Walt Disney Hikes Annual Dividend 19%

Walt Disney Co. late Wednesday said its board raised the company's dividend to 71 cents a share for the second half of fiscal 2015 from 66 cents. The dividend will be payable on Jan. 11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 14. The increase brings the total annual dividend to $1.37 a share, up 19% from 2014. The entertainment company also said it will hold its shareholders' meeting on March 3 in Chicago. Disney shares were unchanged in after-hours trading.