This Week’s Top 5 Dividend Stocks

A sudden plunge in a stock price, these days, doesn’t really surprise any investor as, we all are quite aware about this, the market isn’t run by fundamentalism. If it does, it depends on quarterly revenue data like EBITDA, EBIT, margins, and EPS. In short, all the data used by market to gauge the performance can be found in the income statement. It, therefore, is the most significant financial statement. The cash flow statement, however, is something that really drives the value in the market. It includes dividends as well.

Many companies this week furnished shareholders with a higher dividend.

A significant player, Myers Industries (MYE) is involved in production of polymer products for agricultural, industrial, commercial, consumer, and automotive markets. It provided a steady dividend. On March 5th, however, the company raised quarterly dividend by 8%, which totals $0.065 per share. Shareholders as of March 12th 2010 will be paid dividend by 5th April 2010. 10th March was the ex-dividend date. The new payout provides a yield of 2.52%.

An insurance firm, NYMAGIG, INC (NYM) that provides casualty and property insurance, is another company providing high dividend this week. NYM specializes in underwriting inland marine, non-marine, and ocean marine insurance. On March 5th, NYM declared increase in its quarterly dividends which will now by $0.10 per share. Shareholders as of March 31st 2010 will be paid dividend by 6th April 2010. The new payout provides a yield of 2.23%.

World’s biggest producer of wafer fabrication materials, Applied Materials (AMAT), has raised the quarterly dividend by 17%. It is now 0.07% per share. Hence, it can be said that the new payout provides a yield of 2.28%.

Medicis (MRX) manufactures and sells OTC products and prescriptions, which are used to treat dermatological diseases. This pharma company raised its quarterly dividend by around 50% totaling to 0.06% per share. Shareholders as of 1st April, 2010 will be paid dividend by 30th April 2010. 29th March is the ex-dividend date. The new payout provides a yield of 1.01%.

Cohen & Steers (CNS) is a financial company that manages portfolios of high net worth individuals and it specializes in US real estate securities, REIT’s, infrastructural equities, and preferred securities. CNS raised its quarterly dividend payment by 100%, which is now 0.10% per share. Shareholders as of March 31st 2010 will be paid dividend by 16th April 2010. 29th March is the ex-dividend date. The new payout provides a yield of 1.72%.

These stocks are definitely a desirable pick for investors. While choosing the stock, one must consider the amount of dividend and its growth over a period of time.