HCBK (MM)

Bank dividends are garnering significant attention from investors this year. According to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, banks and thrifts increased or initiated more dividends in 2011 than in the previous two years combined. In all 123 banks and thrifts raised or initiated dividends last year, a 36% increase from 2010 and a 68% jump from last year, SNL Financial reports. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Savings & Loans industry and provides equity research on Hudson City Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCBK) and First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNFG). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

www.paragonreport.com/HCBK

www.paragonreport.com/FNFG

Second Curve Capital LLC's Thomas Brown recently told Bloomberg that he expects several companies in the banking sector to boost their dividends. "One of the key positives for banks in 2012, big and small, will be significant increases in common-stock dividends," Brown explains. Bloomberg reports that the Federal Reserve has said it will approve dividend increases and other capital distributions for banks that demonstrate sufficient financial strength to operate under stressed markets.

The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the Savings and Loans Industry register with us free at www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters

Presently Hudson City Bancorp pays an annual dividend of 32 cents for a yield of around 4.5 percent. Hudson City Bancorp, Inc. (Hudson City Bancorp) serves as the holding company of its subsidiary, Hudson City Savings Bank (the Bank). The principal asset of Hudson City Bancorp is its investment in the Bank. The Bank is a federally chartered stock savings bank.

First Niagara Financial pays an annual dividend of 64 cents for a hefty yield of around 6.6 percent. Last week the bank announced that it has reached agreements with Community Bank System, Inc. and Financial Institutions, Inc. subsidiary Five Star Bank to purchase a total of 27 First Niagara and HSBC Bank USA, N.A. branches in Upstate New York, $1.4 billion in deposits and $315 million in loans.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine