NiSource (NI) will raise its quarterly dividend by 11.4 percent to $0.195 per share in the first quarter of 2018. This follows a 6.1 percent dividend hike in 2017.

The increased dividend is payable Feb. 20, 2018 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 9, 2018. NiSource currently has a 2.9% dividend yield.

"With our continued disciplined execution of our core utility infrastructure investments and with confidence in our ability to deliver on our long-term strategy, this dividend increase is consistent with our commitments and focus on sustainably increasing shareholder value," said NiSource President and CEO Joe Hamrock. "An increasing dividend is a key part of our overall value proposition."

NiSource Inc. is an energy holding company. The company operates a natural gas pipeline and provides natural gas service and transportation for residential, commercial and industrial customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Indiana and Massachusetts. NiSource also provides electric service in the northern part of Indiana. The company's subsidiary NIPSCO owns and operates coal-fired electric generating stations.