These Eight Stocks Just Announced Dividend Increases

Over the past week, the following companies made important announcements regarding their future dividend payments…

Dividend Increases

United Bankshares (UBSI) announced a dividend of $.31 per share for shareholders of record as of December 14. Dividends per share of $1.24 for the year 2012 represents a 2% increase over the $1.21 per share paid for the year of 2011. The dividend payout is payable January 2, 2013. The year 2012 marks the 39th consecutive year of dividend increases to United shareholders. During this 39 year period, the dividend has increased from $.06 to $1.24, which represents an annual compound growth rate over 9%.
Chicago Rivet & Machine Co. (CVR) declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.15 per share, payable December 20 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 5. The company also declared an extra dividend of $.30 per share, payable December 20 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 5.
Montpelier Re Holdings (MRH) declared an increase in its quarterly dividend to $.115 per common share. The company’s Board of Directors has also declared a quarterly dividend of $.5547 per 8.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Share, Series A. The dividends are payable on or before January 15 to all shareholders of record as of December 31.
Access National (ANCX) parent company for Access National Bank, declared a cash dividend of $.70 per share for holders of record as of December 3 and payable on December 17. This dividend will not be eligible for automatic reinvestment under the company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.
York Water (YORW) announced it will raise its quarterly dividend by 3.5% to $.1383 per share. The dividend is payable January 15 to shareholders as of record date December 31.
Churchill Downs (CHDN) announced it will raise its annual dividend 20%, to $.70 per share from $.60 per share. The dividend is payable December 21, to shareholders of record on November 28. The board also approved accelerating the typical January annual payment to December 21, to take advantage of the existing 2012 tax rates.
Becton Dickinson (BDX) announced a quarterly dividend increase of 10% to $.495. The dividend will be payable on December 31 to holders of record on December 10.
International Game (IGT) announced it will raise its quarterly dividend by 17% to $.07. The dividend is payable on December 31 to shareholders of record on December 19.
Hormel Foods (HRL) announced its 47th consecutive annual dividend increase. The annual dividend on the common stock of the corporation was raised to $.68 per share from $.60 per share. A quarterly dividend on the common stock was also authorized by the Board of Directors at $.17 a share.

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Special Dividends

Sturm, Ruger & Company (RGR) declared a special dividend of $4.50 per share on the company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. This cash dividend will be paid on December 21 to shareholders of record as of December 7.
Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) announced they approved a change in the payment date of the company’s regular quarterly shareholder dividend of $.3975 per share to December 27. This installment was previously scheduled to be paid on January 2. The record date associated with this dividend payment remains December 7.
Unico American Corporation (UNAM) announced a cash dividend of $1.00 per share of common stock. This cash dividend is payable on December 14 to shareholders of record on November 30.
Gyrodyne (GYRO) declared a special cash dividend in the amount of $38.30 per share. The dividend is payable on December 14 to stockholders of record as of December 1. The special dividend represents over 90% of the company’s REIT taxable income earned through September 30.
Erie Indemnity (ERIE) announced an increase in regular shareholder dividends and declared a special cash dividend. The board agreed to increase the regular quarterly cash dividend from $.5525 to $.5925 on each Class A share and from $82.88 to $88.88 on each Class B share. This represents a 7.2% increase in the payout per share over the current dividend rate. The board has decided to accelerate the payment of this quarterly dividend into December. This quarterly dividend will be paid on December 21, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 7, with a dividend ex-date of December 5. The board also declared a special one-time cash dividend of $2.00 on each Class A share and $300.00 on each Class B share. This special cash dividend will also be paid on December 21, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 7, with a dividend ex-date of December 5.
Fred’s (FRED) announced a special, one-time dividend of $.19 per share in addition to the company’s regular quarterly cash dividend of $.06 per share. The combined $.25 amount is payable on December 17, to shareholders of record as of December 3.
Aware (AWRE) announced a special cash dividend of $1.80 per share. The special cash dividend will be paid on December 17 to shareholders of record as of December 3.
Xueda Education (XUE) approved a special cash dividend of $.25 per ordinary shares, or $.50 per ADS. Each of the company’s ADS represents two ordinary shares. The cash dividend will be paid on or about December 31, 2012 to holders of record of the company’s ordinary shares and ADSs at the close of business on December 19.
Westlake Chemical Corporation’s (WLK) declared regular quarterly dividend of $.1875 per share and a special dividend of $3.75 per share will both be payable on December 12 to stockholders of record on November 29, amended from the November 26 date announced earlier in a company press release.
Lancaster Colony (LANC) approved a special cash dividend of $5.00 per common share. The special dividend and the quarterly dividend of $.38 per share, an increase from the company’s previously quarterly dividend of $.36, will be paid December 28, to shareholders of record on December 10.
The Fastenal Company (FAST) declared a special one-time dividend of $.50 per share to be paid in cash on December 21 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 7.
Arden Group (ARDNA) announced a special cash dividend of $20.00 per share on its Class A Common Stock. The special cash dividend will be paid on December 18 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 3. The special cash dividend is in addition to the current quarterly cash dividend.
Pegasystems (PEGA) announced an accelerated quarterly dividend of $.03 per share with respect to the first quarter of 2013, maintaining the company’s current dividend program. The Q1 2013 dividend will be payable on December 17 to shareholders of record as of December 3.
Peoples Bancorp (PEBK) declared a regular quarterly cash dividend as well as a special cash dividend in the amount of $.05 per share to be paid at the same time. The dividends will be paid on December 14 to shareholders of record December 3.
Bolt Technology (BOLT) has declared a special cash dividend of $.50 per common share and a quarterly dividend of $.07 per common share. Both dividends are payable on December 18 to shareholders of record on December 4.
Gyrodyne (GYRO) announced a special cash dividend in the amount of $38.30 per share. The dividend is payable on December 14 to stockholders of record as of December 1. The special dividend represents over 90% of the company’s REIT taxable income earned through September 30.
Rockville Financial (RCKB) announced a special cash dividend of $.16 per share on December 10 to shareholders of record as of December 3.
Tredegar (TG) declared a special dividend of $.75 per share. The dividend is payable on December 14 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 7.

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