Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week

One potential response to declining markets is moving a portion of an investment portfolio into equities that continue their extended records of steady dividend hikes.

Income investors seek vehicles that can maintain long streaks of annual dividend increases because these tend to outperform market averages over extended time horizons. Equities with steady dividend hikes generally deliver slightly higher total returns versus investments with flat dividend distributions, and substantially higher total returns over equities that do not pay any dividends.

In addition to higher total returns over the long term, equities with rising dividends also offer some protection against market pullbacks, and fluctuations over the short term. Extended bear markets will certainly lead to dividend cuts and outright dividend eliminations. However, most equities – – especially larger companies with steadily rising dividend distributions – – will generally maintain their rising dividends through minor market pullbacks over short periods.

Furthermore, because the dividend yield is inversely proportional to an equity’s share price, investors get higher yields when buying stocks at lower share prices. Also, unlike other alternative safety investments, such as treasuries, which will become less desirable after markets turn higher, dividend-paying equities can still deliver substantial returns. Therefore, by investing in such equities, investors are under less pressure to shift their funds from the safety of treasuries or cash equivalents, back into stocks to avoid missing the market recovery.

This Week’s Dividend Boost Announcements

More than 1,200 equities have declared dividend hikes in just the first three weeks of March 2020. Even in just the first three days of this week, several hundred equities announced upcoming dividend distributions that are higher than their previous payouts. However, many of those equities are mutual funds. Mutual funds dividend distributions are just pass-through payouts and fluctuate based on the amount and timing of dividends from the funds’ underlying holdings. Therefore, we can not consider these as true dividend hikes.

The list below comprises 17 equities with market capitalizations between $1.1 billion – WisdomTree Yield Enhanced US Aggregate Bond Fund (NYSE:AGGY) – and nearly $13 billion – iShares Select Dividend ETF (NASDAQ:DVY). Furthermore, only three equites – iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSE:DGRO), Core High Dividend ETF (NYSE:HDV) and iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (NYSE:IWS) – boosted their annual dividend only for at past year. All other equities on the list have hiked their annual dividend payout amount from two to nineteen years.

The WisdomTree Yield Enhanced US Aggregate Bond Fund (NYSE:AGGY) has the lowest relative dividend hike with 0.22%. On the top of the list, three iShare funds –U.S. Financials (NYSE:IYF), U.S. Technology (NYSE:IYW) and Morningstar Large-Cap Growth (NYSE:JKE) –more than doubled its previous dividend payout with a 108.3% dividend boost. The dividend yields range from 1.6% for the Core S&P US Growth ETF (NYSE:IUSG) to 14.3% for the US Quality Dividend Growth Fund (NYSE:DGRW).

Sorted by percentage increase, below is the full list of equities that declared dividend hikes so far this week:

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #17

WisdomTree Yield Enhanced US Aggregate Bond Fund (NYSE:AGGY)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.2325

New Dividend Payout: $0.233

Dividend Increase: $0.0005, (0.22%)

Dividend Yield: 6.59%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 31, 2020

Pay Date: April 15, 2020

Market Cap: $1.05 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 1994

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 19 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $42.50

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -36.0%, -15%, 7%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #16

iShares Core Divid Growth ETF (NYSE:DGRO)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.0983

New Dividend Payout: $0.0986

Dividend Increase: $0.0003, (0.31%)

Dividend Yield: 5.35%

Ex-Dividend Date: April 20, 2020

Pay Date: April 22, 2020

Market Cap: $2.08 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2016

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 1 year

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $22.41

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -5.8%, 0%, N/A

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #15

US Quality Dividend Growth Fund (NYSE:DGRW)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.47

New Dividend Payout: $0.475

Dividend Increase: $0.005, (1.06%)

Dividend Yield: 14.31%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 30, 2020

Pay Date: April 15, 2020

Market Cap: $2.55 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2016

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 3 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $13.28

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -48.9%, -28%, N/A

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #14

US MidCap Dividend Fund (NYSE:DON)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.0736

New Dividend Payout: $0.0752

Dividend Increase: $0.0016, (2.17%)

Dividend Yield: 5.14%

Ex-Dividend Date: April 20, 2020

Pay Date: April 22, 2020

Market Cap: $2.52 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2014

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 5 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $21.39

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -8.7%, -5%, -1%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #13

iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (NASDAQ:DSI)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.21

New Dividend Payout: $0.22

Dividend Increase: $0.01, (4.76%)

Dividend Yield: 2.25%

Ex-Dividend Date: April 20, 2020

Pay Date: June 11, 2020

Market Cap: $1.48 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2005

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 2 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $39.18

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 0.6%, 6%, 73%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #12

iShares Select Dividend ETF (NASDAQ:DVY)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.18

New Dividend Payout: $0.19

Dividend Increase: $0.01, (5.56%)

Dividend Yield: 3.30%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 27, 2020

Pay Date: April 08, 2020

Market Cap: $12.86 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 1998

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 2 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $23.01

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -21.4%, -6%, -6%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #11

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:GBCI)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.047

New Dividend Payout: $0.0498

Dividend Increase: $0.0028, (5.96%)

Dividend Yield: 2.66%

Ex-Dividend Date: April 20, 2020

Pay Date: April 27, 2020

Market Cap: $2.96 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2016

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 3 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $24.03

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 1.7%, 6%, N/A

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #10

Core High Dividend ETF (NYSE:HDV)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.15

New Dividend Payout: $0.16

Dividend Increase: $0.01, (6.67%)

Dividend Yield: 4.34%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 30, 2020

Pay Date: April 14, 2020

Market Cap: $5.46 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2018

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 1 year

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $14.75

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -40.7%, -51%, -34%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #9

iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSE:IGM)

Previous Dividend Payout: $1.01

New Dividend Payout: $1.08

Dividend Increase: $0.07, (6.93%)

Dividend Yield: 1.99%

Ex-Dividend Date: April 13, 2020

Pay Date: April 29, 2020

Market Cap: $1.6 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2011

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 5 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $217.14

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 17.5%, 96%, 143%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #8

iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NASDAQ:IJJ)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.12

New Dividend Payout: $0.13

Dividend Increase: $0.01, (8.33%)

Dividend Yield: 2.48%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 27, 2020

Pay Date: April 13, 2020

Market Cap: $3.47 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 1990

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 6 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $21.00

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -48.3%, -26%, -27

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #7

Core S&P US Growth ETF (NYSE:IUSG)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.20

New Dividend Payout: $0.22

Dividend Increase: $0.02, (10.00%)

Dividend Yield: 1.60%

Ex-Dividend Date: June 12, 2020

Pay Date: June 29, 2020

Market Cap: $6.53 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 1997

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 6 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $27.53

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -29.8%, 41%, 128%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #6

Core S&P US Value ETF (NYSE:IUSV)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.6629

New Dividend Payout: $0.7348

Dividend Increase: $0.0719, (10.85%)

Dividend Yield: 10.29%

Ex-Dividend Date: April 20, 2020

Pay Date: April 22, 2020

Market Cap: $4.83 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2014

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 2 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $17.59

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -40.4%, -22%, -14%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #5

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSE:IVE)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.4789

New Dividend Payout: $0.636

Dividend Increase: $0.1571, (32.80%)

Dividend Yield: 3.28%

Ex-Dividend Date: April 20, 2020

Pay Date: April 27, 2020

Market Cap: $6.16 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2009

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 2 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $57.64

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -17.5%, -1%, 13%

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #4

adding-left: 40px;”>iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (NYSE:IWS)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.5113

New Dividend Payout: $0.6844

Dividend Increase: $0.1731, (33.85%)

Dividend Yield: 6.99%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 19, 2020

Pay Date: April 27, 2020

Market Cap: $7.77 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2009

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 1 year

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $26.31

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -39.9%, -27%, -26

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #3

iShares U.S. Financials ETF (NYSE:IYF)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.06

New Dividend Payout: $0.125

Dividend Increase: $0.065, (108.33%)

Dividend Yield: 2.10%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 30, 2020

Pay Date: April 13, 2020

Market Cap: $1.11 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2017

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 2 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $23.78

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -26.5%, 248%, N/A

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #2

iShares U.S. Technology ETF (NYSE:IYW)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.06

New Dividend Payout: $0.125

Dividend Increase: $0.065, (108.33%)

Dividend Yield: 2.10%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 31, 2020

Pay Date: April 14, 2020

Market Cap: $8.42 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2017

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 2 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $23.78

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -26.5%, 248%, N/A

Stocks That Declared Dividend Hikes This Week: #1

iShares Morningstar Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE:JKE)

Previous Dividend Payout: $0.06

New Dividend Payout: $0.125

Dividend Increase: $0.065, (108.33%)

Dividend Yield: 2.10%

Ex-Dividend Date: April 01, 2020

Pay Date: April 15, 2020

Market Cap: $1.11 billion

Sector: Financials

First Dividend: 2017

Consecutive Annual Hikes: 2 years

March 25, 2020 Closing Price: $23.78

Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): -26.5%, 248%, N/A

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