LONDON -- You probably already know that many shares within the FTSE indexes can offer decent incomes when compared to a savings account. Indeed, the FTSE 100 (INDEX: ^FTSE) index offers, at a current level of 5,439, a trailing 3.9% dividend income -- somewhat higher than this time last year, when the index offered a 3.2% yield and traded at 5,773.
Despite all the economic worries that have pushed the FTSE 100 index lower during the last 12 months, some companies continue to lift their annual dividends to ordinary shareholders. Here are three names from various FTSE indexes that have announced higher payouts today.
Halma (LSE: HLMA.L)
Mid-cap engineer Halma rewarded its loyal investors with a 7% dividend increase, following full-year results that showed underlying earnings advancing 19%. Indeed, Halma, which makes door sensors, smoke detectors, and water network monitors, boasts one of the market's most dependable payout records: This year's dividend advance was the 33rd consecutive raise of 5% or more!
Halma's shares had dropped 1% to 376 pence by this afternoon, making for a 1.4 billion pound market cap and yield of 2.6%, based on the new 9.74 pence-per-share payout.
WS Atkins (LSE: ATK.L)
WS Atkins provided the market with a 5% dividend increase, following 2012 numbers that showed underlying earnings also gaining 5%. After recovering from various operational difficulties 10 years ago, the design and engineering consultancy has since delivered a payout that has risen every year. In fact, the dividend has tripled in value since 2004.
Atkins' shares had rallied 25 pence (4%) to 703 pence by this afternoon, which equates to a 703 million market pound cap and yield of 4.3%, based on the new 30.5 pence per share payout.
Charles Stanley (LSE: CAY.L)
Private-client stockbroker Charles Stanley cheered its shareholders this morning with a 5% dividend improvement, following full-year figures that showed underlying earnings slumping 30%. Although progress at the company was hampered by the dot-com crash and banking collapse, the firm's dividend has proved remarkably resilient: The payout is up sixfold since 1999.
Charles Stanley's shares had slipped 2.5 pence (6%) to 250 pence by this afternoon, which gives it a 106 million pound market cap and yield of 4.5%, based on the new 11.25 pence-per-share dividend.
Finally, if you're in the market for other FTSE income shares, look no further than "8 Shares Held By Britain's Super Investor." In this free report, we've analyzed the 20 billion pound portfolio of legendary fund manager Neil Woodford. Click here now to discover his favorite companies with high dividends and good growth potential. But hurry -- the report is free for a limited time only.
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