5 Dividend Stocks Working Hard During The Holidays

Summary

• Many of us in the U.S. did not have to go into work the last couple of days in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
• It is great to know while I am relaxing with family and watching the big game, my dividend stocks are hard at work providing me an additional income stream.
• Several companies this week provided their shareholders a Thanksgiving bonus in the form of higher cash dividends.

As we officially head into the holiday season, many of us in the U.S. did not have to go into work the last couple of days in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Though not much is happening at the office, there are still many working for me today. Not people, but my Dividend Stocks. It is great to know while I am relaxing with family and watching the big game, those stocks are hard at work providing me an additional income stream.

Several companies this week provided their shareholders a Thanksgiving bonus in the form of higher cash dividends:

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products worldwide. November 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.3% to $0.45 per share. The dividend is payable January 8, 2014 to stockholders of record on December 15, 2014, with an ex-dividend date of December 11, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX), a medical technology company, develops, manufactures, and sells medical devices, instrument systems, and reagents worldwide. November 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.60 per share. The dividend is payable December 31, 2014 to stockholders of record on December 10, 2014, with an ex-dividend date of December 8, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 1.8%.

McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) manufactures, markets, and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments, and other flavorful products to retail outlets, food manufacturers, and foodservice businesses. November 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.1% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable January 14, 2014 to stockholders of record on December 31, 2014, with an ex-dividend date of December 29, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) processes, markets, and sells consumer-branded meat and food products. November 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable February 17, 2014 to stockholders of record on January 20, 2014, with an ex-dividend date of January 16, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 1.8%.

Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO) produces and markets bakery foods in the United States. November 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.1325 per share. The dividend is payable December 19, 2014 to stockholders of record on December 5, 2014, with an ex-dividend date of December 3, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.

Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently raised their dividends; it is not a list of recommend buys. As always, due diligence should be performed before buying or selling any stock. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.

Full Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned securities See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.

Analyst’s Disclosure: The author has no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. The author wrote this article themselves, and it expresses their own opinions. The author is not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). The author has no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.