A simple method for identifying companies capable of raising dividends

Another screening criterion is a total debt-to-equity ratio no higher than 50%. The rationale is that, as interest rates rise, highly leveraged companies may find it increasingly difficult to maintain—let alone raise—their dividends. The screening also considers the dividend payout ratio—the percentage of earnings paid out as dividends. Barron’s sought companies with a payout ratio below 55%, a relatively conservative figure that provides sufficient flexibility for dividend growth. The table below lists the seven companies selected. All are S&P 500 constituents whose free cash flow yield exceeds their dividend yield—indicating that their dividends are secure and have room to grow. Data as of July 29. PFG (Principal Financial Group), an asset management firm that helps clients with retirement investments, exhibits the largest spread between its free cash flow yield and dividend yield: 16.6% versus 3.8%, respectively, as of the July 29 close. Including dividends, the stock returned –6% year-to-date. By comparison, the S&P 500 is down 13%. Regions Financial (RF), a regional bank headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, boasts a free cash flow yield near 14%, substantially above its recent dividend yield of 3.8%. Last month, Regions Financial announced plans to raise its quarterly dividend from $0.17 to $0.20 per share—a $0.03 increase, or nearly 18%. Two major global energy companies—ExxonMobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX)—also made the list, both benefiting from rising oil and natural gas prices. Although questions arose early in the pandemic about whether ExxonMobil could sustain its dividend, the company ultimately raised its quarterly dividend by $0.01 last fall—to $0.88 per share. This move allowed it to remain in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which comprises companies that have increased dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. On July 29, ExxonMobil reported $16.9 billion in second-quarter free cash flow—up from approximately $7 billion a year earlier—and paid $3.7 billion in dividends during the most recent quarter. Chevron reported $10.6 billion in second-quarter free cash flow—up from $5.2 billion a year earlier—with a quarterly dividend of $1.42 per share. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (PFE) also appears on the list. In the first half of this year, it paid $4.5 billion in dividends, with a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share. In 2021, Pfizer generated $29.9 billion in free cash flow—up from $10.5 billion in 2019—and approximately $6 billion in the most recent quarter. Pfizer defines free cash flow under U.S. GAAP as net operating cash flow minus capital expenditures for property, plant, and equipment. Cisco Systems (CSCO) is the sole technology company on the list, with a 7.1% free cash flow yield—more than double its 3.4% dividend yield.

Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX.US): Q4 2021 earnings report showed revenue of $476.9 million

Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX.US): Q4 2021 earnings report showed revenue of $476.9 million, up from $431.8 million in the prior period and below the consensus estimate of $488.9 million—missing expectations by 2.45%; earnings per share (EPS) were $1.25, up from $1.08 in the prior period and above the consensus estimate of $1.21—beating expectations by 3.31%. Minerals Technologies (MTX.US) Company Profile: Minerals Technologies Inc. is a resource- and technology-based company. It develops, produces, and sells a broad range of mineral, mineral-based, and synthetic mineral products. It operates through four segments: Performance Materials, Specialty Minerals, Refractories, and Energy Services. The Performance Materials segment supplies bentonite and bentonite-related products, chromite, and siderite. The Specialty Minerals segment produces and sells synthetic mineral products—including precipitated calcium carbonate—and processed mineral products such as quicklime; it also mines, processes, and sells natural mineral products, primarily limestone and talc.

Minerals Technologies Raises Quarterly Dividend by 8% to $0.13 per Share

Oct 21, 2026

Minerals Technologies Inc raised its quarterly dividend by 8% to $0.13 per share. Payments begin December 3rd for shareholders of record on November 5th.

Minerals Technologies raises quarterly dividend 8% to $0.13, payable Dec. 3

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