Costco Declares a $30 Special Dividend

On November 10, Costco Wholesale (COST) declared a special cash dividend of $30 per share. That is double the $15 special Costco paid in January 2024, and more than five times the regular annual dividend of $5.88.

The special dividend is payable on December 4 to shareholders of record on November 24, which is also the ex-dividend date. The total payout comes to about $13.3 billion, according to Costco's press release.

Costco also reauthorized its stock repurchase program at up to $4 billion, running through November 2030. The new program replaces the $4 billion program adopted in 2023, under which Costco had bought back $3.1 billion of stock.

I own 35 shares of COST at an average cost basis of $578.03/share, so I'll collect $1,050 from this special dividend. That's a one-time yield of 5.19% on my cost, or 2.75% at the current price of $1,092.21/share.

Because the payment is non-recurring, COST's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income stays at $205.80. The regular quarterly dividend remains $1.47 per share.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Dividend Increase

On November 10, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) increased its dividend by 28.57%, from NT$7.00 to NT$9.00 per share. Each TSM ADR represents five common shares, so the new quarterly rate is NT$45.00 per ADR, or about $1.37 at the current exchange rate.

The dividend is payable on April 8, 2027, to shareholders of record on March 11, 2027.

TSM's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $60.81 to $273.65.

Automatic Data Processing Dividend Increase

On November 11, Automatic Data Processing (ADP) increased its dividend by 11.76%, from $1.70 to $1.90 per share.

The dividend is payable on January 1 to shareholders of record on December 11.

ADP's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $80 to $760.

10 Dividend Growth Stocks: November 2026

This monthly article series identifies 10 Dividend Growth Stocks for further research and possible investment.

This month, I considered dividend growth [DG] stocks with 5-year trailing total returns of 12% or higher and trading at or below my fair value estimate. I present the top ten candidates ranked by quality score.

As always, I recommend doing your own analysis before investing in these stocks.

Dividend Announcements: October 31 - November 6, 2026

I monitor dividend announcements for more than 1,200 dividend-paying stocks and report on them in a weekly article series published at Seeking Alpha.

This week, 33 stocks in my database announced dividend increases (including three I own), and two declared special dividends.

Tracking dividend announcements and auditing the safety profiles of the companies announcing them lets me target high-conviction opportunities and avoid potential traps. I can also highlight stocks worth adding to your watchlist and the warning signs to watch for.

Snap-on Dividend Increase

On November 6, Snap-on (SNA) increased its dividend by 12.70%, from $2.44 to $2.75 per share.

The dividend is payable on December 10 to shareholders of record on November 20.

SNA's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $43.40 to $385.

69 Dividend Champions Ranked By Quality Scores (November 2026)

Dividend Champions are companies that have raised their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. By my count, 157 companies qualify this month.

In this article, I rank the 69 Dividend Champions with a Dividend Safety score of 8 or higher by quality scores and present them by quality label with detailed metrics and fair value estimates.

I'm using 9F Quality Scores, my quality scoring system that rates dividend stocks on a 10-point scale across nine weighted factors. Each factor blends qualitative signals and quantitative metrics.

Atmos Energy Dividend Increase

On November 4, Atmos Energy (ATO) increased its dividend by 9%, from $1.00 to $1.09 per share.

The dividend is payable on December 7 to shareholders of record on November 23.

ATO's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $36 to $436.

Dividend Announcements: October 24-30, 2026

I monitor dividend announcements for more than 1,200 dividend-paying stocks and report on them in a weekly article series published at Seeking Alpha.

This week, 32 stocks in my database announced dividend increases (including three I own), while one cut its dividend by 36%, and three declared special dividends.

Tracking dividend announcements and auditing the safety profiles of the companies announcing them lets me target high-conviction opportunities and avoid potential traps. I can also highlight stocks worth adding to your watchlist and the warning signs to watch for.

Main Street Capital Dividend Increase

On November 2, Main Street Capital (MAIN) increased its dividend by 1.89%, from 26.5¢ to 27¢ per share.

The dividend is payable on January 15 to shareholders of record on January 8.

MAIN's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $10.80 to $583.20.

D.R. Horton Dividend Increase

On October 29, D.R. Horton (DHI) increased its dividend by 11.11%, from 45¢ to 50¢ per share.

The dividend is payable on November 19 to shareholders of record on November 12.

DHI's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $20 to $200.

Amphenol Dividend Increase

On October 27, Amphenol (APH) increased its dividend by 20%, from 12.5¢ to 15¢ per share.

The dividend is payable on January 13 to shareholders of record on December 22.

APH's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $46.40 to $278.40.

Visa Dividend Increase

On October 27, Visa (V) increased its dividend by 16.42%, from 67¢ to 78¢ per share.

The dividend is payable on December 1 to shareholders of record on November 10.

V's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $52.80 to $374.40.

Dividend Announcements: October 17-23, 2026

I monitor dividend announcements for more than 1,200 dividend-paying stocks and report on them in a weekly article series published at Seeking Alpha.

This week, 42 stocks in my database announced dividend increases (including two I own).

Celebrating announced increases for stocks I own is satisfying, but a dividend increase sends a broader signal: it shows a company has the cash flow and confidence to sustain a higher baseline payout. On the flip side, a dividend cut, or even an unexpected token increase, can signal a weakening outlook.

Hubbell Dividend Increase

On October 23, Hubbell (HUBB) increased its dividend by 7.04%, from $1.42 to $1.52 per share.

The dividend is payable on December 15 to shareholders of record on November 30.

HUBB's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $12 to $182.40.

The Dividend Aristocrats Ranked By Quality Scores (October 2026)

The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index includes 69 dividend growth stocks that, with some exceptions, have increased their annual dividends for 25 or more consecutive years.

In this article, I rank the Dividend Aristocrats by quality scores and present undervalued, overvalued, and fairly valued stocks with detailed metrics and fair value estimates.

I'm using 9F Quality Scores, my quality scoring system that rates dividend stocks on a 10-point scale across nine weighted factors. Each factor blends qualitative signals and quantitative metrics.

To determine a stock's fair value [FV], I use a wisdom-of-the-crowds approach that combines calculated estimates with rigorous statistical analysis to arrive at a consensus FV. New in this edition, I show how much confidence I place in each FV estimate.

Comfort Systems USA Dividend Increase

On October 22, Comfort Systems USA (FIX) increased its dividend by 11.11%, from $0.90 to $1.00 per share.

The dividend is payable on November 23 to shareholders of record on November 12.

FIX's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $7.20 to $72.

Dividend Announcements: October 10-16, 2026

I monitor dividend announcements for more than 1,200 dividend-paying stocks and report on them in a weekly article series published at Seeking Alpha.

This week, 12 stocks in my database announced dividend increases (including one I own), and two declared special dividends.

Tracking dividend announcements and auditing the safety profiles of the companies announcing them lets me target high-conviction opportunities and avoid potential traps.

Lincoln Electric Dividend Increase

On October 14, Lincoln Electric (LECO) increased its dividend by 10.13%, from 79¢ to 87¢ per share.

The dividend is payable on January 15 to shareholders of record on December 31.

LECO's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $14.40 to $156.60.

Summary of Dividend Announcements: Q3 2026

I monitor dividend announcements for more than 1,200 dividend-paying stocks and report on them in a weekly article series published at Seeking Alpha.

In Q3 2026, 149 stocks in my database announced dividend increases (including 12 stocks I own), three cut their dividends, and six declared special dividends.

Each quarter, I summarize the dividend announcements covered in my weekly series: the largest increases, the cuts, the special dividends, and how the quarter's increases break down by size, sector, and quality.

Dividend Announcements: October 3-9, 2026

I monitor dividend announcements for more than 1,200 dividend-paying stocks and report on them in a weekly article series published at Seeking Alpha.

This week, 5 stocks in my database announced dividend increases.

Tracking dividend announcements and auditing the safety profiles of the companies announcing them lets me target high-conviction opportunities and avoid potential traps.

10 Dividend Growth Stocks: October 2026

This monthly article series identifies 10 Dividend Growth Stocks for further research and possible investment.

This month, I considered dividend growth [DG] stocks with Dividend Safety scores of 8.0 or higher, forward yields of 2.5% or higher, and trading at or below my fair value estimate. I present the top ten candidates ranked by quality score.

As always, I recommend doing your own analysis before investing in these stocks.

Dividend Announcements: September 26 - October 2, 2026

I monitor dividend announcements for more than 1,200 dividend-paying stocks and report on them in a weekly article series published at Seeking Alpha.

This week, 7 stocks in my database announced dividend increases (including one I own), and two declared special dividends.

Tracking dividend announcements and auditing the safety profiles of the companies announcing them lets me target high-conviction opportunities and avoid potential traps.

Accenture Dividend Increase

On October 1, Accenture (ACN) increased its dividend by 4.91%, from $1.63 to $1.71 per share.

The dividend is payable on November 13 to shareholders of record on October 13.

ACN's contribution to DivGro's projected annual dividend income will increase by $33.92 to $725.04.

October 2026 Newsletter

Welcome to the October edition of DivGro 2.0's monthly newsletter! 

Every month, I write a market recap and a summary of my DivGro portfolio as of the last day of the previous month. I also summarize transactions that affected DivGro's projected annual dividend income [PADI].

DivGro contains 57 positions. Of these, 49 are dividend growth [DG] stocks, 2 are dividend-paying stocks, 5 are funds, and 1 is a growth stock.

By convention, I label stocks with dividend increase streaks of at least 5 years as DG stocks.