 cents. The new
dividend will be occupied on March 25 to shareholders of record as of March 10.
In February, Wyndham reported a 6.9% increase in fourth-quarter earnings as the
lodging company's hotel and time-share businesses continued to recover from
the weak demand it saw in 2009. At the time of publication, Jim Woods held no
positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this article.