Ex-Dividend Reminder: Windstream Holdings, Granite Construction and Deere

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 3/27/15, Windstream Holdings Inc (NASD: WIN), Granite Construction Inc. (NYSE: GVA), and Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. Windstream Holdings Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.25 on 4/15/15, Granite Construction Inc. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.13 on 4/15/15, and Deere & Co. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.60 on 5/1/15.

Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen, at DividendChannel.com »

As a percentage of WIN's recent stock price of $7.90, this dividend works out to approximately 3.16%, so look for shares of Windstream Holdings Inc to trade 3.16% lower — all else being equal — when WIN shares open for trading on 3/27/15. Similarly, investors should look for GVA to open 0.38% lower in price and for DE to open 0.68% lower, all else being equal.

Below are dividend history charts for WIN, GVA, and DE, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent ones declared.

Windstream Holdings Inc (NASD: WIN):

Granite Construction Inc. (NYSE: GVA):

Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE):

In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 12.66% for Windstream Holdings Inc, 1.53% for Granite Construction Inc., and 2.71% for Deere & Co..

In Wednesday trading, Windstream Holdings Inc shares are currently off about 0.9%, Granite Construction Inc. shares are down about 0.2%, and Deere & Co. shares are up about 0.1% on the day.