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Tag: dividends

  • Microsoft Corp. Raises Its Quarterly Dividend

    Microsoft Corp. this week announced its board of directors have declared a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share. This represents a 15% increase over the previous quarter’s dividend of $0.20. The dividend is payable December 13 to shareholders of record on November 15.

    In other Microsoft news, the company announced the retirement of one of Raymond Gilmartin from its board of directors. Gilmartin is the former chairman, president, and CEO of Merck & Co. He stated that he will retire and not seek re-election to Microsoft’s board of directors at its next annual shareholder’s meeting.

    “It’s been a real pleasure to work with Microsoft during a transformative period for the company, and see first-hand the vision and dedication that are reshaping Microsoft’s future and the future of the industry,” said Gilmartin.

    Gilmartin joined the Microsoft board in 2001. At 71 years old, he is “reducing his professional commitments to free up more personal time.” His departure leaves the Microsoft board with ten members, including Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Netflix founder Reed Hastings, former JPMorgan Chase CFO Dina Dublon, and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

    “Ray has been a strong and insightful member of the board,” said Ballmer. “We appreciate his many contributions over the past eleven years,”

  • AAPL Announces Huge Dividend Payouts To Shareholders

    Apple’s announcement today that it would be paying out billions of dollars worth of dividends to shareholders came as something of a surprise to those who remember the company from Steve Jobs’ days.

    The plan includes stock buybacks that wouldn’t have happened when Jobs was in office.

    “No, this would not have happened,” said Bill Simon, co-author of a 2005 biography of Jobs, “iCon: Steve Jobs, The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business.” “Obviously the company could have afforded to do this years ago, but it didn’t.”

    But Apple stands by their decision, due in part to the outrageous demand for their products–particularly the iPad 2–which will only add to their $100 billion piggybank. Several months ago, Apple surpassed Exxon Mobil to become the most valuable company in the world, and their stocks recently hit record amounts.

    “A quarterly dividend will provide current income for shareholders and we also believe it will broaden Apple’s investor base by attracting new investors who don’t currently own Apple stock,” says Apple CEO Tim Cook.

    The news was greeted with enthusiasm–and humor–by Apple users today, who tweeted their reactions:

    apple paying out dividends for 2.50 a share and buying back their stocks?! i think its time to invest haha 4 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    98 billion dollars in dividends?…I need to invest and buy some stocks n apple 7 hours ago via Twitter for Android ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    is freaked out Apple is spending $98 billion on dividends and their own stocks…I was kind of hoping for a $5 iTunes gift card. 6 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto