Disney increasing dividend by 15 percent; payments now semi-annual instead of once a year

The Walt Disney Co. is boosting its dividend by 15 percent, and will now pay dividends semi-annually instead of once a year.

The Burbank, California-based company said that the dividend of 66 cents per share will be paid on July 29 to shareholders of record on July 6.

Disney has been doing well this year, partly because of the strength of its movie studio results. Disney owns Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm.

Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" has pulled in more than $449 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters to date. Disney's animated movie created with Pixar, "Inside Out," debuted last week well above expectations with $90.4 million — a record opening for an original film and the fourth highest for an animated film ever.

Disney is also gearing up for the release of "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens," on Dec. 18. The film, part of one of the most popular movie franchises ever, is anticipated to break records.