January 2025 Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post on Friday, December 6th, the high temperature here in Central Wisconsin is going to reach just 18 degrees Fahrenheit today. Winter is officially about two weeks away, but it already feels like winter is here!

Now that we're almost a week into December, I figure that now isn't a bad time to start looking ahead to next month. Here are three stocks on my watch list for January 2025 (hard to believe 2024 is just about over).

Stock #1: Alphabet (GOOGL)

The first stock on my watch list in January 2025 is once again Alphabet. Those who are curious can find my investment thesis in my November 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post.

Since that time, regulatory risk has heightened a bit, with the Department of Justice's push for GOOGL to divest Chrome. The company remains a financial fortress, though. Growth prospects are still holding up, too. The $175 share price (as of December 6th, 2024) represents a forward P/E ratio of around 19x, which arguably prices in risk here.

Stock #2: Main Street Capital (MAIN)

The next stock on my watch list for next month is Main Street Capital. I haven't covered MAIN in quite a while, but my investment thesis from my March 2024 Seeking Alpha article remains unchanged.

The gist of my bullish sentiment can be explained by a few positive elements. That includes an exceptional annualized return on equity, its distributable net investment income per share exceeding dividends paid, and a record net asset value per share for the ninth straight quarter. MAIN isn't a bargain at the $55 share price (as of December 6th, 2024), but this is another plus for its growth prospects. That's because the company partially relies on share issuances to fund growth. So, issuing shares at a premium to NAV is a boon for MAIN.

Stock #3: Nvidia (NVDA)

The final stock on my watch list in January 2025 is Nvidia. Since I first purchased NVDA in May 2024, I've been gradually working on building my allocation to the stock. It's not hard to see why, either.

NVDA's products are so hot that supply is expected to remain constrained for the foreseeable future. That is driving substantial pricing power and exceptional profit margins for the company. Overall, NVDA looks like it has many more years of double-digit earnings growth ahead. At the $142 share price (as of December 6th, 2024), NVDA is priced at a forward P/E ratio of just 32. That's hardly an unjustifiable valuation for a company of NVDA's caliber.

Concluding Thoughts:

That's it for this blog post. Another month of three phenomenal blue-chip stocks. As capital allocation is concerned, I plan on weighting MAIN around 35% to 40% and GOOGL and NVDA around 60% to 65%. That puts me right around a 3% weighted average dividend yield that I target and also provides loads of growth potential for my portfolio.

Discussion:

Are any of GOOGL, MAIN, or NVDA on your radar for next month?

If not, what are you watching for January 2025?

Thanks for reading. I welcome your comments below!

November 2024 Dividend Income

As I'm writing this blog post on Tuesday, November 26th, it is currently freezing here in Central Wisconsin. The temperature today is expected to reach a high of just 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now that the month is almost complete, I'll highlight my net dividend income for November 2024. Let's get into it!

Dividend Income Nearly Topped $450 in November 2024

In November 2024, I received $449.18 in net dividends (accounting for British American Tobacco's ADR fees). That equates to a 16.8% growth rate versus August 2024.

My net dividends in November were 37.1% higher than the $327.57 in net dividends collected in November 2023.

In more depth, I received $417.14 in net dividends from 27 companies within my Charles Schwab portfolio. Aside from dividend increases, the higher dividend base in this account was mostly driven by recent dividend stock purchases. Most specifically, that includes July 2024 Dividend Stock Purchases, August 2024 Dividend Stock Purchases, and October 2024 Dividend Stock Purchases.

I also collected $16.02 in net dividends from three companies in my Webull account. This slight increase from August was due to a higher distribution from Energy Transfer and favorable foreign currency translation for British American Tobacco.

My net dividends received from four companies in my Fidelity portfolio grew to $16.02. Dividend stock purchases of Realty Income and Mastercard in recent months led to this increase in income.

Concluding Thoughts:

There we have it. Another month of dividends and another month of progress for the portfolio. I hope to continue deploying fresh capital, reinvesting dividends, and receiving dividend raises to keep my income moving higher. I'm thankful to be living in the greatest country in the history of the planet and I hope everybody has a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Discussion:

How was your net dividend income in November 2024?

Did you receive any first-time dividend payments during the month?

I appreciate your readership and look forward to your comments below!

November 2024 Dividend Stock Purchases/Sales

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, November 22nd. The low temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to get down to just 26 degrees Fahrenheit later today. Snow is also in the forecast tonight. In other words, winter is unofficially here.

Now that November will be over in one trading week, it's a good time to review my stock purchases and sales for the month. Without further ado, let's jump into it!

Stock Purchase #1: Energy Transfer (ET)

The first stock that I purchased in November was 41 units of Energy Transfer at an average price of $16.46 a unit. Interested readers can check out my updated investment thesis for ET in this recent TipRanks article. This transaction lifted my net annual forward distributions by $52.89, which equates to a 7.84% distribution yield.

Stock Purchase #2: Alphabet (GOOGL)

Another stock purchase that I completed was four shares of Alphabet at a cost per share of $171.16. Readers can find my buy rationale for GOOGL in my November 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post. This added $3.20 to my net annual forward dividends, which is equivalent to a 0.47% dividend yield.

Stock Purchase #3: PepsiCo (PEP)

The third stock purchase that I made in November was four shares of PepsiCo at an average price of $165.73 a share. My buy case for PEP is briefly laid out in the aforementioned November 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post. The $21.68 boost to my net annual forward dividends works out to a 3.27% net dividend yield.

Bonus Stock Purchase: Meta Platforms (META)

My final stock purchase executed with fresh capital was one share of Meta Platforms at a cost of $567.42. My bullish argument for Meta Platforms is briefly summarized in my September 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post. This increased my net annual forward dividends by $2, which equates to a 0.35% dividend yield.

Dividend Stock Sales: Albemarle (ALB), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Simon Property Group (SPG), and Texas Instruments (TXN)

I disposed of several dividend stocks during the month. I made each of these sales because of a combination of overvaluation and poor dividend growth. These transactions lowered my portfolio's net annual forward dividend income by $189.04.

Dividend Stock Purchases: Energy Transfer (ET), MPLX LP (MPLX), Nvidia (NVDA), and Realty Income (O)

I used my proceeds to purchase 40 units of Energy Transfer (ET) at $17.31 apiece, 25 units of MPLX LP (MPLX) at $47.47 each, 24 shares of Nvidia (NVDA) at an average cost of $144.82 apiece, and 15 shares of Realty Income (O) at $57.33 each. These purchases boosted my net annual forward dividends by $195.64.

Concluding Thoughts:

In November, I put $2,589.84 in fresh capital to work. These purchases raised my net annual forward dividends by $79.77, which is a weighted average dividend yield of 3.08%. Capital redeployment increased my net annual forward dividends by $6.60.

My net annual forward dividends were also lifted by $13.28 from November dividend increases. As a result, my net annual forward dividends rose from over $5,155 at the start of the month to roughly $5,255 at the end of the month.

Discussion:

How was your capital deployment in November 2024?

Did you open any new positions this month?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

Expected Dividend Increases for December 2024

As I'm writing this blog post, it is currently Friday, November 15th. The high temperature is set to reach 54 degrees Fahrenheit here in Central Wisconsin. For this time of year, I'll take that any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Now that the month is half complete and most of my portfolio's dividend raises have been announced, I'll highlight the raises that I received. I'll also look ahead to the dividend hikes that I'm expecting for next month.

Actual Dividend Increases for November 2024

Dividend Increase #1: Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

Automatic Data Processing upped its quarterly dividend per share by 10% to $1.54. This came in just under my expectation of a 10.7% raise to $1.55.

Across my 11 shares of ADP, my net annual forward dividends soared by $6.16 due to this announcement.

Dividend Increase #2: Main Street Capital (MAIN)

As predicted, Main Street Capital increased its monthly dividend per share by 2% to $0.25.

My net annual forward dividends rose by $1.80 as a result of this dividend declaration across my 30 shares of MAIN.

Dividend Increase #3: Simon Property Group (SPG)

Simon Property Group announced a 2.4% bump in its quarterly dividend per share to $2.10. This met my forecast.

Across my nine shares of SPG, my net annual forward dividends increased by $1.80 due to this announcement.

Dividend Increase #4: Exxon Mobil (XOM)

Exxon Mobil declared a 4.2% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.99. This came in a bit shy of my expectation of a 5.3% raise to $1.

My net annual forward dividends grew by $1.76 across my 11 shares of XOM as a result of this dividend declaration.

Dividend Freeze: Enbridge (ENB)

Enbridge announced a quarterly dividend per share of 0.915 CAD, which was in line with the previous. This was less than the 3% raise to $0.69 USD that I was expecting. However, I expect the next dividend announcement will be what I anticipated.

Pending Dividend Increase #1: Merck (MRK)

Merck also hasn't announced its dividend hike yet. However, I stand by my projection of a 5.1% increase in the quarterly dividend per share to $0.81. 

My net annual forward dividends would grow by $1.76 across my 11 shares of MRK due to such an announcement.

UPDATE: As anticipated, Merck upped its quarterly dividend per share by 5.1% to $0.81. My net annual forward dividends increased by $1.76 across my 11 shares of MRK.

Expected Dividend Increases for December 2024

Actual Dividend Increase #1: Aflac (AFL)

Aflac has yet to up its quarterly dividend per share. I still believe it will declare a 6% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.53, though.

Across my 11 shares of AFL, that would provide a $1.32 lift to my net annual forward dividends.

UPDATE: Aflac hiked its quarterly dividend per share by 16% to $0.58. This was well above my expectations and lifted my net annual forward dividends by $3.52 across my 11 shares of AFL.

Expected Dividend Increase #1: Abbott Laboratories (ABT)

The first dividend raise that I'm expecting for next month will be from Abbott Laboratories. My best guess is that ABT will declare a 7.3% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.59.

Across my six shares of ABT, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $1.44 from such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: Amgen (AMGN)

The next dividend increase that I'm projecting in December will come from Amgen. I believe that AMGN will announce a 6.2% bump in its quarterly dividend per share to $2.39.

My net annual forward dividends would grow by $3.36 across my six shares due to such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: Broadcom (AVGO)

The third dividend hike that I'm predicting for next month will be from Broadcom. My guess is that AVGO will declare an 11.3% boost in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.59.

Across my 40 shares of AVGO, my net annual forward dividends would climb higher by $9.60 from such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #4: Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY)

The next dividend increase that I'm expecting in December will come from Bristol Myers Squibb. My best guess is that BMY will announce a 5% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.63.

My net annual forward dividends would rise by $2.64 across my 22 shares of BMY due to such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #5: CVS Health (CVS)

The fifth dividend raise that I'm projecting for next month will be from CVS Health. I believe that CVS will declare a 6% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.705.

Across my 15 shares of CVS, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $2.40 from such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #6: Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR)

The next dividend bump that I'm predicting in December will come from Innovative Industrial Properties. My guess is that IIPR will announce a 1.6% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.93.

My net annual forward dividends would increase by $0.72 across my six shares of IIPR due to such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #7: Mastercard (MA)

The seventh dividend hike that I'm expecting for next month will be from Mastercard. My best guess is that Mastercard will declare a 13.6% boost in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.75.

Across my five shares of MA, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $1.80 from such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #8: Realty Income (O)

The next dividend increase that I'm projecting in December will come from Realty Income. I believe that O will announce a 0.2% bump in its monthly dividend per share to $0.264.

My net annual forward dividends would increase by $0.288 across my 48 shares of O due to such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #9: Pfizer (PFE)

The ninth dividend raise that I'm predicting for next month will be from Pfizer. My guess is that PFE will declare a 2.4% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.43.

Across my 26 shares of PFE, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $1.04 from such a declaration.

Concluding Thoughts:

The five dividend raises that I received in November lifted my net annual forward dividends by $13.28. This would be equivalent to investing $442.67 at a 3% net dividend yield.

The 10 dividend hikes that I'm expecting for next month (including AFL's raise) would add $26.808 to my net annual forward dividend income. That would be like investing $893.60 at a 3% dividend yield.

Discussion:

How have your payout boosts been in November 2024?

Did you receive any first-time dividend hikes?

I appreciate your readership and look forward to your comments below!

December 2024 Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, November 8th. The high temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit today, so that's not too shabby for this time of the year. 

I have already made my purchases for the month of November. Thus, now would be a good time to look ahead to the stocks on my watch list for next month.

Stock #1: Amazon (AMZN)

The first stock on my watch list for December is Amazon. I just upped my stake in AMZN last month after it was on my October 2024 Stock Watch List and remain confident enough after Q3 earnings to add more soon.

AMZN's growth profile remains exceptional. The balance sheet is firmly A-rated. Not to mention that shares look to still offer intriguing value from the current $208 share price (as of November 8th, 2024).

Stock #2: Meta Platforms (META)

The next stock on my watch list for next month is Meta Platforms. After having purchased META earlier this month and in September, I'm bringing it back again.

Like AMZN, META's Q3 earnings impressed me. The social media network continues to expand. As AI is further integrated into the business, META should be able to fetch higher ad prices. The 0.3% dividend yield is well-covered and leaves ample opportunity for future growth. The stock also appears to be a decent value from the current $588 share price (as of November 8th, 2024).

Stock #3: MPLX LP (MPLX)

The final stock on my watch list for December 2024 is MPLX LP. Nothing has really changed with the investment thesis in recent months. It's just business as usual. If anything, I was really impressed by the recent 12.5% distribution hike. The distribution is secure and units look at bit discounted here at $46 (as of November 8th, 2024).

Concluding Thoughts:

There you have it. Three more blue-chip stocks that I'm glad to own and excited to buy more of next month. My asset allocation for next month will likely be around 35% value via MPLX and 65% growth via AMZN and META. For my needs, this is a nice blend of income and growth.

Discussion:

Are any of AMZN, META, or MPLX on your watch list for December 2024?

If not, what are you watching during the month?

Thank you for your readership and please feel free to comment below!

October 2024 Dividend Income

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Monday, October 28th. The weather here in Central Wisconsin is starting to feel like late-October. The high temperature for today is expected to reach just 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

On that note, the month of October is just about complete. Now that I've received all dividend payments besides the JPMorgan Chase (JPM) dividend set for the last day of the month, I'll be reviewing my net dividend income for October 2024.

Another Decent Month

During October 2024, I received $264.70 in net dividends (including GSK ADR fees). This equates to a 3.2% quarterly growth rate against the $256.43 in net dividends collected in July 2024.

That came in 6.3% less than the $282.51 in net dividends that I received in October 2023. This drop was due to my sale of W.P. Carey (WPC) in October 2023. Realty Income's acquisition of Spirit Realty Capital earlier this year (and the resulting shift from quarterly to monthly dividend income) also played a role. Exiting Medical Properties Trust (MPW) in November 2023 was also behind this reduced dividend income. My sale of Leggett & Platt (LEG) in January 2024 factored into decreased dividend income, too. Finally, sales of Omnicom (OMC) and Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) in May 2024 also negatively impacted dividend income.

I collected $232.30 in net dividends from 25 companies in my Charles Schwab account. Dividend stock purchases and dividend raises in recent months led to a slight uptick in net dividend income in October versus July. I also received my first dividend from Nvidia for the month.

I also collected $21.62 in net dividends from four companies within my Fidelity portfolio. A dividend raise from VICI Properties (VICI) and my purchase of Realty Income (O) stock in August 2024 were to credit for this higher net dividend income during October.

Lastly, I collected $10.78 in net dividends from four companies in my Webull account. Dividend raises from Albemarle (ALB), Iron Mountain (IRM) and Philip Morris International (PM) helped net dividend income edge higher in October.

Concluding Thoughts:

Another month of dividends. Thus far, my net dividend income has risen by 20.1% through the first 10 months of 2024 compared to 2023. As I have for over seven years now, I hope to keep routinely deploying capital in the months and years to come. This should keep propelling those dividends higher in the future.

Discussion:

How was your month for dividend income?

Did you receive any first-time dividends during October 2024 as I did with NVDA?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

October 2024 Stock Purchases

As I'm writing this blog post on Friday, October 25th, it's expected to reach a high of 62 degrees Fahrenheit later today. If that wasn't enough, it's also going to be sunny throughout the day. For late-October, this is excellent weather for Central Wisconsin. Not surprisingly, that's why I plan on getting outside for at least an hour or two today.

Now that we're in the last week of October, I'm probably done buying stocks for the month. So, that makes today the perfect time to highlight my stock purchases for October 2024.

Stock Purchase #1: Amazon (AMZN)

The first stock purchase that I executed in October was three shares of Amazon at an average cost per share of $184.53. Curious readers can check out my basic investment thesis for AMZN in my October 2024 Stock Watch List post.

Stock Purchase #2: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)

My second stock purchase completed during the month was 34 units of Enterprise Products Partners at an average price of $29.27 a unit. This boosted my net annual forward distributions by $71.40, which equates to a 7.18% distribution yield.

Readers can peruse my investment thesis for EPD in the October 2024 Stock Watch List post linked above.

Stock Purchase #3: Visa (V)

The next stock purchase that I carried out in October was two shares of Visa at $277.47 apiece. That transaction increased my net annual forward dividends by $4.16, which works out to a 0.75% net dividend yield.

Again, interested readers can find my investment thesis for V in my October 2024 Stock Watch List post.

Bonus Stock Purchase: Enbridge (ENB)

I had some dividend payments that accumulated in my IRA. So, I put those funds to work and purchased two shares of Enbridge at an average cost per share of $40.61. This lifted my net annual forward dividends by $5.36, which is equivalent to a 6.6% dividend yield.

Readers can examine my investment thesis for ENB in my September 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List post.

Concluding Thoughts:

In October, I deployed $2,184.75 in capital. These buys helped my net annual forward dividends jump by $80.92, which is a 3.70% weighted average net dividend yield.

My net annual forward dividends also rose by $34.092 from the 10 dividend increases that I received during the month. This pushed my net annual forward dividends from around $5,040 going into the month to over $5,155 exiting the month.

Discussion:

How was your capital deployment in October 2024?

Did you start any new positions during the month?

I appreciate your readership and welcome your comments below!

Expected Dividend Increases For November 2024

As I'm writing this blog post on Friday, October 18th, the weather remains decent here in Central Wisconsin. The high temperature is expected to reach 67 degrees Fahrenheit today.

Now that the end of the month is drawing near, it would appropriate to highlight the dividend raises that I have received in October. I'll also reiterate the raises that I still expect but haven't yet received and update those as they are announced. Finally, I'll look ahead to the dividend boosts that I'm expecting for next month.

Actual Dividend Increases For October 2024

Dividend Increase #1: Agree Realty (ADC)

Agree Realty announced a 1.2% increase in its monthly dividend per share to $0.253. Across my 20 shares of ADC, my net annual forward dividends rose by $0.72 from this announcement.

Dividend Increase #2: Lockheed Martin (LMT)

Lockheed Martin announced a 4.8% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $3.30. This was less than the 6.3% raise to $3.35 that I was anticipating.

Across my four shares of LMT, my net annual forward dividends rose by $2.40 from this announcement.

Dividend Increase #3: A.O. Smith (AOS)

A.O. Smith announced a 6.3% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.34. This was just below my expectation of a 7.8% increase to $0.345 in this series' previous blog post.

My net annual forward dividends grew by $0.96 across my 12 shares of AOS from this announcement.

Pending Dividend Increase #1: AbbVie (ABBV)

AbbVie has yet to announce its dividend increase. However, I'm reiterating my expectation of a 5.8% increase in the quarterly dividend to $1.64.

UPDATE: ABBV announced a 5.8% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.64. Across my 14 shares, my net annual forward dividends rose by $5.04.

Pending Dividend Increase #2: American Electric Power (AEP)

American Electric Power hasn't declared its next dividend, either. I'm standing by my prediction of a 5.7% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $0.93, though.

UPDATE: As predicted, AEP upped its quarterly dividend per share by 5.7% to $0.93. My net annual forward dividends rose by $3 across my 15 shares of AEP from this declaration.

Pending Dividend Increase #3: Energy Transfer (ET)

Energy Transfer has yet to announce its distribution increase. I still believe ET will up the quarterly distribution per unit by 0.8% to $0.3225.

UPDATE: As projected, ET increased its quarterly distribution per unit by 0.8% to $0.3225. Across my 102 units of ET, my net annual forward distributions rose by $1.02 from this announcement.

Pending Dividend Increase #4: MPLX LP (MPLX)

MPLX LP hasn't declared its next distribution raise. However, I'm affirming my projection of a 5.9% increase in the quarterly distribution per unit to $0.90.

UPDATE: MPLX boosted its quarterly distribution per unit by 12.5% to $0.9565, crushing my expectations. My net annual forward distributions soared by $13.632 due to this declaration.

Pending Dividend Increase #5: Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)

Pinnacle West Capital has yet to announce its dividend increase. I'm standing by my prediction of a 1.7% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $0.90.

UPDATE: As expected, PNW upped its quarterly dividend be share by 1.7% to $0.90. Across my seven shares, this lifted my net annual forward dividends by $0.56.

Pending Dividend Increase #6: Starbucks (SBUX)

Starbucks hasn't declared its next dividend increase yet, but I'm still expecting a 7% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $0.61.

UPDATE: SBUX declared a 7% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.61. Across my 23 shares, this increased my net annual forward dividends by $3.68.

Pending Dividend Increase #7: Visa (V)

Visa has yet to announce its dividend boost. However, I believe that the quarterly dividend per share will be upped by 13.5% to $0.59.

UPDATE: As anticipated, V upped its quarterly dividend per share by 13.5% to $0.59. My net annual forward dividends rose by $3.08 as a result.

Pending Dividend Increase #8: Exxon Mobil (XOM)

Exxon Mobil hasn't declared its next dividend increase. I'm still projecting a 5.3% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $1, though.

UPDATE: XOM announced a 4.2% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.99. Across my 11 shares, my net annual forward dividends rose by $1.76.

Expected Dividend Increases For November 2024

Expected Dividend Increase #1: Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

The first dividend increase that I'm predicting in November will be from Automatic Data Processing. I believe that ADP will announce a 10.7% boost in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.55.

Across my 11 shares, my net annual forward dividends would surge higher by $6.60 from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: Aflac (AFL)

The next dividend raise that I'm expecting for next month will come from Aflac. My best guess is that AFL will declare a 6% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.53.

If such a declaration plays out as expected, my net annual forward dividends would increase by $1.32 across my 11 shares of AFL.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: Enbridge (ENB)

The third dividend increase that I'm projecting in November will be from Enbridge. I anticipate that ENB will announce a 3% increase in its quarterly dividend per share (in USD) to $0.69.

Across my 58 shares of ENB, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $4.64 from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #4: Main Street Capital (MAIN)

The next dividend raise that I'm predicting for next month will come from Main Street Capital. I believe that MAIN will declare a 2% increase in its monthly dividend per share to $0.25.

My net annual forward dividends would increase by $1.80 across my 30 shares due to such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #5: Merck (MRK)

The fifth dividend raise that I'm expecting in November will be from Merck. My best guess is that MRK will announce a 5.1% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.81.

Across my 11 shares of MRK, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $1.76 from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #6: Simon Property Group (SPG)

The final dividend increase that I'm projecting for next month will come from Simon Property Group. I anticipate that SPG will declare a 2.4% bump in its quarterly dividend per share to $2.10.

My net annual forward dividends per share would grow by $1.80 across my nine shares of SPG due to such a declaration.

Concluding Thoughts:

I received $34.092 of dividend increases from 10 companies in October. This is equivalent to investing $1,136.40 at a 3% dividend yield.

If the seven raises that I'm expecting for next month go as expected, my net annual forward dividends would increase by $19.68. This is like investing $656.00 at a weighted average net yield of 3%.

Discussion:

How was your dividend raise activity in October?

Did you receive any first-time payout raises like I did from MPLX?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

November 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List

As I’m writing this blog post, it is Friday, October 11^th. The high temperature is expected reach 74 degrees Fahrenheit in Central Wisconsin. Add in a partly sunny forecast and the weather is perfect for this time of the year.

Now that less than three weeks remain in the month, I’ll be looking ahead to dividend stocks on my watch list for November 2024. Let’s dive into it!

Dividend Stock #1: Energy Transfer (ET)

The first stock on my watch list for November 2024 is Energy Transfer (ET). Those interested in the investment thesis in detail can refer to my August Seeking Alpha article.

In a nutshell, ET set several new partnership records in its second quarter. The partnership’s credit rating was upgraded to Baa2 (BBB equivalent) by Moody’s in June. The 7.8% distribution yield is also well-covered by DCF. Finally, ET’s $16 unit price (as of October 11^th, 2024) remains well under my fair value estimate of approximately $19 a unit.

Dividend Stock #2: Alphabet (GOOGL)

The next stock on my watch list for next month is Alphabet (GOOGL). Astute readers will notice that I just highlighted the stock in my September 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List.

Well, my buying rationale is about the same as it was at that time. Since that time, I published a September Seeking Alpha article. YouTube Shorts monetization is improving, and Google Cloud remains a go-to option for both startups and established businesses. GOOGL’s nearly $100 billion net cash position and AA+ credit rating from S&P on a stable outlook are also pluses. The recently initiated dividend is modest and has tons of room for future growth. The icing on the cake is that GOOGL is deeply undervalued from the current $165 share price (as of October 11^th, 2024), with my October fair value estimate approaching $210 a share.

Dividend Stock #3: PepsiCo (PEP)

The third stock on my watch list for November 2024 is PepsiCo (PEP). My investment thesis for the consumer staple remains unchanged from my May Seeking Alpha article.

PEP operates as a leader in a fragmented, trillion-plus dollar global beverage and convenient food category. The company also enjoys an A+ credit rating from S&P on a stable outlook. Fair value is also edging closer to $200 a share, which would represent a moderate discount versus the current $174 share price (as of October 11^th, 2024).

Concluding Thoughts:

So, that is that for this blog post in my monthly stock watch list series. Three more world-class stocks on my radar for additional investment. These are the kinds of investment holdings that allow me to sleep well at night and stand by the dividend growth investing strategy. This has served me well over the past seven years and I especially look forward to the next seven years of living by the strategy.

Discussion:

Are any of ET, GOOGL, and/or PEP on your watch list for November 2024?

If not, what stocks are on your radar for next month?

Thanks for reading. I look forward to your comments below!

September 2024 Dividend Income

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, October 4th. The high temperature is going to reach into the upper 60 degrees Fahrenheit range later today. Unsurprisingly, I'm planning on getting outside for a while today to enjoy what's left of the ideal weather.

Now that September is over, I'm going to be taking a moment today to review my net dividend income for the month. Without further ado, let's dig into it.

Dividend Income Approached $550 For The Month

In September 2024, I collected $543.81 in net dividends (including ADR fees for BP and withholdings on BAM dividends). Against the $520.75 in net dividends received in June 2024, this is equivalent to a 4.4% quarterly growth rate.

Compared to the $434.85 in net dividends collected in September 2023, that equates to a 25.1% year-over-year growth rate.

My net dividends received in my Charles Schwab portfolio were $364.41 from 48 companies. This was marginally lower because of my sale of Dominion Energy (D) in July 2024 and partially offset by my purchase of Meta Platforms (META) during the month.

In my retirement account sponsored by my former employer, I collected $87.11 in net dividends from my Capital Income Builder (CAIBX) holding. This increased slightly because of a higher share count from dividend reinvestment.

My net dividends received from my Fidelity portfolio was $74.80 from 13 companies. Dividend stock purchases in June 2024, July, and August 2024 accounted for this uptick in net dividends.

In my Webull account, I collected $17.49 in net dividends from six companies. Payout raises contributed to a modest increase in net dividends.

Concluding Thoughts:

As I indicated in my June 2024 Dividend Income blog post, my capital deployment in recent months is putting me on a realistic path to receive at least $600 in net dividends for December 2024.

Discussion:

How was your net dividend income for September 2024?

Did you collect any first-time dividends during the month as I did with META?

I appreciate your readership and welcome your comments below!

September 2024 Dividend Stock Purchases

As I’m writing this blog post, it is currently Thursday, September 26^th. The weekend is going to see highs in the mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So, we’re seeing a cooling trend here in Central Wisconsin. That’s decent weather for this time of the year, though.

Since the month of September is just about complete, I’ll be detailing my dividend stock purchases for the month. Without further ado, let’s dig into it.

Dividend Stock Purchase #1: Enbridge (ENB)

The first dividend stock purchase that I made during the month was 25 shares of Enbridge at an average price of $40.57 a share. This boosted my net annual forward dividends by $67, which is equivalent to a 6.61% net dividend yield.

Interested readers can find the gist of my investment thesis in my September 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post.

Dividend Stock Purchase #2: Alphabet (GOOGL)

My next dividend stock purchase completed in September was four shares of Alphabet at an average cost per share of $153.84. That increased my portfolio’s net annual forward dividends by $3.20, which works out to a 0.52% net dividend yield.

Curious readers can peruse the September 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post linked above for my investment thesis.

Dividend Stock Purchase #3: Meta Platforms (META)

The third and final dividend stock purchase that I executed for the month was a share of Meta Platforms at $506.11. As a result, my net annual forward dividends edged $2 higher. This equates to a net dividend yield of 0.40%.

Intrigued readers can also uncover my investment thesis in the September 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post.

Concluding Thoughts:

In September, I put $2,135.70 in capital to work. Against the $72.20 in net annual forward dividends added from these buys, this is a weighted average net dividend yield of 3.38%.

My net annual forward dividends also increased by $22.378 from the nine dividend increases that I received in September 2024. This helped my net annual forward dividends rise from about $4,945 heading into the month to approximately $5,040 going into October.

Discussion:

How was your capital deployment during the month?

Did you open any new positions/close any positions in September 2024?

Thank you for reading and please leave your comments below!

Expected Dividend Increases For October 2024

As I’m writing this blog post, it is currently Thursday, September 19th. The weather here in Central Wisconsin is going to be ideal for this weekend, with the high temperatures in the low 80 degrees Fahrenheit range. So, I plan on going outside for at least a few hours this weekend.

Now that I have received all but one of the raises that I am expecting for the month, I’ll go over those in this post. I’ll also look ahead to the dividend raises that I’m anticipating for next month.

Actual Dividend Increases For September 2024

Dividend Increase #1: Broadcom (AVGO)

Broadcom announced a 1% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.53. This was due to the 10:1 stock split completed in July and aimed at keeping the dividend at an non-fractional cent amount.

Across my 40 shares of AVGO, my net annual forward dividends grew by $0.80 due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #2: JPMorgan Chase (JPM)

JPMorgan Chase made its 8.7% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.25 official during the month.

My net annual forward dividends rose by $2.40 across my six shares of JPM because of this dividend declaration.

Dividend Increase #3: Microsoft (MSFT)

Microsoft announced a 10.7% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.83 in September. This was in line with my prediction in this series’ previous blog post.

Across my five shares of MSFT, my net annual forward dividends climbed by $1.60 due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #4: Realty Income (O)

Realty Income declared a 0.2% increase in its monthly dividend per share to $0.2635. That was also precisely what I anticipated.

My net annual forward dividends edged $0.288 higher across my 48 shares of O because of this dividend declaration.

Dividend Increase #5: Philip Morris International (PM)

Philip Morris International announced a 3.8% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.35. This was $0.01 more than I expected.

Across my 27 shares of PM, my net annual forward dividends increased by $5.40 due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #6: VICI Properties (VICI)

VICI Properties declared a 4.2% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.4325. This came in below my expectation of $0.44.

My net annual forward dividends climbed by $4.76 across my 68 shares of VICI because of this dividend declaration.

Dividend Increase #7: Verizon Communications (VZ)

Verizon Communications announced a 1.9% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.6775, which was what I predicted.

Across my 45 shares of VZ, my net annual forward dividends increased by $2.25 due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #8: Texas Instruments (TXN)

Texas Instruments upped its quarterly dividend per share by 4.6% to $1.36. Across my 12 shares of TXN, my net annual forward dividends rose by $2.88.

Dividend Increase #9: McDonald's (MCD)

McDonald's was a bit early with its dividend hike this year. The company matched my expectations of a 6% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.77. My net annual forward dividends grew by $2 across my five shares of MCD from this dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increases For October 2024

Expected Dividend Increase #1: AbbVie (ABBV)

The first dividend raise that I’m expecting in October will be from AbbVie. My best guess is that a 5.8% increase in the quarterly dividend to $1.64 will be announced.

Across my 14 shares of ABBV, my net annual forward dividends would climb by $5.04 from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: American Electric Power (AEP)

The next dividend increase that I’m projecting for next month will come from American Electric Power. I believe that AEP will declare a 5.7% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.93.

My net annual forward dividends would rise by $3 due to such a declaration across my 15 shares of AEP.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: A.O. Smith (AOS)

The third dividend raise that I’m anticipating in October will be from A.O. Smith. My guess is that AOS will announce a 7.8% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.345.

Across my 12 shares of AOS, my net annual forward dividends would edge higher by $1.20 from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #4: Energy Transfer (ET)

The next distribution increase that I’m expecting for next month will come from Energy Transfer. I believe that ET will declare a 0.8% bump in its quarterly distribution per unit to $0.3225.

My net annual forward distributions would rise by $1.02 across my 102 units of ET due to such a distribution declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #5: Lockheed Martin (LMT)

The fifth dividend raise that I’m projecting in October will be from Lockheed Martin. My best guess is that LMT will announce a 6.3% increase in its quarterly payout per share to $3.35.

Across my four shares of LMT, my net annual forward dividends would climb by $3.20 from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #6: MPLX LP (MPLX)

The next distribution raise that I’m anticipating in October will be from MPLX LP. My guess is that MPLX will announce a 5.9% hike in its quarterly distribution per unit to $0.90.

Across my 32 units of MPLX, my net annual forward distributions would grow by $6.40 from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #7: Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)

The seventh dividend increase that I’m projecting for next month will come from Pinnacle West Capital. I believe that PNW will declare a 1.9% bump in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.90.

My net annual forward dividends would increase by $0.56 across my seven shares due to such a dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #8: Visa (V)

The next dividend boost that I’m predicting in October will be from Visa. My best guess is that V will announce a 13.5% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.59.

Across my nine shares of V, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $2.52 from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #9: Exxon Mobil (XOM)

The ninth and final dividend increase that I’m anticipating for next month will come from Exxon Mobil. I believe that XOM will declare a 5.3% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.

My net annual forward dividends would grow by $2.20 across my 11 shares of XOM due to such a declaration.

Pending Dividend Increase: Starbucks (SBUX)

Starbucks has yet to deliver its dividend boost. But I’m standing by my projection that a 7% increase in the quarterly dividend per share to $0.61 will be declared before the month is up.

My net annual forward dividends would rise by $3.68 across my 23 shares of SBUX with such a dividend declaration.

Concluding Thoughts:

I received an additional $22.378 in net annual forward dividends from nine companies in September. This is like investing $745.93 in capital at a 3% dividend yield.

If the 10 raises that I’m projecting for next month materialize, my net annual forward dividends would increase by $28.82. That would be equivalent to investing $960.67 in fresh capital at a 3% net yield.

Discussion:

How were your dividend/distribution raises in September?

Did you receive any first-time raises?

As always, I appreciate your readership. Please feel free to leave your comments below!

August 2024 Dividend Income

As I’m writing this blog post, it is currently Friday, September 13^th. The high temperatures here in Central Wisconsin are set to reach the high 80 degrees Fahrenheit range this weekend. There is also quite a bit of sun in the forecast, so I’m looking to spend plenty of time outside while the weather is still pleasant.

Now that August is complete, I’ll be taking a moment to highlight my dividend income during the month.

Middle Month Net Dividend Income Is Approaching $400

In August 2024, I received $384.73 in net dividends (factoring in British American Tobacco’s ADR fees). That works out to a 5.2% quarterly growth rate versus the $365.82 in net dividends collected in May 2024.

My net dividends received in August were 25.8% more than the $305.77 in net dividends collected in August 2023.

I received $356.23 in net dividends from 27 companies within my Charles Schwab account. My purchase of another 21 shares of British American Tobacco (BTI) in May 2024 helped contribute to my higher net dividend income in this portfolio.

My net dividends collected in my Webull account amounted to $15.90 (net of ADR fees) from three companies. A distribution raise from Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) and a higher dividend from BTI boosted my portfolio’s net income.

I received $12.41 in net dividends from two companies in my Fidelity retirement portfolio. This was unchanged from May.

My net dividends collected from my M1 Finance account were $0.19 from seven companies. The recent implementation of its $3 monthly fee for accounts with less than $10,000 in assets prompted me to close my account. September will be my first month with M1 Finance not being a contributor to my dividend income since I opened the account in 2018.

Concluding Thoughts:

That’s all for now. Having not deployed tons of capital to companies paying dividends this month in recent months, I was pleased with my portfolio’s overall growth in net dividend income.

Discussion:

How was your net dividend income last month?

Did you receive any first-time dividends in August 2024?

Thanks for reading. I look forward to your comments below!