As we reach the end of March it seems a wise idea to reflect on the difference in dividend increases between February and March. March has provided little rejoice for dividend investors, with only the odd dividend achiever or aristocrat appearing to make their annual increase, compared with February which saw them very regularly. March was also a slower month than February, with roughly a third as many increases; one can but hope to match February’s performance in April.

Village Super Market (VLGEA), operator of a small chain of supermarkets, has increases its quarterly dividend 4% to $0.25 per share. This takes the new yield to 3.61%. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), a high quality home products retailer, has increased its dividend to $0.13 per share, generating a new yield of 1.88%. Raven (RAVN), a manufacturer operating in various markets, is the only dividend achiever to increase its dividend this week which is now up to $0.16 per share. This results in a fresh yield of 2.89%.

ConocoPhillips (COP), a leading integrated oil company, has announced a dividend increase of 10%, pushing the yield to 4.22%. Starbucks (SBUX), the well-known coffee retailer, has declared their first dividend payout at $0.10 per share, producing a yield of 1.58%. Clifton Savings Bancorp (CSBK), a New Jersey savings bank, has increased its dividend to $0.06 per share, providing a new yield of 2.50%. Raytheon (RTN), one of the world’s largest military contractors, has increased its quarterly dividend 21% to $0.375 per share. The yield based on the current price is 2.62%. Finally, Hingham Institution for Savings (HIFS), a Massachusetts-chartered savings bank, has increased its dividend 4.5% to $0.23 per share, generating a new yield of 2.83%.

The most interesting increase this week, aside from simply looking at yield magnitude, is that of Starbucks. Up until this point Starbucks has never offered a dividend to investors, instead preferring to inform investors that profits were being retained for expansion. Starbucks went through a rough patch which ended in the closing of hundreds, if not thousands, of loss-making stores worldwide yet this week’s announcement states that a new growth strategy has been formed. This surely gives room for large capital gains to be had on Starbucks stock – if you can put up with the low yield of 1.58% it might be worth making an investment to take advantage of that future capital growth.

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