Seven Companies Likely to Boost Dividends in August

One nice thing about compiling the Dividend Champions list of companies that have paid higher dividends for at least 25 straight years (which can be found here) is that I get to see which companies are nearing the anniversaries of their previous dividend increases. Since most of these firms raise their payout about the same time every year, we can say with some confidence that they are likely to do so again. Consequently, I'm expecting the following companies to announce dividend increases in the month of August. (Dates in parentheses are the Ex-Dividend Dates of last year's increases).... more

Airgas (ARG) Reports Solid Q1 Results; Raises Qtr. Dividend to $0.25/Share; Guides Q2, Raises FY11

Airgas (ARG) reports Q1 adj-EPS of $0.83, 12 cents better than the analyst estimate of $0.71. Revenue for the quarter was $1.05 billion, which compares to the estimate of $1.03 billion. Same store sales were up 6% YoY. Raises its quarterly dividend to $0.25 per common share. Sees Q2 adj-EPS of $0.78-$0.82, versus the consensus of $0.77. Raises its FY11 adj-EPS guidance from $2.68 to $3.15-$3.30, which compares to the Street estimate of $3.04.... more

Eaton (ETN) Posts Q2 EPS of $1.36 Ex-Items, Tops Views; Guides Q3 EPS, Increases FY10 EPS Outlook; Increases Quarterly Dividend 16% to $0.58

Eaton (NYSE: ETN) reports Q2 EPS of $1.36, ex-items, 19 cents better than the analyst estimate of $1.17. Revenue for the quarter was $3.38 billion, which compares to the estimate of $3.23 billion. Sees Q3 operating EPS of $1.30 - $1.40. Consensus sees an EPS of $1.19. Increases FY10 operating EPS to $4.90 - $5.10. Consensus sees an EPS of $4.57. The company also increased their quarterly dividend 16% to $0.58, $2.32 annualized. The dividend is payable on August 27, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 9, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 5, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.4%.... more

Hudson City Bancorp (HCBK) Posts Q2 EPS of $0.29, Beats Views; Declares $0.15 Quarterly Dividend; 4.7% Yield

Hudson City Bancorp (HCBK) reports Q2 EPS of $0.29, 1 cent better than the analyst estimate of $0.28. The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, $0.60 annualized. The dividend is payable on August 27, 2010 to shareholders of record on August 5, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 3, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 4.7%.... more

Tompkins Financial Corp. (TMP) Posts Q2 EPS of $0.83, Beats Views; Declares $0.34 Quarterly Dividend, 3.5% Yield

Tompkins Financial Corporation. (AMEX: TMP) reports Q2 EPS of $0.83, 10 cents better than the analyst estimate of $0.73. The company also announced today that its Board of Directors approved payment of a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.34 per share, $1.36 annualized. The dividend is payable on August 16, 2010, to common shareholders of record on August 6, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 4, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.5%.... more

Arrhythmia Research Tech. (HRT) Declares $0.06 Cash Dividend

Arrhythmia Research Technology, Inc. (AMEX: HRT) announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.06 per share. The dividend will be paid to holders of record on August 16, 2010, payable on August 31, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 27, 2010.... more

Griffin Land & Nurseries (GRIF) Declares $0.10 Quarterly Dividend; 1.5% Yield

Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRIF) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per common share, $0.40 annualized. The dividend is payable on September 2, 2010 to holders of record at the close of business on August 26, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 24, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 1.5%.... more

S&T Bancorp (STBA) Declares $0.15 Quarterly Dividend; 3.1% Yield

S&T Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: STBA) declared a $0.15 per share cash dividend, $0.60 annualized. The dividend is payable August 25, 2010 to shareholders of record on July 30, 2010. The ex-dividend date is July 28, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 3.1%.... more

ALLETE (ALE) Declares $0.44 Quarterly Dividend; 5% Yield

ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE) board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 per share of common stock, $1.76 annualized. The regular quarterly dividend is payable September 1 to common stock shareholders of record at the close of business August 16, 2010. The ex-dividend date is August 12, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 5%.... more

EarthLink (ELNK) Declares $0.16 Quarterly Dividend; 7.6% Yield

EarthLink, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELNK) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock in the amount of $0.16 per share, $0.64 annualized. The dividend is to be paid on September 21, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 7, 2010. The ex-dividend date is September 3, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 7.6%.... more