Dividend Aristocrat insurer Aflac (AFL) will raise its quarterly dividend to $0.45 per share. The fourth quarter dividend of $0.45 per share is payable on December 1, 2017, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 15, 2017.

Commenting on the company's results, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos stated: "The board of directors' action to increase the quarterly dividend by 4.7% demonstrates our commitment to rewarding our shareholders. This marks the 35th consecutive year of increasing our cash dividend. Our dividend policy is guided by growth in operating earnings per share along with free cash flow generation and capital quality."

Aflac Incorporated is engaged in supplemental health and life insurance. The company is a provider of voluntary insurance at the worksite in the United States and medical and cancer insurance in Japan. The Company offers cancer plans, critical illness plans, and critical care and recovery plans. When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast, giving policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it’s needed most when a specific health event or life situation causes financial challenges. This is often due to income loss from missed work as well as asset loss from many medical and non-medical out-of-pocket expenses that often arise. Aflac was founded in 1955 and has increased its dividend every year since 1982.