Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Suntrust and Sigma-Aldrich Increase Dividends

Today, Suntrust (STI) announced a 19.6% increase in its quarterly dividend to 73 cents per share versus 61 cents per share in the same quarter last year. The 5-year average dividend growth rate is 9%. The estimated payout ratio based on 2007 estimated earnings of $6.62 equals 44%. The 5-year average payout ratio is 38%.

Sigma-Aldrich (SIAL) also announced a 9.5% increase in its quarterly dividend to 11.5 cents per share versus 10.5 cents per share in the same quarter last year. The estimated payout ratio on 2007 earnings of $2.16 will be 21%. The 5-year average payout ratio equals 20%.

SIAL reported the company has repurchased 80 million shares of its stock since late 1999. The company has 132 million shares outstanding. SIAL indicated it has an additional 10 million shares to repurchase.

(click on charts for larger image)

Suntrust and Sigma-Aldrich dividend analysis
Suntrust stock chart
Sigma-Aldrich stock chart


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