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Companies with a long history of paying dividends and consistently hiking them remain appealing to income-focused investors. Essential Utilities, Idacorp, and First Merchants have rewarded shareholders for years and recently announced dividend increases. These companies currently offer dividend yields of over 3%.
Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) provides water, wastewater, and natural gas services in the U.S.
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Essential Utilities has raised its dividends every year for the last 33 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on July 31, 2024, the company’s board increased the quarterly payout by 6% to $0.3255 per share, equal to an annual figure of $1.302 per share. More recently, in its dividend announcement on Feb. 19, the company maintained the payout at the same level. Currently, the dividend yield on the stock is 3.52%.
The company’s annual revenue as of March 31 stood at $2.26 billion. The company on May 12 posted Q1 2025 revenues of $783.63 million and EPS of $1.03, both beating the consensus estimates.
Is the market bullish or bearish on Essential Utilities? Check out this article by Benzinga to learn more.
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Idacorp Inc. (NYSE:IDA) generates, distributes, purchases, and sells electric energy in the U.S.
Idacorp has increased its dividend consecutively since 2011. According to its most recent dividend hike announcement on Sept. 20, it raised the quarterly payout from $0.83 to $0.86 per share, equaling an annual figure of $3.44 per share. More recently, in its dividend announcement on April 17, the company maintained the payout at the same level. The current dividend yield is 3.01%.
Idacorp’s annual revenue as of March 31 stood at $1.81 billion. In its Q1 2025 earnings release on May 1, the company posted EPS of $1.10 and revenues of $432.46 million, both coming in above the consensus estimates.
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First Merchants Corp. (NASDAQ:FRME) operates as the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank that provides community banking services.