December Earnings For 6 Top Dividend Stocks: TD, BMO, COST, FDX, ACN And PAYX

Written by Timothy J. McIntosh

While December is a relatively slow month for earnings there are several big-name dividend stocks that will be reporting quarterly results.

Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD) will release its quarterly results before the opening bell on December 1.

• The Canada-based bank is expected to report earnings of 0.91 per share, above last year’s result of $0.87 per share.
• Over the last four quarters, TD has exceeded analysts’ expectations.
• Looking forward to 2017, TD is expected to get a new CEO, which could impact its financial performance.
•  It has a dividend yield of about 3.50%.
• The stock is up 20% in 2016.

Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO) will report earnings doing the premarket on December 6.

• The Canadian bank is expected to release earnings of $1.38 per share, which would be down from $1.44 from the same quarter, last year.
• The stock has met or exceeded expectations during the last four quarters.
• It has a dividend yield of about 3.90%.
• Bank of Montreal is up 17% in 2016.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NYSE: COST) will report its quarterly earnings after the closing bell on December 7. 

• The wholesale retailer is expected to report earnings of $1.20 per share, which is above last year’s earnings of $1.09 per share.
• The company has missed analysts’ expectations several times in 2016.
• Costco is expected to pay its next dividend in February.
• It currently has a dividend yield around 1.15%.
• In 2016, the stock is down 6%.

FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) will report earnings after the closing bell on December 20.

• The shipping company is expected to report earnings of $2.91 per share, which would be above last year’s earnings of $2.58 per share.
• The company has beat expectations each quarter in 2016. 
• FedEx will pay its next dividend on January 3.
• FedEx currently has a dividend yield of 0.84%.
• The stock price is up 27% this year.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) will release earnings during the premarket on December 21.

• The professional services company is expected to report earnings of $1.49 per share. Last year, ACN reported earnings of $1.28 per share.
• Accenture currently has a dividend yield of 2.00%.
• The stock price is up 15% this year.
• The company has made several acquisitions recently to expand its business, including UK-based advertising agency, Karmarama...

Paychex (NYSE: PAYX) will report its quarterly earnings before the opening bell on December 21.

• The company is expected to report earnings of $0.55 per share, compared to its earnings of $0.52 per share in the same quarter, last year. 
• Paychex has a current dividend yield of about 3.10% and is expected to pay its next dividend in February.
• The stock is up 12% in 2016.