Thursday’s Dividend Payout Changes: 6 Companies Raise Dividends; 1 Lowers (KO, ABBV, LO, More)

Amid the bullish pressures on Wall Street, largely fueled by encouraging manufacturing data from the home front, six companies pleasantly surprised shareholders on Thursday after announcing dividend increases, while one had to cut its distribution.

Coca-Cola Raises Payout

Coca-Cola Co. (KO) announced a new quarterly distribution of $0.305 per share, marking nearly a 9% increase from its prior dividend of $0.28 a share. The new dividend will be payable on 4/1/2014 to shareholders on record as of 3/14/2014. The stock will trade ex-dividend on 3/12/2014.

AbbVie Boosts Dividend

AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) announced a new quarterly distribution of $0.42 per share, marking a solid 5% increase from its prior dividend of $0.40  a