Their dividends look safe despite rising costs

Article Excerpt

These U.S. industrial firms continue to raise their dividends despite facing higher input costs. However, we feel Stanley’s new cost-cutting plan puts it in a stronger position to move higher in the next few months. STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $78 remains a buy for long-term gains. The company (New York symbol SWK; Conservative Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 153.0 million; Market cap: $11.9 billion; Dividend yield: 4.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.stanleyblackanddecker.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of hand and power tools. With the September 2022 payment, Stanley raised your quarterly dividend by 1.3%. The company’s investors now receive $0.80 a share instead of $0.79. The new annual rate of $3.20 yields 4.1%. Stanley has lifted its dividend each year for the past 55 years. In the quarter ended December 31, 2022, the company’s net sales rose slightly, to $3.99 billion from $3.98 billion a year earlier. Due to higher costs for steel and labour, it lost $14.5 million,…