Dividend checks continue to get fatter in corporate America, as more companies jack up their distribution rates.
Readers of the Income Investor newsletter can certainly appreciate that kind of thinking. Let’s take a closer look at some of the companies that inched their payouts higher these past few days.
It’s been more than four years since International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT) abruptly slashed its quarterly dividend to $0.06 a share as the gaming industry reacted to the global recession. That’s where the payout remained until late last year, when International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT) bumped it up to $0.07 a share. That became $0.08 a share three months ago, and it’s now up to $0.09 a share now. We’re still a far cry from International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT)’s 2008 quarterly rate of $0.145, but there’s nothing too shabby about three dividend increases in the past seven months.
Avago Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:AVGO) also knows where to go. The supplier of analog semiconductor devices declared a quarterly distribution of $0.21 a share on Thursday, 11% ahead of its earlier rate. It may not seem like much of a boost, but Avago Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:AVGO) has managed to increase its payout every quarter since initiating a dividend policy less than three years ago.
FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) also isn’t just delivering packages these days. The speedy transporter wedged in a dividend hike announcement in a press release detailing the accelerated retirement of some of its older aircraft and related engines.
FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX)’s new quarterly rate of $0.15 a share represents a 7% improvement.
Finally, we have Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBRL) serving up a heaping hike. The chain of rustic restaurants serving up Southern vittles in eateries with adjacent gift shops may be a throwback, but it’s also throwing back more money at its stakeholders. The restaurateur followed blowout quarterly results with a healthy 50% increase to its quarterly distributions. Investors will now be receiving $0.75 a share every three months.
The market digs it like peach cobbler after a plate of chicken and dumplings. Shares of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBRL) hit an all-time high on Friday. The stock has more than doubled since Sardar Biglari began taking an activist role in meddling with the restaurateur. One can argue that Cracker Barrel has responded to Biglari’s concerns — and last week’s hike is an exclamation point — but perhaps Biglari’s prodding has inspired the chain to improve its operations.
The article 4 Dividend Stocks Showing You the Money originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rick Munarriz.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns shares of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (NASDAQ:CBRL). The Motley Fool recommends Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and FedEx.
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