10 Stocks Expected to Grow Their Dividends in 2011

In this space we normally look at companies that have recently raised their dividends. However, as the year draws to a close there were very few companies of note increasing their dividends this week. With that, I thought it would be interesting to see who were the big dividend raisers in 2010 and what we might see in 2011. Here are ten companies for your consideration:... more

It Now Pays to Hold This Hidden Restaurant Gem

Since recommending shares of Einstein Noah Restaurant Group (Nasdaq: BAGL) back at the end of September, the results have been tasty. The stock has appreciated more than 30%, and even more importantly, the company continues to show investors that it has put the troubled time of the recession behind it. When I last discussed the stock, I expressed reservations about the company's balance sheet, but the company has continued to successfully deleverage and on Tuesday announced it would be reinstating a dividend with an initial 12.5-cent quarterly payout. The dividend will yield about 3.8%, which sounds like some pretty delicious dough. While this certainly sends a good signal about management's confidence in the business, let's take a look at the company's performance over the last few... more

Developing a Dividend Value Portfolio for 2011 and Beyond

I am a firm believer in Buffett’s old adage that "there are no called strikes in investing." If an investor is patient the market will eventually err and they will be in a position to capitalize on the mistake. There is no need to chase stocks for the sole reason of owning them. For instance, I love Chevron (CVX) as a company. I feel it is the best integrated oil play on the market, but not at its current $90 cost basis. I will wait for Chevron’s price to come down, or allocate my capital elsewhere. As a long term dividend investor, I have been twiddling my thumbs since July. Good entry points have been few and far between, with the market slowly, but steadily, grinding upwards. The economies seemingly renewed strength, pro-business Obama, QE2 and a Republican congress has changed my... more

Universal Corporation: Dividend Stock Analysis

Universal Corporation (UVV), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a leaf tobacco merchant and processor worldwide. It engages in selecting, procuring, buying, processing, packing, storing, supplying, shipping, and financing leaf tobacco for sale to, or for the account of, manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. This dividend champion has increased distributions for the past 40 consecutive years. The latest dividend increase was in November 2010, when the company raised distributions by 2.10% to 48 cents/share.Over the past decade this dividend growth stock has delivered an annualized total return of 6.60% to its shareholders.The company has managed to deliver an average increase in EPS of 3.70% per year since 2000. Analysts expect Universal Corporation to earn $4.60 per share... more

Saratoga Investment Corp (SAR) to Payout Dividend in Cash and/or Shares of Common Stock

Saratoga Investment Corp. (NYSE: SAR) announced the form in which the dividend declared by the Company's board of directors on November 12, 2010 will be paid and the results of its shareholders' elections relating to the dividend. The dividend of $4.40 per share was payable on December 29, 2010 to shareholders of record as of November 19, 2010. Shareholders who elected to receive the dividend solely in shares of common stock and shareholders who did not make an election will receive approximately 4.05 shares of common stock for each share of common stock they owned on the record date of November 19, 2010. Holders of approximately 47% of the Company's common stock elected to receive only stock or did not make an election. Shareholders electing to receive the dividend in all cash... more

Parkvale Financial (PVSA) Declares $0.02 Quarterly Dividend; 0.9% Yield

Parkvale Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: PVSA) hasdeclared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per common share, $0.08 annualized. The dividend will be paid on January 26, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 10, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 6, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 0.9%.... more

These Stocks Still Aren't Showing You the Money

If you like real money better than paper gains that can evaporate at a moment's notice, then dividend-paying stocks probably appeal to you quite a bit. And with the uptick in dividends over the past year, many investors are more optimistic than ever about the prospects for dividend-paying stocks. But before you jump in whole-hog for the benefits of dividend payers, keep one thing in mind: As promising as the future outlook may appear, dividends are still playing catch-up, attempting to make up for losses from the financial crisis that utterly decimated some income-producing stocks.... more

The Most Promising Dividends in Aerospace and Defense

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 aerospace and defense industry offer the most promising dividends. Yields and growth rates and payout ratios, oh my!Before we get to those companies, however, you should understand just why you should 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

Dividend Masterclass No. 1: What Is a Dividend?

In this series, Todd Wenning, lead advisor for The Motley Fool U.K.'s Dividend Edge newsletter, takes a closer look at dividends and how you can use them as part of your investing strategy. This article has been repurposed from Fool.co.uk. What is a dividend?... more

The Changing Face of Pebblebrook

When the Young Gun Portfolio first bought shares in Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) six long weeks ago, the company was a bit like Shaq in high school: impressive for its age, but you couldn't help but think how great it could be down the road. At the time of our initial purchase in mid-November, Pebblebrook had already purchased its first six hotels in just the preceding five months. CEO Jon Bortz was positively blazing through the roughly $700 million he raised in equity offerings, commenting that the pace put shareholders "well ahead of our investment plan." The long-term plans for the company to start paying a dividend, move toward being fully invested, and qualify for REIT status were still just specks on the horizon -- definitely there, but still a ways out.... more