Image Source: PixabaySeveral companies have been delivering positive news to shareholders lately, including announcements of higher dividend payouts. A company opts to raise its dividend when confident in its current standing and cash-generating abilities. Of course, it also reflects the company’s commitment to returning value to shareholders, which is undoubtedly encouraging.Three companies — NetEase (NTES – Free Report) , Verisk Analytics (VRSK – Free Report) , and Waste Management (WM – Free Report) — recently declared dividend hikes. For those with an appetite for income, let’s take a closer look at each.NetEaseNetEase is an Internet technology company that develops applications, services, and other technologies for the Internet in China. NTES announced a sizable 120% boost to its quarterly payout, with the company also boasting a 24% five-year annualized dividend growth rate.  Analysts have been notably bullish on the company’s current year outlook, with the $7.91 Zacks Consensus EPS estimate up 35% over the last year and suggesting year-over-year growth of 12%. The stock sports a Style Score of ‘A’ for Growth.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchVerisk AnalyticsVerisk Analytics is a data analytics provider serving customers in insurance, energy, and specialized markets and financial services. The company announced a 14.7% boost to its dividend, bringing the quarterly payout to $0.39 per share.Verisk has consistently increasingly rewarded its shareholders, as we can see illustrated below.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchWaste ManagementWaste Management is a leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. The company boosted its quarterly payout by 7%, with the payout now totaling $0.75 per share.Analysts have taken a bullish stance on the company’s earnings outlook, raising their expectations across all timeframes.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchBottom LineDividends soften the blow from drawdowns in other positions, provide more than one way to reap a return from an investment, and allow maximum returns through dividend reinvestment.And all three companies above – NetEase, Verisk Analytics, and Waste Management – have recently boosted their payouts. More By This Author:Insiders Are Buying These 5 Stocks3 Stocks To Buy For Post-Earnings Momentum 3 Top-Ranked Stocks To Buy For Stability