Five Dividend Stocks Paying Investors During Turbulent Times

The stock market delivered another rollercoaster week for investors. Luckily, as dividend investors, we kept receiving distributions on time. In addition, many companies keep raising distributions, despite the gloomy outlook on the economy. I have written before that dividend payments represent a more stable return than relying on capital gains for funding your retirement needs. In essence, investors who live off dividends in retirement from their diversified portfolios of blue chip dividend stocks and never touch principal, can ignore the day to day fluctuations in the market. These investors are essentially getting paid for holding these quality dividend stocks.

Over the past week, several consistent dividend stocks announced increases in their distributions. The companies include:

Badger Meter, Inc. engages in manufacturing and marketing liquid flow measurement and control technology products worldwide. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 14.30% to 16 cents per share. Badger Meter, Inc. is a dividend achiever, which has increased its quarterly dividend in each of the past 19 years. The stock currently yields 1.90%.

Textainer Group Holdings Limited (TGH), through its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, ownership, management, leasing, and disposal of intermodal containers worldwide. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 6.50% to 33 cents per share. This was the third dividend increase for Textainer Group Holdings Limited in 2011, which has increased its quarterly dividend in each of the past five years. The stock currently yields 6.50%.

Acme United Corporation (ACU), together with its subsidiaries, develops and markets cutting, measuring, and safety products to the school, home, office, hardware, and industrial markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 16.70% to 7 cents per share. Acme United Corporation has increased its quarterly dividend for 8 consecutive years. The stock currently yields 3%.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated (RBA), which is an industrial auctioneer, that sells various equipment to on-site and online bidders worldwide, increased its quarterly dividend by 7.10% to 11.25 cents per share. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has increased its quarterly dividend for 9 years in a row. The stock currently yields 2.10%.

Torchmark Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides individual life and supplemental health insurance products, and annuities to middle income households. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 9.10% to 12 cents per share. This was the second dividend increase for Torchmark Corporation in 2011, which has increased its quarterly dividend for 6 years in a row. The stock currently yields 1.30%.

Full disclosure: None

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