Dividend Track Records

On January 31, 2023, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) announced that it will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.1% to $1.02 per share. This is the first dividend hike by the refiner since 2020, when a dividend hike of 8.9 percent to $0.98 per share was announced, at the time marking 10 straight years of dividend growth. The dividend is payable on March 16, 2023 to holders of record at the close of business on February 14, 2023. The increase in the dividend raises the annualized cash dividend rate on Valero’s common stock to $4.08 per share. This yields 2.9% at a stock price of $140 for VLO. Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries, is an international manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels, other petrochemical products and power. The company is a manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels and petrochemical products. Valero operates petroleum refineries and ethanol plants. The petroleum refineries are located in the United States (U.S.), Canada and the United ...

On January 31, 2023, Williams Companies (WMB) announced that it will raise its quarterly dividend by 5.3 percent to $0.4475 per share in Q1 of 2023. This marks the 7th consecutive year of higher dividend payments. Last year WMB hiked its dividend by 3.7%. The next WMB dividend will be payable on March 27, 2023, to holders of record at the close of business on March 13, 2023. A new annualized dividend rate of $1.79 per share yields 5.6% at a stock price of $32.19. The Williams Companies, Inc. is an energy infrastructure company focused on connecting North America's hydrocarbon resource plays to markets for natural gas, natural gas liquids and olefins. Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., Williams owns approximately 74 percent of Williams Partners L.P. (WPZ). Williams Partners is a master limited partnership with operations across the natural gas value chain from gathering, processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids to petchem production of ethylene, pr...

On January 31, 2023, Shutterstock (SSTK) declared a dividend hike of 12.5% to $0.27 quarterly per share. This marks the third consecutive year of double digit dividend hikes by SSTK. The next SSTK dividend is payable on March 16, 2023, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2023. The new annual dividend rate of $1.08 per share will yield 1.5% to shareholders at a stock price of $72.30 for Shutterstock. The company now pays an estimated $39 million in dividends annually. Last year SSTK declared a dividend hike of 14.3%. Shutterstock, Inc. is a global creative platform offering full-service solutions, high-quality content, and applications for brands, businesses, and media companies. Directly and through its group subsidiaries, Shutterstock's collection includes high-quality licensed photographs, vectors, illustrations, 3D models, videos and music. The Company also owns PicMonkey, a leading online graphic design and image editing platform; Offset, a high-end i...

NXP Semiconductors NV (symbol: NXPI) will raise its quarterly dividend by 20 percent to $1.014 per share in 2023. Last year the Eindhoven (The Netherlands) based company announced a 50 percent dividend hike. This marks 5 consecutive years of increased dividends by NXPI. On January 30, 2023, the NXP Board of Directors approved a 20 percent increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $1.014 per ordinary share. The interim dividend will be paid in cash on April 5, 2023 to shareholders of record as of March 15, 2023 NXP Semiconductors makes secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets. NXPI segments are High Performance Mixed Signal (HPMS), Standard Products (SP), and Corporate and Other. Its product solutions are used in a range of end-market applications, including automotive, personal security and identification, wireless and wireline infrastructure, mobile communications, ...

IT services and consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton Corp (BAH) has declared a new record high quarterly dividend of $0.47 per share in Q1 of 2023, up 9.3% from the previous quarterly payment of $0.43 per share. This will mark 11 consecutive years of increased dividends by BAH. In 2022 the company announced a dividend hike of 16.2% with double digit increases in the last 10 years. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding raised its lower-end of 2023 profit forecast range on January 27, 2023. BAH raised its revenue growth forecast to 9.5%-10.5% compared to the prior guidance of 8.0%-10.5% for fiscal 2023. For shareholders a 9.3% dividend will be paid on March 1, 2023 with an ex-dividend date of February 9, 2023. At a stock price of $92.53 the dividend yield for BAH is 1.85%.  Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation is a provider of management and technology, consulting and engineering services to the United States and international governments, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. The c...

In a very busy week for with many companies announcing dividend hikes , oil company Chevron (CVX) also declared an increased quarterly dividend rate of $1.51 per share, up 6.3% from the previous quarterly dividend of $1.42 per share.

On January 24, 2023, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced its annual index changes for the Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index. Five new companies are added and seven companies will be deleted.

On January 25, 2023, Arthur J Gallagher & Co (AJG) declared a new quarterly dividend of $0.55 per share, up 7.8% from the previous quarter. This marks 13 consecutive years of dividend growth for AJG with an 5 year CAGR of 6.1% for the dividend. At a stock price of $194 the dividend yield is 1.1%. The next ex-dividend date for AJG is March 2, 2023. Last year AJG declared a dividend hike of 6.3%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. plans, designs, and administers property/casualty insurance and risk management programs. The company also furnishes a broad range of risk management services including claims and information management, risk control consulting and appraisals to help corporations and institutions reduce their cost of risk. In addition, the company assists clients in all areas of their employee health/welfare and retirement plans, including plan design, funding and administration. Gallagher's initial public offering was on June 20, 1984.

On January 27, 2023, Dividend Aristocrat Cincinnati Financial (trading symbol CINF) announced a dividend hike of 8.7% from $0.69 to $0.75 quarterly per share. This marks 63 straight years of dividend growth for the insurer.

On January 27, 2023, Cincinnati Financial (CINF) announced a dividend hike of 8.7% to $0.75 quarterly per share. This marks 63 consecutive years of dividend growth if the dividend will not be cut in later in 2023 by CINF. Last yer the insurance company announced a dividend hike of 9.5%. The next CINF dividend is payable April 14, 2023, to shareholders of record as of March 17, 2023. The next ex-dividend date will be March 16, 2023 and the dividend yield for CINF is 2.85% at a stock price of $105. Steven J. Johnston, chairman and chief executive officer, commented, "We keep a long-term view when managing our business and creating value for shareholders of Cincinnati Financial. Increasing the dividend signals the board's confidence in our ability to maintain the profitable growth of our insurance business while also continuing to return capital to shareholders. "Cincinnati Financial shareholders have consistently benefited from increased dividends in each of the past 62 yea...

On January 27, 2023, GATX Corporation (GATX) declared a new quarterly dividend of $0.55 per share, up 5.8%. This new dividend yields 1.9% at a stock price of $113.77. The next ex-dividend date for GATX is March 2, 2023. In 2022 GATX hiked its dividend by 4%. GATX Corporation is a railcar leasing company with fleets in North America, Europe and Asia. In addition GATX operates a fleet of US-flagged vessels on the Great Lakes and owns and manages other assets. The company operates through four business segments: Rail North America, Rail International, Portfolio Management, and American Steamship Company (“ASC”). GATX, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, since its founding in 1898, has paid quarterly dividends without interruption since 1919.

On January 26, 2023, Charles Schwab (SCHW) declared a new quarterly dividend rate of $0.25 per share, up 13.6% from the previous quarterly rate of $0.22 per share. This follows two dividend hikes in 2022 for a total increase of 22.2% by Schwab. The dividend yield is 1.3% at a stock price of $75 and the next ex-dividend date is February 9, 2023. The Charles Schwab Corporation is financial services provider. The company's products and services include brokerage accounts, corporate retirement plans, banking accounts, and management of client assets. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, money management, custody, and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including a selection of mutual funds; financial planning and in...

On January 26, 2023, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) announced that it will raise its quarterly dividend by 7.4 percent to $0.29 quarterly per share. This marks 15 consecutive years of dividend growth by the media company and follows a dividend hike of 8.0% announced in 2022. The dividend yield for Comcast is 2.9% at a stock price of $40 and the next ex-dividend date is set for April 4, 2023. Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest high-speed internet, video, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, televisio...

HCA today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.60 per share on the Company’s common stock. The dividend will be paid on March 31, 2023 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2023. The declaration and payment of any future dividend will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and contractual restrictions. Future dividends are expected to be funded by cash balances and future cash flows from operations.

On January 26, 2023, Weyerhaeuser (WY) declared a special cash dividend of $0.90 per share. The regular quarterly dividend is $0.18 per share for WY. The special dividend will be paid on February 27, 2023 and the ex-dividend date is February 14, 2023. The regular annual dividend for WY yields 2.1% at a stock price of $34.32. Weyerhaeuser Company is a real estate investment trust. The company is one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands. WY owns or controlsl millions of acres of timberlands in the U.S., and manages additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. The company manages these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. Weyerhaeuser is also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products.

On February 26, 2023, Dividend Aristocrat Archer Daniels Midland Co (ADM) announced a 12.5% dividend hike to $0.45 quarterly per share. This marks 48 consecutive years of increased dividend by the Dividend Aristocrat and comes after a dividend increase of 8.1% in 2022. The new dividend yield for ADM is 2.2% at a stock price of $83.63. The next ex-dividend date is February 8, 2023. Archer Daniels Midland Company is a producer of food and beverage ingredients, and other products made from oilseeds, corn, wheat, and other agricultural commodities. The company's products include natural flavors and colors, health and nutrition products, vegetable oil, corn sweeteners, flour, animal feed, and biofuels. Archer-Daniels-Midland was incorporated in Delaware in 1923, successor to the Daniels Linseed Co. founded in 1902.

On January 26, 2023, Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR) announced a 10% dividend hike to $0.275 quarterly per share. This follows a much bigger hike of 100% announced in 2022 by the oil and gas company. The next ex-dividend date for MUR is February 10, 2023 and the dividend yield is 2.5% based on a stock price of $44.45. Murphy Oil Corporation is a global oil and natural gas exploration and production company. The Company was originally incorporated in Louisiana in 1950 as Murphy Corporation. Murphy’s exploration and production activities are subdivided into three geographic segments, including the United States, Canada, and all other countries. Additionally, Corporate activities include interest income, interest expense, foreign exchange effects, corporate risk management activities and administrative costs not allocated to the segments. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in El Dorado, Arkansas.

Dividend Aristocrat ADM ( Archer-Daniels-Midland ) surprised many investors with a double digit dividend increase of 12.5% to $0.45 quarterly per share in Q1 of 2023. This marks 48 consecutive years of dividend growth.

On January 26, 2023, Dividend Aristocrat Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) declared a new quarterly dividend rate of $0.75 per share, up 8% from the previous quarterly dividend. This matches the 2022 dividend hike of 8% by APD and also marks 41 consecutive years of dividend growth. The dividend yield is 2.2% at a stock price of $313. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. is a manufacturer of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and services. The company is a supplier of hydrogen, helium and liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment. The company also develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates industrial gas projects, including gasification projects. Air Products provides industrial gases and related equipment to many industries, including refining, chemical, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food and beverage. Air Products is a Delaware corporation originally founded in 1940.

On January 27, 2022, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) announced that it will raise its quarterly dividend by 8.0 percent to $0.27 quarterly per share. This marks 14 consecutive years of dividend growth by the media company and follows a dividend hike of 8.7% announced in 2021. The next ex-dividend date for CMCSA is April 5, 2022. Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest high-speed internet, video, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Res...

On January 25, 2023, Dividend Aristocrat Chevron Corporation (CVX) declared a dividend hike of 6.3% to $1.51 quarterly per share, marking 36 consecutive years of dividend growth for the oil major. The next CVX dividend will be paid on March 10, 2023 to holders of record on February 16. The next ex-dividend date for the Chevron dividend of $1.51 per share will be February 15, 2023. At a stock price of $179.45 the dividend yield for CVX is 3.4%. Last year Chevron hiked its dividend by 6.3%. Other Dividend Aristocrats announcing a dividend hike this January include Cincinnati Financial and ADM. The Chevron board also authorized the repurchase of the company’s shares of common stock in an aggregate amount of $75 billion. The $75 billion authorization takes effect on April 1, 2023, and does not have a fixed expiration date. It replaces the Board’s previous repurchase authorization of $25 billion from January 2019, which will terminate on March 31, 2023, after the completion of the company’s...

On January 25, 2023, MarketAxess Holdings (MKTX) declared a 2.9% dividend hike to $0.72 quarterly per share. This marks the 13th consecutive year in a row of dividend increases for the electronic trading platform. Last year MKTX announced a dividend hike of 6.1%. The cash dividend of $0.72 per share is payable on February 22, 2023 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 8, 2023. The dividend yield for MKTX will be 0.9% at a stock price of $364. MarketAxess operates a leading electronic trading platform that enables fixed-income market participants to efficiently trade corporate bonds and other types of fixed-income instruments using MarketAxess' patented trading technology. MarketAxess was formed in April 2000, and pilot trading on our fully disclosed multi-dealer platform began in October 2000. The company made its initial public offering of its common stock on November 5, 2004.

On January 25, 2023, BlackRock Inc. (BLK) declared a 2.5% dividend hike to $5.00 quarterly per share. This follows a dividend hike of 18.2% by BLK in 2022 and marks 14 consecutive years of dividend growth.  BlackRock, Inc. provides investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients. Its products include iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs).  The company also offers its Aladdin investment system, as well as risk management, outsourcing, advisory and technology services, to institutional investors and wealth management intermediaries under the BlackRock Solutions name. The company went public in 1999 and has paid a dividend every year since 2003.

On January 25, 2023, S&P Global (SPGI), the parent company of S&P Dow Jones Indices (maintaining the S&P500 Dividend Aristocrats Index) declared a 5.9% dividend hike to $0.90 quarterly per share. This marks 50 consecutive years of increased dividends. The new annualized dividend rate of $3.60 per share yields 1.0% at a stock price of $366. The next ex-dividend date is February 23, 2023. S&P Global Inc., formerly McGraw Hill Financial, Inc., is a provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets.  The capital markets include asset managers, investment banks, commercial banks, insurance companies, exchanges, trading firms and issuers; and the commodity markets include producers, traders and intermediaries within energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture. The company's four reportable segments are: S&P Global Ratings, S&P Global Market Intelligence, S&P Dow Jones Indices and S&P Global Platts. In 2022 ...

On February 25, 2023, Elevance Health (ELV), formerly known as Anthem Inc (ANTM), will raise its quarterly dividend by 15.6% to $1.48 quarterly per share. This marks 12 straight years of increased dividends by the health benefits company. The next ex-dividend date for ELV is March 9, 2023 and the dividend yield is 1.2% at a stock price of $492. On January 24, 2023, the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors declared a first quarter 2023 dividend to shareholders of $1.48 per share, an increase of 16 percent from the quarterly dividend payment in the fourth quarter. On an annualized basis, the new quarterly dividend equates to $5.92 per share. The first quarter dividend is payable on March 24, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2023. Elevance Health, the former Anthem, Inc., is a health benefits company. The company offers managed care plans to large and small employer, individual, Medicaid and Medicare markets. Elevance Health supports...

On January 25, 2023, Penske Automotive (PAG) announced that it will hike its dividend by another 7.0% to 61 cents per share quarterly. This follows four dividend hikes in both 2022 and 2021. The new dividend yield for PAG is 1.95% at a stock price of $119.  "Based on the strength of the Company's diversified business model and our continued strong cash flow, we are pleased to provide our shareholders with an increase in the cash dividend," said Penske Automotive Group President, Robert Kurnick, Jr.  The dividend is payable March 1, 2023, to shareholders of record as of February 10, 2023. The next ex-dividend date for PAG is February 9, 2023. Penske Automotive Group, Inc., headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is an international transportation services company that operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships principally in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe, and distributes commercial vehicles, diesel engines, gas engines, power systems and rela...

On January 25, 2023, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) announced that it will raise its quarterly dividend by 1.7% to $1.18 quarterly per share. This is the smallest dividend hike by the Dividend Aristocrat in many years but does mark 51 consecutive years of dividend growth. The Board of Directors approved to increase the dividend by 1.7 percent to $1.18 per share, up from $1.16 per share in 2022. The first dividend will be payable on April 4, 2023 to stockholders of record on March 10, 2023. The dividend yield for KMB is 3.5% at a stock price of $132. Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a manufacturer of products mostly made from natural or synthetic fibers using advanced technologies in fibers, nonwovens and absorbency. The company's operating segments are: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue and K-C Professional. The company's brands include Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll. Kimberly-Clark Co...

On January 25, 2023, Norfolk Southern (NSC) declared a new quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share, up from $1.24 previously. This 8.9% dividend hike marks 7 consecutive years of dividend growth for the railroad company. The next NSC dividend is payable February 21, 2023, to shareholders of record on February 3. A new annual rate of $5.40 per share yields 2.1% at a stock price of $244.71. The next ex-dividend date is February 2, 2023. Norfolk Southern has raised its dividend by 11% on average annually in the last five years and currently pays an estimated annual dividend of $1.25 billion. Norfolk Southern Corporation is a rail transportation company. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern transports industrial products, including chemicals, agriculture, and metals and constr...

On January 25, 2023, S&P Global (trading symbol SPGI) declared a new quarterly dividend of $0.90 per share, up 5.9% from the previous quarterly rate of $0.85. This dividend hike marks 50 consecutive years of dividend growth for the Dividend Aristocrat.

S&P Dow Jones Indices will add three new Dividend Aristocrats to its well known S&P500 Dividend Aristocrats Index in 2023. This will bring the total number of Aristocrats to 67 stocks with no deletions being announced this year.

On January 24, 2023, Stifel Financial Corp (SF) declared a dividend hike of 20% to $0.36 quarterly per share. This marks the 6th consecutive year of increased dividends by SF. The next SF dividend is payable March 15, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2023.  At a stock price of $66 the dividend yield for Stifel is 1.9%. The next ex-dividend date will be February 28, 2023. In 2022 the company doubled its dividend. Stifel Financial Corp. is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company’s broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities.

On January 24, 2023, Halliburton Company (HAL) declared a new quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share, up from $0.12 per share previously. This 33.3% dividend hike follows a 166.7% dividend boost by HAL in 2022 but still keeps the dividend below the record levels paid through 2019/2020. In May 2020 the company announced a 75% dividend cut from $0.18 to $0.045 quarterly per share. Halliburton’s board of directors has declared a 2023 first quarter dividend of sixteen cents ($0.16) per share on the Company’s common stock payable on March 29, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2023. The dividend yield for HAL is 1.2% at a stock price of $39.58 and the annual dividend payment jumps to $581 million. The 5 year CAGR for the dividend is negative for HAL with -2.3%. Earlier this week peer Schlumberger also announced a big dividend hike. “I am pleased to announce that our Board has adopted a capital returns framework and an increase in our dividend to sixteen cent...

On January 24, 2023, Park National Corp (trading symbol PRK) declared a new quarterly dividend of $1.05 per share, up 1% from the previous dividend of $1.04 quarterly per share. The next dividend will be paid on March 10, 2023 and the next ex-dividend date for PRK is February 16, 2023. The new annual dividend rate of $4.20 per share will yield 3.1% at a stock price of $125. Headquartered in Newark, Ohio, Park National Corporation has $9.9 billion in total assets (as of December 31, 2022). Park's banking operations are conducted through its subsidiary The Park National Bank. Other Park subsidiaries are Scope Leasing, Inc. (d.b.a. Scope Aircraft Finance), Guardian Financial Services Company (d.b.a. Guardian Finance Company) and SE Property Holdings, LLC.

On January 24, 2023, Cambridge Bancorp (CATC) announced that it will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.7 percent to $0.67 per share. This marks 22 consecutive years of dividend growth by CATC. The dividend yield is 3.1% at a stock price of $77.89. On January 23, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.67 per share, which is payable on February 23, 2023, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 9, 2023. This represents an increase of $0.03, or 5%, as compared to the $0.64 dividend paid in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2022. The Company did not repurchase any shares under its previously announced share repurchase program during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022. "I am pleased with how we managed through 2022, which proved to be a challenging period of volatility in equity markets and interest rates. While we see evidence of an economic slowdown in 2023, we feel well prepared with continued strength...

On January 24, 2023, Home Bancorp, Inc. (HBCP) announced that it will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.2 percent to 25 cents per share. This marks the 9th consecutive year of dividend growth by HBCP. The company declared a quarterly cash dividend on shares of its common stock of $0.25 per share payable on February 17, 2023, to shareholders of record as of February 6, 2023. The new annual rate of $1.00 per share yields 2.5% at a stock price of $39. Home Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company for Home Bank, N.A. The Bank is engaged in attracting deposits from the general public and using those funds to invest in loans and securities. The Bank's lending activities include loans secured by commercial real estate loans, and commercial and industrial loans. In addition to commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans, the Bank holds a portfolio of construction and land loans.

Franklin Electric Co. (FELE) will increase its dividend by 15.4 percent to $0.225 quarterly per share in 2023. This marks 31 consecutive years of dividend growth by the global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and fuel.

On January 20, 2023, Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina (trading symbol PEBK) declared a special cash dividend of $0.15 per share. The regular quarterly dividend for PEBK is $0.18 per share and was last raised on February 18, 2022 and yields 2.2% at a stock price of $32.98. The 15 cent per share special cash dividend will be paid on February 15, 2023 to shareholders of record on February 3, 2023. The ex-dividend date for the PEBK special dividend is February 2, 2023. Last year the company also paid a 15 cent special dividend. Peoples Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. operates 17 banking offices entirely in North Carolina, with offices in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Iredell, and Wake Counties. The Bank also operates loan production offices in Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, and Forsyth Counties. 

On January 20, 2023, Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (trading symbol HTLF), declared a 7.1% dividend hike to $0.30 quarterly per share. This follows a 3.7% dividend increase by the company announced in the previous quarter. The new annual dividend rate of $1.20 per share yields 2.6% at a stock price of $46.36. The next HTLF dividend is payable on February 28, 2023, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 10, 2023. The next ex-dividend date is February 9, 2023. The average dividend growth rate based on the last 5 years is 16.5% annually for HTLF. The company will now pay an estimated $51 million in dividends to shareholders every year. Heartland Financial USA, Inc., operating under the brand name HTLF, is a bank holding company. HTLF has banks serving communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Texas and Wisconsin. Its Banks provide a range of commercial, small business, and consumer banking service...

On January 20, 2023, oil services company Schlumberger (SLB) announced that it will hike its dividend by 42.9 percent to 25 cents quarterly per share. This is the second increase by SLB since 2015 and follows a dividend hike of 40% last year. The current dividend rate however still is half of the record level from 2020, when SLB paid 50 cents quarterly. The next SLB dividend will be baid on April 6, 2023 to shareholders of record on February 8, 2023. The new annualized dividend rate of $1.00 per share yields 1.7% at a stock price of $57.35. Schlumberger will now pay an estimated $1.4 billion in dividends annually. Schlumberger NV is a provider of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production, and processing to the oil and gas industry. The company operates worldwide and provides a range of products and services, from exploration through production, and integrated pore-to-pipeline solutions that optimize hydrocarbon recovery to deliver reservoir performance sustainably...

On January 20, 2023, NRG Energy (NRG) announced that it will increase its quarterly dividend by 7.9 percent to 37.75 cents per share. The ex-dividend date is January 31, 2023 and the dividend yield for NRG is 4.7% at a stock price of $32.42. NRG Energy, Inc. is an energy company. The company’s core businesses include retail electricity and natural gas for residential, industrial and commercial consumers, including personal power solutions and Business Solutions, which includes C&I customers and other distributed and reliability products, and wholesale conventional generation primarily to support the retail business. NRG was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on May 29, 1992.

On January 17, 2023, Signature Bank (trading symbol SBNY) declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share, up from $0.56 per share previously. This is the first ever dividend hike announced by the bank. The dividend yield for SNBY is 2.3% at a stock price of $121. The Bank Declared a Cash Dividend of $0.70 Per Share, an Increase of $0.14 Per Share, Payable on or After February 10, 2023 to Common Shareholders of Record at the Close of Business on January 27, 2023. The Bank Also Declared a Cash Dividend of $12.50 Per Share Payable on or After March 30, 2023 to Preferred Shareholders of Record at the Close of Business on March 17, 2023. Signature Bank, member FDIC, is a New York-based full-service commercial bank with 40 private client offices throughout the metropolitan New York area, as well as those in Connecticut, California, Nevada and North Carolina. Through its single-point-of-contact approach, the Bank’s private client banking teams primarily serve the needs of private...

On January 17, 2023, Mercantile Bank Corporation (trading symbol MBWM) announced a new quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share, up from $0.32 per share previously. MBWM typically hikes the dividend two times every year. Mercantile Bank Corporation announced today that on January 12, 2023, its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per common share, payable on March 15, 2023, to holders of record as of March 3, 2023.  The $0.33 cash dividend represents an increase of over 3 percent from the $0.32 regular cash dividend paid during the fourth quarter of 2022. "The Board's declaration of an increased first quarter regular cash dividend demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build shareholder value through meaningful cash returns," said Robert B. Kaminski, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercantile.  "Our sustained financial strength during the persistent uncertain and challenging economic environment has allowed us to continue ...

On January 13, 2023, The Wendy's Company (WEN) announced that it will double its quarterly dividend to $0.25 per share. The company announced today a 100% increase in its regular quarterly cash dividend to 25 cents per share. This increase will be effective beginning with the Company's first quarter dividend, payable on March 15, 2023, to stockholders of record as of March 1, 2023. The Company believes that its strong liquidity position, business momentum, and expected free cash flow growth support this increase, while providing flexibility to continue to invest in growth. The number of common shares outstanding as of January 6, 2023 was approximately 213 million. A new annual rate of $1.00 per share yields approximately 4.3% at a stock price of $23 for Wendy's. The ex-dividend date for the next WEN dividend is February 28, 2023. This new quarterly dividend just declared is the highest ever by Wendy's. "Our 2022 results highlight the strength and resiliency of the ...

On January 11, 2023, UMH Properties, Inc. (NYSE:UMH) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a 2.5% increase in the Company’s quarterly common stock dividend, raising it from $0.20 per share to $0.205 per share. The dividend yield for UMH is 4.8% at a stock price of $17.27. The next ex-dividend will be Feb 14, 2023. UMH Properties, Inc., which was organized in 1968, is a public equity REIT that owns and operates manufactured home communities. These communities are located in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan and Alabama. In addition, the Company owns a portfolio of REIT securities.

On January 11, 2023, STAG Industrial (STAG) declared a new monthly dividend of  $0.1225 per share. This 0.7% dividend hike matches the increases of the previous years. The dividend yield for STAG is 4.2% at a stock price of $35.41. The next ex-dividend date is January 30, 2023. STAG Industrial, Inc. is a real estate investment trust. The company is focused on the acquisition, ownership, and operation of single-tenant, industrial properties throughout the United States. The company is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT, also known as an UPREIT, and owns all of its properties and conducts substantially all of its business through an Operating Partnership, controlled and managed by the company.  STAG completed its initial public offering of common stock on April 20, 2011.

On January 12, 2022, Apogee Enterprises (trading symbol APOG) declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share. This marks the 10th consecutive year of increased dividends by the provider of glass solutions. The Dividend yield for APOG is 2.1% at a stock price of $46.56 and the next ex-dividend date is January 30, 2022. Apogee Enterprises, Inc. provides glass solutions for enclosing commercial buildings and the picture framing market. The company's Architectural Framing Systems segment companies design, engineer, fabricate and finish the aluminum frames for window, curtainwall and storefront systems that comprise the outside skin of buildings. Its Architectural Glass segment consists of a leading fabricator of coated, high-performance architectural glass for global markets. The Architectural Services segment consists of one of the largest U.S. full-service building glass installation companies. APOG's Large-scale optical segment consists of a value-added glass and ac...

On January 10, 2023, Gladstone Land Corporation (LAND) announced a 0.2% dividend hike to $0.0459 per share monthly. The next monthly dividend will be paid on January 31, 2023. The next ex-dividend date is January 19, 2023 and LAND currently yields 2.8% at a stock price of $19.67. Gladstone Land has paid 119 consecutive monthly cash distributions on its common stock since its initial public offering in January 2013 and has increased its common stock distributions 29 times over the prior 32 quarters. Gladstone Land Corporation is a real estate investment trust that specializes in purchasing farms and farm-related properties and leasing them to farmers. Gladstone Land owns farmland in Arizona,  California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington. The company acquires farmland that it rents to corporate and independent farmers on a triple-net lease basis, an arrangement under which the farmer maintains the property while paying rent to Gladstone Lan...

National Bankshares (NKSH) will pay a special dividend of $1.00 per share on Feb. 3, 2023. The regular quarterly dividend is $0.78 per share and yields 3.8% at a stock price of $41. This special cash dividend is payable on February 3, 2023 to all common shareholders of record as of January 23, 2023. The Company's Board of Directors believes that a strong capital base is crucial to serving its customers and growing the Company. The Board utilizes cash dividends and stock repurchases to return excess capital to the Company's shareholders. In 2022, the Company benefited from an unanticipated, one-time payout from an investment in a broker-dealer that was acquired. This payment, along with the Company's positive performance during 2022, created a unique opportunity to reward shareholders with this special dividend. President and Chief Executive Officer, F. Brad Denardo, commented, "This special dividend reflects not only the Company's solid performance, but our ongoing...

$0.50 per share/

The average return for all 64 Dividend Aristocrats in 2022 was -5.1%. With that all major US indices were outperformed. The biggest gainer was oil major Exxon Mobil , benefiting from increased oil and gas prices in 2022. The worst performer was VF Corp, being pulled down in the negative sentiment for consumer stocks.