Coca-Cola boosts quarterly dividend by 5.4% to 39c from 37c

Coca-Cola Company said its board approved the company’s 56th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend 5.4%, to 39c from 37c per common share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $1.56 per share, up from $1.48 per share in 2017. The first quarter dividend is payable April 2, to shareowners of record as of March 15. Coca-Cola said, “The dividend increase reflects the board’s confidence in the company’s long-term cash flow. The Company returned $6.3 billion in dividends to shareowners in 2017, bringing to $41.5 billion the total amount given back to shareowners through dividends since Jan. 1, 2010. ”