Dividend Scan: WLP, THI, TJX, GPC, BKS, PTNR, BGS, PKG, KBR, FUND, AAN, RNST

Escalating political crisis in Libya and the Middle East has put the US market on a back-foot during the mid-day trading. Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.27 percent or 29.33 points to 12,183.46, and Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.55 percent or 15.39 points to 2,741.02. The Standard and Poor's 500 fell 0.15 percent or 2.02 points to 1,313.50. Amid MENA crisis, several companies declared their annual and quarterly dividends. Some notable dividend payers are discussed here. WellPoint Inc. (NYSE: WLP) declared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share, $1 on an annual basis. Shares of the company added 0.28 percent or $0.16 to $65.50. Tim Hortons Inc. (NYSE: THI) has decided to increase its quarterly dividend by 31 percent to 17 Canadian cents per share. THI gained 0.62 percent or $0.26 to $42.09. The TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) increased its quarterly dividend by 27 percent to 19 cents per share. However, TJX lost 1.93 percent or $0.96 to $48.78. Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) slipped 0.42 percent or $0.25 to $52.33 despite declaring a 10 percent increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $1.80 per share, payable on April 1, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 11, 2011. Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) lost 3.51 percent or $0.56 to $15.38 as it suspends its $0.25 per share quarterly dividend. Partner Communications Company (Nasdaq: PTNR) declared a cash dividend of 54 cents per share, payable on March 28, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 16, 2011. Shares of the company were down 1.37 percent or $0.26 to $18.71. B&G Food Inc. (NYSE: BGS) increased its quarterly dividend by 24 percent to $0.21 per share, payable on May 2, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 31, 2011. B&G lost 0.35 percent or $0.05 to $14.10. Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) increased its annual dividend to $0.80 per share from $0.60. PKG added 0.93 percent or $0.25 to $29.23. KBR Inc. (NYSE: KBR) lost 2.06 percent or $0.69 to $32.82 despite declaring a quarterly cash dividend of 5 cents per share, payable on April 15, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 15, 2011. Royce Focus Trust Inc. (Nasdaq: FUND) declared a cash dividend of $0.375 per share, payable on March 23, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 7, 2011. FUND lost 0.38 percent or $0.03 to $7.89 during the afternoon trading. Aaron Inc. (NYSE: AAN) lost 0.30 percent or $0.07 to $23.01 despite declaring a dividend of $0.013 per share, payable on April 1, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 4, 2011. Renasant Corp. (Nasdaq: RNST) added 0.50 percent or $0.08 to $16.11 as the company approved a quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents per share, payable on April 1, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 16, 2011.... Read more