Dividend Track Records

 AMCON Distributing Company (“AMCON”) (NYSE American: DIT), an Omaha, Nebraska-based consumer products company, is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors of AMCON declared a special cash dividend of $5.00 per common share. This cash dividend is payable on January 12, 2021 to shareholders of record as of January 4, 2021.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) will raise its dividend by 8.9 percent to $0.49 per share in 2021. This comes after a 9.8 percent hike to $0.45 quarterly announced by the pharmaceutical company last year. This is the second biggest dividend increase by BMY since 2008. The pharmaceutical company completed the acquisition of biotech company Celgene last year and has now raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years. The next quarterly dividend will be payable on February 1, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 4, 2021. A new indicated annual dividend rate of $1.96 per share yields 3.1% at a stock price of $63.12. Bristol-Myers Squibb now pays an estimated $4.4 billion in dividends to shareholders annually. Dividend growth has been picking up in the last two years, lifting the five year average annualized dividend growth rate to 5.2 percent if we include the 2020 dividend hike just announced. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is is a global specialty biopharmaceutical c...

Global biopharmaceutical company Pfizer (PFE) will raise its quarterly dividend by 2.6 percent to 39 cents per share quarterly. This follows a 5.6 percent dividendhike to $0.38 per share announced in the first quarter of 2020. This marks the 11th consecutive year of dividend increases by PFE. The next dividend is payable March 5, 2021 to holders of the Common Stock of record at the close of business on January 29, 2021. A new annual dividend rate of $1.56 per share yields 4.1% at a stock price of $37.68. The first-quarter 2021 cash dividend will be the 329th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Pfizer. The transaction to combine Upjohn with Mylan to form Viatris Inc. closed on November 16, 2020. It is expected that Viatris will begin paying a quarterly dividend in the second quarter of 2021, at which time Pfizer’s quarterly dividend will be reduced such that the combined dividend dollar amount received by Pfizer shareholders, based upon the combination of continued Pfizer ownersh...

  The Board of Directors of Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) declared a cash dividend of 13 cents per share on its outstanding common stock. The dividend is payable on January 8, 2021 to stockholders of record on the close of business on January 29, 2021. Walter C. Johnsen, Chairman and CEO, said, “This is Acme United’s twelfth dividend increase since 2004. The Company continues to make good business progress and we are delighted to provide this additional return to shareholders. Our balance sheet is strong and we are confident in the business.”

Darden Restaurants (DRI) will raise its dividend by 23.3 percent to 37 cents per share. In the previous quarter the company reinstated its quarterly dividend with a new payment of $0.30 per share in the fourth quarter of 2020. Earlier this year the full-service restaurant company suspended its dividend after a 17.3 percent in 2019.  The next dividend is payable on February 1, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 8, 2021. The new annual dividend rate yields 1.3% at a stock price of $116 for Darden. Darden announced a double digit dividend hike every year from 2016 to 2019. With a current market cap of $15.1 billion the company is one of the bigger listed restaurant stocks. Year-to-date the stock price is up 6.6 percent, reversing a big drop earlier this year because of COVID-19. Darden Restaurants, Inc. is a full-service restaurant company with operations in the United States and Canada. Its brands include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Sc...

Balchem Corporation (BCPC) will raise its annual dividend by 11.5 percent to 58 cents per share. This follows a 10.6 percent hike to $0.52 per share announced by Balchem in 2019. This marks the 11th consecutive year of annual dividend increases by the food processing and specialty products company. The next dividend is payable on January 22, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 28, 2020. The new annual rate of 56 cents yields 0.5% at a stock price of $113.66. Ted Harris, Balchem’s CEO and President, said, “Balchem has a long-standing commitment to an annual dividend and we are pleased to announce the continuation of that commitment. This dividend represents the eleventh consecutive increase in our annual dividend, reflecting both the consistently outstanding financial performance the company has delivered and the Board’s continued confidence in our long-term strategies.” Balchem Corporation reports four business segments: Human Nutrition & Health; Ani...

Alexander & Baldwin (ALEX) will reinstate its quarterly dividend with a payment of $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable on January 12, 2021 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 28, 2020. Chris Benjamin, A&B president & chief executive officer stated: "We are pleased to reinstate our quarterly dividend starting in the fourth quarter 2020. This decision reflects our Board's confidence in our high-quality portfolio, including improving collections and occupancy, as well as the health of the economy in Hawai'i and prospects for continued improvement in 2021."   Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. is Hawai`i's premier commercial real estate company and the state's foremost owner of grocery-anchored retail centers. A&B is a fully integrated real estate investment trust and owns, operates and manages primarily retail and industrial space in Hawai`i, and is a major landowner in the state. A&B also is Hawai`i's largest...

Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (LW) will raise its quarterly dividend by 2.2 percent to 23.5 cents per share. This comes after a 15.0 percent hike to $0.23 per share was announced by the supplier of potato products last year. This is the 4th year of dividend increases by Lamb Weston, a member of the S&P500-index. The new dividend is payable on March 5, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 5, 2021. A new annualized dividend rate of 94 cents per share yields 1.2% at a stock price of $79. Last year Lamb Weston stated that it will continue to target an annual dividend payout ratio of 25 percent to 35 percent of adjusted diluted earnings per share. The company now pays an estimated annual dividend of $138 million to its shareholders. Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. is a supplier of frozen potato, sweet potato, appetizer and vegetable products to restaurants and retailers worldwide. The company is the number one supplier of value-added frozen potato products in North...

Dividend Aristocrat Pentair PLC (PNR) has announced a 5 percent dividend hike to 21 cents quarterly per share. Last year PNR raised its quarterly dividend by 5.3 percent to $0.20 per share. This new hike just announced will mark the 46th consecutive year that Pentair has increased its dividend, if adjusted for the separation of nVent Electric (NVT). The next PNR dividend will be paid on February 4, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 21, 2022. A new annualized dividend rate of 84 cents per share yields 1.1% at a stock price of $74. Pentair now pays shareholders an estimated $139 million in dividends annually. The company has a great dividend history but PNR dividend growth has been slowing since 2015 with a 5.6 percent hike in 2019 being the biggest increase in the last couple of years. Pentair plc is engaged in Water Quality Systems business and Flow and Filtration Solutions business. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services water system ...

Amgen (AMGN) will raise its quarterly dividend by 10.0 percent to $1.76 per share in 2021. This follows a 10.3 percent hike to $1.60 per share announced by Amgen in December 2019. The biotechnology company has now raised its dividend nine consecutive years. Amgen's next dividend will be paid on March 8, 2021, to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2021. A new annualized dividend rate of $7.04 per share yields 3.1% at a stock price of $228. Since Amgen initiated a dividend in 2011, it has increased the dividend each year with the quarterly payout in 2019 up more than five-fold since its inception. Amgen currently pays an estimated $4.1 billion in dividends annually. The average dividend growth rate in the last five years is exactly 12 percent annually. Amgen Inc. is a biotechnology company offering products for the treatment of illness in the areas of oncology/hematology, cardiovascular, inflammation, bone health, nephrology, and neuroscience.  Amg...

Dividend Aristocrat Abbott Laboratories (ABT) will raise its quarterly dividend by 25% to $0.45 per share in the first quarter of 2021. This is by far the biggest increase announced by the company since it separated from fellow Aristocrat AbbVie (ABBV).

Mastercard Inc. (MA) will raise its quarterly dividend by 10.0 percent to 44 cents per share next year. This follows a dividend hike of 21.2 percent to $0.40 per share announced last year for the first quarter of 2020. This will mark the 8th consecutive year of dividend increases by the payments company. The next cash dividend will be paid on February 9, 2021 to holders of record of its Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of January 8, 2021. The new annualized dividend of $1.76 per share yields 0.5% at a stock price of $327 for Mastercard. In the press release dated December 8, 2020, Mastercard also announced that The Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program, authorizing the company to repurchase up to $6 billion of its Class A common stock. The new share repurchase program will become effective at the completion of the company’s previously announced $8 billion program. The company has approximately $3.8 billion remaining under the current program authori...

Realty Income Corporation (O) will raise its monthly dividend by another 0.2 percent to $0.2345 per share, marking the 5th dividend hike announced by the Dividend Aristocrat this year. Earlier this year the real estate investment trust already hiked its dividend 4 times for a total increase of 2.9 percent. If we include this latest increase just announced the FY 2020 dividend growth rate is 3.1 percent. Realty Income is a Dividend Aristocrat having raised its monthly dividend for 26 consecutive years in 2020. The next dividend is payable on January 15, 2021 to shareholders of record as of January 4, 2021. A new annualized dividend amount of $2.81 per share yields 4.7% at a stock price of $60. In the press release the company announces the new dividend hike and provides a comment."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 I...

American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG) will pay a special dividend of $2.00 per share. Earlier this year the company raised its quarterly dividend by 11.1 percent to 50 cents per share. Last year the insurance holding company paid a special cash dividend of $1.80 per share in the fourth quarter of 2019, following a $1.50 per share special dividend paid earlier in 2019. The regular dividend was also hiked by 12.5 percent to 45 cents per share quarterly in 2019. The dividend is payable on December 29, 2020 to holders of record on December 21, 2020. A regular annualized dividend rate of $2.00 per share yields 2.3% at a stock price of $88. This special dividend is in addition to the Company’s regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share that was last paid on October 26, 2020. In the press release dated December 10, 2020, announcing this special dividend, AFG Co-CEOs Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner stated: “Returning excess capital to shareholders in the form of this $2.00 ...

W. P. Carey (WPC) will raise its quarterly dividend by another 0.2 percent to $1.046 per share. This follows a similar 0.2 percent increases announced in the previous quarters, bringing the total dividend increase in 2020 to 0.8 percent. Net lease commercial real estate investment trust W.P. Carey has raised its dividend 22 consecutive years. The next dividend is payable January 15, 2021 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2020. The new annualized dividend rate of $4.18 per share yields 6.1% at a stock price of $68,93. The company has raised its dividend for 21 consecutive years and 2020 will mark the 22nd straight year of higher dividends. The current market value of W.P. Carey, which also rents a lot of real estate internationally, is $12.1 billion. On an annual basis, this REIT now pays out an estimated $728 million in dividends to the shareholder. W.P. Carey's stock price loses about 10.0% in 2020, which is in line with many other real estate stocks. Dividend growth ha...

Eastman Chemical (EMN) will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.5 percent to 69 cents. This follows a 6.5 percent hike to $0.66 per share announced in 2019. This also marks the 11th consecutive year of dividend increases by the materials and specialty additives company. The next dividend is payable January 8, 2021, to stockholders of record as of December 15, 2020. A new annualized dividend rate of $2.76 per share yields 2.7% at a stock price of $102. “I am pleased that for the 11th consecutive year, Eastman is increasing the dividend as part of our ongoing commitment to return cash to our stockholders,” said Willie McLain, senior vice president and chief financial officer. “This action reflects the Board’s confidence in our ability to deliver earnings growth and continue our record of generating strong cash flow, which has remained resilient even during the global pandemic.” Eastman Chemical Company (Eastman) is a global advanced materials and specialty additives company. The company...

Ecolab (ECL) will raise its quarterly dividend by 2.1 percent to 48 cents per share in 2020. This follows a dividend hike of 2.2 percent to $0.47 per share announced by the Dividend Aristocrat in 2019. Ecolab has now raised its dividend 35 consecutive years. The next dividend will be paid January 15, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2020. A new annual rate of $1.92 per share yields 0.9% at a stock price of $223. Commenting on the increase, Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, “While 2020 has been a challenging year due to the global impact of COVID-19 on our markets and business, our mission to make the world cleaner, safer and healthier is even more important than ever. We remain confident that Ecolab’s business is well-positioned for strong growth in the years ahead. This cash dividend increase reflects that confidence as well as our solid financial position, excellent cash flow and commitment to shareholde...

Casey’s General Stores (CASY) will raise its quarterly dividend by 6.3 percent to 34 cents per share in 2020. This follows a 10.3 percent hike to $0.32 per share announced in 2019 and marks the 20th consecutive year. The next dividend is payable February 15, 2021 to shareholders of record on February 1, 2021. A new annualized dividend rate of $1.36 per share yields 0.7% at a stock price of $188. “Casey’s had a remarkable second quarter and is well on our way to executing our long-term strategic plan,” said President and CEO Darren Rebelez. “The Company delivered well-balanced financial results, with contributions from both ongoing strong fuel profitability and inside sales volume and profit improvements. Casey’s also recently announced an agreement for the largest acquisition in the Company’s history, the 94-store Bucky’s chain located primarily in Illinois and Nebraska. Finally, the Board's decision to raise the dividend is a sign of continuing confidence in the Company’s ability ...

Cognex Corp (CGNX) will pay a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share. Earlier this year the companyd already increased its regular quarterly dividend by 9.1 percent to 6 cents per share in 2020. Cognex has raised its dividend five consecutive years. In its press release dated December 3, 2020, the company calls this extra dividend of 2 dollars a “very special” cash dividend. The dividend is payable on December 28, 2020 to all shareholders of record at the close of business on December 14, 2020. The aggregate payment will be approximately $350 million and funded using existing cash balances. “Cognex has paid a quarterly cash dividend for every quarter starting in 2003. Since that time, our cash and investments balance has grown to over $1 billion, despite years of funding business growth, share repurchases, and dividend increases. At Cognex we have a motto, “When Cognex wins, we all win,” and in keeping with that motto, we are making this very special dividend payment to share our suc...

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT) will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.3 percent to 24 cents. This comes after a double dividend hike announced in 2019 for a total increase of 9.5 percent. Two years ago the REIT initiated a quarterly dividend. The next dividend is payable on January 15, 2021 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2020. A new annual rate of 96 cents yields 4.5% at a stock price of $21.45. Essential Properties Realty Trust has now raised its annual dividend for two consecutive years. If we include this new dividend hike just announced the company will pay an estimated annual dividend of $100 million to its shareholders. In the press release announcing the dividend hike EPRT states that as of September 30, 2020, the company’s portfolio consisted of 1,096 freestanding net lease properties with a weighted average lease term of 14.6 years and a weighted average rent coverage ratio of 2.8x. As of the same date, the company’s portf...

SL Green Realty (SLG) will raise its monthly dividend by 2.8 percent to $0.3033 per share in 2020. Also a special dividend payment of almost $1.70 per share was announced. This follows a 4.1 percent hike to $0.885 per share in the first quarter of 2020. This will mark the 10th consecutive year of dividend increases by New York City’s largest office landlord. The next ordinary dividend of $0.3033 per share is payable on January 15, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2020 A new annual rate of $3.64 per share yields 5.7% a a stock price of $63.90. The Company also announced that, as a result of asset dispositions in 2020, including the previously announced sale of 410 Tenth Avenue, the board of directors declared a special dividend with a value of $1.6967 per share, which is payable on January 15, 2021 to shareholders of record on the Record Date. Shareholders will, therefore, receive a total dividend of $2.00 per share, representing the sum of the...

The Toro Company (TTC) will raise its quarterly dividend by 5.0 percent to $0.2625 per share in 2020. This comes after a 11.1 percent dividend hike to $0.25 per share announced in 2019. This will also mark the company's 12th consecutive year of annual dividend increases. The next dividend is payable on January 13, 2021, to shareholders of record on December 22, 2020. A new annualized dividend rate of $1.05 per share yields 1.2% at a stock price of $89.34 for Toro. The Toro Company will now pay an estimated $113 million in dividends to its shareholders annually. The year 2020 is the first time in more than a decade that Toro does not hike its dividend by double digits. The Toro Company is a provider of solutions for the outdoor environment including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. Toro's products help customers care for golf courses, sports...

Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT) will raise its quarterly dividend by another 0.7 percent to $0.695 per share. This is the second dividend hike announced in 2020 and marks 33 consecutive years of dividend increases by the health care REIT. The next dividend will be paid on December 31, 2020 to shareholders of record as of December 17, 2020. A new annual rate of $2.76 per share yields 4.3% at a stock price of $64.26. Last year the real estate investment trust hiked its dividend by a total of 1.5 percent, marking 32 consecutive years of dividend increases. The total dividend increase announced in 2020 is 1.5 percent, matching last year's dividend hike. 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.

Stryker Corp (SYK) will raise its quarterly dividend by 9.6 percent to 63 cents per share in 2020. This comes after a 10.6 percent to $0.575 per share in 2019. The medical technology company has now increased its dividend for 25 straight years. The next dividend is payable January 29, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 31, 2020. A new annualized dividend rate of  $2.52 per share yields 1.1% at a stock price of $234.78. From the company's press release dated December 2, announcing this new dividend hike: “We continue to drive solid financial results in a challenging environment, and consistent with our stated capital allocation philosophy, are raising our dividend 9.6%," said Kevin Lobo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  Stryker Corporation has raised its dividend 25 consecutive years and is a candidate to be added to the S&P500 Dividend Aristocrats. This year new Dividend Aristocrat Ross Stores was deleted from the index following a di...

WEC Energy Group (WEC) will raise its quarterly dividend by 7.1 percent to 67.75 cents per share in 2021. This follows a dividend hike of 7.2 percent to $0.6325 per share in the first quarter of 2020 and will mark the 18th consecutive year of annual dividend increases by the utility company. In the press release dated December 3, 2020, announcing this increase, the company's directors expect to declare the new dividend at their regularly scheduled meeting in January. The dividend — which would be equivalent to an annual rate of $2.71 per share — would be payable March 1, 2021, to stockholders of record on Feb.14, 2021. "The board's review today is consistent with our ongoing plan that targets a dividend payout ratio of 65 to 70 percent of earnings," said Gale Klappa, executive chairman. The projected dividend growth for 2021 is in line with the company's longer-term objective to grow earnings per share at a rate of 5 to 7 percent annually. A new annualized dividen...

Specialty home products retailer Williams-Sonoma (WSM) will raise its quarterly cash dividend by 10.4 percent to 53 cents per share in 2020. The company hiked its dividend by 11.6 percent to $0.48 per share in 2019. The quarterly dividend is payable on November 27, 2020, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on October 23, 2020. A new annual rate of $2.12 per share yields 1.9% at a stock price of $111. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a specialty retailer of products for the home. These products are marketed through e-commerce websites, direct mail catalogs and retail stores. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. currently operates in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, offers international shipping to customers worldwide, and has unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in the Middle East and the Philippines and stores and e-commerce websites in Mexico.

Global Water Resources (GWRS) will raise its monthly dividend by 0.8 percent to 2.43 cents per share. Last year the utility hiked its montyly dividend by 1.0 percent to $0.0241 per share.  GWRS will pay the next monthly cash dividends of $0.0243 per common share on December 30, 2020 to holders of record on December 16, 2020. A new annual rate of approximately 29 cents yields 2.3% at a stock price of $13.14. Global Water Resources is a comprehensive water resource management company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It manages the entire water cycle by owning and operating water, wastewater and recycled water utilities.

Agree Realty (ADC) will raise its quarterly dividend by another 3.3 percent to 62 cents per share quarterly in 2020. This follows a 2.6 percent hike to $0.60 per share in the second quarter of 2020. Last year the shopping center REIT also announced two dividend hikes for a total increase of 5.4 percent. Agree Realty has now raised its dividend 8 consecutive years. The next dividend is payable January 6, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 23, 2020. A new annualized dividend of $2.48 per share yields 3.7% at a stock price of $66.28  for Agree Realty. If we include the dividend hike announced earlier this year the total dividend growth announced in 2020 is 6.0 percent. According to calculations made by dividendhike.com Agree Realty will now pay an estimated $134 million in dividends to shareholders annually. Agree Realty Corporation is a publicly traded real estate investment trust primarily engaged in the acquisition and development of properties net ...