Dividend Increases: March 11-15, 2019

I monitor dividend increases to identify candidates for further analysis. Companies can only raise their dividends sustainably if they grow earnings sufficiently.

This article provides a summary of last week's dividend increases and upcoming ex-dividend dates. Two of my DivGro stocks will pay out higher dividends! Both are small increases but both companies increase their dividends multiple times every year.

All the Dogs!

Dogs of the Dow is an investment strategy that targets the ten top-yielding stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) for investment each year. Popularized by Michael B. O'Higgins in his 1991 book, Beating the Dow, this simple strategy frequently outperforms the DJIA and seems to outperform the index over longer periods of time.

The strategy is based on the idea that blue-chip companies pay consistent (and increasing) dividends, while their stock prices fluctuate based on market conditions. So, if the dividend yield is higher than usual, the stock price likely is lower than usual. Investors following this strategy should reap the benefits of higher yields and above-average stock-price gains.

I don't actively follow the Dogs of the Dow strategy, but I happen to own all the dogs in my DivGro Portfolio.

Dividend Increases: March 4-8, 2019

This article provides a summary of recent dividend increases and upcoming ex-dividend dates. I monitor dividend increases to identify candidates for further analysis. Companies can only raise their dividends sustainably if they grow earnings sufficiently.

This week, 11 companies in the CCC List announced dividend increases.

Two of my DivGro stocks will pay out higher dividends! One increase is 13% and the other is 10%. I don't see annual salary increases like that, so I'm very happy when my DivGro portfolio hands me such increases!

10 Dividend Growth Stocks For March 2019

Many dividend growth investors rely on the CCC list for their research. Focusing on stocks trading on U.S. exchanges, the list contains nearly 900 stocks that have consistently increased their calendar year payouts for at least the past 5 years. An accompanying spreadsheet providing key data on the CCC stocks is maintained by Justin Law.

With my monthly 10 Dividend Growth Stocks series, I rank a subset of CCC stocks and present the 10 top-ranked stocks for further research. My ranking system assigns letter grades to stocks relative to their performance among sector peers. Having a sector-oriented ranking system avoids the problems associated with ranking dissimilar stocks.

This month I decided to rank CCC stocks in the Consumer Discretionary sector.

Dividend Increases: February 25-March 1, 2019 (Part 2: Remaining Sectors)

I like monitoring dividend increases for stocks on my watch list of dividend growth stocks because I consider such stocks to be candidates for further analysis. Companies that regularly raise their dividend payments show confidence in future earnings growth potential.

This two-part article provides a summary of recent dividend increases. Part 1 covers dividend increases announced for stocks in the Industrials and sectors. Part 2 will cover dividend increases from stocks in the remaining sectors.

Dividend Increases: February 25-March 1, 2019 (Part 1: Industrials and Financials Sectors)

I like monitoring dividend increases for stocks on my watch list of dividend growth stocks because I consider such stocks to be candidates for further analysis. Companies that regularly raise their dividend payments show confidence in future earnings growth potential.

This two-part article provides a summary of recent dividend increases. Part 1 covers dividend increases announced for stocks in the Industrials and sectors. Part 2 will cover dividend increases from stocks in the remaining sectors.

Monthly Review of DivGro: February 2019

Every month, I write a review of my portfolio of dividend growth stocks, DivGro. The goal of these monthly reviews is to share updates I've made to the portfolio and to provide a summary of dividends collected. Additionally, I look at how the month's activities have impacted DivGro's projected annual dividend income (PADI).

In February, I opened four new positions and added shares to nine existing positions. Additionally, I closed six positions and reduced my holdings in three positions. A total of 19 DivGro stocks announced dividend increases in February. The net result of these changes is that PADI increased by about 1.0% in February. Year over year, PADI increased by 42.3%.

As for dividend income, in February I received dividends totaling $1,739 from 21 stocks in my portfolio, a year over year increase of 54%. So far in 2019, I've collected $3,504 in dividends or about 14% of my 2019 goal of $25,200.

Options Update: February 2019 (Part 2)

February was a busy month for options trading, so I split my Options Update article into two parts.

Part 1 covered options assignments, expired options, and closed options, and I looked at options expiring in March and April to see what to be look out for.

In Part 2, I'm presenting the covered calls and put contracts executed in February and conclude with the usual running tally of options income received versus options income secured.

Options Update: February 2019 (Part 1)

Welcome to another Options Update article!

I write monthly options update articles to summarize options trades and to keep track of my options income. Each update also serves as a status report on open options and the obligations I potentially have.

DivGro's focus continues to be dividend growth investing. Options trading is a sideline activity. I sell puts on stocks I would like to own and covered calls on stocks I already own. The options income allows me to buy more dividend growth stocks, which in turn boosts DivGro's projected annual dividend income.

Dividend Increases: February 18-22, 2019 (Part 3: Remaining Sectors)

Last week, 27 companies on my watch list announced dividend increases. Included in this list are three stocks I own in my DivGro portfolio.

Part 1 of this article covered stocks in the Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary sectors, while Part 2 covered the Real Estate and Utilities sectors. This is Part 3, which covers dividend announcements from stocks in the remaining sectors.

Dividend Increases: February 18-22, 2019 (Part 2: Real Estate and Utilities Sectors)

Last week, 27 companies in the CCC List announced dividend increases. With so many companies increasing their dividends, I usually break up my summary articles into two or more parts. That way, the articles aren't too long and I can include more FASTgraphs charts of stocks with compelling earnings growth.

Part 1 of this three-part article dividend increases announced for stocks in the Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary sectors. This is Part 2, which covers dividend increases from stocks in Real Estate and Utilities sectors. In Part 3, I'll report on dividend increases for the remaining sectors.

Dividend Increases: February 18-22, 2019 (Part 1: Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary Sectors)

Last week, 27 of the companies I track announced dividend increases. This three-part article provides a summary of these increases and provides several FASTGraph charts of stocks that exhibit impressive earnings growth.

I like to monitor dividend increases, because companies that regularly increase their dividends are good candidates for analysis and possible investment.

Part 1 of this article covers dividend increases announced for stocks in the Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary sectors. Part 2 and Part 3 will cover dividend increases from stocks in the remaining sectors.

Three Additions to my Portfolio

After a very volatile fourth quarter, the stock market has performed quite nicely in 2019. Year to date, the S&P 500 is up 11.4%!

The big drop in the stock market at the end of 2018 has created some compelling opportunities, and I'm happy to add three new stocks to my DivGro portfolio. These stocks are trading at much higher yields than their historical average dividend yields. In my view, these are high-quality dividend growth stocks with excellent track records, safe dividends, and strong dividend growth rates.

This article reports on the three new positions I established in my portfolio. Two stocks are in the Consumer Staples sector, and one is an Industrials sector stock.

Dividend Increases: February 11-15, 2019 (Part 2: Remaining Sectors)

Companies that regularly increase their dividends show confidence in the potential growth of future earnings. I monitor dividend increases to identify candidates for further analysis.

Last week, 25 companies announced dividend increases, including 5 of the stocks I own. Part 1 covered the Information Technology, Real Estate, and Financials Sectors. This is Part 2, which covers the remaining sectors.

Dividend Increases: February 11-15, 2019 (Part 1: Information Technology, Real Estate, and Financials Sectors)

I like monitoring dividend increases for stocks on my watch list of dividend growth stocks because I consider such stocks to be candidates for further analysis. Companies that regularly raise their dividend payments show confidence in future earnings growth potential.

This two-part article provides a summary of recent dividend increases. Part 1 covers dividend increases announced for stocks in the Information Technology, Real Estate, and Financials sectors. Part 2 will cover dividend increases from stocks in the remaining sectors.

Dividend Increases: February 4-8, 2019 (Part 3: Remaining Sectors)

I monitor dividend increases for stocks on my watch list of dividend growth stocks to identify candidates for further analysis. Companies that regularly increase their dividends show confidence in future earnings growth potential.

Last week, 34 companies on my watch list announced dividend increases. Part 1 covered stocks in the Materials, Real Estate, and Utilities sectors, and Part 2 covered the Financials and Industrials sectors. This is Part 3, which covers dividend announcements from stocks in the remaining sectors.

Dividend Increases: February 4-8, 2019 (Part 2: Financials and Industrials)

Last week, 34 companies in the CCC List announced dividend increases. I own the stock of two of these companies!

In Part 1, I covered dividend increases announced for stocks in the Materials, Real Estate, and Utilities sectors. Part 2 covers dividend increases from stocks in Financials and Industrials sectors. In Part 3, I'll report on dividend increases for the remaining sectors.

I enjoy monitoring dividend increases for stocks in the CCC list because it allows me to identify candidates for further analysis.

Dividend Increases: February 4-8, 2019 (Part 1: Materials, Real Estate, and Utilities Sectors)

This article provides a summary of recent dividend increases. Last week more than 30 companies on my watch list announced dividend increases! In Part 1, I'm covering dividend increases announced for stocks in the Materials, Real Estate, and Utilities sectors. Part 2 will cover the Financials and Industrials sectors, while Part 3 will cover the remaining sectors.

I monitor dividend increases because it helps me to identify candidates for further analysis. Companies that regularly raise their dividend payments show confidence in future earnings growth potential.

Using Average Dividend Yield For Dividend Growth Stock Valuation

Recently, I started writing for TalkMarkets, an exciting new financial media site with content customized to users’ interests, preferences and level of investment sophistication.

In this article, I discuss how to use historical average dividend yield to do a quick valuation of stable, high-quality dividend growth stocks. I'll be using this method to help guide buy and sell decisions for dividend growth stocks in my portfolio.

Dividend growth investing focuses on investing in businesses with a strong track record of rewarding shareholders through ever-increasing dividend payments. I consider dividend growth stocks to be stocks that have paid higher dividends for at least 5 consecutive years.

10 Dividend Growth Stocks For February 2019

The CCC list is a great resource for dividend growth investors. The list contains 861 stocks trading on U.S. exchanges with the distinction of having paid higher dividends for at least 5 consecutive years. The list is maintained by Justin Law.

In this article, I rank a subset of CCC stocks and present the 10 top-ranked stocks for further research. My ranking system assigns letter grades to stocks relative to their performance among sector peers.

Given increased market volatility, I'm focusing on defensive sectors. This month I decided to rank CCC stocks in the Health Care sector. Defensive stocks tend to outperform the broader market during market downturns.

Monthly Review of DivGro: January 2019

After a miserable fourth quarter in 2018, the stock market rebounded with a vengeance! The 7.9% return of the S&P 500 in January was the best January performance since 1987!

Of course, the S&P 500 was down more than 9% in December, and the index still is 8% below the all-time record it set on 20 September 2018.

December was a busy trading month for DivGro, as I looked to take advantage of discounted prices on high-quality dividend growth stocks. January certainly was quieter, though I opened two new positions and also closed a long-held position.

Dividend Increases: January 28-February 1, 2019 (Part 2: Remaining Sectors)

Last week, 27 companies in the CCC List announced dividend increases. I own 3 of these stocks!

 In Part 1, I covered dividend increases announced for stocks in the Industrials and Financials sectors. Part 2 covers dividend increases from stocks in the remaining sectors.

I like monitoring dividend increases for stocks in the CCC list because it allows me to identify candidates for further analysis.

Dividend Increases: January 28-February 1, 2019 (Part 1: Industrials and Financials Sectors)

This article provides a summary of recent dividend increases. Part 1 covers dividend increases announced for stocks in the Industrials and Financials sectors. Part 2 will cover dividend increases from stocks in the remaining sectors.

Last week, 27 companies in the CCC List announced dividend increases. A few DivGro stocks will pay out higher dividends!

I monitor dividend increases because it helps me to identify candidates for further analysis. Companies that regularly raise their dividend payments show confidence in future earnings growth potential.

Options Update: January 2019

As I enter the fourth year of options trading at DivGro, let me remind readers that DivGro's focus continues to be dividend growth investing. Options trading is a fun (and profitable) sideline activity; one that allows me to buy more dividend growth stocks and so to boost DivGro's projected annual dividend income.

I write monthly options update articles to summarize options trades and to keep track of my options income. Each update also serves as a status report on open options and the obligations I potentially have.

I mostly sell puts on stocks I would like to own and covered calls on stocks I already own. Occasionally, I execute more speculative options trades, too, such as bull put spreads and other combo trades.

Dividend Increases: January 21-25, 2019 (Part 2: Remaining Sectors)

In the heat of earnings season, I often split these dividend increase announcement articles into two or more parts. Last week, 30 companies in the CCC List announced dividend increases. I own stock of four of these companies!

In Part 1, I covered dividend increases announced for stocks in the Industrials and Financials sectors. Part 2 covers dividend increases from stocks in the remaining sectors.

I like monitoring dividend increases for stocks in the CCC list because it allows me to identify candidates for further analysis.