Watsco Inc (WSO) will raise its quarterly dividend by 23.5 percent to $1.05 per share in 2016.

Albert H. Nahmad, Watsco's Chairman & CEO stated: "We are pleased to be able to increase dividends to our shareholders. This latest increase reflects our confidence in the business and is supported by our continued positive cash flow and our strong balance sheet."

Watsco has paid dividends to shareholders for more than 40 consecutive years. The Company's philosophy is to share increasing amounts of cash flow through higher dividends while maintaining a conservative balance sheet with continued capacity to build its distribution network. Future changes in dividends are considered in light of investment opportunities, cash flow, general economic conditions and Watsco's overall financial condition.

Watsco, Inc. is a distributor of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment, and related parts and supplies. In addition to the replacement market, Watsco sells to the new construction market.  The company was incorporated in Florida in 1956, and operates in the U.S. States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico with additional market coverage on an export basis to portions of Latin America and the Caribbean. Dividends have been paid every year since 1975.