Kimberly-Clark, maker of Kleenex products, raised its dividend this week.
Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg
In a busy week for dividend announcements, Comcast, Norfolk Southern, Archer-Daniels-Midland, and Kimberly-Clark were among the large U.S. companies that declared increases.
Comcast (ticker: CMCSA) declared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents a share, up nearly 9% from 23 cents. The stock, which yields 1.8%, has returned about 18%. That includes dividends paid out by the entertainment and cable company.
Linde (LIN), a specialty chemicals company, plans to boost its quarterly dividend to $1.06 a share. That is an increase of nearly 11% from 96.3 cents. The stock, which has a one-year return of about 20%, yields 1.7%.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) declared a quarterly disbursement of 99 cents a share, compared with 94 cents currently, for a 5% increase. The stock has returned about 12% over the past year, and it was recently yielding 1.6%.
Consumer products company Kimberly-Clark (KMB) announced that it will pay a quarterly dividend of $1.14 a share, up 6% from $1.07. The stock yields 3.4%, and it has a one-year return of about minus 4%.
Archer-Daniel-Midlands (ADM), an agricultural commodities firm, declared a quarterly disbursement of 37 cents a share, up by a penny, or nearly 3%. The stock, which has a one-year return of about 18%, yields 3%.
Church & Dwight (CHD), whose consumer brands include Arm & Hammer, is upping its quarterly payout by 5% to 25.25 cents a share. The stock, which has a one-year return of about 18%, yields 1.1%.
Retailer Tractor Supply (TSCO) declared a quarterly dividend of 52 cents a share. That is a 30% increase from 40 cents. The stock has a one-year return of around 52%, and it yields 1.1%.
Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG), whose businesses include insurance brokerage and consulting, said it will boost its quarterly payout to 48 cents a share, up 7% from 45 cents. The stock yields 1.6%, and it has returned about 20% over the past year.
Chemical company Celanese (CE) declared a quarterly dividend of 68 cents a share, versus 62 cents currently. That is an increase of nearly 10%. The stock, which yields 2.1%, has a one-year return of about 10%.
Write to Lawrence C. Strauss at [email protected]
