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 these past few days.

We can start with Harris (NYSE: HRS).

The communications and information technology specialist is boosting its quarterly dividend 12% to $0.37 a share. It's actually the second time that Harris has jacked up its disbursements this year.

Alliance Financials (Nasdaq: ALNC) is also banking on more interest. The holding company for Syracuse-based Alliance Bank is bumping its quarterly rate 3% higher to $0.32 a share.

Viad (NYSE: VVI) is also on the move. The provider of marketing and travel-related services declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 a share. This is a whopping upgrade to its previous distributions of $0.04 a share.

"We are pleased to reward our loyal shareholders with an enhanced return," CEO Paul Dykstra told investors in the press release.

Yes, I think a 150% increase certainly qualifies as an enhanced return.

Finally, we have Triangle Capital (Nasdaq: TCAP) shaping up nicely. The provider of capital to lower-middle market companies declared a quarterly payout of $0.52 a share. This may be a modest 4% increase since its previous disbursement three months ago, but it's actually an 18% year-over-year boost.

Checks and balances
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. A 30-day trial subscription will let you see if it's right for you.

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