S&P Global increases dividend for 45th year in 2018

Dividend Aristocrat S&P Global (SPGI) will raise its dividend by 22 percent, marking the 45th consecutive year of dividend increases.

The quarterly dividend will be increased to $0.50 per share in the first quarter of 2018, marking 45 consecutive years of dividend increases.

The dividend will be payable on March 12, 2018, to shareholders of record on February 26, 2018.  The new annualized dividend rate of $2.00 per share represents an average compound annual dividend growth rate of 9.8% since 1974.

"We are raising our annual dividend increase in 2018 in a substantial way as a result of our additional free cash flow capabilities generated by U.S. tax reform," adds Douglas Peterson, S&P Global President and CEO. "Stepping up the dividend underscores our long-term commitment to returning capital to shareholders."

Last year S&P Global raised its dividend for the 44th consecutive year. The new dividend yield is 1.1% and SPGI stock has gained 4.8 percent in 2018.

S&P Global is a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide. The Company's divisions include S&P Global Ratings, S&P Global Market Intelligence, S&P Dow Jones Indices and S&P Global Platts. S&P Global has approximately 20,000 employees in 31 countries.