Costco, P&G, J&J among few to hike dividend during coronavirus crisis

(Reuters) – Warehouse operator Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O) on Wednesday raised its quarterly dividend by about 8{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f}, joining a small but growing list of companies to do so at a time when most of corporate America is suspending shareholders returns in order to shore up liquidity as the coronavirus crisis deepens.

Healthcare conglomerate Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) and consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (PG.N) also raised their quarterly dividends by about 6{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} each on Tuesday.

Demand for consumer and healthcare products, groceries and other essential items has risen dramatically as people stockpile to tide over the lockdowns imposed to curb the COVID-19 padnemic, caused by the new coronavirus.

Here are some more companies that have announced higher dividends this month:

Company Name RIC New Old {3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} Date of Market Cap Link

Dividend Dividend increase change (in billions)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) $1.01 $0.95 6.32{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} April 14 $389.28

Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N) $0.7907 $0.7459 6.01{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} April 14 $299.35

Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O) $0.70 $0.65 7.69{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} April 15 $138.70

First Republic Bank (FRC.N) $0.20 $0.19 5.26{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} April 14 $16.19

Bank Ozk OZK.N $0.27 $0.26 3.85{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} April 01 $2.32

H.B. Fuller Co <FUL.N $0.1625 $0.16 1.56{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} April 02 $1.53

Lindsay Corp (LNN.N) $0.32 $0.31 3.23{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} April 06 $0.99

* Market cap according to Refinitiv Eikon data as of trading close on April 15