23 Stocks With A Vision Of Higher Dividends

To succeed as a dividend growth investor you must identify and purchase stocks with sustainable dividend growth. Inertia is powerful force. Once a company has established a track record of growing its dividend over the decades and developed a shareholder base that expects higher dividends each year, it becomes increasing difficult for management to cut or fail to raise their dividend. No CEO of this type of company wants a dividend cut to occur on his or her watch. Here are a few select companies that have recently followed through on their vision of providing increased cash dividends to their shareholders: Gap Inc. (GPS) operates as a specialty retailing company. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 13% to $0.1125/share. The dividend is payable on or after April 27, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 6, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%. Chubb Corporation (CB) provides property and casualty insurance to businesses and individuals. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.4% to $0.39/share. The dividend is payable April 5, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 18, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%. BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 37.5% to $1.375/share. The dividend is payable March 23, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 7, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.58/share. The Company has paid uninterrupted dividends on its common stock since 1895. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%. TECO Energy, Inc. (TE) is an energy-related holding company and its principal subsidiary, Tampa Electric Company, is a regulated utility in Florida with both electric and gas divisions. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.7% to $0.215/share. The yield based on the new payout is 4.9%. Southwest Gas Corporation (SWX) provides natural gas service to approximately 1.8 million customers in Arizona, Nevada, and California. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.265/share. The Company has paid quarterly dividends continuously since going public in 1956, and has raised its dividend in each of the past five years. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%. WesBanco, Inc. (WSBC) is a multi-state bank holding company of $5.4 billion in total assets providing banking services through 112 locations and 132 ATMs in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $0.15 per common share from the previous quarterly dividend rate of $0.14/share. The increased dividend will be payable on April 1, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 11, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.6%. Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) provides risk management services for a wide variety of coverages, principally in the property and liability, mortgage guaranty and title insurance fields. February 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.1750/share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2011, to shareholders of record on March 4, 2011.... Read more