Like the month that preceded it, November 2020 was a strong month for dividend-paying stocks in the U.S. stock market.

In the year of the coronavirus recession, however, that strength is a relative measure. Compared to previous months, the market appears strong. Compared to a year ago, the market looks like its been whacked, which in truth, it has.

Both observations for November 2020 can be seen in a chart tracking the number of dividend increases and reductions announced in each month since January 2004.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Here's our tally of the U.S. stock market's dividend metadata for November 2020:

• A total of 3,125 U.S. firms declared dividends in November 2020, an increase of 93 over the 3,032 recorded in October 2020. That figure is 248 lower than what was recorded a year ago in November 2019.
• 78 U.S. firms announced they would pay a special (or extra) dividend to their shareholders in November 2020, an increase of 45 over the number recorded in October 2020 and an increase of one over the number recorded a year ago in November 2019. This figure typically peaks in December each year, but that peak is often conditional on investor expectations for the U.S. government's future tax policy.
• 125 U.S. firms announced they would boost cash dividend payments to shareholders in November 2020, a decrease of 60 from the 185 recorded in October 2020, and a decrease of 25 from the 150 dividend rises declared back in November 2019.
• A total of 15 publicly traded companies cut their dividends in November 2020, an increase of 2 over the number recorded in October 2020 and also a decrease of 9 from the 24 recorded in November 2019.
• Just one U.S. firm omitted paying their dividends in November 2020, the same as the number recorded in October 2020. That figure is also a decrease of three from the total of four firms that omitted paying dividends back in November 2019.

Here is the list of firms that announced dividend cuts during the month:

• Weyerhauser (NYSE: WY)
• Dominion Energy (NYSE: D)
• Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust (NYSE: CHKR)
• Rattler Midstream (NASDAQ: RTLR)
• Brixmore Property Group (REIT - Retail) (NYSE: BRX)
• Sabine Royalty Trust (NYSE: SBR)
• TCG BDC (NASDAQ: CGBD)
• Nordic American Tankers (NYSE: NAT)
• Retail Value (REIT-Retail) (NYSE: RVI)
• SITE Centers (REIT-Retail) (NYSE: SITC)
• Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (NYSE: CRT)
• United Fire Group (NASDAQ: UFCS)
• United-Guardian (NASDAQ: UG)
• Marine Petroleum Trust (NASDAQ: MARPS)

Six of these firms are from the oil & gas sector, three are retail-oriented REITs, which shows the ongoing influence of the coronavirus pandemic on retail-oriented firms in 2020. The remaining firms in our sampling are made up of one firm each from the materials, utility, financial services, insurance and consumer products industries.

Overall, the pace of dividend cuts during the fourth quarter of 2020 to date appears more healthy than the same quarter in 2017, 2018, and 2019, which can be seen in our chart showing the cumulative dividend cuts announced by day of quarter for the current and three previous years.

(Click on image to enlarge)