The Top Dividend Stocks of the Week

Last week, there weren't a whole lot of companies raising their dividends, but there were several that declared a special dividend.

When a company issues a special dividend or a dividend increase, it's usually a sign that business is so good that the company can afford to deliver excess earnings back into the hands of investors rather than plowing them back into the coffers.

With that in mind, Stockpickr has compiled a list of the companies that last week offered either a special dividend or a dividend increase in the Top Special Dividend and Dividend-Raising Stocks.

Although Yamana Gold(AUY Quote) didn't officially declare a dividend increase, the company's CEO, Peter Marrone, stated that the company could raise its dividend in the near future. Yamana, which explores and develops gold mines in Brazil, Argentina, Honduras and Nicaragua, has inked a $3.81 billion deal to take over Meridian Gold. Yamana offers a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 64, a P/E-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 3.5 and a (currently) small yield of 0.3%.

Yamana is a stock that is owned by Nierenberg Investment Management, which has generated an average annual return of more than 20% over the last 10 years. Nierenberg also owns Brooks Automation(BRKS Quote), a semiconductor-manufacturing products provider with a P/E of 6 and a PEG of 1.1. It also owns Superior Energy Services(SPN Quote), an oilfield services company with a P/E of 11 and a very low PEG of 0.29.