Is 2024 the year of the dividend increase?

Group 1 - Companies such as Lennar, Plains All American Pipeline, TD Synnex, and Alamo Group have raised dividends at double-digit rates in early January 2024, indicating a potential shift back to dividend stocks as investors seek income [2][4] - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF underperformed the S&P 500 in 2023, while growth-focused tech stocks like Nvidia and Meta led the market, making income-generating stocks less attractive [3] - Analysts from Morgan Stanley suggest that dividend stocks may rebound in 2024 as investors look for durable, higher-yielding dividends amid expected market volatility [4] Group 2 - Lennar's stock increased by 1.5% following its first dividend increase in two years, along with a boost in its share buyback program [5] - Plains All American Pipeline raised its dividend on January 8, resulting in an 8.1% dividend yield, with the stock up 1.4% since the increase [5] - TD Synnex declared a first-quarter dividend of 40 cents per share, a 14% increase, with a consensus price target of $111 indicating a potential upside of 6.58% [6][7] Group 3 - Alamo Group increased its shareholder payout to 26 cents per share, an 18.2% rise from the previous dividend, although its stock has faced selling pressure [7] - Despite Alamo Group's current "Buy" rating, top analysts have identified five other stocks as better investment opportunities [7]