3 FTSE Shares With Positive Dividend News This Week
LONDON -- The FTSE 100 (INDEX: ^FTSE) index, at 5,651, now offers a trailing 3.8% dividend yield -- not bad, and quite a bit better than the 2.9% on offer when the index reached 6,091 in February last year.
But the dividend returns from the FTSE indexes only tell part of the story, and there's a huge variation in the yields to be had from individual companies.
Today we look at three from various indexes that have announced good dividend news this week.
IT security
IT assurance and escrow firm NCC Group (ISE: NCC.L) boosted its full-year dividend by 24% on Thursday to 16.1 pence, compared with 13 pence last year.
That nice growth comes as a result of revenue increasing by 24% to 88 million pounds -- with 17% of that being organic growth -- and adjusted pre-tax profit being boosted by 27% to 22.6 million pounds. Adjusted earnings per share came to 46.7 pence, up 24% from last year's 37.7 pence.
The dividend yield, at about 2%, is not high. But we're looking at the track record of a growth company here: The share price has risen from 280 pence three years ago to 810 pence today.
Smartphones up
Anite (ISE: AIE.L) , which produces software for handset and chipset manufacturers, network operators, and travel companies, was able to raise its dividend by a whopping 53% to 1.125 pence on Tuesday, the day of its final results announcement.
Thanks to strong demand for data on smartphones and other mobile devices, Anite saw revenue grow 31% to 122.5 million pounds, with pre-tax profit growing by 75% to 28.8 million pounds and diluted EPS coming in 76% ahead at 6.7 pence.
Again, this is very much a growth company: Its share price has risen from 30.5 pence in 2010 to 132 pence today, which puts the yield at about 1%.
Business rescuer
Begbies Traynor (ISE: BEG.L) , a provider of rescue service for companies in trouble, announced a 2.2 pence full-year dividend for a yield of 7.3%, based on Wednesday's closing price of 30 pence.
Results were weak, as the number of companies failing and requiring its services was lower than expected, despite the recession. The net result was a statutory pre-tax loss of 5.7 million pounds, including losses from discontinued operations, though there was an underlying 5.5 million pound profit from continuing operations.
But that high dividend yield must have pleased the market, as the shares have risen to 32.5 pence.
Finally, if you're in the market for other FTSE shares with resilient dividends, look no further than "8 Shares Held By Britain's Super Investor." In this free report, we've analyzed the 20 billion pound portfolio of legendary fund manager Neil Woodford. Click here now to discover his favorite companies with high dividends and good growth potential. But hurry -- the report is free for a limited time only.
Are you looking to profit as a long-term investor? "Ten Steps To Making A Million In The Market" is the latest Motley Fool guide to help Britain invest. Better. We urge you to read the report today -- while it's still free and available.
Further Motley Fool investment opportunities:
At the time thisarticle was published Alan does not own any shares mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days.
Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
