Over the past week, the following companies — each of which have grown their dividend every year for at least the past five years in a row — made important announcements regarding their future dividend payments.

Please note that the stocks below aren’t specific investment recommendations. We simply offer this list as an FYI for investors interested in dividend growth stocks that continue to raise their payouts.

Dividend Increases

  • Helmerich & Payne (HP)(10% increase)- declared a dividend of $.6875 per share of common stock for its third quarter ending June 30. This represents a 10% increase from the company’s prior quarterly regular dividend level of $.625 per share. The dividend is payable on September 2 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 15.
  • FedEx (FDX)(33% increase)- announced a quarterly dividend increase to $.20 per share. This represents a $.05 per share increase from the prior quarter’s dividend. The dividend is payable July 3 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 19.
  • Casey’s General Stores (CASY)(11% increase)- announced a quarterly dividend increase to $.20 per share. The dividend is payable August 15th to shareholders of record on August 1st.
  • Best Buy (BBY)(12% increase)- announced an increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend from $.17 to $.19 per common share, an increase of 12%. The change will be effective with the quarterly dividend which, if authorized, would be payable on October 2 to shareholders of record as of September 11.
  • C. R. Bard (BCR)(5% increase)- announced an increase in its quarterly dividend on Bard’s common stock by 5% to $.22 per share. The dividend is payable on August 1 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 21.

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  • Essex Property Trust (ESS)(7% increase)- has approved a $.36 per share annualized increase to its regular cash dividend. The Q2 dividend distribution, payable on July 15 to shareholders of record as of June 30, will be $1.30 per share, a 7% increase over the company’s prior quarterly dividend of $1.21 per share. On an annualized basis, the dividend represents a distribution of $5.20 per common share.
  • Target (TGT)(21% increase)- declared a quarterly dividend increase to $.52 from $.43 per share. The dividend is payable September 10 to shareholders of record at the close of business August 20.
  • Caterpillar (CAT)(17% increase)- announced a quarterly dividend increase of 17% to $.70 per share of common stock, payable August 20, to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 21.
  • Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC)(5% increase)- declared a quarterly dividend increase by about 5% or $.20 per share of the company’s common stock and $.15  per share of the company’s class B stock, approximately a 5% increase for both classes of stock. The dividends will be payable in 1Q15, on August 29, to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 15.
  • National Fuel (NFG)(3% increase)- announced a quarterly dividend increase to $.385 from $.375 per share. This dividend is payable July 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30.

When compiling this list we considered Dave Van Knapp’s “5-Year Rule”… which means we’ve only considered stocks that have grown their dividends each year for at least the past five years.

We identified these stocks using David Fish’s popular “Dividend Champions, Contenders and Challengers” list.

Good Investing!
Phil Lamanna

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This information is provided by Theflyonthewall.com

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