May 2025 Stock Purchases

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, May 23rd. The temperatures here in Central Wisconsin have been cool in recent days and that's going to continue for the foreseeable future. The high temperature isn't expected to reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit again until next Wednesday.

With that aside, there's roughly one week of trading left in the month. I have already completed all of my anticipated transactions for the month, so I figure now would be a good time to highlight those purchases.

Stock #1: Amazon (AMZN)

The first stock that I purchased in May 2025 was three shares of Amazon at an average price of $190.30 a share. Curious readers can check out my investment thesis in my May 2025 Stock Watch List blog post.

Stock #2: NextEra Energy (NEE)

The next stock that I added to during the month was 10 shares of NextEra Energy at an average cost per share of $67.31. Originally, I planned to bolster my position in Brookfield Asset Management. However, BAM's shares rallied to a less attractive valuation in the time that elapsed from my May 2025 Stock Watch List blog post to early May. This transaction added $22.66 to my net annual forward dividends, which equates to a 3.37% net dividend yield.

Stock #3: Realty Income (O)

The third stock purchase that I completed in May 2025 was 11 shares of Realty Income at an average price of $57.39 a share. Interested readers can check out my investment thesis in my May 2025 Stock Watch List blog post that I linked to earlier. This added $35.442 to my portfolio's net annual forward dividends, which works out to a 5.61% net dividend yield.

Bonus Stock Purchase: Nvidia (NVDA)

The final stock that I purchased during the month was another four shares of Nvidia at an average cost per share of $113.33. Initially, I was going to add more to Microsoft. That changed after MSFT rallied significantly following its Q3 earnings report. This transaction increased my net annual forward dividends by $0.16, which is a 0.04% net dividend yield.

Concluding Thoughts:

I put $2,328.62 of fresh capital to work in May 2025. Compared to the $58.262 in net dividends added through these purchases, this is equivalent to a weighted-average net dividend yield of 2.50%.

My net annual forward dividends also grew by $6.72 from dividend increases in May 2025. Collectively, these factors pushed my net annual forward dividends from almost $5,870 at the start of May to nearly $5,935 heading into June. Sometime next month, I expect to surpass the $6,000 milestone in net annual forward dividends.

Although this blog post won't be published until the day after Memorial Day, I would like to conclude by wishing everyone a safe and healthy holiday weekend. I'd especially like to thank those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to this great country, as well as their families!

Discussion:

How was your capital deployment in May 2025?

Did you open any new positions during the month?

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

Expected Dividend Increases For June 2025

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, May 16th. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is expected to reach a high of 66 degrees Fahrenheit, with a chance for showers later tonight. The weekend is going to also be a bit cold for this time of year, with the high temperatures set to be 56 and 60 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

With that aside, the month of May is half complete. That makes now a good time to look at the dividend raises that I have received so far for the month. As remaining raises come in, I'll update this blog post. I will also look ahead to the dividend boosts that I'm expecting for June 2025.

Actual Dividend Increases For May 2025

Dividend Increase #1: Main Street Capital (MAIN)

As predicted in my previous blog post of this series, Main Street Capital increased its monthly dividend per share by 2% to $0.255.

Across my 30 shares of MAIN, my net annual forward dividends grew by $1.80 due to this dividend declaration.

Dividend Increase #2: RTX Corporation (RTX)

RTX upped its quarterly dividend per share by 7.9% to $0.68.

My net annual forward dividends increased by $2.40 across my 12 shares of RTX from this dividend announcement.

Pending Dividend Increase #1: Lowe's Companies (LOW)

Lowe's has yet to up its quarterly dividend per share. However, I'm reiterating my expectation of a 4.3% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.20 for later this month.

Across my 10 shares of LOW, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $2 due to such a dividend declaration.

UPDATE: As expected, LOW increased its quarterly dividend per share by 4.3% to $1.20. This lifted my net annual forward dividends by $2 across my 10 shares.

Pending Dividend Increase #2: Medtronic (MDT)

Medtronic also hasn't raised its quarterly dividend per share yet. When earnings are reported later this month, I still believe the quarterly dividend per share will be increased by 1.4% to $0.71.

My net annual forward dividends would rise by $0.52 across my 13 shares of MDT from such an announcement.

UPDATE: MDT upped its quarterly dividend per share by 1.4% to $0.71. This lifted my net annual forward dividends by $0.52.

Expected Dividend Increases For June 2025

Expected Dividend Increase #1: FedEx (FDX)

The first dividend increase that I'm projecting for June 2025 will be from FedEx. I believe FDX will announce a 7.2% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.48.

Across my four shares of FDX, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $1.60 due to such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: Realty Income (O)

The next dividend raise that I'm expecting for next month will come from Realty Income. My best guess is that O will increase its monthly dividend per share by 0.2% to $0.269. This will be one of the four smaller raises (and one larger raise) that O announces each year.

My net annual forward dividends would grow by $0.834 across my 139 shares of O from such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

The final dividend boost that I'm anticipating for June 2025 will be from UnitedHealth Group. My guess is that UNH will raise its quarterly dividend per share by 7.1% to $2.25.

Across my six shares of UNH, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $3.60 due to such a declaration.

Concluding Thoughts:

My net annual forward dividends grew by $6.72 in May 2025 via four dividend raises. That would be like investing $224 at a net dividend yield of 3%.

If the three dividend increases that I'm expecting for June 2025 materialize, my net annual forward dividends would edge $6.034 higher. This would be equivalent to investing $201.13 at a 3% dividend yield.

Discussion:

How has your month been for dividend raises?

Did you receive any first-time payout boosts during the month?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

June 2025 Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, May 9th. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is expected to reach a high of 72 degrees Fahrenheit today with a sunny forecast. The forecast for this weekend is going to be just as pleasant, with respective highs reaching 73 and 75 on Saturday and Sunday.

Now that I have made my stock purchases for this month, it would be a good time to look ahead to June 2025. Here are three stocks that are highest on my watch list for the month.

Stock #1: Energy Transfer (ET)

The first stock on my watch list for June 2025 is Energy Transfer. Interested readers can find my updated investment thesis in my recent Seeking Alpha article. Otherwise, my thesis is essentially the same as it was from my November 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post.

ET's first-quarter results were solid. The company's credit ratings are investment-grade. The 7.7% distribution yield is easily covered by DCF. The icing on the cake is that the $17 unit price (as of May 9th, 2025) is significantly below my fair value estimate of $22 a unit.

Stock #2: Alphabet (GOOGL)

The next stock on my watch list for next month is Alphabet. My investment thesis is pretty much the same as it was in my March 2025 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post.

GOOGL massively beat earnings expectations in Q1. Despite ongoing legal disputes, the company has plenty of growth catalysts moving forward. The AA+ credit rating is another positive. GOOGL's 5% dividend raise to begin its dividend growth streak was modest. However, I believe this low floor is going to be very easy for the company to beat over time. GOOGL's $153 share price is a forward P/E ratio of less than 16, which is well below the 10-year average P/E ratio of nearly 25.

Stock #3: Merck (MRK)

The final stock on my watch list for June 2025 is Merck. Curious readers can check out my recent listicle on iREIT+Hoya for my updated investment thesis.

For those without a subscription, my thesis is basically that MRK is taking steps to minimize the loss of exclusivity hit to Keytruda via a subcutaneous version of the drug. This could be approved by the U.S. FDA this September. New products like Winrevair and Capvaxive also have blockbuster peak sales potential. The company's A+ credit rating from S&P also gives it opportunities for bolt-on acquisitions to further bolster its commercial product lineup and product pipeline. MRK's 4.3% dividend yield is also well-covered. Shares trade at a forward P/E ratio of about 8, which is significantly below the 10-year average P/E ratio of just above 15. That makes the stock a bargain from the current $76 share price.

Concluding Thoughts:

That's it for now. I'll likely target a roughly 50% allocation to GOOGL, a 30% allocation to MRK, and a 20% allocation to ET with capital for the month. This will keep me close to a 3% dividend yield, blending growth, value, and yield.

Discussion:

Are any of ET, GOOGL, or MRK on your watch list for June 2025?

If not, what stocks are you considering for next month?

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

April 2025 Dividend Income

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, May 2nd. The high temperature is expected to be just 55 degrees Fahrenheit today here in Central Wisconsin. Fortunately, it will be warming up this weekend, with high temperatures expected to be in the mid-60s on Saturday and the mid-70s on Sunday.

With that aside, April 2025 is in the rearview mirror. Thus, I'll be taking a moment to highlight my net dividend income for the month.

Approaching $300 In Net Dividends In Off Months

During April 2025, I received $275.62 in net dividends (including GSK ADR fees). This equates to a 2.8% quarterly growth rate relative to the $268.05 in net dividends collected in January 2025. The timing of PepsiCo's dividend payment and a recent focus on stocks that pay dividends in other months contributed to this slower net dividend income growth rate. 

Compared to the $246.69 in net dividends received in April 2024, that's equivalent to an 11.7% year-over-year growth rate.

I collected $236.02 in net dividends from 20 companies in my Charles Schwab portfolio (less PEP due to the aforementioned dividend payment timing).

My net dividends received from four companies within my Fidelity IRA account were $32.49 (again less PEP). That was made up for by my sale of Starbucks (SBUX) in January 2025 and redeploying those proceeds in this account into Realty Income (O).

Lastly, I collected $7.10 in net dividends from three companies in my Webull portfolio. This was due to the sale of Iron Mountain (IRM) in February 2025.

Concluding Thoughts:

Overall, my net annual dividends continue to grow at a solid clip, despite slower growth in April 2025. In Q1 2025, my net dividends compounded by 25% year-over-year to nearly $1,368. Through continued fresh capital deployment, dividend raises, and dividend reinvestment, I hope to keep up a similar pace for the foreseeable future.

Discussion:

How was your dividend income in April 2025?

Did you receive any first-time dividends during the month?

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