Home Depot raises dividend to six cents a share

ATLANTA - The Home Depot, which earlier this week reported a 20 percent jump in profits, said Thursday it would increase its quarterly dividend by one cent per share. <br> <br> The new dividend, six cents per share, is payable to stockholders of record at the close of business on December fifth and represents a 20 percent increase over the last quarter. <br> <br> Earlier this week, the company reported earnings of $940 million, or 40 cents per share, in the three months ended November third compared with $778 million, or 33 cents per share, in the same period last year. <br> <br> The dividend increase raises the stock&#39;s annual yield to 24 cents, or just under one percent.