17 Companies Increasing Dividends

We saw big dividend news from two behemoth companies this week. First, we saw
automaker Ford (NYSE: F ) announce that it has approved a plan to reinstate its
quarterly dividend payout following a five-year hiatus. The new dividend of 5
cents a share will be paid on March 1 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 31.
Ford's dividend yield will be 1.8% based on the closing price on Thursday.
Then on Friday, General Electric (NYSE: GE ) increased its quarterly dividend by
2 cents to 17 cents a share. GE's board said the new dividend is payable Jan.
25 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 27. Of course, Ford and GE aren't the
only big companies making dividend news. In fact, this week we saw a bevy of
beefed-up payouts to shareholders from some of the largest capitalization
companies in the market. Here are 15 more companies increasing dividends this
week. Investment management firm Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP ) boosted its
return to shareholders, increasing its quarterly dividend by 22% to 28 cents a
share. The new payout will be made on Feb. 24 to shareholders of record as of
Feb. 10. The new dividend yield, based on its closing price Thursday of $48.21,
is 2.32%. The company has increased its dividend by 56% since the second quarter
of 2011, and raised its dividend five times since becoming a public company in
2005. Insurance and reinsurance provider Axis Capital (NYSE: AXS ) moved to
assure shareholders of its fiscal fitness, raising its quarterly dividend 4% to
24 cents a share. The new dividend is payable on Jan. 17 to the shareholders of
record as of Dec. 30. The new dividend yield, based on the Thursday closing
price of $30.94, is 2.97%. Petroleum and natural gas production firm Baytex
Energy Trust (NYSE: BTE ) pumped out a new monthly divided of 22 cents a share,
a 10% increase over its current dividend. The new payout will be made on Jan. 17
to shareholders of record on Dec. 30. The new dividend yield, based on Thursday
closing price of $55.39, is 4.77%. The company said the dividend increase is
attributable to the strength of its underlying business, and the current oil
price environment. Pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY )
increased the dosage on it dividend, boosting its payout by 3% to 34 cents a
share. The new dividend will be dealt out on Feb. 1 to shareholders of record on
Jan. 6. The new dividend yield, based on the Thursday closing price of $33.12,
is 4.11%. The last time the drug giant increased its dividend was in the first
quarter of 2011. C.H. Robinson Worldwide (NASDAQ: CHRW ) has raised its
quarterly dividend 13.4% to 33 cents a share. The freight and logistics firm
will distribute the new payout on Jan. 3 to shareholders of record as of Dec.
20. The new dividend yield, based on the Thursday closing price of $67.25, is
1.96%. Horseracing company Churchhill Downs (NASDAQ: CHDN ) has placed a winning
bet with shareholders, speeding up its annual dividend by 20% to 60 cents a
share. The new dividend crosses the finish line Jan. 23, provided shareholders
are in the saddle by Dec. 30. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec. 5
closing price of $50.19, is 1.20%. Oil and natural gas transportation and
distribution company Enbridge (NYSE: ENB ) has raised its quarterly dividend 15%
to 28.25 cents a share. The new dividend is payable March 1 to shareholders of
record as of Feb. 15. The new dividend yield, based on its Thursday closing
price of $35.44, is 3.19%.