Profitability will improve in all regions, General Motors (GM) said, adding that it's on track to lift N. American margins. The top U.S. automaker hiked its quarterly dividend 20% to 36 cents and may consider returning even more capital to shareholders this year. Shares rose 5.4% after GM said its Q4 EPS ex items soared 78% to $1.19, beating. Sales slid 2.1% to $39.6 bil, just missing.