From Barron’s:
“Energy infrastructure company Williams Cos. (WMB) upped its common stock dividend by 4%, to $0.3125 from $0.30, payable Sept. 10 to holders as of Aug. 24.
In a statement, Williams said the increase “is consistent with the company’s previously announced plan to increase its dividend more frequently – with increases every quarter.” Williams said it continues to expect to pay a full-year 2012 shareholder dividend of $1.20 per share, a 55 percent increase over 2011, and added that it expects the full-year dividend it pays shareholders in each of 2013 and 2014 to increase by 20 percent – to $1.44 and $1.75 per share, respectively.”
…That’s the name of the game. Finding solid dividend-paying companies that are going to increase that dividend over time. Williams sold off in 2008/2009 along with most other energy names and has been on a steady uptick since:
The company primarily owns and operates natural gas pipelines around the Gulf of Mexico (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, etc.) and stores and delivers that natural gas to local munipalities. As most everyone knows, natural gas has been lingering around multi-decade lows for years now putting a crimp in the profits of nat-gas companies. Given that prices have started to rise bodes well for a company like this and its ability to increase the (already juicy) dividend for decades to come.