Ryder Stock Rises More Than 3% Following Dividend Hike

Core Insights - Ryder System, Inc. (R) announced a 12% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, raising it to $0.91 per share from $0.81, reflecting the company's commitment to enhancing shareholder returns [2][10] - The dividend hike is the first since July 2024, indicating Ryder's confidence in its financial stability despite challenging macroeconomic conditions [3][6] - Ryder has a long history of consistent dividend payments, marking its 196th consecutive quarterly cash dividend and over 49 years of uninterrupted payouts [3][10] Financial Performance - In 2022, Ryder returned $123 million in dividends and repurchased shares worth $557 million; in 2023, dividends increased to $128 million with share repurchases of $337 million; in 2024, total returns to shareholders reached $456 million [4] - During the first quarter of 2025, Ryder returned $202 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks [4][10] Industry Context - Other companies in the transportation sector, such as Delta Air Lines and FedEx, have also announced dividend hikes in 2025, indicating a broader trend of rewarding shareholders within the industry [7][8][9]