Dow component Caterpillar (CAT) will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.8 percent to $0.44 per share in 2010. This marks the first dividend hike by CAT since 2008, when the quarterly dividend was increased by six cents to $0.42 quarterly.
Caterpillar has paid a cash dividend every year since the company was formed and has paid a quarterly dividend since 1933.
Caterpillar Inc. is a manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment.