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

Dividend Increases

  • Disney (DIS) announced it will increase its annual dividend 25% to $.75 per share, up from $.60 per share. The dividend is payable on December 28 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10.
  • Merck (MRK) announced it will increase its dividend $.01 to $.43 per share. Payment will be made on January 8, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 17.
  • McCormick (MKC) announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $.34 from $.31. The stock is payable January 14, to shareholders of record December 31.
  • BankUnited (BKU) declared a quarterly dividend increase of 24% to $.21 per share from $.17 per share. The dividend will be payable on December 27 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 13.
  • Aetna (AET) announced a quarterly cash dividend increase to $.20 per share on the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on January 25 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 10. Most recently, the company paid a $.175 quarterly dividend on October 26.
  • RGC Resources (RGCO) announced it will raise its quarterly dividend to $.18 from $.175. The indicated annual dividend is $.72 per share, a $.02 per share increase over the prior annual level. The dividend will be paid on February 1 to shareholders of record on January 15.
  • Alexandria Real Estate (ARE) announced a quarterly dividend increase of 6% to $.56 per share. The dividend is payable on January 15 to shareholders of record on December 31.
  • SL Green Realty (SLG) announced a dividend increase of 32% to $.33.  The dividend is payable on January 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 2.
  • Vector Group (VGR) declared a dividend increase to $.40 per share from $.38.  The dividend is payable on December 20 to holders of record as of December 10.
  • Financial Institutions (FISI) approved a $.02 per share, or a 14% increase, in its quarterly cash dividend to $.16 per outstanding common share. The company also announced dividends of $.75 per share on Series A 3% preferred stock and $2.12 per share on series B-1 8.48% preferred stock. All dividends are payable January 2 to shareholders of record on December 17.
  • OGE Energy (OGE) announced it will raise its annual dividend to $1.67 from $1.57 per share. The increase is effective with the first-quarter 2013 dividend of $.4175 per common share of stock, to be paid January 30, to shareowners of record January 10. The company has paid quarterly dividends uninterrupted for the past 65 years.
  • TowneBank (TOWN) announced it will raise its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $.09 per share. The dividend is payable on December 28 to shareholders of record on December 7.
  • C&F Financial (CFFI) declared a quarterly dividend increase of 7.41% to $.29 from $.27. The dividend is payable December 21 to shareholders of record on December 14.
  • RG Barry Corp (DFZ) declared a quarterly dividend increase of 12.5%. The $.09 dividend, up from $.08 is payable on December 28 to shareholders of record on December 14. The payment of the dividend is intended by the board to be in lieu of the quarterly dividend that would have been paid in March 13.
  • Seagate Technology (STX) announced a quarterly cash dividend for Q2 of $.38 per share, an increase of 19% from $.32 per share. The dividend is payable December 28 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 14.
  • Jinpan (JST) announced it will change from semi-annual to quarterly dividends. Dividends that will be distributed in December 2012 and in 2013 will total $.16 per common share, which represents a 14% increase over dividends of $.14 per common shares that we paid in each of 2010, 2011 and from January to November of 2012. We decided to pay a special dividend in December 2012 so investors can maximize the value of their proceeds prior to any potential tax increase on dividends in 2013.
  • Triangle Capital (TCAP) declared an increase in its quarterly dividend by 12.8% to $.53. The dividend is payable on December 26 to stockholders of record on December 12.
  • Glacier Bancorp (GBCI) increased its dividend 8% to $.14 per share, up from $.13 per share. The dividend is payable on December 20 to owners of record on December 11.
  • J & J Snack Foods (JJSF) announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.16 per share of its common stock payable on December 27 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 11. The cash dividend represents a 23.1% increase from the previous quarterly dividend rate of $.13 per share.
  • Host Hotels (HST) announced it will increase its quarterly dividend by 12.5% to $.09. The dividend is payable on January 15 to stockholders of record on December 31.
  • Balchem Corporation (BCPC) declared a dividend on its shares of common stock equal to $.22 per share, payable on December 21 to holders of record on December 14. This dividend reflects a 22% increase over the prior year cash dividend.

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Special Dividends

  • Las Vegas Sands (LVS) announced a $2.75 per share special cash dividend on its outstanding common stock payable on December 18 to shareholders of record on December 10.
  • Regal Entertainment (RGC) announced a  special dividend of $1 per share payable on December 27 to stockholders of record on December 11.
  • Daktronics (DAKT) declared a special dividend of $.50 per share. The special cash dividend will be payable on December 20, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 10.
  • Whole Foods (WFM) announced a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share payable December 21, to shareholders of record on the close of business on December 10.
  • AOL’s (AOL) previously announced one-time, special cash dividend of $5.15 per share will be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes. The one-time, special cash dividend is payable on December 14 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 5.
  • Guess (GES) declared a special dividend of $1.20 per share. In addition, the board also approved a quarterly cash dividend of $.20 per share on the Company’s common stock. The combined dividends will be payable on December 28 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 12.
  • H.J. Heinz Company (HNZ) announced a quarterly dividend of $.515 per share on the company’s common stock payable December 26 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 11. This quarterly dividend payment accelerates the company’s regular quarterly dividend, which is normally paid in early January.
  • Costco (COST) announced a special cash dividend of $7.00 per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable on December 18, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10.
  • Ethan Allen (ETH) announced a special cash dividend of $.41 per share. The dividend will be payable to shareholders of record as of December 5 and will be paid on December 20. The company’s Board has also declared a change in the January record and payment date, to accelerate the record and payment date of the $.09 per share regular quarterly cash dividend announced November 13. This dividend will now also be payable to shareholders of record as of December 5 and will be paid on December 20.
  • Dillard’s (DDS) announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.05 per share as well as a special, one-time cash dividend of $5.00 per share. Both dividends are payable on the Class A and Class B Common Stock of the company on December 21 to shareholders of record as of December 7.
  • Drew Industries (DW) declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share. The dividend is payable on December 20 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 10.
  • Insperity (NSP) announced a special $1.00 cash dividend. The special dividend is payable to stockholders of record on December 7, and is expected to be paid on December 21. This special dividend is in addition to the regular quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share previously announced on November 15.
  • Marten Transport (MRTN) declared a special cash dividend of $.75 in addition to a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.025 per share of common stock. The dividends will be payable on December 26 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 11.  The annual yield on the dividends is approximately 4.5%.
  • Culp (CFI) announced a special dividend of $.50 per share. In addition, the board approved the acceleration of payment of the company’s scheduled January 2013 quarterly cash dividend of $.03 per share. Both of these payments will be made on December 28 to shareholders of record as of December 19.
  • Bridge Bancorp (BDGE) announced acceleration of a $.23, Q4 dividend. The dividend will be payable on December 21, to shareholders of record as of December 10.
  • Enzon Pharmaceuticals (ENZN) announced a $2.00 special dividend payable on December 21 to shareholders of record as of December 10.
  • Farmers National Banc (FMNB) declared a special $.03 per share cash dividend. This special dividend will be payable on December 31 to common shareholders of record at December 14.
  • Globe Specialty Metals (GSM) announced a change in the payment date of the company’s previously announced annual quarterly dividend. As a result, it shall pay to the holders of record as of December 17 in the amount of $.125 per share on December 28.
  • Supertex (SUPX) declared a $1.00 special cash dividend to be paid on December 27 to shareholders of record on December 12.
  • HEICO (HEI) declared a special dividend of $1.14 per share. The special dividend will be paid on December 21 to shareholders of record on December 10.
  • Brown Forman (BRA) declared a special cash dividend of $4.00 per share. The dividend will be paid on December 27 to stockholders of record on December 12.
  • Univest (UVSP) declared a $.20 per share quarterly cash dividend and said, as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the tax treatment of dividends beyond 2012, the acceleration of its payout to December 28 from the normal payout date of January 2. The dividend will be paid to shareholders of record as of December 12.
  • KapStone Paper and Packaging (KS) announced a $2 per share special cash dividend. The special cash dividend will be payable on December 20 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10. The ex-dividend date will be December 6.
  • Trans World (TWMC) announced a special cash dividend of $.47. The dividend is payable on December 26 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10.
  • Movado (MOV) announced a $.75 per share special cash dividend. This dividend will be paid on December 21 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 10. Also on November 27, the Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.05 for each share of the company’s outstanding common stock and class A common stock. This dividend will also be paid on December 21 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 10.
  • Mastech Holdings (MHH) announces $2.00 per share special dividend. The dividend is payable on December 21 to shareholders of record at the close of December 20.
  • Tellabs (TLAB) declared a $1 special dividend. The dividend is payable on December 21 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 14.
  • Electro Rent (ELRC) declared a special year-end cash dividend of $1.00 per share. The special dividend will be paid on December 21 to shareholders of record as of December 10.
  • Southern National Bancorp (SONA) declared a special dividend of $.15 per share. The dividend will be payable on December 21st to shareholders of record on December 10th.
  • Home Federal Bancorp (HOME) authorized a special dividend of $.12 per share in addition to a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.06 per share. The combined dividend of $.18 per share will be payable on December 27, to stockholders of record as of December 13.
  • National Beverage (FIZZ) declared a special dividend of $2.55 per share to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 7. No payout date was announced as of reporting time.
  • Systemax (SYX) declared a special one-time cash dividend of $.25 per share to shareholders of the company’s common stock. The dividend will be payable on December 21 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 12.
  • Fluor (FLR) announced it will accelerate its quarterly dividend payment. The revised payment date of December 26, as opposed to January 3, will be used for the $.16 per share dividend initially announced on November 1. Fluor said the dividend will continue to be payable to shareholders of record on December 3, 2012.
  • Bancorp of New Jersey (BKJ) declared a special dividend of $.24 per share. The dividend will be paid on December 20 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 10.
  • Village Super Market (VLGEA) declared a special dividend of $1 per Class A common share and $.65 per Class B common share. Both special dividends will be payable on December 27 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 12.
  • KBW, Inc. (KBW) declared a special dividend of $2.00 per share. The dividend is payable on December 17 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10.
  • Hingham Institution (HIFS) announced a special dividend of $.27. The dividend will be paid on January 22 to stockholders of record as of January 10.
  • SFL announces (SLF) announced an accelerated Q4 dividend and combined dividend of $.78 per share. The dividend will be paid on or about December 28 to shareholders of record as of December 20. The ex-dividend will be December 18. In view of the acceleration of the Q4 dividend payment, no additional dividend payment can be expected prior to the declaration of the Q1 dividend in FY13.
  • Teche Holding (TSH) announces special dividend of $.365 per common share. The quarterly and special dividends will be paid on December 31, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 17.
  • Stein Mart (SMRT) declared a special dividend of $1.00 per share. The dividend is payable on December 24 to shareholders of record as of December 10 and is expected to total approximately $44M.
  • HFF Inc. (HF) declared a special dividend of $1.52 per share. The dividend is payable December 20 to shareholders of record on December 10.
  • Home BancShares, (HOMB) declared a cash dividend of $.13 per share payable December 31, to shareholders of record December 17. This dividend is in addition to the previously declared regular quarterly cash dividend set to be paid December 5 and is a result of the likelihood of increased tax rates on dividends in 2013. The company is still evaluating whether this dividend will be a special, one-time cash dividend or a cash dividend in lieu of the regular quarterly cash dividend for 1Q13.
  • Peoples Federal Bancshares (PEOP) declared a $.25 special dividend. The dividend will be payable to stockholders of record as of December 12, and is expected to be paid on December 21.
  • Hi-Tech Pharmacal (HITK) announced a special dividend of $1.50 per share. The dividend will be payable on December 28 to shareholders of record on December 13.
  • Copa Holdings (CPA) announced an early payment of its annual dividend. The board declared an annual dividend of $2.25 to be paid on December 27 to stockholders of record as of December 12. Given the possibility of an expiration of the preferential United States federal tax rates on qualified dividend income after December 31, and that a significant amount of the shareholders take advantage of such preferential rates, the company opted to bring forward its dividend to December.
  • Cape Bancorp (CBNJ) declared a cash dividend of $.05 per common share. The dividend will be paid on or about December 26, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 12.

Dividend Initiations

  • Nexstar Broadcasting (NXST) declared new dividend policy of $.12 per share. A dividend of $.48 per share in equal quarterly installments of $.12 per share will be paid to shareholders, concurrent with the closing of the acquisition of the assets being acquired by Nexstar Broadcasting as part of the Newport Acquisition. The first quarterly cash dividend is expected to be paid in 1Q13.
  • ADT Corp. (ADT) declared an initial dividend of $.125. The dividend is payable December 18 to shareholders of record on December 10.
  • La-Z-Boy (LZB) reinstated its quarterly dividend of $.04 per share. The dividend will be payable December 20, to shareholders of record as of December 10.
  • Equal Energy (EQU) announced a new dividend of $.20 per share beginning on January 1, and payable at the end of each calendar quarter.
  • KAR Auction (KSR) announced the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend on the company’s common stock. The initial quarterly dividend of $.19 per share will be paid on December 28 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 19, representing an annualized dividend of $.76 per share. This is the first dividend paid to stockholders in the company’s history.

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