Praxair (PX) will raise its quarterly dividend by 5.0 percent to $0.7875 per share. The increased dividend will be payable on March 15, 2017, to common shareholders of record as of March 7, 2017. The ex-dividend date is March 3, 2017.

"Our employees continued to execute on our core business strategy in 2016, driving free cash flow to a record level," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Angel. "As a result, we are proud to announce a five percent increase in our dividend, making this our 24th consecutive annual increase."

Praxair, Inc. Is an industrial gas company with activities in North and South America. The company’s primary products are atmospheric gases (oxygen, nitrogen etc) and process gases (carbon dioxide, helium hydrogen etc). The company also builds equipment that produces industrial gases. Praxair serves several industries, including healthcare, petroleum refining, manufacturing, food, beverage carbonation, fiber-optics, steel making, aerospace, chemicals and water treatment.