Dividend Changes to Know Now: Cisco Systems, Autoliv, United Bancorp, GameStop

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO): Cisco raises quarterly dividend 75% to 14c from 8c. Cisco detailed its capital allocation strategy, which includes a quarterly dividend of 14c per common share, an increase of 75%. “Cisco has the financial strength and flexibility to effectively invest in our business, pursue strategic opportunities, such as acquisitions, as well as return a minimum of 50% of our free cash flow annually through dividends and share repurchases to our shareholders,” said Frank Calderoni, hief Financial Officer. “We are listening to our shareholders, and I’m pleased we are increasing our quarterly dividend for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 by 75% to $0.14 per share,” concluded Calderoni. The dividend will be paid on October 24 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 4. Cisco’s previous quarterly dividend, of 8c per common share, was paid on July 25.

Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV): Autoliv raises quarterly dividend over 6% to 50c per share. The Board of Directors of Autoliv declared a quarterly dividend of 50c per share for the fourth quarter 2012. This is an increase of slightly more than 6% from the current quarter’s dividend of 47c per share. The dividend for the fourth quarter will be payable on Thursday, December 6, 2012 to Autoliv shareholders of record on the close of business on Wednesday, November 21. The ex-date when the shares will trade without the right to the dividend will be Monday, November 19, 2012.

United Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:UBCP): United Bancorp cuts quarterly dividend to 7c per share. On August 15, the Board of Directors of United Bancorp declared the third quarter dividend payment of 7c per share for shareholders of record on September 4, 2012 with a payment date of September 20, 2012. This declared dividend rate of 7c per share equates to a 50% reduction from the rate paid during the third quarter of last year and, provided a continuation of the new dividend rate during the 4th quarter of this year, would result in a total per share dividend for 2012 of 42c compared to the 56c paid in 2011. No determination has been made at this time regarding the payment of any future dividends of the Company.

GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME): GameStop raises quarterly dividend 67% to 25c from 15c. GameStop ealier today said its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 25c per common share payable on Sept. 12, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 28. The dividend represents a 67% increase over the quarterly dividend paid in the first two quarters of 2012. The company said, “We are focused on staying ahead of the curve as the competitive landscape evolves and we manage through the trough of the console cycle. Finally, the ongoing share buyback and increase in dividend demonstrate our confidence in the future of GameStop and our commitment to improving total shareholder returns.”

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