Walgreens Announces Largest Increase to Quarterly Dividend in Company’s History and New $2 Billion Share Repurchase Program

The board of directors of Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WBA) today increased the quarterly dividend 28.6 percent - the largest quarterly dividend increase in the company’s 110-year history - to 22.5 cents per share from the previous rate of 17.5 cents per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 12, 2011, to shareholders of record Aug. 19, 2011. The dividend increase raises the annual rate from 70 cents per share to 90 cents per share.... more

5 Tech Dividend Stocks With Impressive Dividend Trends

If you’re looking for sources of dividend income, there are several considerations to keep in mind, particularly if you are concerned about maintaining that yield. Dividend yields above 7% and payout ratios above 35% may be unsustainably large. Also, cash flow trends should be positive enough to indicate that the company can keep funding their dividend. We ran a screen on tech stocks paying dividend yields between 2-7% and payout ratios below 35% for those showing positive cash trends. Using levered free cash flow, or the cash flow available after paying interest on outstanding debt, we searched for those companies with high levered free cash flow relative to market cap. Not only does that indicate dividend sustainability, it also indicates a potentially undervalued opportunity. ... more

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Watsco, Inc. (WSO). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis: Company Description: Watsco Inc. is the largest U.S. distributor of air-conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment, and related products. Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Avg. High Yield Price 2. 20-Year DCF Price 3. Avg. P/E Price 4. Graham Number WSO is trading at a premium to all four valuations above. The stock is trading at a slight discount to its calculated fair value of $69.29. WSO earned a Star in this section since it is trading at a fair value. Dividend Analytical... more

Best Canadian Dividend Stocks

As a dividend growth investor, I typically hold mostly US based dividend stocks. There are several reasons behind that, which I outlined in this article on the best international dividend stocks. Another reason why I hold US based multinationals has been outlined in this article. Canadian dividend stocks seems to be having characteristics that make them similar to their US counterparts. First, most Canadian stocks pay a regular distribution every quarter. Second, most Canadian blue chips pay a stable or rising dividend. This is unlike most European companies for example, which typically target a payout ratio based off earnings. Last, US investors get 15% of their Canadian dividend income withheld at the source. At tax time however, US investors get an offsetting credit against this... more

This High-Yield Dividend Portfolio Will Beat the Market

Over the past month, the S&P fell 1.6%. As the market fell, remarkably our portfolio outperformance remained unchanged at 4.46%. While outperformance is always good, it should be taken with a grain of salt. We're investing for the long term, and it's only been 21 weeks. I firmly believe the results will bear us out. Movers & shakersOf our stocks, the biggest mover in the portfolio the past week was France Telecom, which fell 8.3%. The stock fell along with European banks after fresh fears arose over the debt crisis in Europe.... more

7 Large Cap MLPs With Yields Over 5%

MLP Overview MLPs generally offer stable yields that are typically higher than those of common stocks. In addition, MLP returns have traditionally had low correlations with stocks and bonds, making them good portfolio diversification assets (especially in times of economic uncertainty).As highlighted in Standard & Poor's Guide to MLPs, MLPs offer investors three distinct positive characteristics: Tax Treatment - Since MLPs are structured as partnerships they do not pay corporate income taxes. Taxes are only paid when distributions are received, thus avoiding the double taxation faced by investors in corporations. Consistent Distributions – MLPs face stringent provisions including the requirement to pay minimum quarterly distributions to limited partners, by contract. Thus, the... more

L-3 Declares Quarterly Dividend

L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share, payable on September 15, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 17, 2011.... more

P&G Declares Quarterly Dividend

The Board of Directors of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) declared a quarterly dividend of fifty-two point five cents ($0.525) per share on the Common Stock and on the Series A and Series B ESOP Convertible Class A Preferred Stock of the Company, payable on or after August 15, 2011 to Common Stock shareholders of record at the close of business on July 22, 2011 and payable on the dividend payment date for the Common Stock to Series A and Series B Preferred Stock shareholders of record at the start of business on that date.... more

Morgan Stanley Income Securities Inc. Today Declared a Monthly Income Dividend

Morgan Stanley Income Securities Inc. today declared a monthly income dividend of $.0725 per share.... more

First Trust Active Dividend Income Fund Decreases its Quarterly Distribution to $0.23 Per Share

First Trust Active Dividend Income Fund (the "Fund") (NYSE: FAV) today decreased its regularly scheduled quarterly distribution to $0.23 per share from $0.28 per share. The distribution will be payable on July 29, 2011 to shareholders of record as of July 25, 2011. The ex-dividend date is expected to be July 21, 2011. The quarterly distribution information for the Fund appears below.... more