Merck Declares Its First Dividend for 2013

Merck has declared its inaugural quarterly dividend of 2013, keeping it in line with its previous payout. For its Q2, the company is to hand out $0.43 per share of its common stock on April 5 to shareholders of record as of March 15, matching the disbursement from mid-December. Previously, the company paid $0.42 per share.

Merck is a habitual dividend payer, although it rarely adjusts its payout. From September 2004 to September 2011, the company distributed $0.38 nearly every quarter.

The just-announced dividend annualizes to $1.72 per share, which yields 4.1% at Merck's current stock price of $42.42.

The article Merck Declares Its First Dividend for 2013 originally appeared on Fool.com.

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