Asset Manager Franklin Resources announced their annual dividend
increase this week.
Photo: Freeimages.com/Benjamin Earwicker

We saw 9 dividend growth companies announce quarterly payouts the week before Christmas.  Among them, asset manager Franklin Resources and industrial goods manufacturer Roper Industries are rewarding investors with 20% dividend increases this year.

S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN)

Industry: Financial – Asset Management

Dividend Payment: 18 cents per share – up 20.0% from prior level of 15 cents

Dividend Paid On: 1/13

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 12/24

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 34

Current Forward Yield: 1.71%

 

AT&T Inc. (T)

Industry: Technology – Telecomm

Dividend Payment: 48 cents per share – up 2.1% from prior level of 47 cents

Dividend Paid On: 2/1

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 1/6

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 32

Current Forward Yield: 5.60%

 

S&P 500 High Yield Dividend Aristocrats

CLARCOR, Inc. (CLC)

Industry: Industrial Goods

Dividend Payment: 22 cents per share

Dividend Paid On: 1/29

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 1/19

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 33

Current Forward Yield: 1.83%

 

Essex Property Trust (ESS)

Industry: REIT

Dividend Payment: $1.44 per share

Dividend Paid On: 1/15

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 12/30

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 21

Current Forward Yield: 2.45%

 

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (JW-A)

Industry: Business Services – Publishing

Dividend Payment: 30 cents per share

Dividend Paid On: 1/14

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 12/23

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 22

Current Forward Yield: 1.84%

 

Realty Income Corporation (O)

Industry: REIT

Dividend Payment: 19.1 cents per share – up 0.3% from prior level of 19.05 cents

Dividend Paid On: 1/15

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 12/30

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 22

Current Forward Yield: 4.84%

 

Roper Industries (ROP)

Industry: Industrial Goods – Machinery

Dividend Payment: 30 cents per share – up 20.0% from prior level of 25 cents

Dividend Paid On: 1/22

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 1/6

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 22

Current Forward Yield: 0.55%

 

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST)

Industry: Healthcare – Medical Instruments

Dividend Payment: 12 cents per share

Dividend Paid On: 2/3

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 1/15

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 23

Current Forward Yield: 0.79%

 

WGL Holdings, Inc. (WGL)

Industry: Utilities

Dividend Payment: 46.25 cents per share

Dividend Paid On: 2/1

Stock Goes Ex-Dividend (own the stock before this date to collect the dividend): 1/6

Number of Years of Dividend Increases: 39

Current Forward Yield: 2.92%

 

Next Week’s Ex-Dividend Stocks

Tuesday, December 22:

Piedmont Natural Gas, Inc. (PNY)

Wednesday, December 23:

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (JW-A)

Thursday, December 24:

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN)

Friday, December 25:

Christmas Day – Markets Closed

Monday, December 28:

Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (ITW)