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Dividends are well covered and discussed in the investing community.
But most dividend talk is focused on yield. However, growth in dividends can have a much more meaningful impact on your portfolio.
Consider the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NYSEArca: NOBL), which invests solely in stocks that have at least 25 consecutive years of dividend increases.
The Dividend Aristocrats ETF offers a dividend yield that’s more than 40 basis points higher than the average S&P 500 yield.
The real beauty is that the ETF of dividend growers has outperformed the S&P 500 over the last year with lower volatility, on both a price and total return (stock price appreciation and dividends) basis.
With all that in mind, here are the top five dividend increases for October:
No. 1 October Dividend Increase: Monsanto (NYSE: MON)
This agricultural company is offering a 2.5% dividend yield. It’s been paying a dividend for 14 years and is upping its quarterly dividend by 10% to 54 cents a share.
The company invented Roundup herbicide 40 years ago and today makes its money from selling seeds that are resistant to Roundup and crops that are resistant to insect damage. Shares are on sale of late, thanks to currency headwinds. The stock has fallen 20% over the last three months.
Monsanto is the industry leader and should benefit from the increase in demand for food worldwide and the need for higher crop yields.
Oct. 7 is a big day this month: It’s the ex-dividend date for three dividend increases, including Monsanto.
No. 2 October Dividend Increase: Brady Corp. (NYSE: BRC)
Brady offers the highest dividend yield on our list this month, coming in at 4.1%. It also happens to be the only Dividend Aristocrat on the list, having upped its dividend for 29 straight years.
Brady Corp. is an international manufacturer and marketer of identification solutions, such as employee ID badges. The industrial company is upping its quarterly dividend by just over 1% to 20.25 cents a share.
Shares trade ex-dividend Oct. 7.
No. 3 October Dividend Increase: Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU)
Although Inuit only has a 1.35% dividend yield, it’s getting the biggest boost this month, with a 20% dividend increase to 30 cents a share.
The financial software company is seeing success with its QuickBooks Online accounting software, but the less than 1% global penetration for this product remains low, leaving a big opportunity. There are other opportunities to upsell current QuickBooks customers to its other products as well, including its payment and payroll services.
Shares trade ex-dividend Oct. 7.
No. 4 October Dividend Increase: General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP)
Mall operator General Growth Properties pays a 2.7% dividend yield. The company is upping its quarterly dividend by 6% to 18 cents a share. General Growth has been paying a dividend for six years.
This real estate investment trust owns and operates regional malls in the U.S. It’s actually one of the largest owners of malls in the country and has solid relationships with many of the biggest retailers.
Shares trade ex-dividend Oct. 13.
No. 5 October Dividend Increase: Accenture (NYSE: ACN)
Accenture is offering a 2.1% dividend yield and has been paying a dividend for nine years now. It’s upping its dividend payment by 8% to $1.10 a share this month.
The company is a provider of management consulting and outsourcing services. The reach and scale of Accenture is impressive. It operates in 120 countries with over 350,000 employees across about 40 industries.
Along those lines, Accenture services the world’s largest companies – including 89 of the Fortune 100 companies and over 75% of the Fortune 500 companies.
Shares trade ex-dividend Oct. 14.
And all that’s just for the month of October. Imagine receiving growing dividends like these every month, all year long. You can get started today with your own monthly dividend calendar right here.
Collect Dividend Income Every Month!
We’ve put together a simple calendar that pulls together all the market’s best dividends into a single, easy-to-read document. One look, and you’ll be able to set up a 12-month dividend stream for regular income every month.