Beverage company Coca-Cola (KO) will raise its quarterly dividend by 8.5 percent from $0.47 to $0.51 per share in 2012. This will mark the 50th consecutive year of annual dividend increases by the Dividend Aristocrat.

The next dividend is payable on April 1, 2012, to shareholders of record as of March 15, 2012. The ex-dividend date is March 13, 2012.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Its brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak.