13 dividend hikes to watch for this week: McCormick, Merck

Companies often establish a pattern of hiking dividends at the same time each year, giving investors a reliable cash influx and enticing them to stick around for the long term. With help from StreetInsider and InvestingPro+ data, here is your weekly list of companies that look set to raise their payouts in the next week, based on what they did this time last year - as well as their payout histories, which can give you a better idea of whether they're likely to hike again.

Strong dividend growth streaks

1. McCormick (NYSE: MKC ): Raised by 8.8% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $1.48, a yield of 1.7%, and a payout ratio of 55.99%. Its dividend growth streak is 36 years.

2. Ecolab (NYSE: ECL ): Raised by 6.3% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $2.04, a yield of 1.4%, and a payout ratio of 52.41%. Its dividend growth streak is 36 years.

3. Graco (NYSE: GGG ): Raised by 12% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $0.84, a yield of 1.2%, and a payout ratio of 30.51%. Its dividend growth streak is 16 years.

4. Nucor (NYSE: NUE ): Raised by 23.5% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $2, a yield of 1.3%, and a payout ratio of 6.06%. Its dividend growth streak is 12 years.

5. Morningstar Inc (NASDAQ: MORN ): Raised by 14.3% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $1.44, a yield of 0.6%, and a payout ratio of 48.34%. Its dividend growth streak is 10+ years.

6. AES (NYSE: AES ): Raised by 5% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $0.63, a yield of 2.2%, and a payout ratio of -151.27%. Its dividend growth streak is 10 years.

7. Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA ): Raised by 11.4% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $1.96, a yield of 0.6%, and a payout ratio of 19.05%. Its dividend growth streak is 10 years.

8. RGC Resources Inc (NASDAQ: RGCO ): Raised by 5.4% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $0.78, and a yield of 3.3%. Its dividend growth streak is 8 years.

9. Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO ): Raised by 25.5% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $5.56, a yield of 5.6%, and a payout ratio of 24.15%. Its dividend growth streak is 6 years.

10. Eastgroup Properties (NYSE: EGP ): Raised by 22.2% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $5, a yield of 3.2%, and a payout ratio of 80.27%. Its dividend growth streak is 10 years.

11. Eastman Chemical (NYSE: EMN ): Raised by 10.1% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $3.04, a yield of 3.5%, and a payout ratio of 32.73%. Its dividend growth streak is 12 years.

12. Merck (NS: PROR ) & Company Inc (NYSE: MRK ): Raised by 6.2% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $2.76, a yield of 2.6%, and a payout ratio of 45.25%. Its dividend growth streak is 11 years.

13. Hillenbrand (NYSE: HI ): Raised by 1.2% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $0.87, a yield of 1.8%, and a payout ratio of 29.68%. Its dividend growth streak is 14 years.

Dividend growth streaks under 5 years

Ethan Allen (NYSE: ETD ) Interiors Inc.: Raised by 16% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $1.28, a yield of 4.5%, and a payout ratio of 21.91%. Its dividend growth streak is 1 year.

PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM ): Raised by 7.1% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $0.60, a yield of 1.3%, and a payout ratio of 6.08%. Its dividend growth streak is 4 years.

Stewart Information Services (NYSE: STC ): Raised by 13.6% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $1.50, a yield of 3.4%, and a payout ratio of 18.14%. Its dividend growth streak is 1 year.

Universal Health (NYSE: UHS ) Realty Income (NYSE: O ) Trust (NYSE: UHT ): Raised by 0.7% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $2.84, a yield of 5.5%, and a payout ratio of 8.08%. Its dividend growth streak is 1 year.

Four Corners Property (NYSE: FCPT ) Trust: Raised by 4.7% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $1.36, a yield of 5%, and a payout ratio of 106.04%. Its dividend growth streak is less than 1 year.

Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR ): Raised by 16.7% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $0.28, a yield of 0.2%, and a payout ratio of 9.09%. Its dividend growth streak is 3 years.

Community Financial Corp (NASDAQ: TCFC ): Raised by 16.7% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $0.70, a yield of 1.7%, and a payout ratio of 13.25%. Its dividend growth streak is 1 year.

Owens Corning (NYSE: OC ): Raised by 34.6% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $1.40, a yield of 1.5%, and a payout ratio of 9.67%. Its dividend growth streak is 3 years.

Raymond (NS: RYMD ) James Financial (NYSE: RJF ): Raised by 30.8% last year and currently has an annualized payout of $1.36, a yield of 1.36%, and a payout ratio of 18.36%. Its dividend growth streak is 1 year.