June Shows Decline in Dividend Increases

The odds just keep getting worse for investors who expect a cash dividend increase every now and again.

Standard & Poor’s said Thursday that the number of companies raising dividend payments in June fell to 86 from 113 in June 1999 and 154 in June 1998.

Last month’s figure was the weakest for dividend increases since 78 were recorded in August of last year. Analysts say fewer firms are raising cash dividends because of rising concern about profit growth, even though near-term earnings are expected to be strong.

S&P; did have one piece of good news Thursday: Its original estimate that 21 companies omitted dividends entirely in May was changed to show that just four omissions occurred.