Dividend Companies in the News 4.17.2011

A snapshot of the important news and events from the world of dividend paying companies. This week was a slow one for dividend increases, but we did have a spin-off, some earnings releases, and 2 companies announced consumer price increases for their products.



* I apologize for the late posting, I had a family affair this weekend

Dividend Raises

H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL) announced today that its Board of Directors voted to increase the Company’s regular quarterly dividend from $0.070 per share of common stock to $0.075 per share of common stock. This represents a 7 percent increase over the prior quarterly dividend and marks the 42nd consecutive year in which the Company has increased its dividend.

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE:OHI) today announced the Company’s Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend of $0.38 per share, increasing the quarterly common dividend by $0.01 per share over the prior quarter.

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) announced that the board of directors of its general partner declared an increase in the quarterly cash distribution rate paid to partners to $0.5975 per common unit, or $2.39 per unit on an annualized basis. This distribution rate, which represents a 5.3 percent increase over the $0.5675 per unit distribution rate declared with respect to the first quarter of 2010, is the 36th distribution increase since EPD’s initial public offering in 1998 and the 27th consecutive quarterly increase.

Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a 67 percent increase in the second quarter dividend, from $0.15 per share to $0.25 per share.

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) declared an increase in the quarterly dividend from forty-eight point eighteen cents($0.4818) to fifty two point five cents($0.525) per share on the Common Stock, representing a 9% increase.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Misc

Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) reported 2011 first quarter financial results. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $16.6 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to last year’s first quarter net income of $24.8 million, or $0.07 per share.

Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) reports sales and earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. Record sales totaling $3.0 billion were up 14% compared to the first quarter of 2010. Net income for the quarter was $126.5 million, an increase of 26% over $100.6 million recorded in the same period of the previous year. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were 80 cents, up 27% compared to 63 cents for the first quarter last year.

Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today reported 2011 first quarter results. The Company reported net revenues of $672.0 million compared to $672.4 million in the first quarter 2010. First quarter 2011 net revenues include a positive $4.8 million impact of foreign exchange. The Company reported net earnings for the first quarter 2011 of $17.2 million or $0.12 per diluted share versus $58.9 million or $0.40 per diluted share in 2010. First quarter 2010 net earnings were $0.26 per diluted share, excluding a favorable tax adjustment of $21.2 million or $0.14 per diluted share.

PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) announced today the commencement of its previously announced tender offers in Russia and the United States for all outstanding ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares (ADSs) of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC (NYSE: WBD)

Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2010. For the full year, the company reported a loss per share of 3 cents compared to positive earnings per share of 38 cents in 2009. Special items reduced reported earnings per share by 47 cents in 2010 and had no net impact in the prior year.