Amidst the consistent bad market news there is a glimmer of Christmas cheer spotted among some of the dividend paying companies and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that hold them.

Over the past week several dividend paying companies announced they are increasing the amount of the payout. Although economic times are tough, some companies are able to show their confidence in their business models and tough out the storm, and in the process, reward the shareholders who hung in there, reports Dividend Growth Investor on Daily Markets.com.

Some of the companies with an early Christmas present, among others, include:

• AT&T(T), a 2.5% increase of quarterly payment; 0.41 cents per share
• Nucor Corp. (NUE), increase of 9.40%; 0.35 cents per share(common)
• Edison (EIX), up 3.80% to 0.31 cents per common share
• Honeywell (HON), 5% increase to 0.21 cents per common share

While there are these ETFs that focus on dividends, note that these companies could be holdings in other sector-specific funds, as well:

• iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (DVY): down 37% year-to-date; T 1.7%

• First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index (FDL): down 36.9% year-to-date; T 8.9%; EIX 1.5%

• Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index (VYM): down 34.1% year-to-date; T 3.4%

Tags: Dividend ETFs, DVY, Energy, FDL, Sector ETFs, Telecommunications, Utilities, VYM