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!

October 2024 Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post, my parents recently celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. I'm very blessed to have been raised in a loving home. God willing, I hope to replicate that one day with a family of my own.

On another note, the high temperatures this weekend are expected to reach the low to high 70 degrees Fahrenheit range in Central Wisconsin. Since there are three weeks remaining in the month of September, now would be a good time to look at a few stocks on my watch list for October.

Dividend Stock #1: Amazon (AMZN)

The first stock on my watch list for October is Amazon (AMZN). Interested readers can check out my Seeking Alpha article from July.

AMZN's growth looks to be holding up. The company is broadening its item selection on its e-commerce platform. AMZN is also set to benefit from the vast majority of global IT spending remaining on-premises and gradually transitioning to the cloud. Additionally, the company's free cash flow is immensely improving. Finally, shares could be trading at a substantial discount to fair value from the current $171 share price (as of September 6, 2024).

Dividend Stock #2: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)

The next stock on my watch list for next month is Enterprise Products Partners (EPD). Curious readers can peruse my July Seeking Alpha article for more info.

EPD's adjusted EBITDA and DCF continues to steadily move higher. The midstream operator is also planning a major growth project, which should sustain this growth. EPD's A-rated balance sheet is the strongest in its industry. The 7%+ distribution yield is well-covered and positioned to keep growing. Sealing the buy case, units of EPD are moderately undervalued from the current $29 unit price (as of September 6, 2024).

Dividend Stock #3: Visa (V)

The third stock on my watch list for October 2024 is Visa (V). Those interested in my in-depth investment thesis can read my co-produced Seeking Alpha article from July.

V has secular trends on its side to keep double-digit annual adjusted diluted EPS growth flowing. The company also enjoys an AA- credit rating from S&P on a stable outlook. Finally, shares could be discounted by a double-digit percentage from the current $279 share price (as of September 6, 2024).

Concluding Thoughts:

Another month. Three more excellent stocks that I plan to own for the long haul. I'm very pleased to deploy capital at an approximately 50/50 split between growth stocks and value stocks.

Discussion:

Are any of AMZN, EPD, and V on your watch list for next month?

If not, what stocks are you watching for October 2024?

Thank you for reading and please feel free to comment below!

Happy Labor Day Plus An Interesting Thought

As I'm writing this blog post, it is Thursday, August 29th. The weather here in Central Wisconsin is expected to be quite pleasant this weekend. The high temperatures are anticipated to reach into the mid-70s to low 80s Fahrenheit. In other words, that's ideal weather for spending plenty of time outside as I'm planning for this weekend.

This weekend also is Labor Day weekend. For those who aren't familiar, the holiday celebrates the American worker. It originated with a parade in New York City arranged by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor in 1882. By 1894, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday by President Grover Cleveland.

The coming of Labor Day this year brought an interesting thought to mind. In fairness, this has probably been brought up by others in the community and I just haven't seen it. Nevertheless, I think it's worth sharing.

Make Dividends Your Employee

I'm a firm believer in the dignity of work because it can bring a sense of achievement and fulfillment to our lives. Simultaneously, I don't think that most people are meant to be stuck in the rat race until the day they die.

This is why I would argue it's so important to make your money work for you and why I have started to view my dividends as my employee. When done right with an insistence on quality, dividend growth investing can be magical. Many people have realized financial independence (e.g., investment income > expenses) this way and I even work with some of them on a routine basis.

That has allowed these individuals to focus on the work that matters most to them. It also has freed them up to spend more time on more important things. This includes practicing their faith, spending time with family, and taking better care of their health.

Concluding Thoughts:

So, that's all I have for today. By the time everybody reads this post, Labor Day weekend will be over. I hope everybody has a safe, healthy, and relaxing weekend!

Discussion:

Has your dividend "employee" helped you to reach financial independence yet?

If not, when do you anticipate reaching financial independence?

I appreciate your readership and welcome your comments below!