As we roll through earnings season, more companies are increasing their dividends. For income investors, the stocks listed below are rated bullish or better by their equity summary score. These stocks are worth a look as candidates for a dividend growth portfolio.
CBS (CBS) is boosting its quarterly dividend by 20%, to 12 cents a share. The additional quarterly payout of two cents will cost the company roughly $51.9 million more a year. The dividend is payable on October 1, 2012 to shareholders of record on September 10, 2012. CBS also boosted its share repurchase program by 57% to $4.7 billion and added to its quarterly dividend, as it seeks to increase shareholder returns.
Bottom line: CBS has a dividend yield of 1.43%. CBS has an equity summary score of 9.7 out of 10 for a VERY Bullish outlook.
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (CMLT) announced an increase in its quarterly cash distribution to $0.59 per unit ($2.36per unit on an annualized basis) for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 on all of its outstanding limited partner units. This distribution represents an increase of 5.4%. The distribution will be paid on August 14, 2012 to holders of record of such units at the close of business on August 3, 2012.
Bottom line: CLMT has a dividend yield of 9.41% and has increased dividends for 8 straight quarters. CLMT has an equity summary score of 9.0 out of 10 for a Bullish outlook.
Baxter International (BAX) raised its quarterly divided by 34% and approved a new share repurchase program of up to $2 billion of the company’s stock as the health-care company looks to boost shareholder value. The medical-products company raised its quarterly divided to 45 cents a share from 33.5 cents, a move that will cost an added $253 million a year. Last week, the company reported second-quarter earnings rose 7.5%, although it said currency impacts weighed on its revenue growth.
Bottom line: BAX has a dividend yield of 3.02% with a 5-year average dividend growth of 21.85%. BAX has an equity summary score of 7.8 out of 10 for a Bullish outlook.
Holly Energy Partners, L.P. (HEP) has declared a cash distribution of $0.91 per unit for the second quarter of 2012. For the prior quarter, $0.895 was distributed to unitholders. Holly Energy has increased its distribution to unitholders every quarter since becoming a public partnership in July 2004. This marks the thirty-first consecutive quarterly increase. The distribution will be paid August 14, 2012, to unitholders of record August 7, 2012.
Bottom line: HEP has a dividend yield of 5.71% with a 5-year average dividend growth of 5.69%. HEP has an equity summary score of 7.1 out of 10 for a Bullish outlook.