Cash dividends are certain to rise this year and next regardless of where stock indexes go. This year, the 366 dividend-paying members of the S&P 500 are expected to hand out $206 billion in cash, up 5% from 2009. Already, 72 S&P 500 companies have announced dividend increases in 2010.

The reason for this largess is plain: Corporate America is flush with cash, and S&P 500 companies are sitting on $3.2 trillion of it. But executives are reluctant to make big capital expenditures, hire more people, or raise salaries and benefits substantially until they feel more confident about the economic recovery. And, like you, they're earning next to nothing on their cash stashes.

Source: Kiplinger


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