The Top Dividend Stocks of the Week

In spite of the large dips in the stock market last week, there were signs that the economy was still strong for certain industries, as shown by the increases several companies made in their dividends .

A dividend increase usually shows that not only are a firm's revenue and earnings strong, but there is a significant reason for the financials to continue to increase in the future.

Stockpickr has reviewed the companies that raised dividends last week and come up with a list of the Top 10 Dividend Raisers for the Week.

At the top of the list is Allegheny Technologies(ATI Quote), which increased its quarterly dividend by 40% to 18 cents a share. This specialty metals company also announced a $500 million share-repurchase program. The stock has a price-to-earnings (P/E)ratio of 13 and a P/E-to-growth (PEG) ratio of just under 1.

Allegheny is a stock that's owned by Perry Corp., a Texas-based activist hedge fun that manages $9.6 billion. Perry also owns News Corp.(NWS.A Quote), which has a yield of 0.6%, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce(RIO Quote), which pays out 0.9%, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe(BNI Quote), which offers a dividend rate of 1.5%.

Another dividend raiser last week was restaurant company Brinker International(EAT Quote), which boosted its quarterly dividend by 22% to 11 cents a share. Brinker owns Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Maggiano's Little Italy. The stock offers a P/E of 13, a PEG of 1.1 and a yield of 1.5%.

Brinker is part of Restaurant Stocks, a self-explanatory Stockpickr portfolio that includes Darden Restaurants(DRI Quote), a stock that yields 1.7%.