EasyResearch Weekly Dividends Update

Trump eased the recession and supply chain crisis after a last-minute US-China deal paused the trade war for 90 days and cut tariffs. Markets surged; however, on Friday, S&P 500 and Nasdaq ETFs dipped 1% after a U.S. credit downgrade by Moody’s. Economists warned that risks remain, with high tariffs and lingering uncertainty.

With a recession still on the table, dividend growth stocks often offer stability. As Barron’s notes, while markets tend to fall in downturns, dividend stocks continue to provide income and total return. Analysts favour well-capitalized companies that raise dividends even in tough times.

This week’s update includes several such companies with growing dividends, many of which weathered the 2020 recession and continued to grow.

• From Finger Lickin’ Good to Dividends Lickin’ Good, KFC’s parent company, Yum! Brands, has announced an upcoming dividend increase. The company has consistently increased its cash dividend annually, even during the 2020 recession.
  In terms of share performance, Yum! Brands' shares are up more than 100% from the 2020 lows and are currently trading near all-time highs.
• Marriott International Inc. continued its tradition of increasing dividends, surpassing its pre-2020 payout levels. The company had halted dividends during the COVID-19 recession but has since recovered. Shares have fully rebounded from 2020 losses and are now trading at all-time highs.
• SBA Communications Corp began paying dividends in 2019 and has increased them annually since, including through 2020. The stock was not significantly affected during the previous recession, and notably, it was among the few that rose when most declined following President Trump’s tariff announcements.

Additionally, RTX Corp was formed during the last recession through the merger of Raytheon and United Technologies, creating a leading defense firm. It continues to grow its dividend and has announced a boost to the upcoming payout.

Microchip Technology Inc. has a consistent track record of increasing its quarterly dividend since 2003. Other companies with histories of increasing their dividends include Equinix Inc. and Applied Materials Inc.

In other corporate actions coming up:

• Fastenal Co. has announced a stock split as its shares trade near all-time highs, having more than doubled from 2020 lows.
• TymeBank’s parent, African Rainbow Capital Investments (ARC), is set to delist. Regarding the impact of the recession, ARC experienced what it refers to as the “TymeBank recession boom,” with customer numbers nearly doubling. Shares are up more than 200% since 2020. 
  • Shareholders will also have the option to remain shareholders in the unlisted entity.
• Gemfields, a world-leading miner and marketer of coloured gemstones, has announced a rights offer.

It’s important to note that past performance does not guarantee future returns.

Other well-known names paying dividends soon, with upcoming last dates to trade, include Puma SE and Porsche Automobil Holding SE.

South Africa

FNB S&P 500 Feeder ETF will be paying R0.24 per share. 

• Last trading date – 20 May 2025
• Payment date – 26 May 2025

FNB Global 1200 Equity FOF ETF will be paying R0.19 per share.

• Last trading date – 20 May 2025
• Payment date – 26 May 2025

FNB World Government Bond ETF will be paying R0.03 per share. 

• Last trading date – 20 May 2025
• Payment date – 26 May 2025

United States

Hasbro Inc will be paying $0.70 per share.

• Last trading date - 20 May 2025
• Payment date - 04 June 2025

Gladstone Investment Corporation will be paying $0.08 per share.

• Last trading date - 20 May 2025
• Payment date - 30 May 2025

• Last trading date - 20 May 2025
• Payment date - 11 June 2025

• Last trading date - 20 May 2025
• Payment date - 30 May 2025

• Last trading date - 20 May 2025
• Payment date - 18 June 2025

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 12 June 2025

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 17 June 2025

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 05 June 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 27 May 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 05 June 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 16 June 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 12 June 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 30 June 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 12 June 2025

• Last trading date - 26 May 2025
• Payment date - 10 June 2025

• Last trading date - 26 May 2025
• Payment date - 09 June 2025

• Last trading date - 26 May 2025
• Payment date - 10 June 2025

• Last trading date - 26 May 2025
• Payment date - 20 June 2025

• Last trading date - 26 May 2025
• Payment date - 17 June 2025

• Last trading date - 26 May 2025
• Payment date - 06 June 2025

United Kingdom

Bunzl PLC will be paying £0.53 per share.

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 02 July 2025

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 30 June 2025

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 01 July 2025

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 04 July 2025

DCC Plc will be paying £1.40 per share.

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 17 July 2025

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 30 June 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 25 June 2025

European

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 26 May 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 27 May 2025

• Last trading date - 22 May 2025
• Payment date - 27 May 2025

• Last trading date - 23 May 2025
• Payment date - 28 May 2025

Australian 

Amcor Plc will be paying AU$0.19 per share.

• Last trading date - 20 May 2025
• Payment date - 10 June 2025

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 01 July 2025

Orica Ltd will be paying AU$0.25 per share.

• Last trading date - 21 May 2025
• Payment date - 02 July 2025

• Last trading date - 23 May 2025
• Payment date - 20 June 2025
  
  

Government bonds offer a reliable way to earn fixed income by lending money to the government in exchange for regular interest payments. 

Dividends are one of the many key components of investing, representing a share of a company's profits distributed to its shareholders. 

Special dividends, also known as extraordinary dividends, are one-time payments made by companies to shareholders due to specific financial events, like windfall profits or asset sales.