British American Tobacco's dividend is like clockwork

British American Tobacco (BATS) revealed their interim results today. As expected they again increased their interim dividend. They just never seem to let us down. Fair play it was only an increase of 7% from 42.2p per share in 2012 to 45p per share in 2013. This underlines British American Tobacco's dividend policy though and dividend growth is the norm and has been for some time. They will go ex dividend on Wednesday 21st August with the interim dividend being paid on Monday 30th September.

Earnings per share were up 9% to 106.6p per share which gives a healthy and robust dividend cover of 2.4 the dividend growth policy is in no fear of easing off the gas. I continue to hold these for the long term.

Hiscox interim pre-tax profit up 43.6%

I posted yesterday following Hiscox interim results when they reaffirmed their dividend growth policy and increased their dividend by a whopping 16.7%. I failed to note though that the dividend growth was possible due to an increase in interim pre-tax profit that dwarfs the dividend increase. In 2012 the interim pre-tax profits were £125.8m which increased to £180.7m in 2013. This clearly justifies such a dividend growth.

Hiscox explosive dividend policy hikes the interim dividend

Well Hiscox showed their clear intentions with regard to their dividend policy today on releasing their interim results. Their interim results today showed an increase in Gross premiums written from £906.4m in 2012 to £1017.9m in 2013 (an increase of 12.3%). As a result the interim dividend has soared from 6p per share to 7p per share giving an increase in the interim dividend of 16.7%. The board clearly want to show that they are keen to increase the dividend yield for the shareholders, fingers crossed this positive dividend growth policy will hold firm on the release of the full year results and we will see a hike in the final dividend. The interim ex dividend date is yet to be announced.