Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU)

[OilStockReport]

Today's activity is a tell tale sign of 2011 IMO.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) today approved a 21 percent increase in the regular quarterly dividend on common stock, to $0.085 per share. The increased dividend is payable on Nov. 26, 2010, to holders of record on Nov. 4, 2010.

"Peabody Energy is again raising its dividend, recognizing our substantial operating cash flows and record liquidity levels," said Peabody Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gregory H. Boyce. "This is the second dividend increase in the past year, and we are pleased to be able to continue to expand our total shareholder returns even as we implement our major growth initiatives around the world."

Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company and a global leader in clean coal solutions. With 2009 sales of 244 million tons and $6 billion in revenues, Peabody fuels 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.