Five Dividend Aristocrats announced dividend events this week, including Aflac and Bemis Company which announced increases.

Insurer Aflac (AFL) increased their dividend for the 31st consecutive year.  The new quarterly payout will be 37 cents up from 35 cents, which is an increase of 5.7%.  The dividend is payable on on March 3rd to shareholders of record of February 14th.  At today’s closing price, the annual yield is 2.36%

Bemis Company (BMS), a global manufacturer of packaging and pressure sensitive materials, also increased their dividend for the 31st consecutive year.  BMS’s quarterly dividend increased  by 3.8%, to 27 cents from 26 cents, and is payable on March 3rd to shareholders of record on February 18th.  Bemis has paid an annual dividend on its stock since 1922 and has been an S&P Dividend Aristocrat since 2008.  Bemis has increased their dividend by either 1 or 1/2 cent since 2005.  The yield at its current price is 2.81%.

Three other Dividend Aristocrats announced regular quarterly dividends:

Emerson (EMR) declared a cash dividend of 43 cents payable on March 10th to shareholders of record on February 14th.  Emerson most recently increased their dividend by 2 cents (4.88%) in the December payout.  With the annualized dividend of $1.72, the current yield is 2.64%

Soft drink, beverage and snack company Pepsico (PEP) declared a quarterly dividend of 56.75 cents, payable on March 31st to shareholders of record of March 7th.  Pepsico has increased their annual dividend for 41 consecutive years; their 42nd consecutive annual increase is expected in May.  At the stock’s current price, Pepsi’s annualized dividend yield is 2.83%.

Healthcare company Cardinal Health (CAH) announced its quarterly dividend of 30.25 cents, payable on April 15th to shareholders of record of April 1st.  Cardinal Health just recently became an S&P Dividend Aristocrat with its 25th consecutive increase of regular dividends in July 2013.  The annualized dividend of $1.21 corresponds to a yield of 1.79%.