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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 1961)
16 A THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 1961 o MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, ORE. Stockholders Paid $14.5 Billion in Dividends in 1961 New York - IUPD - Stockhold ers received record high divi dends in 1960 amounting to more than $14.5 billion. The aggregate, however, was disappointing in view of earlier forecasts of a bumper business year in 1960. ' The number of extra and higher dividend declarations has been lagging since last spring. Decreases and ommis sions have been greater in number. As a rule, the clos ing months represent the best dividend period of the year, since many companies follow the practice when their prof its permit, of supplementing their regular rates with year end extras. The I960 perform ance, however, did not match 1959's declarations, Dividends, after all, come out of earnings, and these have run below expectations. The "profit squeeze" is one of the highlights of the limp econ omic picture of I960' and signs of a notable improve ment have yet to appear. Record Payments The payment for 1960 still 1 was the best for any previ ous comparable period in U.S. history, compared with $14.3 billion last year and with $5.8 billion in 1929. The average stockholder re ceived more than $1,000 In cash dividends in 1960. Ac cording to an estimate by the New York Stock Exchange there are approximately 12, 500,000 people who receive dividend checks. In 1952 there were around 6,490,000 shareholders in the country. Stock dividends ranging from 1 per cent to 100 per cent were distributed in vol ume in 1960. The practice of paying dividends in stock, ei ther in lieu of cash dividend or in combination has been gaining favor. The income tox is one reason, another is a desire of a corporation to re ward its stockholders and at the same time conserve cash. ' What has happened is that directorates have acted to keep dividends attuned to bus iness trands. They were quite prompt In . liberalizing pay ments as the economy emerged from the 1958 reces sion, but this pace could not be maintained once earnings started to level off. Companies have been caught in a vise consisting of excess capacity and consumer reluc tance to pay higher prices on one side and rising labor and other costs on the other side. While fourth quarter earn ings statements will not ap pear for many weeks, present Indications are that they will reflect only a small improve ment. It takes time for a prof it trend to reverse itself. Set Levels The great majority of corpo rations set their regular divi dend rates at levels which they are reasonably confident can be maintained through good and bad times. Ownership in American cor porations is ' steadily being spread out among more peo ple. During 1960 there were 39 corporations with more than 100,000 stockholders each. , American Telephone & Tele graph Co. lead all companies in 1960 with cash dividends of $737,424,000 to its 1,754, 000 stockholders, the highest distribution ever paid in Am erican corporate history. General Motors' . 785,000 stockholders received $504,- 108,000; Standard Oil Co. $487,199,000; Du Pont, 205, 000 stockholders, $309,427, 000; United States Steel, 417, 000 shareholders, $161,076,- 000; Ford Motors, 274,000 stockholders, $164,622,000, and General Electric, 205,000 shareholders, $177,390,000. Record payments were made by the utility companies re flecting the highest earnings ever reported by that indus try. All but three of the 25 in dustrial groups paid larger to tal dividends compared with 1959. SPECIAL PURCHASE! mwm lean, rugged, good lookin' CACTUS CASUALS These are the slacks that give you what you want, They're styled long legged and lean-hipped. Fab rics and stitching are revved up (or wear and repeated washing. They hold their crease and keep their shapel Bellless, adjustable cactus cam paigners In wash and wear rayon acetate flan nel, 4 colors. NATIONALLY ADVERTISED AT 6.95. 4.44-2-8.00 i l 5 4 I i " 14 3 1 ' X- f .'If. IU!i il If 5 s;;ll ? IPSP PI WOT . a step into spring JANUARY CURTAIN SALE CRISP WHITE DACRON PANELS-popular size of 42x81. Completely washable ... little or no ironing required. Reg. 1.98.. . . 99c panel NEW CAFE PRINT SHORTY DRAPES pinch pleat drapes in a gay array of new spring prints. Size 42x36. Regular 2.98 '. 1.88 pair TEXTURED WOVEN FIBERGLASS blouce panels. Assorted colors to brighten any room. Size 42x81. Reg. 3.98 . .2.98 panel DACRON PINCH PLEATED SHORTY DRAPES-beautiful floral flocked dacron with crisp while chromspun underlining. Completely washable. A crisp bright look for any room. Wanted sizes 50x36 and 50x45. Regular 4.98.....J: '. 1 L..l.3.49 pair Regular 5.98....: 1 '. '. : .4.49 pair NYLON TIER CURTAINS-in pastel shades of yellow, green and pink with gold mylar stripe. Size 30x30...!: '. - '...88e pair FLOCKED DACRON PRISCILLAS crisp white dacron ground wtih dainty flocked floral overlay. Completely washable. Sizes 50x81. Regular7.98..j...5.88 pair famous brand IRREGULAR HOSE SALE Slight Imperfections In no way Impair the wearing quality and looks of these fine hose. Slock up now while they're available at this unusual low pricel now only 2 1.00 famed brand shoe reductions SAVE AS MUCH AS Vi Greatest savings everl Hurry In and choose from sky-high heels, styled-in-llaly little heels . . . suede and calf starting '61 fashion-right In black, brown, green olive, grey and more. All sizes. reg. to 7.99 rog. to 14.99 Lark sports & flats Jacqueline & Corelli 4.49 7.47 reg. to 18.99 Marquise 9.47 a look at luxury LIGHT AND AIRY PURE SILK PRINTS A wonderful way to welcome the new season.. Popular shirtwaist styles, rolled collar, short cuffed sleeves, self-belt. Soft full skirts. The fabric resists water spotting.. Assorted prints and colors. See them tomorrow! Mann's second floor. . sizes 10-18 formerly sold for 14.98 now 11 "charge it at Mann's last days to save JAN. YARN SALE Stock up now for many months of knitting pleasure. KNITTING WORSTED, Reg. 1.55 skein 1.19 MOHAIRSPUN, Reg. 98c skein .79 CUDDIESPUN, Reg. 98c skein 79 NYLO-GERMANTOWN, Reg. 98e skein .79 (Sale Ends January 21) X manufacturers close-out FAMOUS GLOVES New color Spring colors in your favorite styles. White, bone, brown, navy, black. Nylons and cottons. Embroidered and plain. Hurry for best selection. Sizes 6-8. reg. 3.00 - 4.00 o i o 6 8 o
