Coca-Cola raises dividend for 55th consecutive year

Coca-Cola (KO) will increase its dividend by 5.7%.

Dividend Aristocrat Coca-Cola will hike its quarterly dividend from $0.35 to $0.37 per share, marking the 55th consecutive annual dividend increase.

This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $1.48 per share, up from $1.40 per share in 2016. The first quarterly dividend is payable April 3, 2017, to shareowners of record as of March 15, 2017.

Coca-Cola is a Dividend Aristocrat

The increase reflects the Board's confidence in the company's long-term cash flow. The Coca-Cola Company returned $6 billion in dividends to shareowners in 2016, bringing to $35 billion the total amount given back to shareowners through dividends since Jan. 1, 2010.

Last year Coca-Cola raised its dividend by 6.1%.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Its brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak.