THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030515
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 37 lines
Smithfield Cos. boosted the quarterly dividend on its common stock by 20 percent to 6 cents a share. The Portsmouth food company's next dividend is payable Nov. 26 to shareholders of record Nov. 1. ``The company's cash flow and net income is currently at a level where we believe it to be appropriate to pass an additional amount to shareholders,'' said Richard Fuller, chief executive. The company last increased its dividend in December 1994, when it raised the quarterly payout to 5 cents a share from 4 cents. (Bloomberg Business News) Home sales grow 3 percent for the year
Local home sales for the year in Hampton Roads rose slightly through August. There were 15,897 houses pending sale - houses under contract but not closed - for the first eight months of the year. That's up 3.7 percent from the 1995 year-to-date total of 15,329 at this time. Pending sales for the month of August were down to 1,826, compared with 2,106 pending sales in August 1995. Houses in South Hampton Roads sold for an average price of $120,747 after an average of 76 days on the market. On the Peninsula, houses sold for an average price of $115,877 after 83 days on the market. (Staff) Dollar Tree reports increase in net sales
Norfolk-based Dollar Tree Stores Inc. reported net sales of $110.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, an increase of $43.2 million, or 64 percent over net sales of $67.4 million during the same period last year. Year-to-date net sales increased almost 67 percent, from $179.0 million to $298.3 million for the nine months ended September 30. (Staff) by CNB