Upcoming S&P 500 Stocks Going Ex-Dividend

In the S&P 500, 142 stocks are going ex-dividend between now and the end of the year. Below we highlight the ones with yields of more than 3%. Frontier Communications (FTR) has the highest yield on the list at 8.19%, followed by Windstream (WIN) and CenturyLink (CTL). The top three names on the list are all in the Telecom sector. It's never recommended to buy a stock only to receive the dividend, so the list below can be used as a starting place for further research into the names. Remember, to receive the dividend, the shares must be owned at the close of trading on the day before the ex-date.click to enlarge... more

MDU Resources (MDU) Increases Quarterly Dividend 3.2% to $0.1625; Yields 3.2%

MDU Resources Group (NYSE: MDU) declares a quarterly dividend of $0.1625 per common share, $0.65 annualized. The dividend is a 3.2% increase from the current rate of $0.1575. The dividend is payable January 1, 2011 to stockholders of record December 9, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 7, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.2%.... more

Lincoln National (LNC) Increases Quarterly Dividend to $0.05; Yields 0.8%; Authorizes $125M Common Buyback; To Redeem $150M in Preferred

Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE: LNC) declares a quarterly dividend on common shares to $0.05 per share, $0.20 annualized. The dividend is an increase from the current rate of $0.01. The dividend is payable on February 1, 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 0.8%. In addition, the company announced its intention to repurchase up to $125 million of its common stock over a 15-month period and to redeem all $150 million in outstanding 6.75% Series F Trust Preferred Securities issued by Lincoln National Capital VI (CUSIP 53404M 20 1) and guaranteed by Lincoln.... more

Martin Marietta (MLM) Declares $0.40 Quarterly Dividend; 1.8% Yield

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE: MLM), today announced that the Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per common share, $1.60 annualized. The dividend is payable December 31, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2010. The ex-dividend date is November 29, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 1.8%.... more

Leggett & Platt (LEG) Declares $0.27 Quarterly Dividend; 5.3% Yield

Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG) declares a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per common share, $1.08 annualized. The dividend will be paid on January 14, 2011 to shareholders of record on December 15, 2010. The ex-dividend date is December 13, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 5.3%.... more

Viacom (VIA-B) Declares $0.15 Quarterly Dividend; 1.5% Yield

Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA-B) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, $0.60 annualized. The dividend will be payable on December 30, 2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2010. The ex-dividend date is November 26, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 1.5%.... more

HNI Corp. (HNI) Declares $0.215 Quarterly Dividend; 3.3% Yield

HNI Corporation (NYSE: HNI) announced today its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.215 per common share, $0.86 annualized. The dividend will be payable on December 1, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 22, 2010. The ex-dividend date is November 18, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.3%.... more

AmerisourceBergen (ABC) Increases Quarterly Dividend 25% to $0.10; Yields 1.3%

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE: ABC) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per common share, $0.40 annualized. The dividend is a 25% increase from the current rate of $0.08 The dividend is payable December 6, 2010, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 22, 2010. The ex-dividend date is November 18, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 1.3%.... more

Meridian Bioscience (VIVO) Posts Q4 adj.-EPS of $0.15, Shy of Views; Declares $0.19 Quarterly Dividend; 3.2% Yield; Reaffirms FY11 Outlook

Meridian Bioscience (Nasdaq: VIVO) reports Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.15, versus the consensus of $0.18. Revenue for the quarter came in at $35.5 million, compared to the consensus of $38.37 million. The Board of Directors declared the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share, $0.76 annualized. The dividend is payable December 3, 2010 to shareholders of record on November 22, 2010. The ex-dividend date is November 18, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.2%. Reaffirms FY11 outlook.... more

3 Yield Ideas for the Week, 3 Direct Sales Stocks That Stand the Test of Time

It’s been said that the only two things that will survive a nuclear holocaust will be cockroaches and Peavey amplifiers. If you’re a musician, the Peavey joke was for you. Cockroaches are another discussion. They’re basically the same as they were when the dinosaurs ruled the earth. And they keep going. The cockroach analogy is used in the investment arena when discussing the problems a company may be having. When you see one, there’s usually another and another. Prime example: Enron. Typically, being compared to a cockroach (or “cock-a-roach” as Tony Montana from Scarface would say) isn’t that flattering. We’re here to turn it around. Sometimes, standing the test of time can be a good thing, especially in business.... more