Dividend Aristocrats Week In Review for February 28, 2014: Chubb, Leggett & Platt, Kimberly-Clark Grow Their Dividends

Photo Credit: www. LendingMemo.com via Flickr

Photo Credit: www. LendingMemo.com via Flickr

This week wasn’t quite as busy as last week for the Dividend Aristocrats when six Aristocrats announced increases, but the dividend growth continued on as three more Aristocrats announced or proposed increases.

Kimberly-Clark (KMB), manufacturer of consumer products such as Kleenex tissues and Huggies baby care products, announced their 42nd consecutive annual dividend increase for their next payout.  Shareholders of record on March 7th will see a dividend of 84 cents per share on April 2nd.  This represents a dividend growth rate of 3.7% from 2013.

Insurer The Chubb Corporation (CB) will increase their quarterly dividend for the 32nd consecutive year, raising the payout to 50 cents from 44 cents per share at the next payout.  The new dividend payout is a 13.6% growth over the prior year and is payable on April 1st to shareholders of record on March 14th.  The new payout represents a dividend yield of 2.29% at the stock’s current price.

Pentair Ltd. (PNR) recommended that shareholders approve a dividend increase beginning in the third quarter of 2014.  The proposed increase would be to 30 cents from 25 cents, an increase of 20%.  The 2014 annual meeting of shareholders is scheduled to be held on May 20, 2014 and if Pentair shareholders approve the proposal, it would represent the 38th consecutive year of dividend increases.  At the stock’s current price, Pentair’s new yield would be 1.48%.

Also this week, Ecolab and Leggett & Platt announced regular quarterly dividend payouts:

Ecolab (ECL), a provider of food safety, food service, and other solutions declared a quarterly dividend of 27.5 cents, payable on April 15th to shareholders of record on March 11th.  Ecolab’s current yield is 1.02%

Leggett & Platt (LEG) announced their latest quarterly payout of 30 cents per share, to be paid on April 15th to shareholders of record on March 14th.  Although a dividend increase is expected in the 3rd quarter, at the current annual rate of $1.20 per share Leggett & Platt’s dividend yield is 3.74%.  Leggett & Platt has increased dividends for the last 43 years.