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Kimberly-Clark raised its dividend this week.
Pavel Sytsko/Dreamstime.com
Chevrons
,
Kimberley Clark
,
Archer Daniels Midland
,
And
Comcast
were among the large US companies that announced dividend hikes this week.
It’s been a busy week for these announcements, with the fourth-quarter earnings season in full swing.
Chevron (ticker: CVX) said a quarterly dividend of $1.51 cents per share, up 9 cents or about 6%. The energy giant’s shares have a 47% annual return, including dividends, compared to minus 5% in the
S&P 500
until closing on January 26th. The stock recently returned 3.3%.
The company also announced a new $75 billion share repurchase, up from a previous one of $25 billion.
Several other energy companies have announced dividend hikes, including
Halliburton
And
Marathon oil
.
Halliburton (HAL), an energy services company, said it plans to increase its quarterly payout to 16 cents a share from 12 cents for a 33% increase. The stock, which yields 1.6%, has an annual yield of 35%.
Marathon Oil (MRO), an oil and gas exploration and production company, said it would pay a quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share, up 11% from 9 cents. The stock, which has an annual yield of 48%, yields 1.2%.
Elsewhere, Kimberly Clark (KMB), a consumer products company, plans to raise its quarterly payout to $1.18 per share from $1.16. This is an increase of almost 2%. The stock yields 3.7% and has a nearly flat one-year yield. This marks the 51st consecutive year that the company has increased its dividend.
Archer-Daniels Midland (ADM) increased its quarterly payout 12.5% ​​to 45 cents a share from 40 cents. The agricultural company’s shares yield 2.1% and have an annual return of 20%.
Comcast (CMCSA), a major media and entertainment company, said it will raise its dividend by 7.4% to $1.16 per share year over year. The quarterly dividend will rise to 29 cents per share from 27 cents.
The stock, which has an annual return of less than 14%, yields 2.9%.
Nucor (NUE) said a dividend of 51 cents per share, up 2% from 50 cents. This marks 50th consecutive year in which the company raised its dividend.
The stock has an annual yield of 86% and a yield of 1.2%. The company produces steel and steel products, including plates and bars.
Wealth manager BlackRock (BLK) plans to raise its quarterly dividend to $5 per share from $4.88, up 2.5%. The stock, which yields 2.6%, has an annual return of minus 2%.
Carl Schwab
(SCHW), a large financial services firm, said it will raise its quarterly payout by 3 cents per share to 25 cents. This is an increase of almost 14%. The stock yields 1.1% and has an annual yield of minus 12%.
South Norfolk
(NSC) declared a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share from the current $1.24. This is an increase of almost 9%. The freight operator’s shares yield 2.1% and have an annual return of minus 9%.
Healthcare HCA
(HCA) said it would raise its quarterly payout to 60 cents per share, up 7% from the current 56 cents.
The company operates hospitals and other medical facilities. The stock, which yields 0.9%, has an annual return of 7%.
S&P Global (SPGI) expects to raise its quarterly payout to 90 cents per share from 85 cents for an increase of nearly 6%. The stock, which has an annual return of minus 7%, yields 1%.
The firm provides a variety of financial information, including valuations, ratios and analyses.
Write to Lawrence C. Strauss at [email protected]
