Dividends

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Facet Biotech Corporation (Nasdaq: FACT) announced a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire Facet, enhancing Abbott's early- and mid-stage pharmaceutical pipeline. Abbott will acquire Facet for $27 per share in cash for a net transaction value of approximately $450 million.

This is the second installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio’s overall yield-on-cost. Last week we looked at Utilities. This week we are looking at Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASY) reported $0.34 in basic earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 ended January 31, 2010, compared to $0.28 for the same quarter a year ago. analysts average $0.38. CASY misses by $0.04.

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today a definitive agreement to acquire one of American International Group, Inc.’s (AIG) international subsidiaries, American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), for approximately $15.5 billion. The consideration will consist of $6.8 billion in cash and approximately $8.7 billion in MetLife equity securities

Meridian Bioscience Inc. develops, makes and sells disposable diagnostic test kits and related products used for the rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

Equity One, Inc. (NYSE: EQY) announced Fourth quarter FFO were $0.28 per diluted share compared to $0.19 per diluted share last year. analysts average $0.26. EQY beats by $0.02.

The company generated Funds From Operations (FFO) of $24.6 million as compared to for the same period in 2008 of $14.4 million.

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Joy Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JOYG), reported $0.73 per fully diluted share, compared to $0.83 per fully diluted share, in the first quarter last year. analysts average $0.64. JOYG beats by $0.09.

Net sales for the quarter were $729 million compared to $755 million in the first quarter of last year, a decrease of 3 percent.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) announced, excluding items, net income were $.70 per diluted share, compared to $.55 per diluted share last year. analysts average $0.72. COST misses by $0.02

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 increased eleven percent, to $18.36 billion, from $16.49 billion during the second quarter of fiscal 2009.

This is the first installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio’s overall yield-on-cost. This week we are looking at Utilities – those investments long considered as a safe harbor for “orphans and widows.”

Edison International (NYSE: EIX) reported fourth quarter 2009 core earnings were $0.59 per share compared to $0.66 per share in the fourth quarter of 2008. analysts average $0.41. EIX beats by $0.18

The decline is largely due to lower earnings at Edison Mission Group (EMG), partially offset by higher operating results at Southern California Edison (SCE).

American International Group, Inc.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest soft drink company. It engages in the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates, fruit juices and syrups worldwide. linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) reported fourth quarter diluted earnings per share increased 50 percent to $0.51 from $0.34 last year. analysts average $0.50. GPS beats by $0.01.

Fourth quarter net sales increased 4 percent to $4.24 billion compared with $4.08 billion last year, earnings led by Old Navy.

The Gap, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailing company.
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For dividend growth investors, there are certain attributes of investments that are more relevant than others, such as yield and dividend growth. To illustrate the power of dividend growth consider that an investment’s yield-on-cost will double every 5 years if they grow their dividend by 15%/year or 7 years at 10%/year or 14 years at 5%/year.