2020 Tax-Loss Harvesting (Part 3)

Part 3 of my article on harvesting tax losses covers three more recent sells. Two of these were closing trades, while the other involved trimming a position split across two different accounts. 

I'm unsure if I'll be reinvesting in any of these stocks once the blackout period required by the IRS wash-sale rule expires. These are struggling stocks with strong headwinds and, besides, I already own similar stocks in my portfolio that are performing better. 

Part 1 explained the ins-and-outs of tax-loss harvesting and I reported one closing trade to offset some 2020 capital gains. Part 2 covered three sells of Energy sector stocks, which realized losses totaling $8,671. In the conclusion of this article, I'll provide a summary of all the trades I executed to harvest tax losses for the 2020 tax year.

2020 Tax-Loss Harvesting (Part 2)

In Part 2 of a three-part article, I'm presenting three more sales to harvest tax losses. All three stocks happen to be from the Energy sector, by far the worst-performing sector this year (and for several years running!). 

I'm trimming one of my Energy stocks and closing two additional Energy stocks. I'm hoping to reinvest in at least one of these positions, but it would depend on what happens in January. 

Part 1 explained the ins-and-outs of tax-loss harvesting and I reported on a recent sell to offset some 2020 capital gains, closing my Gilead Sciences, Inc (GILD) position and recording a loss of about $2,725. I'm hoping to reinstate the position before GILD goes ex-dividend again in March 2021.

2020 Tax-Loss Harvesting (Part 1)

In previous years, I've sold stocks in late November and December to offset capital gains and to limit my tax liability. Given the stock market crash in late February and early March, it is remarkable that I'm facing a similar challenge in 2020. 

So far in 2020, I've recorded capital gains of about $14,383, and another $14,494 from options income. Additionally, I'm expecting to have dividend income totaling about $30,000 in 2020. 

To lighten my 2020 tax burden as much as possible, I decided to realize some offsetting losses by trimming and even closing several losing positions. This strategy of tax-loss harvesting is not without problems, but I like having an excuse to clean house.

Part 1 of this article explains the ins-and-outs of tax-loss harvesting and reports a recent sell I made to offset 2020 capital gains. Part 2 and Part 3 will cover additional sells. In all, I closed seven positions to harvest tax losses.

Dividend Changes: December 19-25, 2020

This weekly article series covers dividend changes. A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases.

We include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks, providing readers with a list of stock to consider in order to secure the next dividend payment. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.

10 Dividend Growth Stocks For December 2020

In my monthly series of 10 Dividend Growth Stocks, I rank a selection of dividend growth stocks in Dividend Radar and present the 10 top-ranked stocks for consideration. 

To rank stocks, I use DVK Quality Snapshots to get quality scores and sort them in descending order, breaking ties with additional metrics.

This month, I screened for high-quality stocks whose current dividend yields are higher than their 5-year average dividend yields and are trading below my own fair value estimates. 

Goals for 2021

In this article, I'm presenting my goals for 2021. 

I like setting goals that challenge me. Such goals demand extra effort and focus. They require commitment, patience, and constant monitoring. Sometimes, when progress is not sufficient, they require a course correction.

It is not beneficial to set goals that are easily achievable. Such goals are uninspiring and won't deliver a special sense of accomplishment. On the other hand, it doesn't make sense to set goals that are impossible. 

Dividend Changes: December 12-18, 2020

This weekly article series covers dividend changes. A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases.

We include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks, providing readers with a list of stock to consider in order to secure the next dividend payment. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.

Monthly Review Of DivGro: November 2020

Every month, I write a review of my portfolio of dividend growth stocks, DivGro. I provide a summary of transactions and dividends received in the past month. I also consider the impact on DivGro's projected annual dividend income (PADI).

In November, I opened a new position, added shares to an existing position, and closed a position. Eight DivGro stocks announced dividend increases in November. The net result of these changes is that PADI increased by about 0.2% in November. Year over year, PADI increased by 26.8%.

As for dividend income, in November I received dividends totaling $2,538 from 25 stocks in my portfolio, a year over year increase of 48%. So far in 2020, I've collected $25,908 in dividends, or about 96% of my 2020 goal of $27,000. My 2020 dividend income now tops the total I received in 2019. 

Dividend Changes: December 5-11, 2020

This weekly article series covers dividend changes. A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases.

We also include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks, providing readers with a list of stock to consider in order to secure the next dividend payment. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.

Revisiting Yield Channel Charts

First introduced in August 2017, Yield Channel Charts provide a way to assess market valuation relative to historical yield patterns.

We finally have a fully automated implementation using broker-grade data! We can easily create Yield Channels Charts and screen for undervalued or overvalued dividend growth stocks. 

This article explains how we create and use Yield Channel Charts. 

We demonstrate their practical application by analyzing one overvalued and one undervalued dividend growth stock.

This article was co-produced with James Marino Sr. of Portfolio Insight.

Dividend Changes: November 28-December 4, 2020

This weekly article series covers dividend changes. A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases.

We also include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks, providing readers with a list of stock to consider in order to secure the next dividend payment. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.

Options Update: November 2020

I write monthly Options Update articles to summarize options trades and keep track of DivGro's total options income. While my blog is mostly about dividend growth investing, I added options trading in 2016 to boost DivGro's income. 

When selling covered calls and put options, I collect the options income and redeploy it to buy dividend growth stocks. Doing so indirectly boosts DivGro's ability to generate dividend income. 

November's options income was disappointing as I failed to top $1,000 for the first time in six months. With only one month remaining, my 2020 goal of collecting at least $24,000 in options income is entirely out of reach. 

Dividend Changes: November 21-27, 2020

This weekly article series covers dividend changes. A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases.

We also include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks, providing readers with a list of stock to consider in order to secure the next dividend payment. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.

Expired Options (November 2020)

Friday was options expiration day. This article provides a summary of what happened to my expiring options. It also provides details on any actions I took to avoid assignment.

As usual, I discuss potential replacement trades for the expired options. 

This month, I decided to roll forward two in the money options to avoid assignment. But I also decided to let one put option expire in order to buy the underlying shares. That assignment happened one day before the options expiration day. 

Dividend Changes: November 14-20, 2020

In this article series, we provide a weekly summary of dividend changes. A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases.

We also include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks, providing readers with a list of stock to consider in order to secure the next dividend payment. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.

My First Sell in Eight Months

The last time I wrote about selling a stock was in March this year when I trimmed my position in Amgen (AMGN). 

Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit and changed my approach, I wanted to reposition DivGro to produce annualized returns of at least 8%. That would have resulted in trimming or closing positions with unfavorable Chowder Numbers (CDNs). 

The impact of the pandemic on the economy changed my approach. Instead, I'm now focusing on increasing DivGro's defensive exposure. 

This article discusses a recent sell, one in which I closed a position due to a recent dividend cut. 

Dividend Changes: November 7-13, 2020

In this article series, we provide a weekly summary of dividend changes. A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases.

We also include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks, providing readers with a list of stock to consider in order to secure the next dividend payment. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.

Options Update: October 2020

Welcome to my monthly Options Update article in which I summarize options trades and keep track of DivGro's total options income. 

I sell covered calls and put options for options income, which is then redeployed to buy dividend growth stocks. Doing so indirectly boosts DivGro's ability to generate dividend income. 

I had a fair month in October, but it is very unlikely that I will achieve my 2020 goal of collecting at least $24,000 in options income. 

Home Run Number 27

The market's big move on Monday was just the encouragement one of my home run contenders needed to hit a home run! 

Recall that I designate stocks whose total returns exceed my initial capital outlay, home runs. For dividend growth stocks, total returns include both unrealized gains and dividends received. 

Last week, two stocks achieved home run status, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc (APD), and QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM). 

Today I'm presenting DivGro's 27^th home run, achieved by a stock I first bought in April 2015.

10 Dividend Growth Stocks For November 2020

In my monthly series of 10 Dividend Growth Stocks, I rank a selection of dividend growth stocks in Dividend Radar and present the 10 top-ranked stocks for consideration. 

To rank stocks, I use DVK Quality Snapshots to get quality scores and sort them in descending order, breaking ties with additional metrics.

This month, I'm presenting the top-ranked stocks yielding at least 4% and trading below my fair value estimates. 

Dividend Changes: October 31-November 6, 2020

In this article series, we provide a weekly summary of dividend changes. A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases.

We also include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks, providing readers with a list of stock to consider in order to secure the next dividend payment. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.

Home Run Number 26

Last Sunday I reported DivGro's 25^th home run, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc (APD). Stocks achieve home run status when their total returns exceed my initial capital outlay. For dividend growth stocks, total returns include both unrealized gains and dividends received. But for stocks that don't pay dividends, the share price has to double my cost basis in order for the stock to become a home run stock. 

Today I'm presenting DivGro's 26^th home run, an achievement that comes after 534 days of ownership. That's a remarkable performance, as the stock has delivered stellar annualized returns of 78%!

Monthly Review Of DivGro: October 2020

Welcome to the October review of DivGro, my portfolio of dividend growth stocks. I provide a summary of transactions and dividends received in the past month. I also look at how DivGro's projected annual dividend income (PADI) has changed.

In October, I opened one new position and added shares to three existing positions. Seven DivGro stocks announced dividend increases in October. The net result of these changes is that PADI increased by about 4.0% in October. Year over year, PADI increased by 30.5%.

As for dividend income, in October I received dividends totaling $1,711 from 22 stocks in my portfolio, a year-over-year increase of 42%. So far in 2020, I've collected $23,370 in dividends or about 87% of my 2020 goal of $27,000.

Home Run Number 25

I designate stocks in my portfolio as home run stocks when their total returns exceed my capital outlay. For dividend growth stocks, total returns include both unrealized gains and dividends received. 

Last month, one of my non-dividend-paying growth stocks, Pinterest, Inc (PINS), became DivGro's 24^th home run. Having bought 100 shares of PINS in late August, this is the fastest home run by far after only 69 days of ownership!

Today I'm presenting DivGro's 25^th home run stock, an achievement that came after 700 days of ownership. While this is much longer than PINS took to achieve home run status, I'm more than happy with the stock's performance. For perspective, the stock has delivered annualized returns of 52%!

Dividend Changes: October 24-30, 2020

This article series provides a weekly summary of dividend changes.

A summary table provides relevant data and key statistics of dividend increases. We list details of dividend increases as well as dividend cuts or suspensions. 

Additionally, we include a table of ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks. This provides readers with a list of stock to consider before their ex-dividend dates. 

I co-produce this article series with James Marino Sr of Portfolio Insight, who helps with compiling the ex-dividend dates for the next two weeks.