Blue chips make inflation-beating dividend hikes

Three-quarters of FTSE 100 firms made dividend hikes greater than the rate of inflation last year. ...

Three-quarters of FTSE 100 firms made dividend hikes greater than the rate of inflation last year. Fidelity research shows 77 blue chip firms issued annual dividend rises greater than Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation of 2.1%. The median blue chip stock income increase of 9.6% was more than four times the headline rate of inflation. Twelve of the FTSE 100 firms reported dividend rises under 2.1% and 11 made dividend cuts. The research includes a top and bottom five dividend movers and shakers. Thomas Cook’s 642.9% dividend boost was excluded from the research results. Top ...