In a shareholder-friendly move, McDonald's Corporation MCD announced a hike in its dividend payout. The company also announced the resumption of its share repurchase program.The company raised its quarterly dividend by 7% to $1.38 per share. The new dividend will be paid out on Dec 15 to its shareholders on record as of Dec 1. The total fourth-quarter dividend payout will amount to more than $1 billion.Notably, the company has a history of increasing dividend every year since the inception of its dividend payout policy in 1976. McDonald’s has increased dividend for 45 consecutive years.We appreciate McDonald's’ consistent efforts to enhance shareholder returns, despite the coronavirus pandemic affecting most of the industries. These initiatives reflect on the company’s business strength and sustainability of its cash flows.Considering the above-mentioned positives, we believe that McDonald's is an attractive option for income-seeking investors at the moment. It is to be noted that an income-generating and dividend-paying stock is always a preferred investment option. People looking for regular income from stocks are most likely to be inclined toward companies that have a track record of consistent and incremental dividend payments.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchPrice PerformanceSo far this year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has gained 16.1% compared with the industry’s 14.1% rally. The company's focus on drive-thru, delivery & take-away bodes well. McDonald’s launched its first-ever loyalty program in the United States. More than 80% of the company’s restaurants across 100 markets globally provide delivery. It has been pursuing every effort to drive growth in the international markets.Despite the pandemic, the company opened about 500 restaurants across the market in 2020. In 2021, the company is planning to open more than 1,300 restaurants globally. In China, the company surpassed the 4,000 restaurants mark in June and is on track to open 500 new restaurants in the country this year.Solid Restaurant BetsSome better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry include Jack in the Box Inc. JACK, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. CMG and The Wendy's Company WEN, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Jack in the Box has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 26.4%, on average.Chipotle’s earnings for 2021 are expected to rise 137.5%.Wendy's earnings for 2021 are anticipated to increase 42.1%. Time to Invest in Legal Marijuana If you’re looking for big gains, there couldn’t be a better time to get in on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion back in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027. After a clean sweep of 6 election referendums in 5 states, pot is now legal in 36 states plus D.C. Federal legalization is expected soon and that could be a still greater bonanza for investors. Even before the latest wave of legalization, Zacks Investment Research has recommended pot stocks that have shot up as high as +285.9%. You’re invited to check out Zacks’ Marijuana Moneymakers: An Investor’s Guide. It features a timely Watch List of pot stocks and ETFs with exceptional growth potential.Today, Download Marijuana Moneymakers FREE >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Jack In The Box Inc. (JACK): Free Stock Analysis Report McDonalds Corporation (MCD): Free Stock Analysis Report Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG): Free Stock Analysis Report The Wendys Company (WEN): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research