This is a report on fifty-nine companies that have increased dividends. It is an occasional note by Laura Franks.
This informal collection marks dividend increases for mostly U.S. stocks. This report includes some equities based in Canada.
Bexley Public Radio hopes this is a positive note amidst the usual uncertainty of Wall Street and financial markets.
Laura’s commentary and analysis is sometimes offered in this informal journal.
Airgas (NYSE: ARG) Jan. 28, 2010 Radnor, PA announced that for fourth quarter of 2010, it expects earnings per diluted share (EPS) to be in the range of $0.67-$0.71. For fiscal 2010, it expects EPS to be in then range of $2.66-$2.70, which excludes year to date charges of $0.05 per diluted share for withdrawal from multi-employer pension plans and $0.07 per diluted share for debt extinguishment.
The Company also announced that the Board of Directors increased the quarterly cash dividend on the Company's common stock by 22%, from $0.18 per share to $0.22 per share, payable March 31, 2010 to shareholders of record as of March 15, 2010.
This is the Company's fifth dividend increase in the past three years, and will result in a 36% increase in dividends per share paid during fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009.
Airgas and subsidiaries is a distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases (delivered in packaged or cylinder form), and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. Airgas is a producer of nitrous oxide in the United States, the liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, the producer of atmospheric merchant gases in North America and a distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants, and ammonia products. The Company has two operating segments: Distribution and All Other Operations. The Distribution business segment engages in the distribution of industrial, medical and specialty gases and hardgoods, and in the production of gases primarily to supply the regional distribution companies. The All Other Operations business segment consists of six business units, which primarily manufacture and distribute carbon dioxide, dry ice, nitrous oxide, ammonia and refrigerant gases. In November 2009, the Company acquired the assets and operations of Tri-Tech.
Black Hills Corporation (NYSE: BKH) Jan. 28, 2010 Rapid City, SD announced that for fiscal 2010, it reiterates earnings from continuing operations to be in the range of $1.80 to $2.05 per share.
The Company also announced that the Board of Directors approved the 40th annual consecutive increase in the dividend. The quarterly dividend was increased by $0.005 per common share to $0.36 per share, equivalent to an annual dividend rate of $1.44 per share. Common shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb 12, 2010, will receive the dividend, payable on Mar 1, 2010.
Black Hills Corporation is a diversified energy company. It operates principally in the United States with two major business groups: Utilities and Non-regulated Energy. The Company’s Utilities Group is comprised of its Electric Utilities and Gas Utilities segments, and its Non-regulated Energy Group is comprised of its Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Coal Mining, and Energy Marketing segments. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity to approximately 202,100 customers in South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Montana. It’s Oil and Gas segment engages in the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas, primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. The Coal Mining segment produces coal at its coal mine near Gillette, Wyoming, and its Energy Marketing segment markets natural gas, crude oil and related services, primarily in the Western and Mid-continent regions of the Unites States and Canada.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) Dec 21, 2009 New York, NY announced that it has declared a 3.2% increase in the Company's quarterly dividend, beginning in the first quarter of 2010. The dividend increase will result in a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share on the $.10 par value Common Stock of the Company for an indicative 2010 full-year dividend of $1.28 per share. The next quarterly dividend will be payable on February 1, 2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 4, 2010.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is engaged in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sale of pharmaceutical and nutritional products.
The Company has two segments: Pharmaceuticals and Nutritionals. The Pharmaceuticals segment is made up of the global pharmaceutical and international consumer medicines business. The Nutritionals segment consists of Mead Johnson Nutritionals (Mead Johnson), primarily an infant formula and children’s nutritionals business.
In June 2008, BMS acquired Kosan Biosciences, Inc., a developer of oncology products. In August 2008, the Company completed the divestiture of its ConvaTec business to Cidron Healthcare Limited, an affiliate of Nordic Capital Fund VII and Avista. In December 2008, BMS completed the sale of its brand business in Egypt to GlaxoSmithKline. In July 2009, the Company's branded generics business, which comprises a portfolio of 13 branded pharmaceuticals was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline plc.
British Sky Broadcast (NYSE: BSY) Middlesex, UK , Jan 28, 2010 announced that directors are declaring an interim dividend of GBP0.07875 per ordinary share. This represents an increase of 5% on the comparable period. The ex-dividend date will be March 24, 2010, and the dividend will be paid on April 20, 2010, to shareholders of record on March 26, 2010.
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and its subsidiaries operate a pay television service in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as broadband and telephony services. The Company commissions and acquires programming to broadcast on its own channels, and supplies certain of those channels to cable operators for retransmission to their subscribers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Company retails channels (both its own and third parties) to direct-to-home (DTH) customers and certain of its own channels to a limited number of digital subscriber line (DSL) subscribers. It also makes three of its channels available free-to-air through the United Kingdom digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform, as part of the branded Freeview offering. As of June 30, 2009, there were 9,442,000 DTH customers to its television service, and 4,271,000 subscribers of the cable operators to whom the Company supplies certain of its channels, in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
California Water Service (NYSE: CWT) Jan. 27, 2010 San Jose, CA, announced that the Board of Directors declared the quarterly dividend, increasing the annual dividend from $1.18 to $1.19. The quarterly dividend of $0.2975 per common share will be payable on February 19, 2010, to stockholders of record on February 8, 2010.
California Water Service Group is a holding company. The Company owns six operating subsidiaries: California Water Service Company (Cal Water), New Mexico Water Service Company (New Mexico Water), Washington Water Service Company (Washington Water), Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc. (Hawaii Water), and CWS Utility Services and HWS Utility Services LLC (CWS Utility Services and HWS Utility Services LLC are referred to collectively as Utility Services). Cal Water, New Mexico Water, Washington Water, and Hawaii Water are regulated public utilities. The regulated utility entities also provide some non-regulated services. Utility Services provides non-regulated services to private companies and municipalities.
Cardinal Financial (NASDAQ: CFNL) Jan 28, 2010 McLean, VA
announced an increased quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share from its previous $0.01 per share dividend.
All shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 9, 2010 will receive the dividend on February 22, 2010.
Cardinal Financial Corporation is a financial holding company whose activities consist of investment in its wholly owned subsidiaries. The principal operating subsidiary of the Company is Cardinal Bank (the Bank), a state-chartered institution and its subsidiary, George Mason Mortgage, LLC (George Mason), a mortgage banking company based in Fairfax, Virginia. The Company has also acquired Wilson/Bennett Capital Management, Inc. (Wilson/Bennett), an asset management firm. The Company also owns Cardinal Wealth Services, Inc. (CWS), an investment services subsidiary. It acquired certain fiduciary and other assets and assumed certain liabilities of FBR National Trust Company, formerly a subsidiary of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc.
Cash Store (TSE: CSF) Jan. 27, 2010, Edmonton, Canada,
The Cash Store Financial Services Inc. announced that it has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10, an increase of $0.035, or 54%, over the same quarter last year. The dividend is payable on February 25, 2010, to shareholders of record on February 10, 2010.
The Cash Store Financial Services Inc. is a Canada-based company. The Company is engaged in providing alternative financial services to banks, serving the needs of everyday people, through its two branch banners: The Cash Store and Instaloans. The Cash Store and Instaloans act as brokers to facilitate payday advance services to income-earning consumers. It also provides a range of financial products that are not supplied by financial institutions. The Company’s subsidiaries, The Cash Store Inc. and Instaloans Inc., act as brokers on behalf of consumers seeking short term advances. As of June 30, 2009, the Company owned and operated 424 branches in nine provinces and two territories across Canada. In September 2009, the Company announced the acquisition of Affordable Payday Loans, an Ontario-based regional provider with eight locations throughout Ontario and two locations in Edmonton, Alberta.
Centerpoint Energy (NYSE: CNP), Jan 21, 2010 Houston, TX, announced that the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.195 per share of common stock payable on March 10, 2010, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 16, 2010. This represents more than a 2.6% increase over the $0.190 per common share quarterly dividends paid by the Company in 2009.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is a public utility holding company. Its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries include CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC (CenterPoint Houston), which engages in the electric transmission and distribution business in a 5,000-square mile area of the Texas Gulf Coast that includes Houston, and CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. (CERC Corp.), which owns and operates natural gas distribution systems in six states. Subsidiaries of CERC Corp. own interstate natural gas pipelines and gas gathering systems, and provide various ancillary services. A wholly owned subsidiary of CERC Corp. offers variable and fixed-price physical natural gas supplies primarily to commercial and industrial customers and electric and gas utilities. The Company’s operating segments include Electric Transmission & Distribution, Natural Gas Distribution, Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services, Interstate Pipelines, Field Services and Other Operations.
Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS) Jan 26, 2010, Cincinnati, OH, Cintas Corporation announced that the Company's Board of Directors approved a $0.48 per share annual dividend, an increase over last year's annual dividend of $0.47 per share. The dividend is payable on March 10, 2010, to shareholders of record as of February 10, 2010.
Cintas Corporation provides specialized products and services to businesses of all types primarily throughout the United States and Canada. The Company is a provider of corporate identity uniforms through rental and sales programs, as well as a significant provider of related business services, including entrance mats, restroom products and services, first aid, safety and fire protection products and services, document management services and branded promotional products. Cintas classifies its businesses into four operating segments: Rental Uniforms and Ancillary Products; Uniform Direct Sales; First Aid, Safety and Fire Protection Services, and Document Management Services. The Company provides its products and services to approximately 800,000 businesses of all types, from small service and manufacturing companies to corporations.
CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) Jackson, MI increased its quarterly dividend on the company's common stock by 20 percent, to 15 cents per share, up from 12.5 cents per share.
The first quarter dividend for the common stock is payable Feb. 26, 2010 to shareholders of record on Feb. 8, 2010.
David Joos, CMS Energy's president and chief executive officer, said the Board's decision to increase the dividend for the third consecutive year was based on the company's improving financial strength and the fundamental soundness of its business strategy.
CMS Energy Corporation (CMS Energy) is an energy company operating throught its subsidiaries in United States, primarily in Michigan. The Company’s principal subsidiaries are Consumers Energy Company (Consumers) and CMS Enterprises Company (Enterprises). Consumers is a combination electric and gas utility company that provides electricity and/or natural gas to almost 6.5 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents, and serves customers in all 68 counties of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Enterprises, through its subsidiaries and equity investments, is engaged primarily in domestic independent power production. CMS Energy manages its businesses by the nature of services each provides and operates principally in three business segments: electric utility, gas utility, and enterprises.
Canadian National Railway (NYSE: CNI) Jan 26, 2010, Montreal, Quebec announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 7% increase in the Company's quarterly cash dividend. A quarterly dividend of CAD $0.27 per common share will be paid on March 31, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2010. The Company also announced that the Company aiming for double-digit growth in diluted earnings per share (EPS) in fiscal 2010 over adjusted diluted EPS of CDN $3.24 in fiscal 2009. According to Reuters Estimates, analysts on an average were expecting the Company to report EPS CDN $3.73 for fiscal 2010.
Canadian National Railway Corporation, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries (CN) is engaged in the rail and related transportation business. CN’s network of approximately 21,100 route miles of track spans Canada and mid-America, connecting three coasts: the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico. The Company operates in seven business segments: petroleum and chemicals, metals and minerals, forest products, coal, grain and fertilizers, intermodal, and automotive. On January 31, 2009, CN completed the acquisition of principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E). In 2008, CN acquired three railway subsidiaries of Quebec Railway Corp. (QRC) and QRC rail-freight ferry operation. It included Chemin de fer de la Matapedia et du Golfe, New Brunswick East Coast Railway, Ottawa Central Railway and Compagnie de gestion de Matane Inc.
Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) Jan 21, 2010, New York, NY announced that it has declared a quarterly dividend of 59 1/2 cents a share on its common stock, payable March 15, 2010 to shareholders of record as of February 17, 2010, an annualized increase of $0.02 over the previous annualized dividend of $2.36 a share. For fiscal 2010, the Company expects its earnings from ongoing operations to be in the range of $3.10 to $3.30 a share. Earnings per share (EPS) from ongoing operations excludes the net mark-to-market effects of the competitive energy businesses.
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is the holding company of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison of New York), and Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R), both of which are regulated utilities. Con Edison’s principal business segments are Con Edison of New York’s regulated electric, gas and steam utility segments, O&R’s regulated electric and gas utility segments and Con Edison’s competitive energy businesses. Con Edison of New York provides electric service in all of New York City (except part of Queens) and Westchester County, an approximately 660 square mile service area with a population of more than nine million. O&R, along with its wholly owned utility subsidiaries, Rockland Electric Company (RECO) and Pike County Light & Power Company (Pike), provide electric service in southeastern New York and in adjacent areas of northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, an approximately 1,350 square mile service area.
Dominion Resources (NYSE: D) Jan 29, 2009, Richmond, VA set a 2010 dividend rate of $1.83 per share of common stock, up from $1.75 per share in 2009, a 4.6 percent increase. Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of more than 27,500 megawatts of generation, 1.2 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas and oil reserves, 14,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage system with 975 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.
DPL (NYSE: DPL) Jan 26, 2010, Dayton, OH, announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3025 per share payable March 1, 2010 to common shareholders of record on February 16, 2010. This action reflects the dividend increase announced on December 9, 2009, resulting in an annualized rate of $1.21 per share.
DPL Inc. (DPL) is a regional energy company. DPL’s principal subsidiary is The Dayton Power and Light Company (DP&L). DP&L sells electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers in a 6,000 square mile area of West Central Ohio. Electricity for DP&L’s 24 county service areas is primarily generated at eight coal-fired power plants and is distributed to more than 515,000 retail customers. Principal industries served include automotive, food processing, paper, plastic, manufacturing and defense. DP&L also sells electricity to DPL Energy Resources, Inc. (DPLER), an affiliate, to satisfy the electric requirements of its retail customers. DP&L sells any excess energy and capacity into the wholesale market.
El Paso Pipeline Partners (NYSE: EPB) Jan 22, 2010, Houston, TX announced that the Board of Directors of its general partner has declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.36 per unit for the fourth quarter of 2009, or $1.44 per unit on an annualized basis. This distribution represents an increase of 12.5% from the $0.32 per unit paid for the fourth quarter 2008 and an increase of 2.9% from the $0.35 per unit paid for the third quarter 2009. The distribution will be paid February 12, 2010 on all outstanding common and subordinated units to holders of record as of the close of business on February 1, 2010.
El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. owns and operates natural gas transportation pipelines, storage and other midstream assets. The Company conducts its business activities through various natural gas pipeline systems and storage facilities, including the Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd., (WIC) system, a 40% general partner interest in Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG) and a 25% general partner interest in Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG). WIC is an interstate pipeline transportation business primarily located in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. CIG is an interstate pipeline transportation business that extends from production areas in the United States Rocky Mountain region to interconnection points on pipelines transporting gas to the Midwest and to market areas in the Front Range of Colorado and Wyoming. SNG is an interstate pipeline transportation business that extends from production fields in the southern United States and the Gulf of Mexico to market areas across the Southeast.
Enterprise Bancorp (NASDAQ: EBTC) Jan 19, 2010 Lowell, MA announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share to be paid on March 1, 2010 to shareholders of record as of February 8, 2010. The quarterly dividend represents a 5.3% increase over the 2009 dividend rate.
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. operates as the parent holding company of Enterprise Bank and Trust Company (the Bank). The Company’s operations are conducted through the Bank. Through the Bank and its subsidiaries, the Company offers a range of commercial and consumer loan products, deposit and cash management products, investment advisory and management, trust and insurance services. The Company’s primary market area is the Merrimack Valley and North Central region of Massachusetts and south-central New Hampshire. The Company has 16 full service branch banking offices located in the Massachusetts cities and towns of Acton, Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Fitchburg, Leominster, Lowell, Methuen, Tewksbury, and Westford; and in Salem, New Hampshire, which serve those cities and towns as well as the surrounding communities.
Ensign Group (NASDAQ: ENSG) Dec 21, 2009, Mission Viego, CA announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share of Ensign common stock, which is an increase from the prior quarterly cash dividend of $0.045 per share. The dividend, which was unanimously approved by the Board on December 17, 2009, is payable on or before January 31, 2010, to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2009.
The Ensign Group, Inc. is a provider of nursing and rehabilitative care services through the operation of facilities located in California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Utah and Idaho. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company owned or leased 63 facilities. Its facilities provide a spectrum of skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapies, and other rehabilitative and healthcare services and, in certain facilities, assisted living services, for both long-term residents and short-stay rehabilitation patients. The facilities have a collective capacity of over 7,600 skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living beds. As of December 31, 2008, Ensign owned 32 of its facilities and operated an additional 31 facilities under long-term lease arrangements. Effective October 1, 2009, The Ensign Group, Inc. acquired Golden Acres, an operating skilled nursing and independent living campus, as well as a separate hospice business, both in Dallas, Texas.
Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO) Jan 21, 2010, Charlotte, NC, announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on the Company's common stock of $0.155 per share, payable April 15, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 15, 2010. The quarterly cash dividend of $0.155 per share is an increase of 14.8% from the preceding quarterly cash dividend of $0.135 per share.
Family Dollar Stores, Inc. operates a chain of more than 6,600 general merchandise retail discount stores in 44 states, providing consumers with a selection of merchandise in neighborhood stores. The Company’s merchandise assortment includes consumables, home products, apparel and accessories, and seasonal and electronics. The Company’s products include health and beauty aids, packaged food and refrigerated products, home cleaning supplies, housewares, stationery, seasonal goods, apparel and domestics. During the fiscal year ended August 30, 2009 (fiscal 2009), the Company opened 180 stores, closed 96 stores, relocated 10 stores within the same shopping center or market area, and expanded or renovated 41 stores. During fiscal 2009, approximately 20% of the Company’s stores were located in large urban markets (markets with populations above 200,000), and approximately 26% of the Company’s stores were located in small urban markets or suburban areas.
Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) Jan 8, 2010, Winona, WI, announced that the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.40 per share to be paid in cash on February 26, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 15, 2010. The Company expects that it will continue to pay a comparable semi-annual cash dividend in the foreseeable future, provided that any future determination as to payment of dividends will depend upon the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and such other factors as are deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.
Fastenal Company (Fastenal) sells industrial and construction supplies in a wholesale and retail fashion. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had 2,369 store locations located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, China, The Netherlands, Hungary, and Malaysia. During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company operated 14 distribution centers in North America, from which it distributed products to its store and in-plant locations. In addition, Fastenal also operates strategic account stores, strategic account sites, and in-plant site.
General Mills (NYSE: GIS) Dec 14, 2009, Minneapolis, MN, announced that its Board of Directors has declared an increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.49 per share, effective with the dividend payable on February 1, 2010, to shareholders of record January 11, 2010.
General Mills, Inc. is a manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. The Company is also a supplier of branded and unbranded food products to the foodservice and commercial baking industries. General Mills manufactures its products in 15 countries and market them in more than 100 countries. Its joint ventures manufacture and market products in more than 130 countries and republics worldwide. The Company’s businesses are organized into three operating segments: U.S. Retail; International, and Bakeries and Foodservice. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2009 (fiscal 2009), Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates (Wal-Mart) accounted for 21 % of the Company’s consolidated net sales and 29 % of its net sales in the U.S. Retail segment. In September 2008, Diamond Foods, Inc. announced that it completed the acquisition of the Pop Secret popcorn business from General Mills.
Heritage Financial Group (NASDAQ: HBOS) Jan 21, 2010, announced that its Board of Directors has increased the Company's cash dividend 13% to $0.09 per share from the previous level of $0.08 per share. The dividend will be paid on February 19, 2010, to stockholders of record as of February 5, 2010. Heritage, MHC, which holds 7,868,875 shares or approximately 76% of the Company's total outstanding stock, will waive receipt of the dividend on its shares.
Heritage Financial Group is a holding company. The Company operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, HeritageBank of the South (the Bank). The principal business of the Bank consists of attracting retail and commercial deposits from the general public and investing those funds primarily in permanent loans secured by first mortgages on owner-occupied, one- to four-family residences, multi-family residences and commercial property and a variety of consumer and commercial business loans. Revenues from this business are derived principally from interest on loans and securities and fee income. The Bank offers a variety of deposit accounts having a range of interest rates and terms, which generally include savings accounts, money market deposit and term certificate accounts and checking accounts. It solicits deposits in its market areas and, to a lesser extent, from brokered deposits.
Home Capital Group (NASDAQ: HCG) Feb 10, 2010 Toronto, Ontario, announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend of CAD0.16 per share on the outstanding Common Shares of the Company, which is equivalent to an annual dividend of CAD0.64 per share. The dividend is payable on March 1, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 19, 2010.
Home Capital Group Inc. is a holding company, which operates primarily through its principal subsidiary, Home Trust Company. The Company, through Home Trust, is engaged in residential mortgage lending business. Home Trust is a mortgage lender focused on homeowners who typically do not meet all the lending criteria of traditional financial institutions. In addition, Home Trust offers a range of insured mortgage products through the Accelerator program to individuals customarily served by financial institutions. Home Trust offers deposits, mortgage lending, retail credit and payment card services. Home Trust offers the Home Trust Equityline Visa card, which combines the benefits of a line of credit with the convenience and benefits of a Visa Gold card. Home Trust is licensed to conduct business across Canada. At December 31, 2008, the Company’s loans portfolio amounted to $4.51 billion. At December 31, 2008, residential mortgage loans totaled $3.26 billion.
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) Jan 22, 2010, Santa Clara, CA, announced that its Board of Directors has declared a $0.1575 per share quarterly dividend on the Company's common stock, reflecting the previously announced 12.5% increase from the fourth quarter of 2009. The dividend will be payable on March 1, 2010 to stockholders of record on February 7, 2010.
Intel Corporation is a semiconductor chip maker. The Company is engaged in developing advanced integrated digital technology products, primarily integrated circuits, for industries, such as computing and communications. Its primary component-level products include microprocessors, chipsets, motherboards, wired and wireless connectivity. The Company offers products at various levels of integration, allowing its customers the capability to create computing and communications systems. As of December 27, 2008, the Company was mainly organized in two segments: Digital Enterprise Group (DEG) and Mobility Group (MG). During the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008 (fiscal 2008), the Company completed the divestiture of its NOR flash memory business. In July 2009, Intel Corporation completed the acquisition of Wind River Systems, Inc.
Inter Parfums (NASDAQ: IPAR) Jan 26, 2010, New York, NY, announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 100% increase in the Company's quarterly cash dividend to $0.065 per share, which brings the annual cash dividend to $0.26 per share.
Inter Parfums, Inc. operates in the fragrance business, and manufactures, markets and distributes an array of fragrances and fragrance related products. The Company manages its business in two segments: European based operations and United States based operations. The Company’s prestige fragrance products are produced and marketed by its European operations through a 75%-owned subsidiary in Paris, Inter Parfums, S.A. It produces and distributes its prestige products primarily under license agreements with brand owners. The Company’s prestige product sales represented approximately 87% of net sales during the year ended December 31, 2008. Its specialty retail and mass-market fragrance and fragrance related products are marketed through its United States operations and represented 13% of sales during 2008.
Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE: LB) Dec 9, 2009, Montreal, Quebec, announced that its Board of Directors has approved a $0.02 per common share or 6% increase in the quarterly dividend, to $0.36 per common share.
Laurentian Bank of Canada (the Bank) and its subsidiaries provides banking services to individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to independent advisors across Canada. It also operates as a full-service brokerage firm. The Retail and SME-Quebec segment covers a range of savings, investment and financing products, and transactional products and services offered through its direct distribution network, which includes its branches and electronic network, a call center, as well as point-of-sale financing. The Real Estate and Commercial segment handles real estate financing throughout Canada, commercial financing in Ontario and National accounts. The B2B Trust segment supplies generic and complementary banking and financial products to financial advisors and non-bank financial institutions across Canada. LBS segment consists of the operations of the subsidiary Laurentian Bank Securities Inc. The Other segment includes treasury and securitization operations.
Legget and Platt (NYSE: LEG) Aug 6, 2009, Carthage, MO, announced it is raising the Company's dividend by one cent per share, or 4%, to $0.26 per share for the third quarter. The dividend will be paid on October 15, 2009 to shareholders of record on September 15, 2009.
Leggett & Platt, Incorporated, incorporated in 1901, is a diversified manufacturer that conceives designs and produces a range of engineered components and products used in homes, offices, retail stores and automobiles. The Company’s operations are organized into 20 business units, which are divided into 10 groups under its four segments: Residential Furnishings, Commercial Fixturing & Components, Industrial Materials and Specialized Products. The Residential Furnishings groups include Bedding Group, Furniture Group and Fabric & Carpet Underlay Group. The Commercial Fixturing & Components Segment consists of Fixture & Display group and Office Furniture Components group. The Industrial Materials segment includes Wire group and Tubing group. The Specialized Products segment consists of the Automotive Group, the Machinery Group and the Commercial Vehicle Products Group.
Linear Tech (NASDAQ: LLTC) Jan 12, 2010, Milpitas, CA, announced that the Company expects revenue growth for third quarter of 2010 to be in the range of 7%-10% over second quarter of 2010. The Company reported revenues of $ $256.4 million for the second quarter of 2010. The Company also announced that it has increased its quarterly dividend from $0.22 per share to $0.23 per share. The cash dividend of $0.23 per share will be paid on February 24, 2010 to stockholders of record on February 12, 2010.
Linear Technology Corporation (Linear Technology) designs, manufactures and markets a line of standard linear integrated circuits. The Company’s products include high-performance amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, monolithic filters, linear regulators, direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converters, battery chargers, data converters, communications interface circuits, radio frequency (RF) signal conditioning circuits, uModule products, and many other analog functions. Applications for Linear Technology’s high-performance circuits include telecommunications, cellular telephones, networking products, such as optical switches, notebook and desktop computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial instrumentation, security monitoring devices, consumer products, such as digital cameras and medical devices, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, and military and space systems.
McCormick and Co (NYSE: MKC) Nov 24, 2009, Sparks, MD, announced that it has declared an 8.3% increase in the quarterly dividend from $0.24 to $0.26 per share on its common stocks, payable January 15, 2010 to shareholders of record December 31, 2009.
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (McCormick) manufactures, marketing and distribution of spices, herbs, seasonings, specialty foods and flavors to the entire food industry. The Company’s major sales, distribution and production facilities are located in North America and Europe. Additional facilities are based in Mexico, Central America, Australia, China, Singapore, Thailand and South Africa. The Company operates in two business segments: consumer and industrial. The consumer segment sells spices, herbs, extracts, seasoning blends, sauces, marinades, and specialty foods to the consumer food market under a variety of brands worldwide, including McCormick, Lawry’s, Zatarain’s, Old Bay, Thai Kitchen, Simply Asia, Ducros, Schwartz, Vahine, Silvo, Club House, and Billy Bee.
McGraw-Hill (NYSE: MHP) Jan 20, 2010 New York, NY, announced that it has approved an increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend on the Company's common stock and also announced that the Company intends to resume share repurchases in 2010. The quarterly dividend will increase 4.4% from $0.225 to $0.235 per share. The dividend will be payable on March 10, 2010, to shareholders of record on February 24, 2010. The Company, beginning this year, will buy back over time the 17.1 million shares remaining in its share repurchase program approved by the Board in 2007. These shares will be purchased from time to time on the open market, subject to market conditions.
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. is a global information services provider serving the financial services, education and business information markets with a range of information products and services. The Company serves additional markets, such as energy, automotive, construction, aerospace and defense, broadcasting, and marketing information services. The Company serves its customers through a range of distribution channels, including printed books, magazines and newsletters, online via Internet Websites and digital platforms, through wireless and traditional on-air broadcasting, and through a range of conferences and trade shows. The Company’s books and magazines are printed by third parties. The Company operates in three segments: McGraw-Hill Education (MHE), Financial Services, and Information and Media. In April 2008, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. announced the acquisition of Umbria Inc. In December 2009, the Company completed the sale of BusinessWeek to Bloomberg L.P.
MDC Partners (NASDAQ: MDCA) Jan 25, 2010, Toronto, Ontario, announced that it is initiating a $0.10 per share cash dividend payable for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. The dividend will be payable on or about February 26, 2010, to shareholders of record as of February 12, 2010.
MDC Partners Inc. (MDC) is a provider of marketing communications services to customers worldwide. The Company has operating units in the United States, Canada, Europe, Jamaica and Philippines. MDC’s subsidiaries provides a range of marketing communications and consulting services, including advertising, interactive marketing, direct marketing, database and customer relationship management, sales promotion, corporate communications, market research, corporate identity, design and branding and other related services. MDC operates through Partner companies, which comprise: Strategic Marketing Services (SMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Specialized Communication Services (SCS). During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company’s largest client, Sprint, accounted for approximately 19% of its revenues.
Meridian Bioscience (NASDAQ: VIVO) Nov 12, 2009, Cincinnati, OH, reaffirmed its fiscal 2010 guidance and expects sales to be in the range of $160 to $165 million and per share diluted earnings (EPS) to be between $0.90 and $0.95. Meridian Bioscience, Inc. also announced that it has declared the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share for the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2009. The dividend is of record November 23, 2009 and payable December 3, 2009. The Board of Directors has approved an increase to the indicated regular quarterly cash dividend rate of $0.02 bringing the quarterly rate to $0.19 per share for fiscal 2010. This annual indicated dividend rate of $0.76 per share represents a 12% increase over the fiscal 2009 rate of $0.68 per share.
Meridian Bioscience, Inc. is a life science company. The Company’s principal businesses are the development, manufacture, sale and distribution of diagnostic test kits, primarily for certain respiratory, gastrointestinal, viral and parasitic infectious diseases; the manufacture and distribution of bulk antigens, antibodies, and reagents used by researchers and other diagnostic manufacturers, and the contract development and manufacture of proteins and other biologicals for use by biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies engaged in research for new drugs and vaccines. The Company operates in three business segments: US Diagnostics, European Diagnostics and Life Science.
National Instruments (NASDAQ: NATI) Jan 26, 2010, Austin, TX, announced that the Board of Directors approved an $0.08 sequential increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.13 per share. This dividend is payable on March 1, 2010, to shareholders of record on Feb. 8, 2010. The Company also announced that it anticipates year-over-year revenue and profit growth in first quarter of 2010, with the midpoint of both revenue and earnings per share guidance, representing new all-time records for a first quarter. The Company expects strong first quarter of 2010 year-over-year revenue growth, with revenue expected to be between $192-$202 million. The company expects fully diluted EPS between $0.24 and $0.32, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS expected to be between $0.30 and $0.38. This guidance includes the full restoration of employee salaries, generally effective Feb. 1, and the automatic variable pay increase that will result from the significant year-over-year growth assumed by the company's guidance. In first quarter of 2010, the Company anticipates that the GAAP to non-GAAP EPS adjustment will be approximately $0.06 per share. For fiscal 2010, the Company anticipates that the GAAP to non-GAAP EPS adjustment will be approximately $0.22 per share. The Company reported revenues of $157.8 million and EPS of $0.04 in first quarter of 2009. According to Reuters Estimates, analysts were expecting the Company to report revenues of $184 million and non-GAAP EPS of $0.20 for the same period.
National Instruments Corporation is a supplier of measurement and automation products that engineers and scientists use in a range of industries. The Company provides flexible application software, and modular, multi-function hardware that users combine with computers, networks and third-party devices to create measurement, automation and embedded systems. The Company's application software products include LabVIEW, LabVIEW Real-Time, LabVIEW FPGA, Measurement Studio, LabWindows/CVI, DIAdem, TestStand and Multisim. Its hardware and related driver software products include data acquisition (DAQ); peripheral component interconnect (PCI) extensions for instrumentation (PXI) chassis and controllers; image acquisition; motion control; distributed input/output (I/O), and modular instruments and embedded control hardware/software; industrial communications interfaces; general-purpose interface bus (GPIB) interfaces, and VME extensions for instrumentation (VXI) controllers.
National Retail Properties (NYSE: NNN) Jan 14, 2010, Orlando, FL paid cash dividends to its common stockholders of $0.375 per share during the quarter and $1.50 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Annual dividends per share increased from $1.48 to $1.50 marking the 20th consecutive year of dividend increases - one of only 156 public companies with a dividend increase record of 20 or more years. Investment Portfolio occupancy was 96.4% at December 31, 2009, as compared to 96.3% at September 30, 2009, and 96.7% at December 31,2008.
National Retail Properties, Inc. (NNN) is an integrated real estate investment trust (REIT). NNN’s operations are divided into two primary business segments: investment assets, including real estate assets, mortgages and notes receivable (including structured finance investments) on the consolidated balance sheets and commercial mortgage residual interests (collectively, Investment Assets), and inventory real estate assets (Inventory Assets). Its consolidated subsidiaries include taxable REIT subsidiaries, and their majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries (TRS).
Navios Maritime Partners (NYSE: NMM) Jan 26, 2010, Piraeus, Greece, announced that the Board of Directors has declared a cash distribution of $0.41 per unit for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009. This distribution represents a 1.2% increase over the prior quarter's distribution of $0.405 per unit and an annual distribution of $1.64 per unit. The cash distribution will be payable on February 11, 2010 to unit holders of record as of February 8, 2010.
Navios Maritime Partners L.P is an international owner of drybulk carriers newly formed by Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., an integrated seaborne shipping company. The Company is engaged in the seaborne transportation services of a wide range of drybulk commodities including iron ore, coal, grain and fertilizer, chartering its vessels under medium to long term charters.
Nordic American Tankers (NYSE: NAT) Feb 12, 2010 HAMILTON, BERMUDA announced that it on March 5th it will pay a dividend for the 50th consecutive quarter since the first three vessels were delivered to the Company in the autumn of 1997 when the Company commenced operations. Including the dividend for 4Q09 the total dividend payment amounts to $40.14 per share. Following a strengthening of the spot market the dividend for 4Q09 was $0.25 per share compared to $0.10 for 3Q09.
Some salient points of this report are as follows: The level of the spot tanker market was higher during 4Q09 than during 3Q09. The spot tanker market for the 1Q10 has started on a positive note compared with 4Q09. There are indications that the world economy has bottomed out which is positive for the tanker business. Earnings per share in 4Q09 was -$0.10 as against -$0.28 in 3Q09. Dividend per share was $0.25 in 4Q09 compared to $0.10 during 3Q09.
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Limited is an international tanker company that owns double-hull Suezmax tankers averaging approximately 155,000 deadweight tons (dwt) each. It owns and operates crude oil tankers. As of December 31, 2008, the Company owned 15 double hull Suezmax tankers, including one vessel delivered in February 2009 and two new buildings. The Company’s fleet includes Gulf Scandic, Nordic Hawk, Nordic Hunter, Nordic Voyager, Nordic Freedom, Nordic Fighter, Nordic Discovery, Nordic Sprite, Nordic Saturn, Nordic Jupiter, Nordic Cosmos, Nordic Moon, Nordic Apollo, Nordic Galaxy and Nordic Vega.
Nucor (NYSE: NUE) Dec 2, 2010 Charlotte, NC, announced an increase of the regular quarterly cash dividend on common stock by 2.9% to $0.36 per share from $0.35 per share. This cash dividend is payable on February 11, 2010 to stockholders of record on December 31, 2009.
Nucor Corporation (Nucor) and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, with operating facilities and customers primarily located in North America. The Company operates in three business segments: steel mills, steel products and raw materials. In 2008, the Company recycled approximately 20 million tons of scrap steel. In February 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of SHV North America Corporation, which owns 100% of The David J. Joseph Company (DJJ) and certain affiliates. In July 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of a 50% interest in Duferdofin - Nucor S.r.l.
Ocean Shore Holding (NASDAQ: OSHC) Jan 21, 2010 Ocean City, NJ, announced a dividend of $0.06 per share on common stock for the quarter, an increase of $0.01 over the prior quarter. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on 5 February 2010 will receive the dividend payout on or about 26 February 2010.
Ocean Shore Holding Co. (Ocean Shore Holding) is a federally chartered savings and loan holding company for Ocean City Home Bank, a federally chartered savings bank. Ocean City Home Bank’s only active subsidiary is Seashore Financial Services, LLC. Seashore Financial Services receives commissions from the sale of insurance products. Ocean Shore Holding operates as a community-oriented financial institution offering a range of financial services to consumers and businesses in its market area. It attracts deposits from the general public, small businesses and municipalities and uses those funds to originate a variety of consumer and commercial loans, which it holds primarily for investment. OC Financial MHC is its federally chartered mutual holding company parent. The Company serves the southern New Jersey shore communities through a total of nine full service offices. A total of seven offices are located in Atlantic County while two offices are situated in Cape May County.
Ohio Valley Banc Corp (NASDAQ: OVBC) Jan 20, 2010, Gallipolis, OH, announced that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.21 per common share payable on February 10, 2010 to shareholders of record on February 1, 2010. The $0.21 per share dividend represents an increase of one cent (5%) from the $0.20 per share dividend paid in each of the previous three quarters.
Ohio Valley Banc Corp. (Ohio Valley) is a financial holding company. Ohio Valley has one banking subsidiary, The Ohio Valley Bank Company (the Bank) and two non-bank subsidiaries, Loan Central, Inc. (Loan Central) and Ohio Valley Financial Services Agency, LLC (Ohio Valley Financial Services), which engage in lending and insurance agency services. Ohio Valley also owns a minority interest in an insurance company. The Bank is primarily engaged in commercial and retail banking. The Bank is a full-service financial institution offering a blend of commercial, consumer and agricultural banking services within central and southeastern Ohio, as well as western West Virginia. The banking services offered by the Bank include the acceptance of deposits in checking, savings, time and money market accounts; the making and servicing of personal, commercial, floor plan and student loans; and the making of construction and real estate loans.
Omega Healthcare Investors (NYSE: OHI) Jan 20, 2010 announced a common stock dividend of $0.32 per share, to be paid February 16, 2010 to common stockholders of record on January 29, 2010.
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. is a self-administered real estate investment trust, investing in income-producing healthcare facilities, principally long-term care facilities located in the United States. It provides lease or mortgage financing to qualified operators of skilled nursing facilities (SNF), assisted living facilities, independent living facilities (ILF) and rehabilitation and acute care facilities. As of December 31, 2008, its investments portfolio comprised 256 healthcare facilities, located in 28 states and operated by 25 third-party operators. It included 227 SNFs, seven ALFs, two rehabilitation hospitals owned and leased to third parties and two ILF, fixed rate mortgages on 15 long-term healthcare facilities, two SNFs owned and operated by the Company; and one SNF as held-for-sale. In December 2009, the Company acquired subsidiaries of CapitalSource Inc. owning 40 long term care facilities and an option to purchase other subsidiaries owning 63 additional facilities.
Oneok (NYSE: OKE) Jan 20, 2010, Tulsa, OK, announced that its Board of directors has increased the quarterly dividend to $0.44 cents per share of common stock from $0.42 per share, effective for the fourth quarter 2009, payable on February 12, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business January 29, 2010.
ONEOK, Inc. is a diversified energy company. It is a natural gas distributor in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. The Company’s distribution markets include Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kansas City, Wichita, and Topeka, Kansas, and Austin and El Paso, Texas. Its energy services operation is engaged in providing natural gas marketing services to wholesale and retail customers across the United States and Canada. The Company is the sole general partner and owns 47.7% of ONEOK Partners, L.P. ONEOK Partners is engaged in gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the United States. The Company has four business segments: ONEOK Partners, Distribution, Energy Services and Other.
Pall (NYSE: PLL) Jan 21, 2010, New York, NY, announced that it has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share, an increase of 10.3% over the previous quarter. The dividend is payable on February 23, 2010 to shareholders of record as of February 9, 2010.
Pall Corporation, along with its subsidiaries, is a supplier of filtration, separation and purification technologies principally made by the Company using its engineering capability and fluid management, filter media, and other fluid clarification and separations equipment for the removal of solid, liquid and gaseous contaminants from a variety of liquids and gases. The Company serves customers through two business groups globally: Life Sciences and Industrial. The Life Sciences business group is focused on developing, manufacturing and selling products to customers in the medical and biopharmaceuticals marketplaces. The Industrial business group is focused on developing, manufacturing and selling products to customers in the aerospace and transportation, microelectronics and energy, and water and process technologies markets. In January 2010, the Company announced its acquisition of MicroReactor Technologies, Inc. (MRT), a biotechnology company.
Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII) Jan 21, 2010, announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 3% increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend, effective with the 2010 first quarter dividend. The first quarter dividend of $0.40 will be payable on February 16, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 1, 2010.
Polaris Industries Inc. (Polaris) designs, engineers and manufactures off-road vehicles (ORV), which includes all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and side-by-side vehicles for recreational and utility use, snowmobiles and motorcycles, and markets them, together with related replacement parts, garments and accessories (PG&A) through dealers and distributors principally located in the United States, Canada and Europe. Polaris products are sold through a network of 1,500 independent dealers in North America, and through its seven subsidiaries and 43 distributors in approximately 130 countries outside of North America. Polaris sells its snowmobiles directly to dealers in the snowbelt regions of the United States and Canada. Many dealers and distributors of Polaris snowmobiles also distribute Polaris' ATVs. In May 2009, Polaris announced the creation of On-Road Vehicle Division.
Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) Nov 4, 2009 New York, NY, announced its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share on the Company's Common Stock, an increase of $0.05 per share or 100% more than the Company's previous quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share. The dividend is payable on January 8, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 24, 2009.
Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (Polo) is a global player in the design, marketing and distribution of lifestyle products, including men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings. The Company operates in three integrated segments: Wholesale, Retail and Licensing. Its brands include apparel, accessories and fragrance collections for men and women, as well as childrenswear and home furnishings. Apparel products include collections of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. Accessories encompass a range of footwear, eyewear, watches, jewelry, hats, belts and leathergoods, including handbags and luggage. Home products include bedding and bath products, furniture, fabric and wallpaper, paint, tabletop, and giftware. Fragrance products are sold under its Romance, Polo, Lauren, Safari, Ralph and Black Label brands, among others.
Rollins (NYSE: ROL) Jan 26, 2010, Atlanta, GA announced that the Board of Directors approved a 28.6% increase in the Company's quarterly dividend. The increased regular quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share will be payable March 10, 2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business February 10, 2010.
Rollins, Inc. is an international service company provides pest and termite control services through its wholly owned Orkin, Inc. (Orkin) subsidiary to both residential and commercial customers in North America with international franchises in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia. Orkin provides customized services from over 400 locations. Orkin serves customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia providing pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects to homes and businesses, including hotels, food service establishments, food manufacturers, retailers and transportation companies. Orkin operates under the Orkin and PCO Services, Inc. trademarks and the Acurid service mark. The Company completed the acquisition of Crane Pest Control, Inc. effective December 31, 2008.
Sentry Select Primary Metals (TSE: PME) Jan 28, 2010 TORONTO, ONTARIO, is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") has approved an increase in the monthly cash dividend per Class A share from $0.05 to $0.07. As the Corporation has available tax losses, the dividends are expected to be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes. The dividend increase will be effective February 26, 2010, and will remain as such until further guidance is provided by the Corporation. Based on the net asset value per Class A share on January 27, 2010 of approximately $7.70, the dividend represents a cash-on-cash yield of 10.9%.
Sentry Select Primary Metals Corp. is a Canada-based company that invests in an actively managed portfolio (the Portfolio) consisting primarily of securities of mining and exploration issuers. On January 1, 2009, Sentry Select Capital Corp. (SSCC) resigned as manager, as part of a corporate restructure, and Sentry Select Capital Inc. (Sentry Select), a wholly owned subsidiary of SSCC, was appointed as the successor manager of the Corporation. The Company’s investment objective is to provide the holders of Class A shares (the Shares) of the Company (the Shareholders) with long-term capital appreciation.
SJW Corp (NYSE: SJW) Jan 27, 2010 announced that the Board of Directors approved a $0.02 per share increase in the annual dividend to $0.68 per share. A quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share is payable on March 1, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 8, 2010.
SJW Corp. is a holding company with three subsidiaries: San Jose Water Company, SJW Land Company and SJWTX, Inc. San Jose Water Company is a public utility in the business of providing water service to approximately 226,000 connections that serve a population of approximately one million people in an area comprising approximately 138 square miles in the metropolitan San Jose area. SJW Land Company owns undeveloped land in the states of California and Tennessee, owns and operates commercial buildings in the states of California, Florida, Connecticut, Texas, Arizona and Tennessee, and has a 70% limited partnership interest in 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. SJWTX, Inc., doing business as Canyon Lake Water Service Company (CLWSC), provides service to approximately 8,700 connections that serve approximately 36,000 residents in a service area comprising more than 153 square miles in the growing region between San Antonio and Austin, Texas.
Silgan Holdings (NASDAQ: SLGN) Jan. 3. 2010, Stamford, CT, increased its cash dividend by 12% to $0.76 per share.
Silgan Holdings Inc. (Holdings) is a manufacturer of metal and plastic consumer goods packaging products. The Company's products are used for variety of end markets. It operates 66 manufacturing plants in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. The products include steel and aluminum containers for human and pet food; metal, composite and plastic vacuum closures for food and beverage products, and custom designed plastic containers, tubes and closures for personal care, healthcare, pharmaceutical, household and industrial chemical, food, pet care, agricultural chemical, automotive and marine chemical products.
Stancorp Financial (NYSE: SFG) Nov 9, 2009, Portland, OR, announced that it has declared an annual cash dividend of $0.80 per share, payable December 4, 2009, to shareholders of record on November 20, 2009. The annual cash dividend of $0.80 per share represents a 7% increase over last year`s dividend of $0.75 per share.
StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. is a holding company for its insurance and asset management subsidiaries. Its operations include two segments: Insurance Services and Asset Management. The Insurance Services segment offers group and individual disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance and group dental insurance. The Asset Management segment offers full-service 401(k) plans, 457 plans, defined benefit plans, money purchase pension plans, profit sharing plans, 403(b) plans and non-qualified deferred compensation products and services through an affiliated broker-dealer. This segment also offers investment advisory and management services, financial planning services, commercial mortgage loan origination and servicing and individual fixed annuities, group annuity contracts and retirement plan trust products.
Teche Holdings (AMEX: TSH) Aug 27, 2009, New Iberia, LA, announced that its Board of Directors has declared an increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.355 per share of its common stock. The dividend is 0.15% higher than the rate of $0.35 per common share this time last year and 0.15% higher than the $0.35 per share paid the prior quarter. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2009 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 16, 2009.
Teche Holding Company is a community-oriented federal savings bank offering a variety of financial services to meet the local banking needs of St. Mary, Lafayette, Iberia, St. Martin, Terrebonne, upper Lafourche, East Baton Rouge, St. Landry and Ascension Parishes, Louisiana. The Company operates through Teche Federal Bank (the Bank).
Tellabs (NASDAQ: TLAB) Jan 26, 2010, Napierville, IL, announced a new quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share. The first cash dividend is payable on February 26, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 12.
Tellabs, Inc. is engaged in designing and marketing equipment and services to communications customers worldwide. The Company’s products and services enable its customers to deliver wireline and wireless voice, data and video services to business and residential customers. It sells its products domestically and internationally through its field sales force and distributors/partners. The Company’s customers are primarily communication services providers, including local exchange carriers (LECs); national post, telephone and telegraph (PTT) administrators, wireless service providers, multiple system operators (MSOs), and competitive service providers (CSPs). Its customer base also includes distributors, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), system integrators and government agencies. The Company operates in three segments: Broadband, Transport and Services.
Tiffany (NYSE: TIF) Jan 21, 2010, New York, NY, announced that its Board has approved a change in the Company's dividend policy whereby the regular quarterly dividend rate will be increased, effective with the next payment in April, to $0.20 per share on its common stock from the current $0.17 per share, an increase of 18%.
Tiffany & Co. is a holding company that operates through its subsidiary companies. The Company’s principal subsidiary, Tiffany and Company (Tiffany), is a jeweler and specialty retailer whose principal merchandise offering is fine jewelry. It also sells timepieces, sterling silverware, china, crystal, stationery, fragrances and accessories. Through Tiffany and other subsidiaries, the Company is engaged in product design, manufacturing and retailing activities. The Company operates in three segments: Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Americas includes sales in TIFFANY & CO. stores in the United States, Canada and Latin/South America, as well as sales of TIFFANY & CO. products in certain of those markets through business-to-business, Internet, catalog and wholesale operations. Asia-Pacific includes sales in TIFFANY & CO. stores in the Asia-Pacific region. Europe includes sales in TIFFANY & CO. stores in Europe, as well as sales of TIFFANY & CO. products.
United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) Hartford, CT of directors has approved a 10.4 percent increase in its first quarter dividend to 42.5 cents per common share. The dividend is payable March 10 to shareowners of record at the close of business February 19. The ex-dividend date is February 17.
United Technologies Corporation (UTC) provides high technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries. It has six segments: Otis, Carrier, UTC Fire & Security (UTC F&S), Pratt & Whitney, Hamilton Sundstrand and Sikorsky. Otis includes elevators, escalators, moving walkways and services. Carrier includes heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems and equipment, and food service equipment. UTC F&S offers electronic security, fire detection and suppression, monitoring and response systems and services, and security personnel services. Pratt & Whitney includes military aircraft engines, parts and services, industrial gas turbines and space propulsion. Hamilton Sundstrand includes aerospace products and aftermarket services. Sikorsky offers military and commercial helicopters, aftermarket helicopter, and aircraft parts and services. In October 2009, Carrier Corp sold its interest in Concepcion Carrier Air Conditioning (CCAC).
Urstadt Biddle Properties (NYSE: UBA) Dec 17, 2009, Greenwich, CT, announced that it has approved an increase in the quarterly dividends on the Company's Class A Common Stock and Common Stock. The dividends were declared in the amounts of $0.2425 for each share of Class A Common Stock and $0.2200 for each share of Common Stock. The dividends are payable January 22, 2010 to stockholders of record on January 8, 2010. The new dividend rates represent annualized increases of $0.01 per share for both the Class A Common shares and Common shares.
Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) engaged in the acquisition, ownership and management of commercial real estate. The Company's business consists principally of investments in income-producing properties, with primary emphasis on properties in the northeastern part of the United States with a concentration in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York and Bergen County, New Jersey. Its properties consist principally of neighborhood and community shopping centers and five office buildings. The remaining properties consist of two industrial properties. Its subsidiary is UB Ironbound, LP.
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) Jan 15, 2010, Deerfield, IL, announced that it has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.1375 cents per share, a 22.2%increase over the year-ago dividend, payable March 12, 2010, to shareholders of record February 18, 2010.
Walgreen Co. is engaged in retail drugstore business. As of August 31, 2009, the Company operated 7,496 locations in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. During the fiscal year ended August 30, 2009 (fiscal 2009), the Company opened or acquired 691 locations. Total locations do not include 337 convenient care clinics operated by Take Care Health Systems, Inc. within the Company’s drugstores. The Company’s drugstores are engaged in the retail sale of prescription and non-prescription drugs and general merchandise. General merchandise includes, among other things, household items, personal care, convenience foods, beauty care, photofinishing, candy, and seasonal items. Walgreens offers customers the choice to have prescriptions filled at the drugstore counter, as well as through the mail, by telephone and through the Internet. In January 2010, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of 12 Eaton Apothecary pharmacies.
Washington Post (NYSE: WPO) Jan 21 2010, Washington, DC, announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the annual dividend rate on the Company's common stock, from $8.60 to $9.00 per share. The dividend for the first quarter of 2010, $2.25 per share, is payable on February 5, 2010, to shareholders of record on January 25, 2010.
The Washington Post Company is a diversified education and media company. The Company’s Kaplan, Inc. (Kaplan) subsidiary provides a variety of educational services, both domestically and outside the United States. The Company’s media operations consist of the ownership and operation of cable television systems, newspaper publishing (principally The Washington Post), television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of six television broadcast stations) and magazine publishing (principally Newsweek). The Company’s operations in geographic areas outside the United States consist primarily of Kaplan’s foreign operations and the publication of the international editions of Newsweek. During the year ended December 31, 2008, these operations accounted for approximately 13% of the Company’s consolidated revenues, and the identifiable assets attributable to foreign operations represented approximately 13% of the Company’s consolidated assets, during 2008.
Westamerica Bancorp (NASDAQ: WABC) Jan 28, 2010, San Rafael, CA, announced that it has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share on common stock outstanding to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 8, 2010. The dividend is payable February 19, 2010. This dividend represents a $0.01 increase relative to the dividend paid in the previous quarter.
Westamerica Bancorporation is a bank holding company that provides a range of banking services to individual and corporate customers in Northern and Central California, through its subsidiary, Westamerica Bank (the Bank). The Company focuses on the banking needs of small businesses. The Bank is engaged in the banking business through 86 offices in 21 counties in Northern and Central California, including 13 offices in Fresno County, 11 each in Marin and Sonoma Counties, seven in Napa County, five each in Stanislaus, Lake, Contra Costa and Solano Counties, four in Kern, County, three each in Alameda and Sacramento Counties, two each in Mendocino, Nevada, Placer and Tulare Counties, and one each in Merced, San Francisco, Tuolumne, Kings, Madera and Yolo Counties. On February 6, 2009, the Bank acquired the banking operations of County Bank from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Western Gas Partners (NYSE: WES) Oct 20, 2009, The Woodlands, TX, announced that the Board of Directors of its general partner has declared a cash distribution of $0.32 per unit for the third quarter of 2009, representing a 3.2% increase over the prior quarter. The distribution is payable on November 13, 2009 to unit holders of record at the close of business on October 30, 2009.
Western Gas Partners, LP is limited partnership organized by Anadarko to own, operate, acquire and develop midstream energy assets. The Company is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transporting natural gas for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko) and other producers and customers. The Company’s assets consist of nine gathering systems, six natural gas treating facilities, two gas processing facilities and one interstate pipeline. Its assets are located in East Texas, the Rocky Mountains (Utah and Wyoming) and the Mid-Continent (Kansas and Oklahoma). The Company’s general partner is Western Gas Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko. On December 19, 2008, the Company acquired certain midstream assets from Anadarko. In February 2010, the Company acquired certain midstream assets located in southwest Wyoming from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
Western Union (NYSE: WU) Dec 9, 2009, Englewood, CO said it will begin paying a quarterly dividend, with the annual figure being six times the company's prior payouts, as its board also its authorized $1 billion in share repurchases.
The quarterly dividend will be 6 cents a share, compared with a prior annual payout of 4 cents. The increase will cost Western Union some $140 million a year.
It shares fell 0.1% to $18.17 in after-hours trading. The stock has gained 40% in the past year.
Chief Executive Christina Gold called the dividend increase and stock buybacks "a demonstration of confidence in our financial strength and long-term growth opportunities."
The Western Union Company (Western Union) is engaged in the business of global money transfer, providing people with convenient ways to send money worldwide. The Company’s services are available through a network of over 375,000 agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories. As of December 31, 2008, approximately 75% of Western Union’s locations had experienced money transfer activity in the prior 12 months. Its consumer-to-consumer money transfer service enables people to send money worldwide in minutes. Its consumer-to-business service provides consumers with options for making one-time or recurring bill payments. The Company offers money transfer services under the Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo brands in over 200 countries and territories, and various bill payment services, primarily in the United States, under several brands like Speedpay, Equity Accelerator, Just in Time EFT, Western Union Quick Collect and Western Union Convenience Pay.
Wisconsin Energy (NYSE: WEC) Jan 21, 2010, Milwaukee, WI, and Wisconsin Electric Power Company announced that they have declared the following dividends. The Wisconsin Energy Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.40 a share on common stock. This represents an increase of $0.625 a share over the current quarterly rate and brings the annual rate from $1.35 to $1.60 a share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2010, to stockholders of record on February 12, 2010. Wisconsin Electric Power Company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.90 a share on the Preferred Stock, 3.60% Series, payable March 1, 2010, to stockholders of record on February 12, 2010. The Board further declared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 a share on the 6% Preferred Stock payable April 30, 2010, to stockholders of record on April 14, 2010.
Wisconsin Energy Corporation is a diversified holding company. The Company conducts its operations primarily in two operating segments: a utility energy segment and a non-utility energy segment. The Company’s primary subsidiaries include Wisconsin Electric Power Company (Wisconsin Electric), Wisconsin Gas LLC (Wisconsin Gas), Edison Sault Electric Company (Edison Sault) and W.E. Power, LLC (We Power). The Company’s utility energy segment consists of Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Gas and Edison Sault. Its non-utility energy segment consists primarily of We Power.
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