"Returning cash to our shareholders remains a top priority," said Chief Executive Jeff Immelt. GE shares were up 5 cents at $21.67 near midday on the New York Stock Exchange. From July 2010 through December 2011, GE hiked its dividend four times by a total of 70 percent, in a move aimed at making up for a sharp cut during the financial crisis, when the quarterly dividend was slashed to 10 cents per share from 31 cents. Friday's dividend hike comes one year after the prior increase, marking a return to GE's historic pattern on raising its payout. "Investors need to realize the outsized dividend hikes that came following the cut during the crisis are over," said Jeff Sprague, analyst at Vertical Research Partners. "The dividend should track earnings growth from here." (Reporting By Scott Malone; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick and Leslie Adler)