MILWAUKEE, Dec. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC) today announced that it is planning to raise the quarterly dividend on the company's common stock to 52 cents per share in the first quarter of 2017. This would represent an increase of 2.5 cents per share or 5.1 percent over the current quarterly rate. 

The directors expect to declare the new dividend at their regularly scheduled meeting in January. The dividend – which would be equivalent to an annual rate of $2.08 per share – is expected to be payable March 1, 2017, to stockholders of record on Feb. 14, 2017.

"The board's action today is consistent with our objective to target a dividend payout ratio of 65 to 70 percent of earnings, a policy in line with our peers across the utility industry," said Allen Leverett, president and chief executive officer.

Earnings in 2017 are expected to be in a range of $3.06 to $3.12 per share. This is consistent with the company objective to grow earnings per share at a 5 to 7 percent compound annual growth rate off a 2015 base of $2.72. 

WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation's premier energy companies, serving 4.4 million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota.

The company's principal utilities are We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, Michigan Gas Utilities, and Minnesota Energy Resources. The company's other major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants.

WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com), a component of the S&P 500, has approximately $29 billion of assets, 8,500 employees and 55,000 stockholders of record.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements.  Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management's expectations and projections regarding earnings, dividend payments and other matters. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "guidance", "intends", "may", "objectives", "plans", "possible", "potential", "projects", "should", "targets", "will" or similar terms or variations of these terms.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including business and competitive conditions in the company's service territories; timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and other regulatory decisions; the company's ability to successfully integrate the operations of the Integrys companies; availability of the company's generating facilities and/or distribution systems; unanticipated changes in fuel and purchased power costs; key personnel changes; varying weather conditions; continued industry consolidation; continued adoption of distributed generation by the company's customers; energy conservation efforts; cyber-security threats; construction risks; equity and bond market fluctuations; the impact of any legislative and regulatory changes, including changes to existing and/or anticipated environmental standards and tax laws; current and future litigation and regulatory investigations; changes in accounting standards; the financial performance of the American Transmission Company; goodwill and its possible impairment; and other factors described under the heading "Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and under the headings "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" contained in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015 and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

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SOURCE WEC Energy Group

Brian Manthey (news media), 414-221-4444, brian.manthey@we-energies.com; Colleen F. Henderson, CFA (investment community), 414-221-2592, colleen.henderson@wecenergygroup.com