Metlife and Otis announce 2025 dividend hikes
USA Dividend Increases: Week 17, 2025 (April 17 - 22)
From April 17 through April 22, a wave of dividend hikes swept across the U.S. market, with several major companies announcing increases. The action was widespread, touching both large-cap giants and smaller regional players.
Leading the charge were MetLife MET 0.00%↑ and Otis Worldwide OTIS 0.00%↑ , two names that made the biggest splash this week. Their moves headline a broader surge in dividend growth across key sectors—including insurance, financial services, industrials, and utilities. Below, we break down the ten most impactful dividend increases, ranked by market cap, that caught investors' attention this week.
MetLife Inc., the insurance and financial services giant, boosted its dividend for the 13th consecutive year. The new increase of 4.1% brings its forward yield to 3.1%. While the company’s year-to-date return has been under pressure, it continues to return capital to shareholders steadily.
Otis Worldwide Corp., known for its elevator and escalator manufacturing, raised its dividend by 7.7%, marking the fifth year of consecutive increases. Otis currently yields 1.7%, and the stock has delivered a solid 7.3% total return year-to-date.
Equifax Inc., a leading consumer credit reporting agency, made one of the boldest moves with a 28.2% dividend hike. Though it has just one year of consecutive dividend increases under its belt, the size of this year’s raise stands out. The yield remains modest at 0.8%.
Synchrony Financial, a consumer financial services company, increased its dividend by 20%. This marks its fourth year of consistent growth, now offering a yield of 2.5%. Despite a tough start to the year with the stock down sharply, the dividend growth reflects a continued shareholder return strategy.
Invesco Ltd., an investment management firm, announced a more modest increase of 2.4%. The yield stands at 6.2%, among the highest in this week’s group. This is Invesco’s fifth consecutive annual dividend increase. Invesco did however cut its dividend by 50% in 2020.
Veritex Holdings Inc., a regional bank, raised its dividend by 10%. While this marks the first year of consecutive increases, the stock now yields 4.0%, and its 2.6% rise over the past week suggests some investor confidence.
Peoples Bancorp Inc. continued its decade-long streak of dividend hikes with a 2.5% increase. The bank’s yield currently stands at 5.8%, maintaining its position as one of the higher yielders on the list.
Timberland Bancorp Inc., with 12 years of dividend growth history, raised its dividend by 4%. Its current yield is 3.5%, and the stock has been relatively stable year-to-date.
Southern Co., a well-known name in the utilities sector, announced a 2.8% increase to its dividend. With 25 years of uninterrupted dividend growth, Southern’s 3.2% yield reflects the steady, defensive nature typical of its industry.
Phillips 66, the energy and refining major, increased its dividend by 4.3%, extending its growth streak to 13 years. The company offers a yield of 4.8%, appealing to income-focused investors despite the stock's recent volatility.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Investors should conduct their own research or consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.