December 2024 Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, November 8th. The high temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit today, so that's not too shabby for this time of the year. 

I have already made my purchases for the month of November. Thus, now would be a good time to look ahead to the stocks on my watch list for next month.

Stock #1: Amazon (AMZN)

The first stock on my watch list for December is Amazon. I just upped my stake in AMZN last month after it was on my October 2024 Stock Watch List and remain confident enough after Q3 earnings to add more soon.

AMZN's growth profile remains exceptional. The balance sheet is firmly A-rated. Not to mention that shares look to still offer intriguing value from the current $208 share price (as of November 8th, 2024).

Stock #2: Meta Platforms (META)

The next stock on my watch list for next month is Meta Platforms. After having purchased META earlier this month and in September, I'm bringing it back again.

Like AMZN, META's Q3 earnings impressed me. The social media network continues to expand. As AI is further integrated into the business, META should be able to fetch higher ad prices. The 0.3% dividend yield is well-covered and leaves ample opportunity for future growth. The stock also appears to be a decent value from the current $588 share price (as of November 8th, 2024).

Stock #3: MPLX LP (MPLX)

The final stock on my watch list for December 2024 is MPLX LP. Nothing has really changed with the investment thesis in recent months. It's just business as usual. If anything, I was really impressed by the recent 12.5% distribution hike. The distribution is secure and units look at bit discounted here at $46 (as of November 8th, 2024).

Concluding Thoughts:

There you have it. Three more blue-chip stocks that I'm glad to own and excited to buy more of next month. My asset allocation for next month will likely be around 35% value via MPLX and 65% growth via AMZN and META. For my needs, this is a nice blend of income and growth.

Discussion:

Are any of AMZN, META, or MPLX on your watch list for December 2024?

If not, what are you watching during the month?

Thank you for your readership and please feel free to comment below!

October 2024 Dividend Income

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Monday, October 28th. The weather here in Central Wisconsin is starting to feel like late-October. The high temperature for today is expected to reach just 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

On that note, the month of October is just about complete. Now that I've received all dividend payments besides the JPMorgan Chase (JPM) dividend set for the last day of the month, I'll be reviewing my net dividend income for October 2024.

Another Decent Month

During October 2024, I received $264.70 in net dividends (including GSK ADR fees). This equates to a 3.2% quarterly growth rate against the $256.43 in net dividends collected in July 2024.

That came in 6.3% less than the $282.51 in net dividends that I received in October 2023. This drop was due to my sale of W.P. Carey (WPC) in October 2023. Realty Income's acquisition of Spirit Realty Capital earlier this year (and the resulting shift from quarterly to monthly dividend income) also played a role. Exiting Medical Properties Trust (MPW) in November 2023 was also behind this reduced dividend income. My sale of Leggett & Platt (LEG) in January 2024 factored into decreased dividend income, too. Finally, sales of Omnicom (OMC) and Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) in May 2024 also negatively impacted dividend income.

I collected $232.30 in net dividends from 25 companies in my Charles Schwab account. Dividend stock purchases and dividend raises in recent months led to a slight uptick in net dividend income in October versus July. I also received my first dividend from Nvidia for the month.

I also collected $21.62 in net dividends from four companies within my Fidelity portfolio. A dividend raise from VICI Properties (VICI) and my purchase of Realty Income (O) stock in August 2024 were to credit for this higher net dividend income during October.

Lastly, I collected $10.78 in net dividends from four companies in my Webull account. Dividend raises from Albemarle (ALB), Iron Mountain (IRM) and Philip Morris International (PM) helped net dividend income edge higher in October.

Concluding Thoughts:

Another month of dividends. Thus far, my net dividend income has risen by 20.1% through the first 10 months of 2024 compared to 2023. As I have for over seven years now, I hope to keep routinely deploying capital in the months and years to come. This should keep propelling those dividends higher in the future.

Discussion:

How was your month for dividend income?

Did you receive any first-time dividends during October 2024 as I did with NVDA?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!