McDonald’s Raises Dividend by 5 Percent

(Chicago Tribune/MCT) —

McDonald’s Corp. on Thursday announced a 5 percent increase in its quarterly dividend, raising the payout by the same rate that it did last year.

The world’s largest restaurant company said its board declared a quarterly cash dividend of 85 cents per share, payable on Dec. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 1. The dividend had been 81 cents per share.

McDonald’s typically announces dividend increases in September. It announced a 5 percent increase in 2013, a 10 percent increase in 2012 and a 15 percent increase in 2011. McDonald’s has raised its dividend each year since the first dividend was paid in 1976.

“Today’s dividend increase reflects the continued strength and sustainability of our cash flow and our commitment to enhancing shareholder value,” McDonald’s President and CEO Don Thompson said in a statement.

Thompson reiterated that the company plans to return $18 billion to $20 billion to shareholders from 2014 through 2016. So far this year, it has returned $3.2 billion to shareholders, Thompson said.

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