Nine stocks with increasing distributions

I typically try to summarize each week’s dividend increases in the news by outlining the company that raised distributions and whether it is an achiever or not. Just because I list a stock in an article however does not mean I am recommending it. Identifying the dividend raisers each week however helps me in finding out quality dividend stocks which either should be bought on dips or after they have raised distributions for at least a decade. Even if a list contains some interesting stock ideas however, this does not mean that one should blindly enter a position in such securities. Only after one understands whether such a stock could grow earnings into the future in order to support a growing dividend, should they start accumulating a position over time.

Questar Corp (STR), which engages in gas and oil exploration and production, midstream field services, energy marketing, interstate gas transportation, and retail gas distribution businesses, increased its quarterly dividend by 4% to 13 cents per share. Questar Corp is a dividend aristocrat, which has raised distributions for 30 consecutive years in a row. The stock currently yields only 1.30%.

Stryker Corporation (SYK), which operates as a medical technology company worldwide, has declared a cash transition dividend of $0.10 per share, payable December 16, 2009, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2009. The transition dividend will increase the total dividends paid in 2009 to $0.50 per share, up 52% from the $0.33 per share paid in 2008. Subject to further action by the Company's Board of Directors, the Company anticipates the first quarterly dividend to be paid in January 2010 at a targeted quarterly rate of $0.15 per share. Stryker Corporation is a dividend achiever, which has raised distributions for 16 consecutive years in a row. The stock yields 1.30%, based off its new quarterly rate of 15 cents/share.

Middlesex Water Company (MSEX), which operates as a food company in North America and internationally, increased its quarterly dividend by 2.5% to 20.50 cents per share. Middlesex Water Company is a dividend champion, which has raised distributions for 36 consecutive years in a row. The stock currently yields 4.60%.

Inergy Holdings GP LLC (NRGP), the general partner of propane supplier Inergy LP, on Monday said it will increase its quarterly cash distribution 9 percent for the three-month period ended Sept. 30. The company will raise its distribution to 85 cents per limited partner unit, up from the previous quarter's distribution of 78 cents per limited partner unit. Separately, Inergy GP LLC (NRGY), managing general partner of Inergy LP, said its board of directors increased its quarterly cash distribution to 67.5 cents per limited partner unit for the quarter ended Sept. 30. This represents the 32nd consecutive quarterly increase and an approximate 6.3% increase over the distribution for the same quarter of the prior year. Inergy, L.P., with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is among the fastest growing master limited partnerships in the country. The company’s operations include the retail marketing, sale, and distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers. Inergy Holdings GP LLC (NRGP), currently yields 7% , while Inergy GP LLC (NRGY) yields 8.80%.

The following stocks announced their intent to raise distributions to shareholders:
Visa, Inc. (V) which operates retail electronic payments network worldwide increased its quarterly dividend by 19% to 12.50 cents per share. The stock currently yields 0.70%.

Strayer Education Inc. (STRA), which provides various academic programs in traditional classroom courses and online via the Internet, increased its annual dividend by 50% to $3 per share. Strayer Education Inc. has consistently raised distributions since 2005. The stock currently yields 0.90%.

SouthWest Water Company (SWWC), which provides water and wastewater related services principally in the United States, doubled its quarterly dividend to 5 cents per share. SouthWest Water Company is a dividend achiever. The weird part here is that the previous dividend of 2.5 cents/share was below the quarterly dividend of 6 cents/share paid in 2008. The stock currently yields 3.70%.

American Financial Group (AFG), which engages in property and casualty insurance business in the United States, increased its quarterly dividend by 5.8% to 13.75 cents per share. American Financial Group has consistently raised distributions only since 2006. The stock currently yields 2.10%.

Full Disclosure: None

Relevant Articles:

- Another aristocrat raising distributions
- Four Notable Dividend Increasers in the news
- The return of the financial dividends
- Best Dividend Picks for 2009, 3Q update