First blog post

This is my first post i have been investing since 2001 it has been a slow ride and bumpy from time to time but the end results will be worth it when i get there. Of course as allows my life and hopefully my posts will point to my life in Christ. I hope you all will enjoy my journey as we do this together

March 24 Dividend and Porfolio Review.

End of March and the first quarter of 2024. Time flies when you are collecting dividends. This month I went over $75,000 in dividends collected in my lifetime. Nice accomplishment.

Second highest dividend so far collected you can see those payments just getting nice and fat. 7 payments over $100. BAC didn’t get credited to my account so it will go on Aprils total. So next year this one will be more and April might show a loss. For the month of March I made $59.57 a day.

Above shows the top 10. I didn’t capture last months top 10 because it was a day late when I remembered. This month is 61.75 percent of my total portfolio value.

My net worth. Climbed over $700,000 for the first time ever. From the end of Quarter 3 2016 to the end of March I’m up 180 percent. From the end of 2023 I’m up 7.06 percent. From last March I’m up 20.85 percent.

My dividends are up 8.78 percent from last March. Total for the year is up 11.86 percent would like to see both numbers higher going forward.

Great month I had couldn’t ask for anything more portfolio is growing net worth is growing hopefully this continues.

Total portfolio value $479,566.86.              Forward annual dividend $14,903.09
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $14,825.14. Expected dividend as of 2024 $14,452.24.
Net worth as of March 24 $717,885.70.
Sells
Bought KDP, DUK, NEE, TGT, USHYX, R, RILY, AAPL, LYB, FLO.                                       Dividend cuts none.                                    Dividend raises none. 
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000 This month I went over $75,000 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends

February 24 Dividend and Portfolio Review.

Well February is done and March is upon us. Time to see how I did this month. Share the laughs and the cries and the good news and the horrible news. It’s is always fun sharing my portfolio review with you guys and I enjoy reading lots of yours. Did my portfolio close above $15,000 for the month and did it close above $450,000 for the month those are lingering questions that need answering

Look at that total inching up every month. ABBV led the way it is really growing in dividend and its total growth. This will be over $900 next year and May. Even the smallest which is DHI is nothing to sneeze at. The growth of that stock has been tremendous.

The good news is that the portfolio closed the month above $450,000.00. Hopefully it can keep growing. On February 13th I my PADI increased past $15,000. On Feb 29th RILY cut its dividend dropping me under $15,000. My total dividend raises are in the negative for the year.

This month is 15.78 percent higher than last February. For the first 2 months I am 15.94 percent higher than last year.

Not much changed in the top 10 this was a day late but I still did copied it no position changes which this is the first time in a long time that happened. This figure represents 62.27 percent of the total value of my portfolio. Slightly higher than last months 62.17 percent.

Purchases for the month included ONL, FDUS, RILY, SBUX, KR, PPL, R, NEE, FLO, OMF. Lots of purchases. No sells this month.

CVX, PPL, PEG, KO, and NEE all raised their dividend which had added $148.00 to my forward dividend. This is probably the month where I have the most raises.

While the dividend cut was disappointed and my PADI is below last month total going forward I will be ok. Was hoping to get close to $700 in dividend increases this year. Will have to try for that next year.

Total portfolio value $456925.75. Forward annual dividend $14,808.14
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $14,676.07. Expected dividend as of 2023 $10,597.5
Net worth as of December 23 $670,340.08
Sells
Bought ONL, FDUS, RILY, SBUX, KR, PPL, R, NEE, FLO, OMF. Dividend cuts none. Dividend raises CVX, PEG, KO, PPL, and NEE.
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000 This month I went over $73,570.74 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends

January 24 Dividend and Portfolio Review

January is done and it is time to look at how I did. All I know is that dividends come in no matter how the market does. Did I hit $900.00 this month? Did I hit $450,000 dollars?

As you can see a great month just shy of $900.00. 3 payers accounted for over 70 percent of my income. Reinvestment will keep those growing. April will bring in over $1000.00 due to bi yearly payers. This month is 16.10 percent higher than last January great start to year. Would love to keep this above 15 percent and I am on track to do that. Three payers over $100 and 2 closing in on $50. Raises this month saw VLO, NXST, and TROW. Those raises added $49.16 to my PADI. No sells and some buys. Buys were AAPL, MGIC, ONL, DHI, RILY, LYB, KDP, CVX, and NEE

My portfolio value closed from the 23rd-30th above $450,000 then fell below on the 31st. Will February be the month it closes above $450,000?

Looking at the top 10 ABBV and GOOG switched spots those where the only switches this month. Top ten made up 62 percent of my portfolio value. That is lower than the 62.16 percent from last month.

While I shedded some gains I still was positive for the month as my portfolio grew. My dividends grew from last year.

Total portfolio value $447,919.56. Forward annual dividend $14,906.86
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $14,557.48. Expected dividend as of 2023 $10,781.04
Net worth as of December 23 $670,340.08
Sells
Bought AAPL, MGIC, ONL, DHI, RILY, LYB, KDP, CVX, and NEE. Dividend cuts none. Dividend raises VLO, NXST, and TROW
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000 This month I went over $71,804.79 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends

December 23 Dividend and Portfolio Review

This meme is always a good one for the quarter ending months. The month has ended and the year has concluded. Who can believe another year has ended and getting ready to start a new one.

The exciting part of the end of the year is seeing how much dividend income I have collected over the past year.

Looking at Decembers dividend haul it was amazing. The best month I have ever had. 7 payouts over $100.00 dollars and 3 others within striking distance of it with additions and dividend reinvesting.

This month was my best month ever and it was 24.31 percent higher than last December. For the quarter I collected $3974.84 in dividends which is 22.84 percent higher than the 4th quarter last year. YOY was 15.42 percent higher, than last year. I almost had $2000.00 dollars more than last year the MPW cut cost me $95.00 which would have given it to me. Also selling WBA cut into that.

Dividend raises topped out at $544.01. That included the MPW dividend cut. Hopefully next year I can get some good dividends raises and get oved $600.00.

Looking at my top 10 ABBV swapped with PEG to move into 3rd. SBUX dropped from 9th out and DHI moved from 10 to 9 and KR rejoined the list. The top 10 stocks make up 62.16 percent of my portfolio. A small drop from last months 62.94 percent.

For the year my portfolio gained $78,966.57. You can really see the snowball starting to take effect. I believe the results speak for themselves.

Useless portfolio facts to end the year my average position is 266 shares. I ended the year with 9582 total shares among my portfolio. This year I did not buy any new stocks.

How did you do this year?

Total portfolio value $446,077.04. Forward annual dividend $14,666.31
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $14,433.13. Expected dividend as of 2023 $14,433.13
Net worth as of December 23 $670,340.08
Sells
Bought BAC, NEE, ONL SBUX, USHYX, OMF, KDP, DUK, R, KO, TROW, KR. Dividend cuts none Dividend raises
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000 This month I went over $71,804.79 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends

November 23 Dividend and Portfolio Review

November is over. I month left in 2023 markets were up and so were my dividends. No matter what the markets do my dividends keep coming in.

One thing I want to do is try not to pick stocks that cut their dividends. I do have some higher yields that could cut the dividend that is a risk with the higher dividends. To minimize that risk I like to build up my other stocks at a greater rate to offset any cuts.

A lot of people talk about emergency funds I have around $17,000 cash and another $18,000 in a mutual fund. I do draw the cash down to invest and then build it back up. Most of the money is in a MMSA which I build then draw it back down. I have to keep so much in it or it becomes a regular savings account. I also have credit cards I can use.

With that I will show my dividend income. This month just missed $1,000.00. I was close because DHI had been paying in December and moved to this month. So we will see if that continues next year. Rily usually pushes the first quarter dividend into March so this will drop first Feb but then no matter what should be over $1,000 a month after that. Exciting times. 4 payments over $100 and 2 others close to that.

This month is 22.28 percent higher than last year. Total for the year is 13.9 percent higher. This years total is already higher than last year.

Top 10 stocks makes up a big portion of my portfolio. So much that it is 62.94 percent of my portfolio. But I’m not worried as it will vary and go up and down as I add. KR and CVX both dropped out they were the 9th and 10th stocks. Replaces by SBUX and DHI.

2 dividend raises one by FDUS the other by DHI added $50.36 to my PADI. Total for the year was $544.01. This beats last years $511.95. Both years had a dividend cut or I would have been over $600 in both years here is to no cuts next year.

Marching close to every month being over $1000.00, a month.

Total portfolio value $428,928.52. Forward annual dividend $14,538.58
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $14,065.36 Expected dividend as of 2023 $13,683.76
Net worth as of September 23 $627,847.21
Sells
Bought DUK, NEE, LYB, OMF, KO, PPL, KO. Dividend cuts none Dividend raises FDUS, DHI
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000 This month I went over $69,900.00 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends

October 2023 Dividend and Portfolio Review

October Is finished and the market seemed spooked. The weather is turning cooler and winter will be upon us. But like clock work my dividends came in. I love waking up to dividends hitting my account.

The goal I’m trying to achieve is to use dividends to pay off my credit cards and some bills. Start small then build up more each year. I plan on starting this around the age of 55.

This month was awesome over $1000,00 dollars my fifth month this year over that amount. I am not to far from having every month above $1000. Earlier this year MPW cut its dividend. Being able to increase the amount while withstanding the cut shows the snowball affect.

Looking at the top 10 KR moved up 1 and swapped places with CVX. PEG moved up and swapped places with ABBV. Top 10 made up 63.22 percent of total portfolio. A small drop from last time.

This month was 20.9 percent higher than last October. For the year I am 13.24 percent higher. As we close out this report the markets were lower in October but the dividends kept coming in and were higher. The snowball is growing and gaining momentum. Looking to the end of the year I can see about $14,200 in dividends this year

Total portfolio value $405,386.25 Forward annual dividend $14,385.16
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $13,884.92 Expected dividend as of 2023 $13,871.3
Net worth as of September 23 $627,847.21
Sells
Bought MSFT, NXST, OMF, ABBV, LYB. Dividend cuts none Dividend raises ABBV, V and XOM.
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000
This month I went over $68,900.00 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends

September 23 Dividend and Portfolio Review

Fall is here the leaves are dropping but my dividends are rising. Cooler Temps but those dividends came in sizzling this month. More dividends than I have ever received.

Best month ever. Over $1800.00. 7 payers over $100. FDUS payed a special which helps out tremendously. This month was 29.12 percent higher than last year. Quarterly was higher by 24.64 percent. Year over year to date is higher by 12.48 percent.

This month I purchased SBUX, KR, MSFT, KDP, FLO, NEE, NXST. I sold WBA. Due to the sale my PADI decreased by about $21.00. Portfolio value dropped from last month and net worth dropped by $4000.00.

In the top 10 ABBV and PEG swapped everything else stayed the same except they lost value lol. Top 10 makes up 63.23 percent of portfolio. Higher than last months 62.65 percent.

9 months completed in 2023. If my calculation are correct I could almost hit $14,000 dividends delivered across my accounts.

Total portfolio value $410,429.68. Forward annual dividend $14,024.32
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $13,693.82 Expected dividend as of 2023 $13,944.38
Net worth as of June 23 $627,847.21
Sells WBA
Bought SBUX, KR, MSFT, KDP, FLO, NEE, NXST Dividend cuts none Dividend raises KDP, MSFT and SBUX.
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000
This month I went over $67,800.00 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends

August 23 Dividend and Portfolio Review

August is done and I am here reviewing my portfolio. And looking at my dividend received. From the looks of it it was a great month. As far as life goes it’s still kind of hot during the day but cools down at night.

Looks like a very great month marching in the right direction $924.60 in dividends were received. 7 stocks 1 mutual fund 4 payouts above $100.00.

This month was 17.65 percent higher than last year. Year over year is 9.49 percent higher than last year.

The market dropped the first part of the month but came back strong the last week or so. Erased some losses. But no matter what the market did I still got my dividends.

This month the top 10 was 62.65 percent of total portfolio it dropped in value but percentage rose. Most of the drop wax from AAPL. I should have switched PEG and ABBV. As far as that no other changes.

Total portfolio value dropped a little over $11,000. But my dividends came in. It was down farther but the last week or so made a come back. You can see my buys below. 1 cut from MPW and 1 raise from MO.

Total portfolio value $425,816.74. Forward annual dividend $14,045.21
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $13,281.56 Expected dividend as of 2023 $12,945.87
Net worth as of June 23 $631,762.37
Sells None
Bought NXST, NEE, OMF, RILY, MO, PPL Dividend cuts MPW. Dividend raises MO.
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000
This month I went over $65,990 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends

July 23 Dividend and Portfolio Review.

July is over and August is upon us. July was a great month for me. In both terms of my portfolio and dividends.

As you can see just shy of $900.00. Between MO and RITM make up over 60 percent of this months dividend. The others will grow as I add to them and both of those will continue to grow also. Small group but it packs a punch.

Looking at this months dividends it is 23.16 percent higher than last July. YOY I am at 8.56 percent higher. I would like that to be higher and it will as the year go on. I was set back by a down month in FEB but have slowly been climbing back up.

I added $260.70 in dividend income this month. I adjusted the dividend on my Mutual fund upward by .002, for a total of $63.47. Dividend reinvestment brought in $65.47. Dividend raises totaled $75.48. Buys totaled $56.18.

Looking at my sector break down, Technology closed for the month the first time above $100,000. Combined the 2 sectors of Utilities and Consumer Goods barely beat it out as both are above $50,000 each. Keeping it in the Technology sector AAPL is killing it closing the month above $70,000 and making up 16.06 percent of my portfolio.

Not much change in the top 10 except it went up and GOOG and PEG swapped. The percentage my top 10 makes up of my portfolio fell a smidgeon to 62.01 percent.

Looking at my portfolio it rose over $20,000 this month. Don’t know if that’s the highest, but it’s close to being one. While I like dividend growth, I still like total return.

Total portfolio value $436,948.36 Forward annual dividend $13,990.11
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $13,140.84 Expected dividend as of 2023 $13,210.25
Net worth as of June 23 $631,762.37
Sells None
Bought MGIC, NXST, BAC, ABBV, R, NEE, FLO. Dividend raises R, DUK, BAC.
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000
This month I went over $65,000 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends.

June 23 Dividend and Portfolio Review

June is done and gone. Half the year gone and what do I have to show for it? Lots really. This month was amazing not only for the dividends but also for the portfolio growth.

Best month ever. Overcame a $317.00 dollar special dividend from LYB last year. Honestly didn’t think I would come close, but I did barely. Dividend investing works. The results you can see as they speak for themselves. 6 companies paid me over $100.00. My high yield mutual fund is close to that

Month over month I was .27 percent higher. Quarter of quarter over quarter is 9.5 percent higher than last year. Year over year is 6.9 percent higher. Not as high as like it but it will get there no more months barring a future cut that will be negative

You can see the top 10 above PEG and GOOG swapped places and SBUX dropped out replaced by KR. The top 10 dropped a little as a percentage of my portfolio.

My forward dividends grew by $202.53 dollars. Buys and dividend reinvestment helped fuel this growth. Tried to break it down but it was off by a few dollars that way so will have to figure it out next month. Looking forward July should bring about $877.00.

Total portfolio value $415,843.69
Forward annual dividend $13,729.41
Trailing 12 months of Dividends $12,972.94 Expected dividend as of 2023 $13,626.40
Net worth as of June 23 $631,762.37
Sells None
Bought TROW, USHYX, PPL, KDP, TGT, WBA. Dividend raises KR,
Future goals
Future portfolio value of $500,000.00
Forward annual dividends of $15,000.00
Future net worth $750,000
This month I went over $64,100.00 in lifetime dividends.
As I wrap this months report up I’m very pleased with everything. This shows that no matter what you can do the same as I have done and the earlier you start the better off you will be. Just constant buying good quality stocks that raise their value and raise their dividends.