These are thirty-three companies that increased their dividends. Most announced their dividend increases after my Report No. 30 on September 3, 2010.
Excel Trust , Inc. is paying its first dividend. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. is a major Canadian company growing timber and producing lumber, building materials and newsprint. BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. is interesting as a specialized real estate investment trust that develops and manages laboratory locations for life science companies.
The R.G. Barry announcement included a special dividend and a new cash dividend policy. The company has developed an interesting niche of specialty footwear.
Alamos Gold Inc.
Alliance Financial
Aptar Group
BioMed Realty Trust
Brady Corporation
Bunzl
Corporate Office Properties Trust
Enterprise Products Partners
Evertz Technologies
Excel Trust
Frisch’s Restaurants
Gluskin Sheff and Associates Inc.
Harleysville Group
HCC Insurance Holdings
HopFed Bancorp
Inergy
International Bancshares Corporation
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners
Kroger Co.
LaSalle Hotel Properties
Marsh and McLennan
National Semiconductor
Paccar
Philip Morris
R F Industries
R G Barry
Sentry Select Primary Metals
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Two Harbors Investment Corp.
UDR Incorporated
Verizon
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Yum! Brands, Inc.
Alamos Gold (TSX: AGI) September 16, 2010, Toronto, Ontario announce that its board of directors has authorized an increase to its semi-annual dividend to $0.035 per common share.
As part of the company’s long-term strategy to maximize shareholder value, the board of directors has declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.035 per common share. This represents a 17% increase from the company’s first semi-annual dividend of $0.03 per common share declared in April 2010. The dividend is payable on October 29, 2010 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 15, 2010. This dividend qualifies as an “eligible dividend” for Canadian income tax purposes.
Jon Morda, Chief Financial Officer of Alamos, stated "This dividend increase reflects our
balance sheet strength, increased realized gold sale prices, and our continued ability to
generate strong cash flows from operations.”
Alamos is an established Canadian-based gold producer that owns and operates the Mulatos Mine in Mexico, and has exploration and development activities in Mexico and Turkey. The company employs nearly 500 people in Mexico and Turkey and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities. Alamos has approximately US$170 million cash on hand, is debt-free, and un-hedged to the price of gold.
Alliance Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: ALNC) August 31, 2010, Syracuse, NY, the holding company for Alliance Bank, N.A., announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per common share. This declaration represents an increase of $0.02 per share or 7.1% from the dividend paid in the previous quarter. The dividend is payable on October 1, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 17, 2010.
Alliance Financial Corporation is an independent financial holding company with Alliance Bank, N.A. as its principal subsidiary that provides retail and commercial banking, and investment management services through 29 offices in Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego counties. Alliance also operates an investment management administration center in Buffalo, N.Y., an equipment lease financing company, Alliance Leasing, Inc., and a multi-line insurance agency, Ladd's Agency, Inc.
AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE: ATR) July 20, 2010, Chrystal Lake, IL, board of directors increased the quarterly dividend by 20% to $.18 per share, payable August 24, 2010 to shareholders of record as of August 3, 2010. The increase brings the annual dividend rate to $.72 per share up from $.60 per share. During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 600,000 shares of common stock for approximately $25 million, leaving approximately 2.9 million shares authorized for repurchase at the end of the second quarter.
Pfeiffer said, "Our solid balance sheet and strong cash flow continue to enable us to return value to shareholders with increased dividends and continued share repurchases while we remain in great position to take advantage of strategic opportunities as they present themselves."
AptarGroup, Inc. is a leading global supplier of a broad range of innovative dispensing systems for the fragrance/cosmetic, personal care, pharmaceutical, household and food/beverage markets. AptarGroup is present in 19 different countries with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America.
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BMR) September 15, 2010, San Diego, CA said that its board of directors has declared a third quarter 2010 dividend of $0.17 per share of common stock, representing a 13.3% increase over the company's second quarter 2010 dividend of $0.15 per share. The dividend is equivalent to an annualized dividend of $0.68 per common share.
BioMed also announced that its board of directors has declared a dividend of $0.46094 per share of the company's 7.375% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock for the period from July 16, 2010 through October 15, 2010.
Both dividends are payable on October 15, 2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 30, 2010.
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on providing real estate to the Life Science Industry. The company's tenants primarily include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, scientific research institutions, government agencies and other entities involved in the life science industry. BioMed owns or has interests in 76 properties, representing 123 buildings with approximately 11.2 million rentable square feet. The company's properties are located predominantly in the major U.S. life science markets of Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York/New Jersey, which have well-established reputations as centers for scientific research.
Brady Corporation (NYSE: BRC) September 9, 2010, Milwaukee, WI board of directors has announced an increase in its annual dividend to shareholders of the company's Class A Common Stock from $0.70 to $0.72 per share. A quarterly dividend will be paid on October 29, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 8, 2010. This dividend represents the 25th consecutive annual increase in dividends. Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of solutions that identify and protect premises, products and people. Brady’s products help customers increase safety, security, productivity and performance and include high-performance labels and signs, safety devices, printing systems and software, and precision die-cut materials. Founded in 1914, the company has more than 1,000,000 customers in electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, education, medical and a variety of other industries. Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee and employs approximately 6,600 people at operations in the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Bunzl plc (ADR) (Public, PINK:BZLFY) August 31, 2010, London, England, United Kingdom, announced an 8% increase in its dividend.
Bunzl plc, the international distribution and outsourcing Group, today publishes its half yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2010.
Bunzl plc (Bunzl) is an international distribution and outsourcing company. It is engaged in the provision of value-added distribution and outsourcing services across Americas, Europe and Australasia. It has four business areas: North America; United Kingdom and Ireland; Continental Europe, and Rest of the World. Each of these business areas supplies a range of products to customers operating primarily in the foodservice, grocery, cleaning and safety, non-food retail and healthcare markets. Bunzl is a supplier of goods not for resale to grocery stores, supermarkets, retail chains, convenience stores, food wholesalers, ethnic grocers and organic food outlets, amongst others. In January 2010, it acquired Clean Care A/S. In April 2010, it acquired M.S. Global Limited and its trading subsidiary, Silco (Utensils) A.S. Ltd. In May 2010, it acquired Juba Personal Protection Equipment S.L. and Guantes Juba S.A. In July 2010, it acquired Etablissements Glorieux SA, which trades as Global Net.
Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) (NYSE:OFC) September 16, 2010, Columbia, MD, announced that its board of trustees has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.4125 per common share of beneficial interest for the third quarter 2010. This represents a 5.1% increase from the previous $0.3925 per share quarterly dividend. The dividend will be paid on October 15, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2010.
The board of trustees declared a dividend for the period commencing July 15, 2010 and ending October 14, 2010 of $0.50 per Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share of beneficial interest of the Company, payable on October 15, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2010.
The board of trustees declared a dividend for the period commencing July 15, 2010 and ending October 14, 2010 of $0.4688 per Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share of beneficial interest of the Company, payable on October 15, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2010.
The board of trustees declared a dividend for the period commencing July 15, 2010 and ending October 14, 2010 of $0.4766 per Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share of beneficial interest of the Company, payable on October 15, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2010.
The board of trustees declared a dividend for the period commencing July 15, 2010 and ending October 14, 2010 of $0.70 per Series K Cumulative Redeemable Convertible Preferred Share of beneficial interest of the Company, payable on October 15, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2010.
"We are pleased to be able to raise our quarterly cash dividend to our shareholders for the 13th year in a row, which represents a compounded annualized increase of 9.4%," stated Randall M. Griffin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Office Properties Trust. "This increase demonstrates the continued financial health of the Company," he stated.
Corporate Office Properties Trust is a specialty office real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on strategic customer relationships and specialized tenant requirements in the U.S. Government, Defense Information Technology and Data sectors. The company acquires, develops, manages and leases properties which are typically concentrated in large office parks primarily located adjacent to government demand drivers and/or in growth corridors. As of June 30, 2010, the company owned 267 office and data properties totaling 20.6million rentable square feet, which includes 20 properties totaling 1.1 million square feet held through joint ventures. The company's portfolio primarily consists of technically sophisticated buildings in visually appealing settings that are environmentally sensitive, sustainable and meet unique customer requirements. COPT is an S&P MidCap 400 company and more information can be found at www.copt.com.
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) July 13, 2010, Houston, TX announced that the board of directors of its general partner declared an increase in the quarterly cash distribution rate paid to partners to $0.575 per common unit, or $2.30 per unit on an annualized basis. The quarterly distribution will be paid on Thursday, August 5, 2010, to unitholders of record as of the close of business on Friday, July 30, 2010. This distribution rate, which represents a 5.5 percent increase over the $0.545 per unit distribution rate declared with respect to the second quarter of 2009, is the 33rd distribution increase since Enterprise's initial public offering in 1998 and the 24th consecutive quarterly increase.
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is the largest publicly traded energy partnership and a leading North American provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals. The partnership's assets include: 49,100 miles of onshore and offshore pipelines; approximately 190 million barrels of storage capacity for NGLs, refined products and crude oil; and 27 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity. Services include: natural gas transportation, gathering, processing and storage; NGL fractionation, transportation, storage, and import and export terminaling; crude oil and refined products storage, transportation and import and export terminaling; crude oil and refined products storage, transportation and terminaling; offshore production platform services; petrochemical transportation and storage; and a marine transportation business that operates primarily on the United States inland and Intracoastal Waterway systems and in the Gulf of Mexico. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is managed by its general partner, Enterprise Products GP LLC, which is wholly owned by Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. (NYSE: EPE).
Evertz Technologies Limited (TSE: ET) September 8, 2010, Burlington, Ontario, Canada announced that the board of directors declared a dividend on September 08, 2010 of $0.10. This is an increase in the quarterly dividend from $0.08 to $0.10 per share. The first increased dividend is payable to shareholders of record on October 13, 2010 and will be paid on or about October 22, 2010.
Evertz Technologies Limited is a Canada-based equipment provider to the television broadcast industry.
Evertz designs, manufactures and distributes video and audio infrastructure equipment for the production, postproduction, and transmission of television content.
The company’s solutions are purchased by content creators, broadcasters, specialty channels and television service providers to enable and enhance the transition to a complex multi-channel digital and high definition television (HDTV) broadcast environment.
Excel Trust, Inc. (NYSE: EXL) September 13, 2010, San Diego, CA, a retail focused real estate investment trust (REIT), announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $.08 per share, which will be paid on October 15th, 2010 to shareholders of record as of September 30th, 2010.
Gary Sabin, CEO of Excel Trust noted, "We are pleased to be able to pay our first dividend to shareholders. Several properties were acquired during the quarter, resulting in partial revenues and thus a modest dividend. We expect the dividend to increase as we realize a full quarter of operating income from properties in our current portfolio and execute on properties in our pipeline."
Excel Trust, Inc. is a retail focused REIT that targets community and power centers, grocery anchored neighborhood centers and freestanding retail properties. The Company intends to be treated as a REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2010.
Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. (AMEX: FRS) September 8, 2010, Cincinnati, OH announced that the board of directors declared a $.15 per share quarterly dividend payable October 8, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 20, 2010. This represents an increase of two cents per share, or 15%, in the regular quarterly dividend rate, and will be the 199th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Frisch's. The company has reported a profit every year since going public in 1960, and paid cash dividends to shareholders every quarter over the same period.
Craig F. Maier, president and chief executive officer, said, "Our board of directors has elected to increase dividends to our shareholders in line with the Company's optimistic outlook. We believe our shareholders deserve an increased share in our successes."
Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. is a regional company that operates full service family-style restaurants under the name of Frisch's Big Boy. The company owns the trademark "Frisch's" and has exclusive, irrevocable ownership of the rights to the "Big Boy" trademark, trade name and service mark in the states of Kentucky and Indiana, and in most of Ohio and Tennessee. The company also licenses Big Boy restaurants to other operators in certain parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
In addition, the company operates grill buffet-style restaurants under the name Golden Corral under certain licensing agreements. Golden Corral restaurants currently operate primarily in the greater metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc. (TSE: GS) September 16, 2010,Toronto, Ontario, Canada, announced that it has declared its regular quarterly dividend of $0.125 per common share payable on October 21, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 29, 2010. The Company also announced a special dividend of $0.80 per common share payable on October 21, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 29, 2010. The Company also announced that its regular quarterly dividend would be increased to $0.1375 ($0.55 on an annual basis) from the current quarterly dividend of $0.125 ($0.50 annually) per common share commencing with the declaration of the first quarter dividend for fiscal 2011.
Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc. (Gluskin Sheff) is a wealth management firm whose primary business focus is managing equity assets on a discretionary basis for high-net-worth private clients. The Company also manages assets for a number of institutions. Gluskin Sheff’s revenues are derived mainly from base management fees, performance fees and private pooled fund vehicles above pre-specified rates of return. The Company may also earn investment income on its cash balances and its investments, which includes seeded portfolios.
Harleysville Group Inc. (NASDAQ: HGIC) August 6, 2010, Harleysville, PA, increased the company’s regular quarterly cash dividend by 11 percent to $0.36 per share from $0.325 per share, or to an annualized $1.44 per share from $1.30 per share.
The dividend is payable September 30, 2010, to shareholders of record on September 15, 2010.
This marks the 97th consecutive quarter Harleysville Group has paid a dividend since the company went public in 1986.
At the same time, the Board today authorized the company to repurchase up to an additional 800,000 shares, or approximately $25 million or about 3 percent, of its outstanding common stock through an open market purchase program.
“These actions reflect our strong balance sheet and our ongoing commitment to managing our capital position effectively for the benefit of our investors,” said Michael L. Browne, Harleysville Group’s president and chief executive officer. “This new stock repurchase program is our sixth since June 2007. We just completed our most recent stock buyback program and when this new one has concluded we will have repurchased approximately 22 percent of our outstanding shares since the middle of 2007. And, we’re proud of the fact that in our 24 years as a public company we’ve paid our shareholders a dividend every quarter and our dividend has increased every year.”
The board authorized Harleysville Group to make purchases for a two-year period in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Additionally, the board authorized Harleysville Group to make purchases under the terms of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which allows the company to purchase its shares at times when it ordinarily would not be in the market because of self- imposed trading blackout periods, such as the time preceding its quarterly earnings releases. The company currently intends to repurchase shares in open market transactions from the public float, and not repurchase shares from Harleysville Mutual Insurance Company, which owns 53 percent of Harleysville Group’s stock.
Harleysville Insurance is a provider of insurance products and services for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for individuals, and ranks among the top 70 U.S. property/casualty insurance groups based on net written premiums. Harleysville distributes its products exclusively through a network of independent agents primarily across 32 states.
Harleysville Mutual Insurance Company owns approximately 53 percent of Harleysville Group Inc. (NASDAQ: HGIC), a publicly traded holding company for eight regional property/casualty insurance companies.
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HCC) September 1, 2010, Houston, TX announced its 58th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.
HCC's board of directors has declared a regular cash dividend of $0.145 per share on the Company's shares of $1.00 par value common stock. The dividend is payable to stockholders of record on October 1, 2010 and will be paid on or about October 15, 2010.
"This marks the 14th consecutive year in which HCC has raised its cash dividend. This decision is evidence of our financial stability, operating performance, and commitment to shareholder value," HCC President and Chief Executive Officer John N. Molbeck, Jr. said.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. is an international specialty insurance group with offices across the United States and in the United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland. As of June 30, 2010, HCC had assets of $9.0 billion and shareholders' equity of $3.2 billion.
HopFed Bancorp (NASDAQ: HFBC) September 16, 2010, Hopkinsville, KY, announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share and a 2% stock dividend. Both the cash and stock dividend will be paid on October 15, 2010, to stockholders of record as of September 30, 2010.
John E. Peck, President and CEO of HopFed Bancorp commented on the dividend, "We have received many requests from investors for either a stock dividend or a dividend reinvestment program. The combined stock and cash dividend payout represents an increase over the cash only dividend previously paid by the company.
The company's change in the dividend structure provides stockholders with an increase in dividend value at a time when the federal tax advantages of cash dividends are likely to be reduced or eliminated with the expiration of the 2002 Economic Stimulus Plan. In addition, the new dividend structure provides the Company with additional capital for future growth."
HopFed Bancorp, Inc. is a holding company of Heritage Bank headquartered in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The bank has eighteen offices in western Kentucky and middle Tennessee as well as Fall & Fall Insurance of Fulton, Kentucky, Heritage Solutions of Murray, Kentucky, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Kingston Springs, Tennessee, and Pleasant View, Tennessee and Heritage Mortgage Services of Clarksville, Tennessee. The bank offers a broad line of banking and financial products and services with the personalized focus of a community banking organization.
Inergy GP, LLC, managing general partner of Inergy, L.P. (NYSE:NRGY), July 26, 2010, Kansas City, MO announced an increase in the company's quarterly cash distribution to $0.705 per limited partner unit ($2.82 annually) for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. This represents the 35th consecutive quarterly increase and an approximate 6.0% increase over the distribution for the same quarter of the prior year. The distribution will be paid on August 13, 2010, to unitholders of record as of August 6, 2010.
Inergy, L.P., with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is among the fastest growing master limited partnerships in the country. The company's operations include the retail marketing, sale, and distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers. Today, Inergy serves nearly 800,000 retail customers from over 300 customer service centers throughout the United States. The company also operates a natural gas storage business and a supply logistics, transportation, and wholesale marketing business that serves independent dealers and multi-state marketers in the United States and Canada.
International Bancshares Corporation (NASDAQ: IBOC) September 16, 2010, Laredo, TX announced that on September 10, 2010, its board of directors approved the declaration of a 19 cents per share cash dividend for shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 30, 2010, payable on October 18, 201
“This cash dividend, which reflects an 11.8% increase or two cents per share over IBC’s most recent cash dividend, was made possible because of IBC’s continuing strong performance despite our country’s difficult economic times,” said Dennis E. Nixon, Chairman and President of IBC.
IBC (NASDAQ: IBOC) is an $11.3 billion multi-bank financial holding company headquartered in Laredo, Texas, with over 279 facilities and over 435 ATMs serving 105 communities in Texas and Oklahoma.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: KMP) July 21, 2010, Houston, TX, increased its quarterly cash distribution per common unit to $1.09 ($4.36 annualized) payable on Aug. 13, 2010, to unitholders of record as of July 30, 2010. The distribution represents a 4 percent increase over the second quarter 2009 cash distribution per unit of $1.05 ($4.20 annualized). KMP has increased the distribution 37 times since current management took over in February of 1997.
KMP reported second quarter distributable cash flow before certain items of $322.3 million, up 18 percent from $274.2 million for the comparable period last year. Distributable cash flow per unit before certain items was $1.06, up 7 percent from $0.99 per unit for the second quarter of 2009. Net income attributable to KMP before certain items was $365.3 million versus $325.8 million for the same period last year. Including certain items, net income attributable to KMP was $361.2 million versus $323.8 million for the second quarter of 2009. Certain items totaled a net loss of $4.2 million, which was primarily attributable to environmental remediation costs associated with a former terminal property that is expected to be sold. The sales proceeds are expected to more than recoup the remediation costs.
For the first six months, KMP produced distributable cash flow before certain items of $676.0 million compared to $534.2 million for the first two quarters of 2009. Distributable cash flow per unit before certain items was $2.24 versus $1.95 for the first six months last year. Net income attributable to KMP before certain items was $744.0 million compared to $607.7 million for the same period in 2009. Including certain items, net income attributable to KMP was $586.5 million versus $587.7 million for the first two quarters last year.
Chairman and CEO Richard D. Kinder said, "KMP had a strong second quarter and we are delighted to increase the cash distribution per unit for the second consecutive quarter. All five of KMP's business segments produced higher results than in the second quarter of 2009. Our businesses generated $810.6 million in total segment earnings before DD&A and certain items, up 14 percent from $710.6 million in the second quarter of 2009. This increase reflects solid asset performance, contributions from expansions, acquisitions and new joint ventures, and an improvement in overall market conditions compared to a year ago. Highlights in the second quarter included completing an approximately $921 million acquisition of 50 percent of Petrohawk Energy's gathering and treating assets in the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana and forming our joint venture KinderHawk Field Services. We also entered into our first major contract with a producer in the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas with our joint venture partner Copano Energy, as we continue to broaden KMP's access to the key natural gas shale plays across the United States. Looking ahead, we are confident that KMP will meet our previously announced budget to pay cash distributions of $4.40 per unit for the four quarters of 2010, which would be a 4.8 percent increase over the $4.20 per unit we distributed for 2009."
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (KMP) is a pipeline transportation and energy storage company in North America. KMP owns an interest in approximately 28,000 miles of pipelines and 180 terminals. It has five business segments: products pipelines, natural gas pipelines, CO2, terminals and Kinder Morgan Canada. On October 1, 2009, KMP acquired the natural gas treating business from Crosstex Energy, L.P. and Crosstex Energy, Inc. On November 1, 2009, KMP acquired 40% ownership interest in Endeavor Gathering LLC, the natural gas gathering and compression business of GMX Resources Inc. In May 2010, the Company completed a 50/50 joint venture with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (Kinder Morgan) involving the Company's midstream business in the Haynesville Shale, and the sale of Terryville Field.
Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) September 16, 2010, Cincinnati, OH announced that its bboard of directors increased the amount of its quarterly dividend to 10.5¢ per share from 9.5¢ per share. The dividend will be paid on December 1, 2010 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 15, 2010.
This 10.5% increase is the fourth time the Board has raised the quarterly dividend since it initiated the program in 2006.
“We are creating value for our shareholders by reducing debt and returning value to them through dividends and share repurchases. We believe Kroger is in a strong position to continue to deliver shareholder value now and in the future and we appreciate the continued trust and support of our shareholders,” said David B. Dillon, chairman and chief executive officer of Kroger.
Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 334,000 associates who serve customers in 2,468 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s. The Company also operates 784 convenience stores, 372 fine jewelry stores, 932 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves.
LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) September 14, 2010, Bethesda, MD, announced that it increased its dividend to $0.11 per common share of beneficial interest for the quarter ending September 30, 2010. The third quarter dividend will be paid on October 15, 2010 to common shareholders of record on September 30, 2010.
"The board and management believe increasing the dividend to this level is appropriate at this time," stated Michael D. Barnello, president and chief executive officer of LaSalle Hotel Properties. "Our balance sheet is strong and the portfolio continues to generate significant cash flow."
LaSalle Hotel Properties is a leading multi-operator real estate investment trust owning 34 upscale full-service hotels, totaling over 9,200 guest rooms in 15 markets in 11 states and the District of Columbia. The company focuses on owning, redeveloping and repositioning upscale full-service hotels located in urban, resort and convention markets. LaSalle Hotel Properties seeks to grow through strategic relationships with premier lodging companies, including Westin Hotels and Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Hilton Hotels Corporation, Outrigger Lodging Services, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Benchmark Hospitality, White Lodging Services Corporation, Thompson Hotels, Sandcastle Resorts & Hotels, Davidson Hotel Company, Denihan Hospitality Group, the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC, Accor, Destination Hotels & Resorts and HEI Hotels & Resorts.
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE: MMC) September 15, 2010, New York, NY, declared a quarterly dividend of $.21 per share on outstanding common stock, payable on November 15, 2010 to shareholders of record on October 8, 2010. This is an increase from the August 16 dividend of $.20.
MMC is a global professional services firm providing advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and human capital. It is the parent company of a number of the world's leading risk experts and specialty consultants, including Marsh, the insurance broker and risk advisor; Guy Carpenter, the risk and reinsurance specialist; Mercer, the provider of HR and related financial advice and services; and Oliver Wyman, the management consultancy. With over 50,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue of $10 billion, MMC provides analysis, advice and transactional capabilities to clients in more than 100 countries.
National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) July 14, 2010, Santa Clara, CA, announced that its board of directors, at a regularly scheduled meeting, has declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per outstanding share of common stock. The new dividend, which is an increase from the prior quarter’s dividend of $0.08 per common share, will be paid on Oct. 12, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 20, 2010.
National Semiconductor’s fully diluted weighted average share count was 243.6 million shares for the fourth quarter of fiscal of 2010, which ended May 30, 2010.
National Semiconductor is a leader in power management technology. Known for its easy-to-use analog integrated circuits and world-class supply chain, National’s high-performance analog products enable its customers’ systems to be more energy efficient. National reported sales of $1.42 billion for fiscal 2010.
PACCAR (NASDAQ: PCAR) September 14, 2010, Bellevue, WA, board of directors today declared a 33 percent increase to the quarterly cash dividend from nine cents ($.09) to twelve cents ($.12) per share, payable December 6, 2010, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 19, 2010.
“This increase in the quarterly dividend reflects improvement in PACCAR’s net income,” said Mark Pigott, chairman and chief executive officer. “While conditions in the commercial vehicle markets remain challenging, net income has more than tripled through the first two quarters of 2010 to $167.9 million ($.46 per diluted share) compared to $52.8 million ($.14 per diluted share) for the same period in 2009
PACCAR has earned a net profit for 71 consecutive years and has paid a dividend every year since 1941.” The Company’s stock has outperformed the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index for the previous one-, three-, five and ten-year time periods.
PACCAR has invested in its facilities throughout the recession. PACCAR held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new state-of-the-art engine manufacturing facility at Columbus, Mississippi, yesterday. The ceremony was attended by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, state and local officials, and business and education leaders. The facility is the most technologically advanced commercial vehicle diesel engine facility in North America.
The PACCAR MX engine was recently introduced as a premium heavy-duty engine in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. “PACCAR’s MX environmentally friendly engine is designed to deliver outstanding performance in a wide range of applications. We are very pleased with the positive feedback we are receiving from customers regarding performance and fuel economy,” noted Craig Brewster, PACCAR vice president.
PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.
Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) September 10, 2010, New York, NY increased the company's regular quarterly dividend by 10.3%, to an annualized rate of $2.56 per common share.
The new quarterly dividend of $0.64 per common share, up from $0.58 per common share, is payable on October 8, 2010, to stockholders of record as of September 24, 2010. The ex-dividend date is September 22, 2010.
Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) is an international tobacco company, with seven of the world's top 15 brands, including Marlboro, the number one cigarette brand worldwide. PMI's products are sold in approximately 160 countries. In 2009, the company held an estimated 15.4% share of the total international cigarette market outside of the U.S., or 26.0% excluding the People's Republic of China and the U.S.
R.G. Barry (NASDAQ: DFZ) May 4, 2009, Pickerington, OH declared a special cash dividend, adopted a cash dividend policy, voted to reduce the board from 10 members to nine and adopted a shareholder rights plan. The directors unanimously declared a special cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable on June 15, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2009. The board also unanimously adopted a cash dividend policy, under which a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share (totaling $0.20 per year) will be paid on the Company’s common shares beginning in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2009. The Company last paid cash dividends in 1981. “The Board is fully committed to supporting our management team as it continues to build a truly great company,” said Chairman of the Board Gordon Zacks. “We believe, however, that the Company has reached a level of performance at which we can continue supporting the Company’s financial requirements while more directly sharing our success with our shareholders. The special $0.25 cent per share cash dividend coupled with a $0.20 per share annual cash dividend policy provides an attractive return to our shareholders. We believe it will also allow us to maintain an appropriate financial safety net and adequate resources to support our continuing strategy of growing shareholder value through acquisitions, innovation and product and channel diversification. The Board will review the dividend policy on a periodic basis and may make adjustments to it based on the Company’s operating performance, cash needs and evolving business strategies.”.G. Barry Corporation, the Dearfoams® company, is a developer and marketer of accessory footwear.
RF Industries (NASDAQ: RFIL)) September 13, 2010, San Diego, CA, said its board of directors has reinstated the company's quarterly cash dividend of 3 cents per share. The dividend is payable October 15 to shareholders of record on September 30.
"The reinstatement of our regular quarterly cash dividend is not expected to interfere with RFI's capital requirements for growth, capital expenditures or potential acquisitions," Howard Hill, president and CEO of RF Industries, said in a statement.
The dividend reinstatement announcement came as RF Industries posted a third-quarter profit of 10 cents a share on revenue of $4.23 million. In the year-ago quarter, the company broke even on a per-share basis and had revenue of $3.29 million.
RF Industries provides interconnect products and systems for radio frequency communications devices and wireless digital transmission systems.
Sentry Select Primary Metals Corp. (TSE: PME) September 1, 2010, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, announced that its board of directors approved an increase in the monthly cash dividend per Class A share from $0.07 to $0.085. However, if the make-up of the corporation's portfolio changes, dividends may differ.
The dividend increase will be effective October 15, 2010, to security holders of record on September 30, 2010, and will remain as such until further guidance is provided by the corporation. Based on the market value per Class A share of $9.44 on August 31, 2010, the dividend represents a cash-on-cash yield of approximately 10.8%.
Sentry Select Primary Metals Corp.'s investment objective is to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation. The corporation is invested in an actively managed portfolio consisting primarily of securities of mining and exploration issuers, with a current focus on gold.
Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN) September 16, 2010, Dallas, TX, board of directors authorized an increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend $0.01 per common share. TI's new quarterly dividend will be $0.13 per share of common stock, resulting in annual dividend payments of $0.52 per common share.
The new quarterly cash dividend will be payable November 22, 2010, to stockholders of record on November 1, 2010, contingent upon formal declaration by the Board of Directors at its regular meeting in October.
This marks the seventh consecutive year TI has increased its dividend. The company has paid dividends to its shareholders on an uninterrupted basis since June 1, 1962.
The board also authorized the company to repurchase an additional $7.5 billion of its common stock. This is in addition to the $1.3 billion in repurchase authorizations remaining at the end of June 2010.
TI plans to repurchase shares at times and prices considered appropriate by the company. Including today's announcement, the Board has authorized the repurchase of $27.5 billion of stock since September 2004. The company has reduced the number of its shares outstanding by 533 million shares, or 31 percent, from September 2004 through June 2010.
"These actions are evidence of our company's ongoing commitment to return value directly to our shareholders," said Rich Templeton, TI chairman, president and chief executive officer.
Two Harbors Investment Corp. (AMEX: TWO) September 13, 2010, Minnetonka, MN, board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share of common stock for the third quarter of 2010. This dividend is payable October 21, 2010 to common stockholders of record at the close of business on September 30, 2010.
Two Harbors, which invests in residential mortgage-backed securities, declared a third-quarter dividend of 39 cents per share, up 18% from its second-quarter dividend payment of 33 cents per share.
“Determining the dividend is a multi-variable contemplation that involves many factors, including near-term sustainability, realized earnings, compliance with REIT dividend distribution requirements and the anticipated impact on book value,” said Thomas Siering, Two Harbors’ president and chief executive officer. “We are pleased to deliver this result to our shareholders.”
Two Harbors distributes dividends based on its current estimate of taxable earnings per common share, not GAAP earnings. Taxable and GAAP earnings are expected to differ principally because of differences in discount accretion and premium amortization, certain non-taxable unrealized and realized gains and losses on derivatives, and non-deductible general and administrative expenses.
Two Harbors Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation, is a real estate investment trust that invests in residential mortgage-backed securities. Two Harbors is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and is externally managed and advised by PRCM Advisers, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pine River Capital Management L.P.
UDR, Inc. (NYSE: UDR), September 15, 2010, Denver, CO, a multifamily real estate investment trust, announced that its board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend on its common stock for the third quarter of 2010 in the amount of $0.185, payable in cash, on November 1, 2010 to UDR common stock shareholders of record as of October 15, 2010. The November 1st dividend will be the 152nd consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the Company on its common stock.
Pay date of November 1 is $0.185 compared to pay date August 2 of $0.18.
UDR also announced that its board declared a regular quarterly dividend on its Series E Preferred Stock for the third quarter of 2010 in the amount of $0.3322 per share. The preferred dividend is payable on November 1, 2010 to Series E preferred stock shareholders of record as of October 15, 2010.
Additionally, UDR announced that its board declared a regular quarterly dividend on its Series G Preferred Stock for the period of July 30, 2010 to, but not including, October 29, 2010 in the amount of $0.421875 per share. The preferred dividend is payable on November 1, 2010 to Series G preferred stock shareholders of record as of October 15, 2010.
UDR, Inc. is a multifamily real estate investment trust with performance of managing, buying, selling, developing and redeveloping real estate properties in targeted U.S. markets. As of June 30, 2010, UDR owned or had an ownership position in 51,823 apartment homes including 748 homes under development. For over 38 years, UDR has delivered long-term value to shareholders, the best standard of service to residents, and the highest quality experience for associates.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ) September 2, 2010, New York, NY, board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of 48.75 cents per outstanding share, an increase of 1.25 cents per share, or 2.6 percent, from the previous quarter. On an annual basis, this increases Verizon's dividend 5 cents per share, from $1.90 to $1.95 per share.
The quarterly dividend is payable on Nov. 1, 2010, to Verizon Communications shareowners of record at the close of business on Oct. 8, 2010.
“This increase is a clear indication of the strength of our cash flow, our balance sheet and our company,” said Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon chairman and chief executive officer. “Our board is yet again demonstrating its resolve in returning value to our shareholders and its belief in our strategies, all while continuing to invest in the long-term growth of our business.”
This is the fourth consecutive year that Verizon's board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend increase in September. Also, on July 1, Verizon completed the access line spinoff and merger transaction with Frontier Communications Corporation.
Through the spinoff, Verizon shareholders received $1.85 per share in value in the form of Frontier shares and cash in what was, effectively, a stock dividend.
Verizon has approximately 2.7 million shareowners and approximately 2.8 billion shares of common stock outstanding. The company made nearly $2.7 billion in dividend payments through the first half of 2010.
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSE: WFT) September 14, 2010, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share on the common shares and Class B common shares in the capital of the Company, payable on October 12, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 27, 2010. This represents an increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share.
Dividends are designated to be eligible dividends pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any applicable provincial legislation pertaining to eligible dividends.
The Company also announced a new $125 million capital spending program which will focus on expanding and upgrading various solid wood operations in Alberta, the U.S. South and the B.C. interior. The program is expected to be carried out over the next 18 months.
Hank Ketcham, West Fraser's Chairman, President and CEO, said, "As a result of our strong balance sheet we are able to begin making significant capital improvements to our facilities to keep them at the forefront of technology and efficiency."
West Fraser is an integrated wood products company producing lumber, wood chips, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp and newsprint. The Company has operations in western Canada and the southern United States.
Yum Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) September 18, 2010, Louisville, KY, announced its decision to hike quarterly dividend by 4 cents to 25 cents per share. This translates into a 19.0% increase from the prior dividend. The increased dividend will be paid on November 5, 2010, to stockholders of record on October 15, 2010. This represents the sixth consecutive annual increase in dividend paid by Yum! Brands since its inception in 2004 and brings the forward annual dividend yield as of September 14, 2010, to 1.89%.
Yum! Brands has stepped up shareholder value through a share buyback program. In the second quarter, the company repurchased 2.8 million shares for a total of $115 million, at an average price of $40.0 per share.
Yum! Brands is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants, with more than 37,000 restaurants in over 110 countries. The company has a consistent track record of paying quarterly dividends, supported by its cash position. The dividend policy of Yum! Brands continues to target a payout ratio of 35 to 40% of annual net income. Over the last five-year period, Yum! Brands’ dividend has grown at a rate of 39.8%; a much faster pace than the industry average growth rate of 9.3%.
Last year in September, the company increased its dividend by 11% to 21 cents along with an authorization of 300 million share repurchase.
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