Six Dividend Winners Increasing Dividends and Returns

Life is full of unpredictability. That is why people naturally tend to gravitate towards leaders, which are consistent at winning. Dividend investors are no different. They look for proven winners, which can be relied upon to deliver results. Once a consistent winner is selected, dividend growth investors simply hang on to it, and get paid a rising stream of income for holding the investment. A rising dividend payment results in higher profits for the shareholders, making the dividend stock that produces the income more valuable over time.

The following dividend winners have been able to raise distributions for over five years in a row. In addition, they have also announced a distribution hike over the past week:

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) provides business outsourcing solutions. The company operates in three segments: Employer Services, Professional Employer Organization Services, and Dealer Services. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 9.70% to 39.50 cents/share. This marked the 37th consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend aristocrat. Yield: 3.10% (analysis)

Universal Corporation (UVV), through its subsidiaries, operates as a leaf tobacco merchant and processor primarily in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 2.10% to 49 cents/share. This marked the 41st consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend champion. Yield: 4.50% (analysis)

Vectren Corporation (VVC), through its subsidiaries, provides energy delivery services to residential, commercial, and industrial and other contract customers in Indiana and west central Ohio. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 1.40% to 35 cents/share. This marked the 52nd consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend champion. Yield: 4.90%

Buckeye Partners, L.P. (BPL) owns and operates refined petroleum products pipeline systems in the United States. This master limited partnership increased its quarterly distributions to $1.025 /unit. This dividend achiever has raised distributions for 16 consecutive years. Yield: 6.20%

Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO), together with its subsidiaries, engages in the natural gas distribution, transmission, and storage businesses in the United States. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 1.50% to 34.50 cents/share. This marked the 23rd consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend achiever. Yield: 4.00%

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (ABC), a pharmaceutical services company, provides drug distribution and related services to healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 13% to 13 cents/share. This was the second increase in 2011 for this dividend stock, which has raised distributions for 7 years in a row. Yield: 1.30%

Full Disclosure: Long ADP and UVV

Relevant Articles:

- Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Dividend Stock Analysis

- Dividend Aristocrats list for 2011

- Universal Corporation (UVV) Dividend Stock Analysis

- Dividend Champions - The Best List for Dividend Investors