Dividends are more than just pocket change. A steadily rising yield is often a great indicator of corporate improvement. That, in turn, might be more enriching than the bigger quarterly checks.
Let's take a closer look at four of the companies that inched their payouts higher this past week.
C.R. Bard
Mirroring Bard's advance, Programmer's Paradise
Jackson Hewitt
Historically, Block has been a high yielder. New investors are getting a 2.2% return in dividends. Perhaps that's why Jackson Hewitt went for an impressive 50% uptick in its quarterly payout rate. Jackson Hewitt shareholders are now being treated to a $0.12 payout every three months, which translates into a competitive 1.6% yield.
Then we have Target
Subscribers to our Income Investor newsletter can appreciate companies that send more and more money to their investors. Analyst Mathew Emmert has often singled out companies that are committed to growing their distributions with market-thumping results.
Want to see what Mathew's liking these days? Go ahead and give his newsletter service a shot with a 30-day trial subscription. Who knows? Maybe the next thing that will get hiked will be your interest.
Wal-Mart is aMotley Fool Inside Valuerecommendation.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz pays attention to yield signs. He does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this story.The Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick is also part of theRule Breakersnewsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.