17 Companies Increasing Dividends

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tdp2664 InvestorPlace 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%.