Confident in its strong cash generation, shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] on Thursday said it is increasing its quarterly cash dividend by 25 percent and doubling the size of its share repurchase program.
The new dividend rate will be 50 cents per share payable on Dec. 11. That is up from the current 40 cents per share.
The company’s share repurchase program was expanded by $600 million to $1.2 billion. Purchases under the program will be made at the discretion of management.
“The increase in the quarterly dividend and share repurchase program demonstrates our confidence in the company’s performance and free cash flow generation,” Mike Petters, HII’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
HII will report its third quarter financial results Nov. 5.