SL Green Realty (SLG) Declares $0.10 Quarterly Dividend; 0.6% Yield

SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) today reported that its board of directors has declared a dividend of $0.10 per share of common stock, $0.40 annualized. The dividend is payable on January 14, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 3, 2011. The ex-dividend date is December 30, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 0.6%.... more

A Look Beneath the Surface of Big Pharma Dividend Stocks

Among the top dividend stocks that I post every month, many of the top payers are pharmaceutical companies that are in the business of doing research, inventing and then marketing drugs that will solve all types of problems. These companies typically have strong balance sheets and certainly look like very attractive dividend stocks. We decided to take a deeper look into these stocks to see if they were worth holding in a diversified dividend portfolio. On the surface Strong dividend yield No doubt, these companies offer very attractive dividend yields. The 5 companies that I will discuss here pay between 3.75% and 5.78% of dividend yield, strong numbers no matter what industry you are looking into. The fact is that these companies are healthy, profitable and paying great dividends.... more

GlaxoSmithKline: An Atypical Dividend Investment

Investing in companies that pay above average dividends has historically been a good investment strategy. Of course investors, specifically those looking for income, want more than just a current high dividend yield; they also want the company 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 the list of stocks with high dividend yields to those that also have low dividend payout ratios. This makes sense, as a low payout ratio implies a few key things. First, most importantly, and obviously, it means the company is... more

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Declares $0.16 Quarterly Dividend; 2.3% Yield

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share, $0.64 annualized. The dividend is payable March 10, 2011 to shareholders of record on February 17, 2011. The ex-dividend date will be February 15, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 2.3%.... more

Pentair (PNR) Increases Annual Dividend 5% to $0.80; Yields 2.2%; Authorizes $25M Buyback

Pentair, Inc.'s (NYSE: PNR) has declared an annual cash dividend is $0.80 per common share. The dividend is a 5.3% increase from the previous rate of $0.76. Yield on the dividend is 2.2%. In addition, the company's board of directors authorized a common stock repurchase program up to $25 million that expires in December 2011.... more

Steelcase (SCS) Declares $0.04 Quarterly Dividend; 1.6% Yield

Steelcase Inc. (NYSE: SCS) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share, $0.16 annualized. The dividend is to be paid on or before January 14, 2011 to shareholders of record as of December 27, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 23, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 1.6%.... more

Piedmont Natural Gas (PNY) Declares $0.28 Quarterly Dividend; 3.8% Yield

Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) today announced the declaration of a quarterly dividend on Common Stock of $0.28 per common share, $1.12 annualized. The dividend is payable January 18, 2011, to holders of record at the close of business on December 27, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 23, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.8%.... more

Discover Financial (DFS) Posts Q4 EPS of $0.64, Tops Views; Declares $0.02 Quarterly Dividend, 0.4% Yield

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) reports Q4 EPS of $0.64, versus the analyst estimate of $0.42. The company’s board declared a cash dividend of $0.02 per share of common stock, $0.08 annualized. The dividend is payable on January 20, 2011, to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 29, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 27, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 0.4%.... more

Autoliv (ALV) Increases Quarterly Dividend 14% to $0.40; Yiields 2%

Autoliv Inc. (NYSE: ALV) declared today will be $0.40 per common share, $1.60 annualized. The dividend is a 14.3% increase from the current rate of $0.35. The dividend is payable on Thursday, March 3, 2011 to shareholders of record on the close of business on Thursday February 3, 2011. The ex-dividend date is February 1, 2011. Yield on the dividend is 2%.... more

China MediaExpress (CCME) Commences New Semi-Annual Dividend Policy

China MediaExpress Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCME) announced that they are commencing a new dividend policy. From the release: "Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board, commencing with the six month period ending December 31, 2010, a semi-annual cash dividend of 5% to 10% of CME’s net profit will be paid upon receipt of the related financial statements by the Board. The Company’s Board of Directors will decide the exact payable amount at the corresponding board meetings in light of CME’s cash flows, expected liquidity needs and future corporate strategies."... more