Two Companies Raising Dividends for Over 50 years Announce Dividend Hikes

The companies that raised distributions over the past week include two which have raised distributions for over half a century. This includes several wars, oil price shocks, market crashes and inflation. While a long record of consistent dividend increases does not automatically translate into making these stocks great buys all the time, students of successful dividend investing should study the factors that led to the success of these enterprises. It takes a unique business model, coupled with the right environment to create such long lasting success, which has enabled them to foster a culture that led to dividends increases in every single year for over half a century. There are only eleven dividend kings in the world which have managed to accomplish this task.

The companies raising distributions over the past week include:

3M Company (MMM), together with subsidiaries, operates as a diversified technology company worldwide. This dividend king raised its quarterly dividends by 7.30% to 59 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 54 years in a row. Yield: 2.70% (analysis)

Diebold, Incorporated (DBD) provides integrated self-service delivery and security systems and services primarily to the financial, commercial, government, and retail markets worldwide. This dividend king raised its quarterly dividends by 1.80% to 28.50 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 59 years in a row. Yield: 3.60% (analysis)

Church & Dwight Co. (CHD), Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets a range of household, personal care, and specialty products under various brand names in the United States and internationally. This dividend achiever raised its quarterly dividends by 41.20% to 24 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 16 years in a row. Yield: 2.10%

The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (DNB) provides commercial information and insight on businesses worldwide. The company raised its quarterly dividends by 5.60% to 38 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 6 years in a row. Yield: 1.80%

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (JKHY) provides integrated computer systems and services for in-house and outsourced data processing to commercial banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions primarily in the United States. The company raised its quarterly dividends by 9.50% to 11.50 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 20 years in a row. Yield: 1.30%

Avista Corporation (AVA), an energy company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy and other energy-related businesses in the United States and Canada. The company raised its quarterly dividends by 5.50% to 29 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 10 years in a row. Yield: 4.60%

Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI), together with its subsidiaries, provides distribution, third-party logistics, and other supply-chain management services to healthcare providers and suppliers of medical and surgical products, as well as distributes medical and surgical supplies to the acute-care market. The company raised its quarterly dividends by 10% to 22 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 15 years in a row. Yield: 2.90%

PartnerRe Ltd. (PRE) , through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance services worldwide. The company raised its quarterly dividends by 3.30% to 62 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 19 years in a row. Yield: 3.90%

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (LLL)provides command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems; aircraft modernization and maintenance; and government services in the United States and internationally. This dividend achiever raised its quarterly dividends by 11.10% to 50 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 19 years in a row. Yield: 2.90%

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY), together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company primarily in the United States. The company raised its quarterly dividends by 17.40% to 54 cents/share. The company has raised dividends for 10 years in a row. Yield: 2.20%

Full disclosure: Long MMM

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