6 Stocks Raising Dividends and Expectations

Gregg S. Fisher noted in a 2009 Forbes article that the assumption that investors are rational agents is bunk. He went on to say “We are not rational. We’re human. Even the most brilliant investor can be swayed by emotions into making irrational decisions that result in financial loss.”... more

Unilever: Dividend Stock Analysis

Unilever PLC (UL) provides fast-moving consumer goods in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. This international dividend achiever has increased distributions for over one decade.Over the past decade this dividend growth stock has delivered an annualized total return of 7.70% to its shareholders.... more

31 Low Volatility, Dividend Growth Stocks

In a post recently I referenced a recent article by Geoff Considine in which he discussed the merits of low volatility dividend growth stocks. To summarize his argument, the rational for seeking low volatility dividends stocks is that: Volatility is considerably persistent through time, and the implied volatility from options prices is a key signal for determining the probability of corporate distress.The higher the implied volatility, the higher the probability of distress. Along the same lines, the lower the volatility of a stock, the more sustainable should be its dividend.... more

Just One Stock: The Healthcare Giant With a Low Multiple and Solid Yield

Several times a week, Seeking Alpha's Jason Aycock asks money managers about their single highest-conviction position - what they would own (or short) if they could choose just one stock or ETF. Channing Smith is director of equity strategies for Capital Advisors, a wealth management firm based in Tulsa, Okla. A CFA charterholder, he earned an MBA from Southern Methodist University with a focus in finance and accounting. If you could only hold one stock position in your portfolio (long or short), what would it be?... more

Cabot Oil & Gas (COG) Declares $0.03 Quarterly Dividend; 0.3% Yield

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular dividend of $0.03 per common share, $0.12 annualized. The dividend will be paid February 4, 2011 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business January 28, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 26, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 0.3%.... more

DHT Holdings (DHT) Declares $0.10 Quarterly Dividend; 8% Yield

DHT Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DHT) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share, $0.40 annualized. The dividend is payable on February 11, 2011 for shareholders of record as of February 4, 2011. The ex-dividend date is February 2, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 8%.... more

Aptargroup (ATR) Declares $0.18 Quarterly Dividend; 1.5% Yield

Aptargroup, Inc. (NYSE: ATR) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share, $0.72 annualized. The payment date is February 23, 2011, to stockholders of record as of February 2, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 31, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 1.5%.... more

Walgreen (WAG) Declares $0.175 Quarterly Dividend; 1.7% Yield

Walgreen Co. (WBA) today declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.175 per common share, $0.70 annualized. The dividend is payable March 12, 2011, to shareholders of record February 18, 2011. The ex-dividend date is February 16, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 1.7%.... more

Total Offers a Good Dividend Investment in Oil

Investing in companies that pay above average dividends has historically been a good investment strategy. Of course investors, specifically those looking for income, are looking for more than just a current high dividend yield; they also want the company to be able to continue to pay out that high dividend, and hopefully increase it as well.A recent study by Tweedy, Browne (the dividend studies begin on page 30) sheds some light on what investors might want to look for in addition to just a high yield. The historical study shows that investors can increase their returns by narrowing down the list of stocks with high dividend yields to those that also have low dividend payout ratios. One company that meets both criteria is Total S.A. (TOT).... more

Unum Group (UNM) Declares $0.0925 Quarterly Dividend; 1.5% Yield

Unum Group (NYSE: UNM) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0925 per common share, $0.37 annualized. The dividend will be paid on February 18, 2011, to stockholders of record on January 31, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 27, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 1.5%.... more