Thursday, the company voted a 3.3% payout enrichment, to 47.5 cents a share, from 46 cents. Disbursement is scheduled for Nov. 2 to stockholders of record Oct. 9. The ex-dividend date is Oct. 7. This is the third consecutive year that Verizon has raised its disbursement, and the move will put an extra $43 million in investors' pockets quarterly. "This increase reflects the strength of our cash flow and balance sheet," said Verizon chief executive Ivan G. Seidenberg. "It demonstrates the board's commitment to return cash to our shareholders while continuing to invest in the long-term growth of our business."

The present AT&T, which was formed in 2005, is made up of the original AT&T and the former SBC Communications and BellSouth Baby Bells. The company has enriched its quarterly common payout every year since SBC's formation in 1984. In the June quarter, cash from operations amounted to $7.9 billion, capital expenditures came in at $4 billion and dividends totaled $2.4 billion. AT&T was recently priced at 25 and change, and has ranged between 33.10 and 20.90 over the past year. S&P's investment opinion is Strong Buy.

Additionally, Flannery and Gaviria observe that Canada's BCE (BCE), which recently increased its payout by 5% in a surprise midyear announcement, "could raise the dividend again later this year." Ditto Canadian peers Rogers Communications (RCI) and Telus (TU), they opine.

Additionally, Flannery and Gaviria observe that Canada's BCE (BCE), which recently increased its payout by 5% in a surprise midyear announcement, "could raise the dividend again later this year." Ditto Canadian peers Rogers Communications (RCI) and Telus (TU), they opine.

Additionally, Flannery and Gaviria observe that Canada's BCE (BCE), which recently increased its payout by 5% in a surprise midyear announcement, "could raise the dividend again later this year." Ditto Canadian peers Rogers Communications (RCI) and Telus (TU), they opine.

Frisch's Restaurants (FRS) on Tuesday lifted its quarterly common payout a penny, to 13 cents share, for a 1.85% yield. The respective distribution, record and ex-dates are Oct. 9, Sept. 21 and Sept. 17. The Cincinnati company has posted a profit every year since going public in 1960, and has paid a dividend every quarter since then. This is the company's second annual increase in a row.