Cat raises dividend 20 percent

Caterpillar’s board of directors voted to increase the quarterly cash dividend by 6 cents to 36 cents per share of common stock. The dividend will be payable on August 20 to stockholders of record at close of business on July 20, 2007.

The 36-cent dividend is a 20 percent increase over the previous rate of 30 cents per share. Caterpillar has increased its dividend by at least 20 percent for three consecutive years.