Weyerhaeuser (WY) Declares $5.6 Billion Special Dividend In Quest for REIT Status

Weyerhaeuser Co. (NYSE: WY) said Monday that it plans to pay out a special dividend to shareholders totaling $5.6 billion, which is a required step for the company's plan to become a real estate investment trust. The special dividend equal approximately $26.50 per share. The move caused a spike of more than 5 percent in the company's stock in early market movement Monday as investors position to capture the large payout. As one of the world's largest lumber and wood product companies, Weyerhaeuser has been pushed by investors for years to become an REIT to push down its income tax rate 35 percent. The trusts distribute 90 percent of their taxable income to shareholders at least as dividends each year, and then can subtract the dividends from taxable income. These types of... more

Pitney Bowes (PBI) Approves Quarterly Cash Dividend - Annual Yield 6.37%

The Board of Directors of Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) declared a quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock of 36.5 cents per share, payable September 12, 2010, to stockholders of record on August 13, 2010; a quarterly cash dividend of 53 cents per share on the company's $2.12 convertible preference stock, payable October 1, 2010, to stockholders of record September 15, 2010, and a quarterly cash dividend of 50 cents per share on the company's 4 percent convertible cumulative preferred stock, payable November 1, 2010, to stockholders of record October 15, 2010.... more

Capitol Federal Financial (CFFN) Declares $0.50 Quarterly Dividend; 6% Yield

Capitol Federal Financial (Nasdaq: CFFN) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share on outstanding CFFN common stock, or $2.00 annualized. The dividend is payable on August 6, 2010 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 23, 2010. The ex-dividend date is July 21, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 6%.... more

Core Labs (CLB) Reports Special Dividend of 65c/Share

In a Form 8-K, Core Labs (NYSE: CLB) announces a special dividend of $0.65 per common share.... more

Core Labs (CLB) Declares $0.06 Quarterly Dividend, 0.3% Yield; Declares $0.65 Special Dividend

Core Laboratories N.V. (NYSE: CLB) has announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock payable in the third quarter of 2010. This amount reflects the two-for-one stock split that was effective on 8 July 2010 and is equal in amount to the quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share paid in the second quarter of 2010. On an annualized basis, the quarterly cash dividend would equal a payout of $0.24 per split share of common stock. The quarterly cash dividend will be payable on 23 August 2010 to shareholders of record on 23 July 2010. The ex-dividend date is July 21, 2010. Yield on the dividend is 0.3%. Core’s Board of Supervisory Directors also has declared a special cash dividend of $0.65 per share of common stock payable on 23 August 2010 to... more

Core Laboratories (CLB) Approves $0.06 Per Share Quarterly Cash Dividend

Core Laboratories N.V. (NYSE: CLB) announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock payable in the third quarter of 2010. This amount reflects the two-for-one stock split that was effective on 8 July 2010 and is equal in amount to the quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share paid in the second quarter of 2010. On an annualized basis, the quarterly cash dividend would equal a payout of $0.24 per split share of common stock. The quarterly cash dividend will be payable on 23 August 2010 to shareholders of record on 23 July 2010. Dutch withholding tax will be deducted from the dividend at a rate of 15% [SM]... more

Will Higher Taxes Bring Dividend Stocks Down?

Back in 2003 the Bush administration cut the top rates on dividends and capital gains to 15%. After seven years the preferential treatment of investment income is set to expire. If congress doesn’t extend the tax cuts, the top rates on dividend income could increase to as much as 39%. This leaves many investors wondering whether dividend stocks will be negatively affected by the tax hike.Since 2003 there has been great interest in dividend paying stocks. Many companies such as Yum Brands (YUM) initiated dividends for the first time ever, while companies like Microsoft (MSFT) paid onetime special dividend payments to shareholders. In addition to that several dividend focused exchange traded funds such as iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend index (DVY) and SPDR S&P Dividend (SDY) were... more

9 Dividend Champions With the Fastest Rates of Growth

In an article published on July 2, I explored “The 14 Highest-Yielding Dividend Champions”—stocks that have increased their annual payouts for 25 or more consecutive years. The list and all its accompanying data are researched and compiled by David Fish at DRiP Investing Resource Center. The compilation is available here. Frequent readers know that I consider this listing to be superior to the better-known Dividend Aristocrats list compiled by S&P. Mr. Fish’s list—unconstrained by membership in the S&P 500—has more than twice as many stocks (100). He fits a tremendous amount of supporting and instructive information into a small amount of space without sacrificing readability. The Dividend Champions document is in the same league with the Daily Racing Form in that... more

Why Big Dividends Are Not Bad News

The Motley Fool recently published an article titled Why Big Dividends Are Bad News. The article argued that while 2010 has been a great year for dividend investors, the larger dividend payments may in fact be bad news for the economy. This year we have already seen 10 stocks initiating dividends, while 125 stocks have increased their dividends. Dividend investors have been excited about this shift in fortune after seeing so many firms like Alcoa (AA), Pfizer (PFE) and U.S. Steel (X) cut their dividends last year. The Motley Fool argues that the increased emphasis on dividends this year indicates that companies have no better use for their cash. Instead of plowing money back into the business to fuel future growth, these companies are taking the conservative route and just returning that... more

A New Alerian MLP Index ETN With Higher Yield and Higher Risk

MLPs are red hot this year continuing their outstanding performance from last year. Selected data is shown below for the Alerian MLP Index (AMZ) along with the comparable index which includes reinvested income (AMZX):... more