One of the most successful investment strategies is to buy and hold stocks with track records of dividend growth. This is because a rising dividend is a sign of a very strong business with excellent cash flows and earnings to support increased payouts, and the dividends themselves really add up over time when you reinvest them.
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at three stocks that raised their dividends by 4-13% last week, so you can determine if you should invest in one of them today.
Equitable Group Inc.
Equitable Group Inc. (TSX: EQB) is Canada’s ninth-largest independent Schedule I Bank with $23.64 billion in assets under management as of June 30. It offers a wide range of residential lending, commercial lending, and savings solutions to Canadians.
In its fiscal 2017 second-quarter earnings release on August 10, Equitable Group announced a 4.3% increase to its quarterly dividend to $0.24 per share, equal to $0.96 per share annually, which brings its yield up to about 1.7% at the time of this writing.
Investors must also make the following two notes.
First, the first quarterly installment at the increased rate is payable on October 5 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15.
Second, Equitable Group was already on track for 2017 to mark the seventh consecutive year in which it has raised its annual dividend payment, and this hike puts it on pace for 2018 to mark the eighth consecutive year with an increase.
CAE Inc.
CAE Inc. (TSX: CAE)(NYSE:CAE) is one of the world’s leading providers of training solutions for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets with 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries around the globe.
In its fiscal 2018 first-quarter earnings release on August 10, CAE announced a 12.5% increase to its quarterly dividend to $0.09 per share, equal to $0.36 per share annually, which brings its yield up to about 1.7% at the time of this writing.
It’s also important to make the following two notes.
First, the first quarterly payment at the increased rate will be made on September 29 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15.
Second, CAE was already on pace for 2017 to mark the 10th consecutive year in which it has raised its annual dividend payment, and this hike has it positioned for 2018 to mark the 11th consecutive year with an increase.
Fiera Capital Corp.
Fiera Capital Corp. (TSX: FSZ) is one of Canada’s largest independent asset management firms. It provides a diverse suite of traditional and alternative investment solutions to institutional investors, private wealth clients, and retail investors in Canada, the U.S., and across Europe.
In its fiscal 2017 second-quarter earnings release on August 11, Fiera announced a 5.9% increase to its quarterly dividend to $0.18 per share, equal to $0.72 per share annually, which brings its yield up to about 5% at the time of this writing.
Investors must also make the following two notes.
First, the first quarterly payment at the increased rate will come on September 20 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 23.
Second, the company was already on track for 2017 to mark the seventh consecutive year in which it has raised its annual dividend payment, and this hike puts it on pace for 2018 to mark the eighth consecutive year with an increase.
