StellarOne Corp. (STEL) Declares $0.04 Quarterly Dividend; 1.1% Yield

StellarOne Corporation (Nasdaq: STEL) has declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.04 per share, $0.16 annualized. The dividend is payable on February 25, 2011 to shareholders of record on February 7, 2011. The ex-dividend date is February 3, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 1.1%.... more

7 Materials Dividend Stocks Getting Slammed

Contrarian investors should utilize times like this to differentiate between stocks that are dropping for fundamentally sound reasons -- and those stocks that are simply being dragged down because of general market concerns. Sure, there's plenty to worry about -- gigantic federal deficits, sovereign debt problems in Europe, an economic slowdown in China. But let's not forget that in the midst of all of this volatility lies the prospect to grab some great companies at dirt cheap prices. In particular, I'm a huge fan of dividend stocks. Renowned professor Jeremy Siegel has illustrated that from 1957 to 2003, when reinvesting dividends, the S&P's 100 highest-yielding stocks outperformed the market by an average of 3 percentage points. Over a long period of time, 3 percentage points can... more

The Most Promising Dividends Among Life Insurers

Dividend payers deserve a berth in any long-term stock portfolio. But seemingly attractive dividend yields are not always as fetching as they may appear. Let's see which companies in the life insurance industry offer the most promising dividends. Yields and growth rates and payout ratios, oh my!Before we get to those companies, though, you should understand just why you'd want to own dividend payers. These stocks can contribute a huge chunk of growth to your portfolio in good times, and bolster it during market downturns.... more

Highest-Yielding Tech Stocks You'd Actually Want to Own

The power of dividend investing is pretty well-known these days. Higher-yielding stocks tend to offer higher returns over time than low- or no-yield stocks, according to research from Jeremy Siegel and others. In fact, the 20 best-performing survivor stocks from the original S&P 500 in 1957 are all dividend payers. What's more, reinvesting dividends acts as a "bear-market protector and return accelerator," according to Siegel. The extra shares purchased and accumulated at higher dividend yields during down periods act as a protector in falling markets, and these extra shares rising in value turn into a "return accelerator" when prices rise.... more

Dividend Report Card: AT&T

In the dividend report card series, we analyze financial metrics to begin answering the following questions about a company's dividend: Over time, has this company steadily increased its payouts? How sustainable is the dividend? Does the company have room to further increase the dividend? For a full explanation of each category, click here for a tutorial.... more

Earnings Surprises: The Most Underestimated Dividend Champions

Every year, the DrIP Investing Resource puts together a list of so-called "Dividend Champions," comprised of about 100 companies that have consistently increased their dividend payouts for over 25 years straight. When you consider all the ups and downs the market has seen this past quarter century, it's an especially impressive feat, attesting to the strength of the firms that made the cut. But that kind of track record is bound to attract analysts' attention -- and that's not necessarily the best thing for you as an investor. Because if brokers already have a stock on their radar, the good news around it may already be priced in.... more

Smart Money: 4 Dividend Champions Backed by Institutional Buying

When the recession's official end was called back in June 2009, hopes were high that the economy would bounce back at a rollicking pace, as it had in the past. But here we are, past the recovery's 18-month mark, and economic growth remains painfully slow. What this means for the market is anyone's guess -- some are projecting wild swings from inflation to deflationary periods, and even a return to the gold standard as we settle into a "new normal." So it's not a bad idea to brace yourself for what could be a bumpy ride -- and dividend paying stocks could be a good way to hedge your bets.... more

Dividend Report Card: Hasbro

In this series, we analyze financial metrics to begin answering the following questions about a company's dividend: Over time, has this company steadily increased its payouts? How sustainable is the dividend? Does the company have room to further increase the dividend? The Dividend Report Card wasn't designed as a buy or sell signal, but rather as a tool to gauge the health of a company's dividend. For a full explanation of each category, click here for a tutorial.... more

The Number That Threatens These Huge Dividend Yields

If you've perused a list of the top dividend yielders in the market, you know that the list is utterly dominated by real estate investment trusts (REITs). My fellow Fool Eric Bleeker recently gave a general history lesson on why the biggest yielders don't necessarily stay that way.... more

Eaton (ETN) Raises Dividend 17%, Announces 2-for-1 Stock Split

Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN) today declared a 17 percent increase in the quarterly dividend from $.58 per common share to $.68 per common share. The dividend is payable on February 25 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2011. The ex-dividend date is February 3. The dividend yield is 2.6%. Eaton’s Board of Directors today also approved a two-for-one stock split. The stock split will occur at the close of business on February 28, 2011, for those shareholders of record as of February 7, 2011.... more