Dividend increase: Stanley

Article Excerpt

STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $137 (New York symbol SWK; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 153.2 million; Market cap: $21.0 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.stanleyblackanddecker. com) is a leading maker of hand and power tools for consumers. It also makes building-security products and specialized tools for industrial workers. Starting with the September 2017 payment, the company will raise its quarterly dividend by 6.1%. Investors will then receive $0.63 a share instead of $0.58. The new annual rate of $2.52 yields 1.8%. Stanley has paid dividends continuously for 140 years, and has raised the annual rate each year for the past 50 years. Due to acquisitions and strong tool demand, Stanley’s sales in the second quarter of 2017 rose 10.1%, to $3.2 billion from $2.9 billion a year earlier. Earnings gained 12.9%, to $306.6 million from $271.5 million. Due to more shares outstanding, per-share earnings rose 9.2%, to $2.01 from $1.84. Stanley Black & Decker…