Dividend checks continue to get fatter in Corporate America, as more companies jack up their distribution rates.

Readers of the Income Investor newsletter can certainly appreciate that kind of thinking. Let's take a closer look at some of the companies that inched their payouts higher this past week.

Let's start with Broadcom (Nasdaq: BRCM).

The smartphone radio-chip provider gave its distributions a boost on the same day that it posted better-than-expected quarterly results. Broadcom's new rate of $0.10 a share is an 11% improvement.

Tupperware (NYSE: TUP) isn't sealing up its new payout. The company that is best known for its airtight storage containers is jacking up its quarterly disbursements by 20% to $0.36 a share. There is confidence in the new rate, as Tupperware's guidance for adjusted earnings in 2012 calls for growth of 18% to 21% in local currencies.

National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) wants shareholders to use the right tools in measuring its substantial hike.  The provider of tools that accelerate productivity, innovation, and discovery for scientists and engineers is growing its quarterly distributions 40% to $0.14 a share.

Finally, we have Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD) showing that Victoria can't keep a secret when it involves padding its yield. The retailer behind Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, and a few other mall staples is enhancing its quarterly rate by 25% to $0.25 a share.

Subscribers to the Income Investor newsletter can appreciate the companies sending more and more money to their investors. The newsletter singles out companies that are committed to growing their distributions with market-thumping results.

Want to see what is being recommended these days? Go ahead and give the newsletter service a shot with a 30-day trial subscription. Who knows? Maybe the next thing that will get hiked will be your interest.

If you want to track these stocks to see if and when they hike their payouts again, consider adding them to My Watchlist.