One way to identify Dividend growth stocks is to look for dividend increases. Companies that pay rising dividends are likely to be financially healthy and generate consistent cash flow. Here is a list of US and Canadian companies that increased their dividends this week.

US Dividend Increases

Waste Management, Inc. (WM) , +9.41% dividend increase

Waste Management, Inc. has Declared Quarterly Dividend of $0.4650 (+9.4118% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-08-2018 and is payable on 03-23-2018. Annualized dividend is $1.86 at a yield of 2.2012%. Waste Management, Inc. has 14 years of consecutive dividend increase.

Genuine Parts Company (GPC) , +6.67% dividend increase

Genuine Parts Company has Declared Quarterly dividend of $0.7200 (+6.6667% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-08-2018 and is payable on 04-02-2018. Annualized dividend is $2.88 at a yield of 3.0991%. Genuine Parts Company has 61 years of consecutive dividend increase.

Walmart Inc. (WMT) , +4.0% dividend increase

Walmart Inc. has declared quarterly dividend of $0.5200 (+4.0000% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-08-2018 and is payable on 04-02-2018. Annualized dividend is $2.08 at a yield of 2.2421%. Walmart Inc. has 43 years of consecutive dividend increase.

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) , +6.29% dividend increase

Essex Property Trust, Inc. has declared quarterly dividend of $1.8600 (+6.2857% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-28-2018 and is payable on 04-16-2018. Annualized dividend is $7.44 at a yield of 3.3576%. Essex Property Trust, Inc. has 24 years of consecutive dividend increase.

Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) , +5.56% dividend increase

Xcel Energy Inc. has declared quarterly dividend of $0.3800 (+5.5556% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-14-2018 and is payable on 04-20-2018. Annualized dividend is $1.52 at a yield of 3.4854%. Xcel Energy Inc. has 14 years of consecutive dividend increase.

Old Republic International (ORI) , +2.63% dividend increase

Old Republic International has declared quarterly dividend of $0.1950 (+2.6316% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-02-2018 and is payable on 03-15-2018. Annualized dividend is $0.78 at a yield of 3.8614%. Old Republic International has 36 years of consecutive dividend increase.

Albemarle Corporation (ALB) , +4.69% dividend increase

Albemarle Corporation has declared quarterly dividend of $0.3350 (+4.6875% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-14-2018 and is payable on 04-02-2018. Annualized dividend is $1.34 at a yield of 1.1787%. Albemarle Corporation has 14 years of consecutive dividend increase.

Canadian Dividend Increases

Goeasy Ltd (GSY) , +25.0% dividend increase

Goeasy Ltd has declared quarterly dividend of C$0.2250 (+25.0000% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-28-2018 and is payable on 04-13-2018. Annualized dividend is C$0.9 at a yield of 2.3597%.

Magna International Inc. (MG) , +20.0% dividend increase

Magna International Inc. has declared quarterly dividend of C$0.3300 (+20.0000% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-08-2018 and is payable on 03-23-2018. Annualized dividend is C$1.32 at a yield of 1.8511%.

Stantec Inc. (STN) , +10.0% dividend increase

Stantec Inc. has declared quarterly dividend of C$0.1375 (+10.0000% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-28-2018 and is payable on 04-12-2018. Annualized dividend is C$0.55 at a yield of 1.6866%.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) , +2.31% dividend increase

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has declared quarterly dividend of C$1.3300 (+2.3077% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 03-27-2018 and is payable on 04-27-2018. Annualized dividend is C$5.32 at a yield of 4.5497%.

Royal Bank of Canada (RY) , +3.3% dividend increase

Royal Bank of Canada has declared quarterly dividend of C$0.9400 (+3.2967% increase). It goes ex-dividend on 04-24-2018 and is payable on 05-24-2018. Annualized dividend is C$3.76 at a yield of 3.6805%.