Such pronouncements were few and far between among significant corporations, though.

Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) proposes to hike its quarterly dividend to $1.21 a share, a 10 percent increase from $1.10.

The stock, which yields 3.8 percent, has returned minus 22 percent this year through June 23, dividends included, compared with about minus 20 percent for the S&P 500 SPX +3.06 percent.

Supermarket operator Kroger (KR) announced a quarterly dividend of 26 cents a share, up from 21 cents, for an increase of approximately 24 percent. That corresponds to an annual dividend of $1.04 a share. The stock, which has returned nearly 6 percent this year, yields 2.2 percent.

Korn Ferry (KY) wants to boost its quarterly distribution to 15 cents a share from 12 cents. That’s an increase of 25 percent. The consultancy firm’s businesses include executive-search services.

The stock, which yields 1.1 percent, has returned around negative 26 percent year to date.

Several other corporations stated they expect to continue their quarterly payouts at present levels.

That includes Mastercard MA +4.34 percent (MA) at 49 cents a share; Pfizer (PFE) at 40 cents; AbbVie ABBV +1.93 percent (ABBV) at $1.41; and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at $2.80 a share.

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