6 Companies Raising Dividends

The final weeks of the year are relatively light on the dividend front, but
that didn't stop several high-profile companies from announcing bigger
payouts. A telecom giant, a stalwart pharmaceutical retailer and a major corn
producer all added a little holiday cheer to their respective shareholders'
stockings, and they did so just in time for Christmas. Here are six companies
increasing dividends: Telecom giant AT&T (NYSE: T ) suffered a setback from its
failed attempt to acquire T-mobile, but just prior to the disappointing news the
company made a phone call to shareholders announcing a hike in its quarterly
dividend by 2.3% to 44 cents per share. The new dividend is payable on Feb. 1 to
shareholders of record as of Jan. 10. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec.
16 closing price of $28.85 (the day the dividend was announced), is 6.10%. AT&T
is the highest yielding of the 25 largest publicly traded stocks by market cap,
and the company has raised its annual dividend now for the 28 th consecutive
year. Corn Products (NYSE: CPO ) planted another dividend boost to shareholders,
raising its quarterly dividend for the second time in a year. The global
ingredient provider to the food, beverage and brewing industries raised its
quarterly payout 25% to 20 cents per share. The new dividend is payable on Jan.
25 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 30. The new dividend yield, based on the
Dec. 16 closing price of $48.78, is 1.64%. Retail pharmacy operator CVS Caremark
(NYSE: CVS ) filled a new prescription to shareholders, boosting its quarterly
payout 30% to 16.25 cents a share. The new dividend is payable Feb. 2 to
shareholders of record as of Jan. 23. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec.
20 closing price of $39.80, is 1.63%. Along with the dividend, the company also
said that in 2012 it expects to buy back the remaining $3 billion of stock
within its current buyback authorization. Diversified agricultural firm
Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE ) is involved in the production of grain, ethanol and
plant nutrients, and last week it nourished shareholders with a 25% boost in its
quarterly dividend. The new payout of 15 cents a share will be made on Jan. 24
to shareholders of record as of Jan. 3. The new dividend yield, based on the
Dec. 16 closing price of $42.87, is 1.4%. This is the company's 61st
consecutive quarterly cash dividend since it went public in 1996. Ensign
(NASDAQ: ENSG ) provides nursing and rehabilitative care services, and last week
the company soothed shareholders with a 9% increase in its quarterly dividend to
6 cents per share. The increased payout will be issued Jan. 31 to shareholders
of record as of Dec. 31. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec. 16 closing
price of $24.55, is .98%. Ensign has been paying dividends since 2002. Regional
financial holding company Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT ) raised its quarterly
dividend 20% to 6 cents a share. The new payout will be made Jan. 13 to
shareholders of record as of Jan. 2. The new dividend yield, based on the Dec.
20 closing price of $9.58, is 2.51%. Disclosure: At the time of publication, Jim
Woods held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this article.