Dividend Track Records

Kroger Co (KR) will raise its quarterly dividend by 14.3 percent $0.16 per share in 2019. This follows last year's 12.0 percent dividend hike to $0.14 per share. The supermarket operator has now raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years. The next quarterly dividend of 16 cents will be paid on September 1, 2019 to shareholders of record as of close of business on August 15, 2019. The new annualized dividend rate of 64 cents per share translates into a 3.0% dividend yield at a stock price of $21.39. Kroger states that its quarterly dividend has grown at a double-digit compound annual growth rate since it was reinstated in 2006. The company continues to expect, subject to board approval, an increasing dividend over time, Kroger says in today's press release. "Kroger's 14 percent dividend increase underscores our Board of Director's confidence in the momentum we are building in the second year of Restock Kroger and our ability to deliver strong free cash flow,...

Darden Restaurants (DRI) will raise its quarterly dividend by 17.3 percent to $0.88 per share in 2019. This follows a 12 cent per share dividend hike to $0.75 quarterly by the Olive Garden's owner last year. The next quarterly dividend is payable on August 1, 2019 to shareholders of record on July 10, 2019. The new annual dividend of $3.52 per share translates into a yield of 2.9% at the current stock price of $121.23 for Darden. "We generated $1.3 billion in operating cash flow in fiscal 2019, which was sufficient to invest in growth, return capital to our shareholders, and strengthen our balance sheet," said CFO Rick Cardenas.  "We returned $578 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases this year.  The strength and durability of our cash flows is evident in the fact that, over the past four years, we've generated $4 billion in operating cash flow and returned more than $2 billion to investors." Darden Restaurants, Inc. is...

Dividend Aristocrat Medtronic (MDT) will raise its quarterly dividend by eight percent to $0.54 per share in 2019. This marks the 42nd consecutive year of an increase in the dividend payment for Dividend Aristocrat Medtronic.

W. P. Carey (WPC) will raise its quarterly dividend by another 0.2 percent to $1.034 per share in. The commercial REIT has now raised its dividend for 21 consecutive years. This increase follows a similar 0.2 percent hike in the first quarter of 2019 by WPC. The next dividend is payable on July 15, 2019 to stockholders of record as of June 28, 2019. A new annualized rate of $4.136 per share yields 4.8% at Friday's closing price of $85.50. W. P. Carey Inc. is a net lease commercial real estate investment trust that provides real estate-based financing solutions. The company invests in high-quality single-tenant industrial, warehouse, office and retail properties subject to long-term leases with built-in rent escalators. Its portfolio is located primarily in the U.S. and Northern and Western Europe and is well-diversified by tenant, property type, geographic location and tenant industry. W.P. Carey has paid a dividend every year since going public in 1998.

National Fuel Gas (NFG) will raise its quarterly dividend by 2.4 percent to $0.435 per share in 2019. With the increase announced today, 2019 is expected to be the 49th consecutive year in which National Fuel has increased its annual dividend. The next dividend is payable July 15, 2019, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 28, 2019. A new annual rate of $1.74 per share yields 3.2% at a stock price of $53.89. National Fuel is a diversified energy company headquartered in Western New York that operates an integrated collection of natural gas and oil assets across five business segments: Exploration & Production, Pipeline & Storage, Gathering, Utility, and Energy Marketing.

Target Corporation (TGT) will raise its quarterly dividend by 3.1 percent to $0.66 per share in 2019. This marks the 48th consecutive year of dividend increases by this Dividend Aristocrat and follows a 3.2 percent dividend hike by the retailer last year. The next dividend is payable September 10, 2019 to shareholders of record at the close of business August 21, 2019.  A new annual rate of 68 cents per share yields 3.0% at a stock price of $88.43. Target Corporation is a general merchandise retailer selling a wide assortment of general merchandise and food. The majority of Target's stores offer an edited food assortment comparable to traditional supermarkets, including perishables, dry grocery, dairy, and frozen items. The company sells national branded merchandise and its own branded products. Target was incorporated in Minnesota in 1902 and became publicly held in 1967.

Target Corporation (TGT) will raise its quarterly dividend by 3.1 percent to 66 cents per share in 2019. This marks the 48th consecutive year of dividend increases by this Dividend Aristocrat.

Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT) will raise its quarterly dividend by another 0.7 percent to $0.68 per share in 2019. The REIT has raised its dividend for 32 consecutive years. The next dividend will be paid on July 2, 2019 to shareholders of record as of June 24, 2019. A new annual rate of $2.72 per share yields 3.2% at a stock price of $84.24. Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust, invests in healthcare and human service related facilities including acute care hospitals, behavioral healthcare facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, sub-acute care facilities, surgery centers, childcare centers and medical office buildings.

Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC) will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.2 percent to $0.25 per share in 2019. Last year the company also hiked its dividend by one cent to $0.24 quarterly. This declaration marks the sixteenth consecutive year Oil-Dri has increased dividends. The next dividend will be payable on August 30, 2019 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 16, 2019. A new annualized dividend rate of $1.00 per share yields 3.5% based on today's closing price of $28.59. Oil-Dri Corporation of America is engaged in developing, manufacturing and/or marketing sorbent products. While granular clay floor absorbents were Oil-Dri’s founding product, it has since diversified its portfolio to include both consumer and business to business product offerings that supply pet care, animal health, fluids purification, agricultural ingredient, sports field, industrial and automotive markets. The company's business segments are Retail and Wholesale Products ...

Casey’s General Stores (CASY) will raise its quarterly dividend by 10.3 percent to $0.32 per share in 2019. This follows last year's 3 cent per share dividend increase to 29 cents quarterly. Last year CASY hiked its dividend for the 19th consecutive year. The next dividend is payable August 15, 2019 to shareholders of record on August 1, 2019. A new annualized dividend rate of $1.28 per share yields 0.9% at a stock price of $146.39. Casey's General Stores , Inc. operates convenience stores in Midwestern states, primarily in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. Casey's offers self-service gasoline, grocery items and freshly prepared food items. Among the most popular of Casey's prepared foods are their made-from-scratch pizzas, donuts, subs and sandwiches. Casey's operates from two company distribution centers, enabling delivery of most of in-store products and fuel. The first store opened in 1968 in Boone, Iowa. Casey's began paying cash dividends during fiscal 199...

Realty Income (O) will raise its monthly dividend by another 0.2 percent to $0.2265 per share in the second quarter of 2019. Earlier this year the real estate investment trust already raised its monthly dividend two times. Including this latest dividend hike the dividend is up 2.5 percent in 2019. The next dividend is payable on July 15, 2019 to shareholders of record as of July 1, 2019. This is the 102nd dividend increase since Realty Income's listing on the NYSE in 1994. The ex-dividend date for July's dividend is June 28, 2019. The new monthly dividend represents an annualized dividend amount of $2.718 per share, yielding 3.8% at a stock price of $72.23. "We remain committed to our company's mission of paying dependable monthly dividends to our shareholders that increase over time," said Sumit Roy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Realty Income. "Our Board of Directors has once again determined that we are able to increase the amount of the mon...

Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD) is the best performing Dividend Aristocrat in 2019 as of June 10. No less than 8 Aristocrats have gained at least 30.0 percent Year-to-date.

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT) will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.8 percent to $0.22 per share in 2019. Last year the REIT initiated a quarterly dividend. The next dividend is payable on July 15, 2019 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 28, 2019. A new annual rate of 88 cents yields 4.2% at a stock price of $20.77. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. is an internally managed real estate company that acquires, owns and manages primarily single-tenant properties that are net leased on a long-term basis to companies operating service-oriented or experience-based businesses. Essential Properties Realty Trust became a public company in 2018 and paid its first quarterly dividend later that year.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) will raise its quarterly dividend by another 20.0 percent to $1.08 per share in 2019. Last year UNH also hiked its dividend by 20.0 percent, marking the 9th consecutive year of double digit dividend increases. The next dividend will be paid on June 25, 2019, to all shareholders of record of UnitedHealth Group common stock as of the close of business on June 17, 2019. A new annualized dividend rate of $4.32 per share yields 1.8% at a stock price of $241. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a health and well-being company. The company provides employers products and resources to plan and administer employee benefit programs. It conducts its operations through two business platforms: health benefits operating under UnitedHealthcare and health services operating under Optum. Optum is a health services business serving the healthcare marketplace, including payers, care providers, employers, governments, life sciences companies and consumers. UnitedHealth started ...

W.R. Berkley (WRB) will increase its quarterly dividend by 10.0 percent to $0.11 per share. Also a $0.50 special dividend will be paid. The insurance holding company has now raised its dividend for 18 consecutive years. The special dividend will be paid on July 2, 2019 together with the $0.11 regular dividend to shareholders of record on June 18, 2019. A new annual regular dividend rate of 44 cents yields 0.7% at a stock price of $64.00. W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company. The company operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty insurance business: Insurance and Reinsurance. The insurance business consists of predominantly commercial insurance business, including excess and surplus lines, admitted lines and specialty personal lines throughout the United States, as well as insurance business in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico, Scandinavia, Asia and Australia. The reinsurance business operates as reinsurance...

Donaldson Company (DCI) will raise its quarterly dividend by 10.5 percent to $0.21 per share in 2019. This marks the 24th consecutive year of dividend increases by the manufacturer of filtration systems and replacement parts. The company has paid a cash dividend every quarter for 63 years. The next dividend is payable June 28, 2019, to shareholders of record on June 13, 2019. A new annual rate of 84 cents per share yields 1.8% at a stock price of $47.93. The company also announced that it authorized the repurchase of up to 13 million shares of its common stock, or approximately 10 percent of its outstanding shares, replacing the existing buyback plan. “For decades we have maintained a consistent approach to capital deployment, which starts with investing for profitable growth and then returning excess cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchase,” said Tod Carpenter, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We believe the 10.5 percent dividend increase...