Net dividend increases for U.S. stocks rose $12.3 billion in the third quarter - a 3.7% increase from a year ago, according to data released Tuesday by S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Dividend increases of $10.5 billion and initial payments of $2.4 billion were offset by decreases of $407 million and suspensions of $127 million in the third quarter of 2014.
The firm also noted that for the 12 months ended September 2014, dividend payments increased by 27.4% over the 12 months ended September 2013.
