We would like to give 2023 a final send-off by sharing a list of companies in Canada and the United States that have increased their dividends in the month of December. As we enter a new year, we look forward to another prosperous year of dividend increases.
The companies we list are not the complete list of companies that have increased their dividends in Canada and the United States or the rest of the world however, they are companies we follow or own.
Canadian Companies
| Company | Previous ($) | New ($) | Change (%) |
| Bank of Montreal | 1.47 | 1.51 | 2.70 |
| National Bank of Canada | 1.02 | 1.06 | 3.92 |
US Companies
| Company | Previous ($) | New ($) | Change (%) |
| CVS Health | 0.605 | 0.665 | 9.90 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb | 0.57 | 0.60 | 5.30 |
| Deere & Co. | 1.35 | 1.47 | 8.90 |
| Mastercard | 0.57 | 0.66 | 15.80 |
| Pfizer | 0.41 | 0.42 | 2.40 |
| Stryker | 0.75 | 0.80 | 6.70 |
| Waste Management | 0.70 | 0.75 | 7.10 |
| WD-40 Company | 0.83 | 0.88 | 6.00 |
The dollar value listed per share represents a quarterly dividend payment.
Information was obtained from the companies directly.
Special Dividends
Costco announced some exciting news on December 14th, they have: "declared a special cash dividend on Costco common stock of $15 per share, payable January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 28, 2023."
The special dividend is equal to 10 of Costco's famous $1.50 hot dog combos! Special dividends are payments that can be made by any company, even if it doesn't pay a regular dividend. Typically, companies pay a special dividend in addition to the dividends they pay on a regular basis.
Costco is paying the special dividend for all the right reasons that I look for when investing in a company: they are growing, have strong financial standings, and they reward their shareholders. This special dividend is another example of how dividend paying companies are a great way to enhance your income.
Company History
If you are interested in reading about the history of some of these strong dividend paying companies, please take a look at our previous blog posts linked below:
“How will you replace your current income in retirement?”™ – Jim Seyers