Insurer Mercury General announced its annual dividend increase this week. Photo: Flickr.com/GotCredit.com
Two long-time dividend growth companies announced increases this week. Insurer Mercury General, which now has a forward yield of 4.5% announced its 27th year of dividend growth and utility Vectren Corporation extended its streak of dividend growth to 58 years.
Two other companies that I anticipated announcing increases this week deferred their announcements. I expect Emerson and United Bankshares, along with 3 other companies, to announce their annual increases next week.
Dividend Increases Announced This Week
Mercury General Corporation (MCY)
Industry: Financial – Insurance
Dividend Payment: 62.5 cents per share – up 0.4% from prior level of 62.25 cents
Dividend Paid On: 12/28
Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 12/13
Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 27
Current Forward Yield: 4.51%
Industry: Utilities – Diversified
Dividend Payment: 45 cents per share – up 7.1% from prior level of 42 cents
Dividend Paid On: 12/1
Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 11/14
Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 58
Current Forward Yield: 2.69%
Dividend Increase Announcements Expected Next Week
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)
Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)