NEW YORK, July 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices announced today that dividend net increases (increases less decreases) rose $17.6 billion during the second quarter of 2013 for U.S. domestic common stock. 591 dividend increases were reported during the quarter, equating to a 17.0% gain over the 505 dividend increases reported during second quarter of 2012.

Of the approximately 10,000 U.S. traded issues, 65 companies decreased dividends in Q2 2013 compared to 37 in Q2 2012. For the year-to-date six month period, there were 1535 positive dividend events and 204 negative events (defined as either a decrease or suspension) compared to 1,182 positive events and 68 negative events during the 6 month period ending June 2012.

"Dividends continued to increase in the second quarter with actual cash payments increasing 15.5% and the forward indicated dividend setting another all-time high," says Howard Silverblatt, Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices. "Payout rates, which historically average 52%, continue to remain near their lows at 36%. At this point, year-to-date dividend payments are up 13.9%, with 2013 easily expected to surpass the 2012 record dividend payment."

The percentage of non-S&P 500 domestic common issues (ASE, NYSE, NASD) paying a dividend continued to increase, reaching 47.3% in Q2 2013 up from 46.1% in Q1 2013 and 43.8% in Q2 2012. The paying issues in the large-cap S&P 500 reached 82%, a level not seen since September 1999. All 30 members of the Dow Jones Industrial Average pay a dividend.

Silverblatt determined that the weighted dividend yield was 2.65% at the end of Q2, a slight tick up from the 2.61% at the end of Q1 and down from 2.80% at year-end. "The higher yield is statistically insignificant, as the increase in dividends kept pace with the increase in Q2 stock prices. Dividend yields continued to be competitive relative to other instruments such as corporate bonds, treasuries, and bank CDs," says Silverblatt.

Looking ahead, Silverblatt continues to see positive indicators for dividends, including earnings coverage and record high cash levels. "The dividend cycle continues on the upward track, with both investors and companies viewing them positively," adds Silverblatt. "Growth in the second half should be less than the first half due to the large December 2012 payout which was spurred by tax concerns."

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SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices