(By Balaseshan) Dividend announcement by companies on Thursday include:Kroger, Abbott, Target, Dow Chemical,Sempra Energy, Western Union,Washington Post, National Fuel Gas and Birner Dental Management Services.
Retailer Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) said its board has raised the quarterly dividend by about 30%, to 15 cents per share, payable on December 1 to shareholders of record on November 15. Since reinstating dividends in 2006, Kroger has increased the dividend each year and expects to continue to do so. The stock, which has been in the $20.98 to $24.83 range for the past year, is currently trading down 0.08% at $23.90 on Thursday.
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) said its board has declared a quarterly common dividend of 51 cents per share, payable November 15, to shareholders of record on October 15. This marks the 355th consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by Abbott since 1924. The stock, which has been in the $48.96 to $68.98 range for the past year, is currently trading up 1.58% at $68.91 on Thursday.
Retailer Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) said its board has declared a quarterly dividend of 36 cents per common share, payable December 10 to shareholders of record on November 21. The 4th quarter dividend will be Target's 181st consecutive dividend paid since October 1967 when the company became publicly held. The stock, which has been in the $47.25 to $64.99 range for the past year, is currently trading up 0.93% at $64.98 on Thursday.
Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE:DOW) has declared a dividend of 32 cents per share, payable October 30, to shareholders of record on September 28. This marks the 404th consecutive cash dividend issued by the company. The stock, which has been in the $20.61 to $36.08 range for the past year, is currently trading up 3.61% at $31.27 on Thursday.
Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) has declared a quarterly dividend of 60 cents per common share, payable on October 15 to shareholders of record on September 28. The stock, which has been in the $48.38 to $72.32 range for the past year, is currently trading up 1.16% at $67.06 on Thursday.
Western Union Co. (NYSE:WU), which engages in money movement and payment services, said its board has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per common share, payable October 8 to stockholders of record on September 24. The stock, which has been in the $14.55 to $19.82 range for the past year, is currently trading up 1.30% at $18.73 on Thursday.
Washington Post Co. (NYSE:WPO), a diversified education and media company, has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $2.45 per share, payable on November 2, to shareholders of record on October 22. The stock, which has been in the $308.50 to $405.00 range for the past year, is currently trading up 0.88% at $353.76 on Thursday.
National Fuel Gas Co. (NYSE:NFG) said its board has approved payment of a regular quarterly dividend of 36.5 cents per common share, payable on October 15 to shareholders of record on September 28. The company has paid dividends for 110 consecutive years and has lifted its annual dividend for 42 straight years. In June 2012, the dividend increased by 2.8%. The stock, which has been in the $41.57 to $64.19 range for the past year, is currently trading up 0.85% at $53.44 on Thursday.
Birner Dental Management Services Inc. (NASDAQ:BDMS) said its board has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 22 cents per common share, payable October 12 to shareholders of record on September 28. The stock, which has been in the $14.75 to $19.49 range for the past year, remains unchanged from previous close of $16.94.