The following companies announced a change in their dividend payouts today.

Companies Increasing Dividend Payouts
Agilent Technologies (A) has raised its annual dividend payout from $.40 to $.48. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $43.87, is 1.09%. Agilent is not a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.

Aptar Group (ATR) has raised its annual dividend payout from $.88 to $1.00. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $52.04, is 1.92%. ATR is not a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars.

Blackrock (BLK) has raised its annual dividend payout from $6.00 to $6.72. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $232.00, is 2.90%. BLK is a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Boston Private Financial Holdings (BPFH) has raised its annual dividend payout from $0.04 to $0.20. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $9.18, is 2.18%. BPFH is not a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars.

Family Dollar Stores (FDO) has raised its annual dividend payout from $.84 to $1.04. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $58.04, is 1.79%. FDO is not a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars.

Targa Resources Partners L.P. (NGLS) has raised its annual dividend payout from $2.65 to $2.72. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $39.55, is 6.88%. NGLS is not a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars.

Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB) has raised its annual dividend payout from $1.10 to $1.25. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $73.37, is 1.70%. SLB is not a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars.

Williams Cos. (WMB) has raised its annual dividend payout from $1.30 to $1.36. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $33.80, is 4.02%. WMB is not a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars.

Companies Reducing Dividend Payouts
Northern American Tankers (NAT) has reduced its annual dividend payout from $1.20 to $.64. The new dividend yield, based on today’s closing stock price of $8.61, is 7.43%. NAT is not a “Recommended” stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars.

Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks, as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here.