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Another month is upon us and it’s time to think about collecting a bit more income.
Month in and month out there are plenty of stocks paying dividends, but only a handful are upping their dividend payments.
October was a good month for dividend investors. All five of our October dividend increases are up nearly 10% over the last month.
Dividends are sometimes overlooked, but they can make a big difference in your portfolio. The S&P 500 index is up 45% over the last three years; however, the total return (including dividends) of the S&P 500 is up 55%.
Here are the top five dividend increases for November:
No. 1 November Dividend Increase: International Paper (NYSE: IP)
International Paper pays a 4.1% dividend yield and is upping its dividend payment by 10% to 44 cents a share this month.
The paper company is a cheap stock, trading at less than 12 times next year’s earnings estimates. But it’s also the dominant player in the corrugated packaging market. It owns over a third of the North American container board market share.
International Paper also has a long runway for growth with operations in the fast-growing countries of India, China and Brazil.
Shares trade ex-dividend Nov. 12.
No. 2 November Dividend Increase: American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP)
This utility is upping its dividend by 6% to 56 cents in just a couple days. Shares trade ex-dividend Nov. 6.
American Power is offering a 4% dividend yield and is a staple in providing electricity across the country. One of the beauties of American Power is that it has regulated returns in various states, which helps limit the impact of regulatory ruling. Upward of 90% of its earnings are from regulated operations.
It’s also been making a number of environmental investments, which could be a growth area. It’s a key shift for a company that has over 50% of its power plants burning coal.
No. 3 November Dividend Increase: Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG)
This major mall operator is paying a 3.1% dividend yield. It’s upping its dividend payment by 3% to $1.60 a share in November.
Simon Property Group is a leader in real estate investment trust industry and is a top 3 REIT for whenever the Federal Reserve decides to raise rates. It spun off its smaller properties last year, leaving a high-quality portfolio.
Simon is getting ready to position itself outside the U.S. and really push the internationalization of retail. Foreign retailers are looking to push into the U.S. market and Simon has a strong collection of productive malls, making it a natural partner.
Shares trade ex-dividend Nov. 12.
No. 4 November Dividend Increase: Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)
This major defense contractor offers a juicy 3% dividend yield and is upping its dividend 10% toward the end of the month. It will be paying a $1.65 per share dividend.
Lockheed has been benefiting from the 2016 Department of Defense budget. It’s the largest defense contractor in the world and is also benefiting from international sales, as increased conflicts around the globe are positive for business.
Shares trade ex-dividend Nov. 27.
No. 5 November Dividend Increase: Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)
The computer giant is upping its dividend by 16% this month to 36 cents a share. Microsoft is offering a 2.7% dividend yield. And don’t overlook this $420 billion market cap company just because it’s the last name on our list. It can still anchor a dividend portfolio.
The stock has seen a resurgence over the last few months, and is now up 18%. This comes as Microsoft has shifted away from the decline in personal computers and is now focusing on its commercial software business.
It’s also making applications across a number of non-Windows-focused platforms as part of its cloud-focused aim. And with its size, it can afford to undercut competitors’ prices.
Shares trade ex-dividend Nov. 17.
And to learn more about ways to collect safe income throughout the entire year, click here.