Albertsons, Crown Castle International , and American Electric Power were among the larger U.S. companies that declared dividend increases this week.
Albertsons (ticker:ACI), whose businesses include grocery stores and drugstores, declared a quarterly dividend of 12 cents a share, up 20% from 10 cents.
As of Oct. 21, the stock had returned about 70% this year, dividends included, versus about 22% for the S&P 500. It was recently yielding 1.6%.
Crown Castle International (CCI) plans to boost its quarterly disbursement to $1.47 a share, an 11% increase from $1.33.
Crown Castle International is a real estate investment trust whose assets include cell towers. The stock, which yields 3.3%, has returned about 14% this year.
American Electric Power (AEP) said it will raise its quarterly payout to 78 cents a share from 74 cents. That’s an increase of about 5%. The utility’s stock, which yields 3.6%, has returned about 5% in 2021.
VF (VFC) declared a quarterly dividend of 50 cents a share, an increase of 1 cent, or 2%. The company’s businesses include apparel, footwear, and accessories. The stock, which yields 2.8%, has returned about minus 12% this year.
Seagate Technology (STX) declared a quarterly dividend of 70 cents a share. That’s about a 4% boost from 67 cents a share. The stock, which has returned about 36% this year, yields 3.1%.
Brown & Brown (BRO) plans to boost its quarterly dividend by a penny to 10.25 cents a share, up 11% from 9.25 cents. Shares of the insurance brokerage firm yield 0.6%, and the stock has returned 39% this year.
Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) announced a dividend increase of about 3% to 15.5 cents a share from 15 cents. The regional bank is based in Columbus, Ohio. Its shares have returned about 34% this year, and they yield 3.6%.
