Dividend Increases from Nelnet, DeVry and Span-America Medical

Nelnet (NNI), the student loan provider, said it will reinstate its 7-cent quarterly dividend in the current quarter after suspending the payout in the second quarter of 2008. The news comes after Nebraska-based Nelnet said its third-quarter beat analysts' estimates. The new dividend will be payable to shareholders of record on December 15.

For-profit education provider DeVry (DV) joined the education dividend party by announcing it would raise its annual dividend by 25% to 20 cents a share from 16 cents. DeVry also said it will repurchase $50 million of its shares.

In other dividend news for November 11, 2009, medical supplies maker Span-America Medical Systems (SPAN) said it will boost its quarterly payout 11% to 10 cents a share. The new dividend is payable on December 4 to shareholders of record on November 20.