Ka-Ching! Microsoft just gave me a 15% raise

Joining its fellow IT sector leaders Intel (INTC) and Cisco (CSCO), Microsoft (MSFT) announced this week that it would reward its shareholders by increasing its annual dividend by 15%, from $0.20 per quarter to $0.23.  Armed with almost $62 billion in cash while generating nearly $30 billion in cash flow, its nice to see Microsoft continue their annual double digit dividend increases.

Microsoft faces a big catalyst in the coming months with the release of Windows 8. This will also be the platform for their latest entry into the mobile market. Despite failing to make much headway thus far in mobile, Windows 8 Phones have had positive reviews.  The main focus will be on their cash cow though, the PC.  Recent softness in the PC market has scared some investors and analysts, but the new release of Windows 8 may be what that market needs.  If successful, that growth will help continue to drive Microsoft's dividend higher in the coming years.

Below are some more companies, including McDonald's (MCD), that are sending more cash to their shareholders.

Dividend Income Analysis: Leggett & Platt (LEG)

I always enjoy coming across lesser-known companies who have stellar dividend track records. Although I had heard of Leggett & Platt (LEG) and briefly skimmed over the stock in the past, I did not appreciate its impressive dividend history until doing this analysis. A mid-cap ($3.5 billion) company that has been paying a dividend for 73 years and increasing that dividend for 40 years deserves more attention. Well LEG, you've caught my attention. READ MORE


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Stock Sale: Intel (INTC)

Those of you who have followed me know I'm a big fan of Intel (INTC).  I've made it known on several occasions that it is my biggest dividend growth holding.  I've been allocating Intel off and on since 2008 and was lucky enough to load up during the crash in March 2009.  The main reason it's my biggest holding though is because, despite reporting solid earnings throughout the years and steadily increasing its dividend by double digits each year, the stock price continues to be cheap.  I find it hard to pass up a good deal, and Intel has been a good deal for quite some time.

The stock had a nice run from the beginning of the year and into May touching a 52 week high of $29.  Since then it has bounced around the $26 and $27 level.  But the past couple weeks the stock has dropped to below $25 and has piqued my interest once again. So why did the stock drop nearly 5% in the past couple weeks?