GE (GE) Gives Back to Investors with Another Dividend Increase

Shares of General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) are making some impressive gains Friday following news of a boosted dividend earlier in the session.

GE announced it will boost it's quarterly dividend 13.3 percent to 17 cents per share. Based on today's stock price, the dividend will yield about 4.1 percent.

GE's no pushover when it comes to returning shareholder value. Throughout 2010, the company raised dividend payouts 40 percent. Earlier in May, CEO Jeff Immelt said GE is aiming to buy back up to $12 billion over the next few years.

Fun facts associated with Friday's announcement:

• With about 10.560 billion diluted common shares outstanding, GE is paying $1.795 billion in cash every quarter, or $7.181 billion per year.
  
  
• With GE expected to earn $1.37 per share in 2011, the payout ratio is about 50 percent.
  
  
• The company's largest recent dividend was 31 cents per share, paid in February of 2009.
  
  
• The new dividend is a 70 percent increase from 10 cents per share paid in June 2009.
  
  
• GE stock is only up 40 percent since June 2009.
  
  
• Today's near-4 percent jump has added $6.44 billion to GE's market cap, otherwise known as 29.5 times more than the $211 million additional expected to be paid out from the 2 cent increase.

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