7 Companies Increasing Dividends

It was yet another volatile five-day period for stocks, as the buying that took
place early this week succumbed to some heavy selling by week's end. The big
data point was received Friday, as the August employment report saw no new net
jobs created in the month, and an unemployment rate that remains at a dismal
9.1%. The news prompted a big selloff in stocks, a slide in oil prices and a
surge in gold prices. The macroeconomic news is no doubt at the forefront of
every investor's mind these days, and many now are wondering if the Federal
Reserve will make a move to help stimulate the economy with another round of
quantitative easing. We'll find out what the Fed has to say Sept. 20-21 when
the Federal Open Market Committee meets. In the meantime, however, investors
shouldn't lose sight of the fact that there still are plenty of stalwart
companies earning profits and increasing dividends. Here are seven companies
boosting payouts this week: Airgas Inc. Industrial, medical and specialty gases
market Airgas Inc. (NYSE: ARG ) inflated its quarterly dividend by 10% to 32
cents from 29 cents. The new dividend will be paid Sept. 30 to shareholders of
record as of Sept. 15. The new dividend yield, based on the closing price of
$64.05, is 2%. The increased dividend comes just eight months after Airgas
boosted its quarterly payout by 16%. Altria Group Tobacco giant Altria Group
(NYSE: MO ) lit up its quarterly dividend on Aug. 26, as the company announced a
7.9% boost in its quarterly payout to 41 cents per share. The new dividend is
payable on Oct. 11 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 15. Based on the
closing price of $26.30 on Aug. 26, the new dividend yield is 6.24%. Brinker
International Chain restaurant operator Brinker International (NYSE: EAT ),
parent company of suburban eating destinations Chili's Grill & Bar and
Maggiano's Little Italy, cooked up a 14% increase in its quarterly dividend to
64 cents per share from 56 cents. The new payout will be served on Sept. 29 to
shareholders of record as of Sept. 9. The new dividend yield, based on the Aug.
29 closing stock price of $23.02, is 11.12%. The company continued to repurchase
its shares last quarter, gobbling up 2.5 million shares for a total of $62.9
million in fiscal Q4.