Look Here for Dividend Growth. Many Investors are Looking for General Electric to Raise its Dividend Again.

General Electric could be well on its way to becoming a dividend aristocrat again. Having once paid a dividend of 31cents per quarter, the company was forced to slash its dividend to 10cents during the height of the financial crisis. MarketWatch, among others, have begun reporting that the company is poised to raise its dividend again. 


GE, (NYSE: GE), has now boosted its dividend for the last three quarters and it now stands at a healthy 15cents per share. Half of what it once was, but rising quickly. The CEO, Jeff Immelt, noted that the company's financial health is back on track, and that he hopes to have GE back to issuing annual dividend increases... something the Intelligent Investor should look for. 


The company has a much simpler group of businesses than it did pre-recession, having downsized its financial wing, and spun off its entertainment division into a joint-venture. On the horizon is big growth in its energy infrastructure unit, which has been making key strategic acquisitions during recent years. So, to include some dividend growth in your portfolio, and help you diversify away from your Canadian bread and butter, take a look at General Electric. 


For more information: 
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/investors-look-for-dividend-hikes-from-general-electric-and-3m-this-earnings-season-2011-07-04?reflink=MW_news_stmp 


Happy Investing.

LSE Special Dividend for TMX Shareholders. Hopes to Fend off Maple Group.

In its attempt to woo reluctant TMX Group (TSE: X) shareholders, the London Stock Exchange Group has announced that, should they agree to merge, TMX Group shareholders will receive a one time special dividend in the amount of $4 per share.

This is great news for current holders of the stock as it is evidence that the LSE's battle with Maple Group, a consortium of Canadian financial heavyweights, is intensifying and that it will undoubtedly result in a higher amount of cash in the pockets of TMX Groups' owners.

The key proxy vote to decide whether or not TMX and LSE will merge is to occur at the end of the month, and if it does, the cash payment will be made in the Autumn of 2011. Previously, I had been siding with Maple Group, believing that the cash portion of the LSE's offer was too low. This new announcement changes the equation and definitely makes LSE's offer more compelling. To be sure, this website must now steer its Intelligent Investors toward voting yes to the merger. Now it offers a reasonable amount of cash and growth in a future international and domestic enterprise... you can, as they say, "have your cake and eat it too," with this deal.

Happy Investing, and to read more:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/06/22/lse-tmx-tsx.html