OREANDA-NEWS. Williams' (NYSE: WMB) board of directors has approved a regular dividend of USD 0.4025 on the company's common stock, payable March 31, 2014, to holders of record at the close of business on March 14.

The first-quarter 2014 dividend is an increase of USD 0.0225, or 5.9 percent, from the previous quarterly dividend of USD .38 per share. The new amount is an increase of USD 0.06375, or 18.8 percent, from the first-quarter 2013 dividend.

The company continues to expect to increase the full-year dividend it pays shareholders by 20 percent in each of 2014 and 2015 – to per-share amounts of USD 1.75 and USD 2.11, respectively. Williams' full-year dividend for 2013 was USD 1.44 per share.

The expected quarterly increases in Williams' dividend are subject to quarterly approval of Williams' board of directors.

Williams has paid a common stock dividend every quarter since 1974.