Dividend-News

More Companies Skip Dividend Increases In Second Half Of May As Uncertainties Continue

Published Mon, 01 Jun 2020 23:23:46 -0400 on Seeking Alpha

More companies continue to risk falling off the list of dividend growth stocks as they hold payouts steady.
While 5 of 8 expected increases in late May failed to materialize, defense contractor Northrop Grumman came through with the biggest boost.
Until the economy improves we can expect this to continue. I expect to see as many as 5 dividend growth stocks skip their annual increase in June.
This is the latest in a series of articles where I provide my predictions of annual dividend increases for a variety of long-term dividend growth companies. Back in the middle of May, I provided predictions for 8 dividend growth companies that have historically announced annual payout increases in the second half of the month. Now, at the beginning of June, I provide my predictions for another 8 companies that historically have increased their dividends over the course of the month.
Before I offer these predictions, here are how my predictions from the second half of May came out (you can see the original article with my predictions here):
(All yields are based on stock prices at the market close on Friday, May 29th.)
Results for the Eight Dividend Increase Predictions from the Second Half of May Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (ASH)
Prediction: 3.6–7.3% increase to $1.14-1.18
Actual: 0% increase to $1.10
Forward yield: 1.64%
I was hoping that the specialty chemical producer would boost its dividend after 14% EPS growth in 2019, but it held the payout steady. 2020 will be Ashland’s 11th year of dividend growth due to 2019’s mid-year boost.
Bunge Limited (BG)
Prediction: 3.0–6.0% increase to $2.06-2.12
Actual: 0% increase to $2.00
Forward yield: 5.13%
While Bunge still has until the end of the year to boost its dividend, it looks like the agribusiness company will stop its dividend growth streak at 18 years.
B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS)
Prediction: 0–2.1% increase to $1.90-1.94
Actual: 0% increase to $1.90
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