This week, a tool company raised its dividend for the 47^th year and two medical technology companies announced regular dividend payments.

Stanley, Black & Decker announced its 47th consecutive year of dividend growth this week.
Photo courtesy Mark Hunter/flickr.com.

Stanley, Black & Decker (SWK), manufacturer of, among other things, hand and power tools, electronic security systems and engineered fastening solutions announced a 2-cent per share increase in its quarterly dividend.  This 4% increase is the 47^th consecutive year of dividend increases that the company has paid out.  The increased dividend will be paid on September 16^th to shareholders of record on September 5^th.  With the new annualized dividend of $2.08, the stock currently yields 2.29%.

Two Medical Technology Companies Pay Regular Dividends

Becton, Dickenson & Company (BDX) focuses its medical technology efforts on improving drug delivery, the diagnosis of infectious diseases and diabetes management.  This week, the company announced its 3^rd quarter dividend payout of 54.5 cents.  The dividend will be paid on September 30^th to shareholders of record on September 9^th.  Becton, Dickenson has increased dividends for 43 years and is expected to increase dividends again in the first quarter of 2015.  The stock currently yields 1.84%.

Dow 30 component Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) will pay its latest quarterly dividend of 70 cents per share on September 9^th to shareholders of record on August 26^th.  In April, Johnson & Johnson increased the stock dividend for the 52^nd straight year, from an annualized rate of $2.64 to the current value of $2.80.  The next dividend increase is not expected until next April.  Johnson & Johnson stock currently yields 2.74%.

You can find more information about each of these companies’ dividend histories at the company summaries for Stanley, Black and Decker, Becton, Dickenson and Company, and Johnson & Johnson.

Three High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Announce Quarterly Payments

Regional bank holding company Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) announced a quarterly dividend of 22.5 cents per share, payable on September 25^th to shareholders of record on September 5^th.  This dividend applies to the common shares (the dividend on the Class B preferred shares will 30 cents).  The company has increased regular annual dividends for 46 years.  Commerce Bancshares last increased the dividend in March by 5%, from an annualized rate of 85.72 cents to the current rate of 90 cents per share, which gives the common shares a current yield of 1.96%.

Energen Corporation (EGN), an oil and gas exploration and production company will pay a 15-cent per share quarterly dividend on September 2^nd to shareholders of record on August 15^th.  Energen stock currently yields 0.68% on an annual basis.  The company most recently increased its dividend by 3.45% in March, which was the 32^nd consecutive annual dividend increase.  Prior to the increase, the quarterly dividend was 14.5 cents per share.

Industrial gases company Praxair (PX) will pay a quarterly dividend of 65 cents per share on September 15^th to shareholders of record on September 8^th.  At an annualized rate of $2.60, the stock currently yields 1.99%.  Praxair most recently increased its stock dividend in March, which was the 21^st consecutive year of dividend increases for the company.  The dividend increase announced in the first quarter was 8.3%, from an annualized rate of $2.40.

There are 54 S&P Dividend Aristocrats that have increased dividends for more than a quarter century.  See the full list of Dividend Aristocrats.