By Tess Stynes
Ford Motor Co. raised its quarterly dividend by 20% for its
Class B and common shares outstanding, a move the auto maker said
reflects its capital strategy.
The auto maker's quarterly payout to shareholders was raised to
15 cents a share, an increase of 2.5 cents a share, resulting in a
yield of 4%. The company's first quarter dividend is payable to
shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 30.
Ford raised its dividend to 12.5 cents a share from 10 cents
almost exactly one year ago.
The dividend increase comes three days after the auto industry
reported its strongest annual U.S. sales since 2006, taking
advantage of low fuel prices and interest rates to rebound from a
global financial crisis that hammered results and forced some
companies to undergo government-brokered restructurings.
However, Ford's sales were flat in December, rising slightly to
219,369. The figure was held back by intentionally fewer sales to
rental-car companies and a limited supply of its best-selling F-150
pickup. Ford said it sold nearly 2.5 million vehicles in 2014, down
slightly from a year ago.
Ford shares rose 1.9% in recent premarket trading to $15.33.
Mike Ramsey and Mike Spector contributed to this article.
Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com
Access Investor Kit for Ford Motor Co.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US3453708600
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires