Thread: Wal-Mart raises dividend 21%, to $1.46

Wal-Mart raises dividend 21%, to $1.46

Updated 5h 17m ago |

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) said Thursday that it is increasing its annual dividend 21% on the back of strong earnings.

The world's largest retailer last month reported a 27% increase in fourth-quarter net income as it benefited from cost-cutting and strong sales overseas.

But a key revenue measure in the company's U.S. business fell for the seventh quarter in a row and came in below Wal-Mart's own projection, raising doubts the retailer can turn around its U.S. business this year.

Wal-Mart said it will pay an annual dividend this year of $1.46, up from $1.21. It will pay quarterly dividends of 36.5 cents in April, June, September and January in fiscal 2012, which ends Jan. 31. At Thursday's closing stock price of $52.01, that would give Wal-mart stock a 2.8% yield.

The next dividend will be paid April 4 to shareholders of record as of March 11.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industrie ... dend_N.htm

Gotta love those dividends!