Eighteen companies sending more cash to their shareholders

There were eighteen consistent dividend growth stocks, which announced plans to boost distributions for their shareholders over the past week. Besides my screening process, my compilation of weekly dividend increases helps me stay up to date on any dividend and business developments for companies I own or for companies I might be interested in purchasing down the road. In this article, I focused only on companies which have been able to boost dividends for at least five years in a row. In the past, this process has helped me identify opportunities which I would have otherwise missed. It has also been instrumental in my accumulation of knowledge about companies, business and dividends in general.

The eighteen consistent dividend growers in the news include:

PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) engages in the manufacture and sale of snacks, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, dairy products, and other foods worldwide. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 4.40% to 53.75 cents/share. This marked the 41st consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend aristocrat. Unfortunately, this marks the lowest dividend growth for PepsiCo since 2002. Yield: 3.20% (analysis)

Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) operates as a healthcare services company that provides pharmaceutical and medical products and services. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 10.50% to 23.75 cents/share. This marked the 23rd consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend achiever. Yield: 2.20%

Airgas, Inc., (ARG) through its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution of industrial, medical, and specialty gases in the United States. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 25% to 40 cents/share. This marked the tenth consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend achiever. Yield: 1.70%

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK), through its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified utility company that primarily engages in regulated energy and unregulated energy businesses. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 5.80% to 36.50 cents/share. This marked the ninth consecutive annual dividend increase for this stock. Yield: 3.50%

Weyco Group, Inc. (WEYS) engages in the distribution of men’s foot wear primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and South Africa. The company raised its semi-annual dividend by 6.25% to 17 cents/share. This dividend champion has raised distributions for 32 years in a row. Yield: 3%

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD) provides logistics services in the United States and internationally. The company raised its semi-annual dividend by 12% to 28 cents/share. This dividend achiever has raised distributions for 18 years in a row. Yield: 1.40%

Reynolds American Inc (RAI), through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cigarette and other tobacco products in the United States. The company raised its dividend for the second time in 12 months, to 59 cents/share. Reynolds American has managed to boost distributions for 8 consecutive years. Yield: 5.85%

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (BWP), through its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of integrated natural gas pipelines and storage systems in the United States. This master limited partnership raised its quarterly distributions to 53.25 cents/unit. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners has boosted distributions for six years in a row. Yield: 7.70%

DCP Midstream Partners, LP (DPM), together with its subsidiaries, engages in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting, storing, and selling natural gas in the United States. This master limited partnership raised its quarterly distributions to 66 cents/unit. DCP Midstream Partners has boosted distributions for six years in a row. Yield: 5.80%

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (ARLP) engages in the production and marketing of coal primarily to utilities and industrial users in the United States. This master limited partnership raised its quarterly distributions to $1.025/unit. This dividend achiever has boosted distributions for ten years in a row. Yield: 6.45%

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (AHGP), is the general partner of Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP). This master limited partnership boosted quarterly distributions to 66.75 cents/unit. Alliance Holdings GP has been consistently rewarding its partners with distribution hikes since 2006. Yield: 6%

RLI Corp. (RLI), through its subsidiaries, underwrites property and casualty insurance primarily in the United States. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 6.70% to 32 cents/share. This marked the 37th consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend champion. Yield: 1.90%

AGL Resources Inc. (GAS), an energy services holding company, distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, Tennessee, and Maryland. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 2.20% to 46 cents/share. This marked the 11th consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend achiever. Yield: 1.90%

Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP) engages in the design, development, manufacture, and market of semiconductor products for embedded control applications. The company raised its quarterly dividend to 35 cents/share. Microchip Technology has managed to boost distributions for 11 years in a row. Yield: 4%

Northeast Utilities (NU), a public utility holding company, provides electric and natural gas energy delivery services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and western Massachusetts. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 16.80% to 34.30 cents/share. Northeast Utilities has managed to boost distributions for 12 years in a row. Yield: 3.80%

VSE Corporation (VSEC) focuses on providing sustainment services for the legacy systems and equipment of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD); and professional services to the DoD and federal civilian agencies in the United States. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 14.30% to 8 cents/share. VSE Corporation has managed to boost distributions for 8 years in a row. Yield: 1.30%

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (AFSI), through its subsidiaries, underwrites and provides property and casualty insurance in the United States and internationally. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 11.10% to 10 cents/share. AmTrust Financial Services has managed to boost distributions for 6 years in a row. Yield: 1.40%

Regal Beloit Corporation (RBC), together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells electric motors and controls, electric generators and controls, and mechanical motion control products in the United States, Asia, and internationally. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 5.60% to 19 cents/share. Regal Beloit Corporation has managed to boost distributions for 9 years in a row. Yield: 1.10%

Full Disclosure:

Relevant Articles:

- PepsiCo (PEP): A Better Value than Coca Cola (KO)
- Dividend Aristocrats List for 2012
- Four dividend paying companies with long term growth plans
- MLP’s deliver consistent distribution increases