2011's Top Dividend Aristocrats

Yes, dividend investing is popular. And it may become even more popular, now that Congress has extended legislation that maintains the low tax rate on corporate payouts for next year. You can find many great dividend stalwarts among the companies that have successfully paid out cash for decades. When searching for great dividend stocks, it makes a lot of sense to start with companies that have been playing the dividend game the longest. Standard & Poor's has culled the dividend winners from the also-rans in a list it calls the "Dividend Aristocrats." These companies have paid and increased their dividend for at least 25 years.... more

3 Dividend Stocks on My Watchlist

This article is part of our Rising Star Portfolios Series. Most investors don't keep tabs on their companies' fundamental value. That's a mistake. If you take the time to read past the headlines and crack a filing now and then, you're in a much better position to spot potential trouble early. Better yet, you'll improve your odds of finding the underappreciated home run stocks that provide the market's best returns.... more

iMergent (IIG) Declares $0.02 Quarterly Dividend; 1.7% Yield

iMergent, Inc. (AMEX: IIG) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share, $0.08 annualized. The dividend is payable on January 7, 2011 to stockholders of record as of December 30, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 28, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 1.7%.... more

Chesapeake Energy (CHK) Declares $0.075 Quarterly Dividend; 1.2% Yield

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a $0.075 per share quarterly dividend, $0.30 annualized. The dividend will be paid on January 18, 2011 to common shareholders of record on January 3, 2011. The ex-dividend date is December 30, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 1.2%.... more

Norwood Financial (NWFL) Increases Quarterly Dividend 3.6% to $0.29; Yields 4.3%

Norwood Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: NWFL) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share, $1.16 annualized. The dividend is a 3.6% increase from the current rate of $0.28. The dividend is payable February 1, 2011 to shareholders of record as of January 14, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 12, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 4.3%.... more

Washington Federal (WAFD) Increases Quarterly Dividend 1.6% to $0.06; Yields 1.6%

Washington Federal, Inc. (Nasdaq: WAFD) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per common share, $0.24 annualized. The dividend is a 20% increase from the current rate of $0.05.
The dividend will be payable on January 14, 2011 to common stockholders of record on December 31, 2010, with an ex-dividend date is December 29, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 1.6%.... more

General Growth Properties (GGP) Declares $0.38 Semi-Annual Dividend; 4.8% Yield

General Growth Properties, Inc. (NYSE: GGP) today announced its Board of Directors has declared a common stock dividend of $0.38 per share, $0.76 annualized. The dividend is payable in a combination of cash and common stock. The dividend is payable on January 27, 2011, to stockholders of record on December 30, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 28, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 4.8%.... more

Kraft Foods (KFT) Declares $0.29 Quarterly Dividend; 3.7% Yield

Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.29 per common share, $1.16 annualized. This dividend is payable on January 14, 2011, to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 29, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.7%.... more

Rent-A-Center (RCII) Declares $0.06 Quarterly Dividend; 0.8% Yield

Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCII) has declared a $0.06 per share cash dividend for the first quarter of 2011 to be paid to the Company's common stockholders, $0.24 annualized. The dividend will be paid on January 26, 2011 to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on January 5, 2011. The ex-dividend date is January 3, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 0.8%.... more

Blackrock's BOE Dividend Fund: A Hefty 12.6% Yield

The new normal we continue to hear about should refer to the rise of emerging markets as a percentage of global GDP and not the potential sub optimal growth of domestic U.S. GDP. Between 1960 and 2000, the GDP of emerging markets fluctuated between 18 and 22% of global growth. It was only most recently that they broke out to represent close to 30%, reflecting the importance of having a direct or indirect exposure to this important asset class. The key must be in balancing the associated risk and increased volatility that is inherent. Has the bond bubble been pierced? The Fed has embarked upon QEII. The bond purchase program, that is, not the luxury cruise liner. So, with a constant buyer lurking in the market and one with an exceptionally deep set of pockets, why are rates rising?... more