The AES CorporationAES announced that its board of directors has approved an 8.3% hike in the quarterly common stock dividend, reaching the annualized payout to 52 cents per share. The underperformance might have been led by unfavorable global macroeconomic factors, such as devaluation in foreign currencies, higher interest and inflation rates in Brazil and hurricanes in the Caribbean Islands. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.