Expected Dividend Increases for February 2025

As I'm writing this blog post on Saturday, January 25th, the high temperature is expected to reach 31 degrees Fahrenheit here in Central Wisconsin. I'll gladly take that temperature for this time of the year.

Now that the month is almost over, it's a great time to look at the dividend raises that I have received thus far. I'll also update the dividend boosts that I haven't yet received as they are announced and preview the dividend hikes that I'm anticipating for February 2025.

Actual Dividend Increases for January 2025

Dividend Increase #1: Air Products & Chemicals (APD)

Air Products & Chemicals announced a 1.1% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.79. That came in below my expectations outlined in this series' previous blog post of a 4.5% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $1.85. However, I'm fine with a muted dividend raise as APD invests heavily in its capex because I'm confident the company can keep earning high returns on capital employed.

Across my five shares, my net annual forward dividends rose by $0.40 due to this announcement.

Dividend Increase #2: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)

Enterprise Products Partners declared a 1.9% bump in its quarterly distribution per unit to $0.535. This was less than my expectation of a 2.9% raise in the quarterly distribution per unit to $0.54. Overall, I'm still happy with this raise. We'll also see how the raise anticipated for this summer plays out.

My net annual forward distributions rose by $8.00 across my 200 units of EPD from this declaration.

Dividend Increase #3: Alliant Energy (LNT)

Alliant Energy announced a 5.7% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.5075. That came in a bit less than the 6.3% raise to $0.51.

Across my 13 shares of LNT, my net annual forward dividends rose by $1.43 due to this announcement.

Dividend Increase #4: WEC Energy Group (WEC)

As was conveyed in December, WEC Energy Group made its 6.9% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.8925 official this month with its declaration.

My net annual forward dividends surged $5.75 across my 23 shares of WEC from this declaration.

Pending Dividend Increase #1: BlackRock (BLK)

BlackRock has yet to announce its dividend increase. However, I'm standing by my prediction of a 5.9% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $5.40.

Across my two shares of BLK, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $2.40 due to such an announcement.

UPDATE: BLK increased its quarterly dividend per share by 2.1% to $5.21. Across my two shares, my net annual forward dividends increased by $0.88 due to this announcement.

Pending Dividend Increase #2: Comcast (CMCSA)

Comcast also hasn't declared its dividend raise yet. I'll also be reiterating my projection of a 6.5% boost in the quarterly dividend per share to $0.33.

My net annual forward dividends would rise by $3.12 across my 39 shares of CMCSA from such a declaration.

UPDATE: As expected, CMCSA increased its quarterly dividend per share by 6.5% to $0.33. As a result, my net annual forward dividends grew by $3.12 across my 39 shares of CMCSA.

Pending Dividend Increase #3: Energy Transfer (ET)

Energy Transfer has yet to announce an increase to its distribution. I remain convinced that the partnership will up the quarterly distribution per unit by 0.8% to $0.325.

Across my 183 units of ET, my net annual forward dividends would increase by $1.83 due to such an announcement.

UPDATE: As anticipated, ET upped its quarterly distribution per unit by 0.8% to $0.325. Across my 183 units of ET, my net annual forward distributions increased by $1.83.

Expected Dividend Increases for February 2025

Expected Dividend Increase #1: The Allstate Corporation (ALL)

The first dividend raise I'm expecting for next month will be from Allstate. My guess is that ALL will announce a 5.4% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.97.

Across my five shares of ALL, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $1.00 due to such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: Brookfield Asset Management (BAM)

The next raise that I'm predicting in February will come from Brookfield Asset Management. I believe that BAM will declare a 13.2% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.43.

My net annual forward dividends would rise by $6.00 across my 30 shares of BAM from such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: The Home Depot (HD)

The third dividend boost that I'm projecting for next month will be from The Home Depot. My best guess is that HD will announce a 7.6% lift in its quarterly dividend per share to $2.42. 

Across my five shares of HD, my net annual forward dividends would climb by $3.40 due to such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #4: L3Harris Technologies (LHX)

The next raise that I'm expecting in February will come from L3Harris Technologies. My guess is that LHX will declare a 7.8% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.25.

My net annual forward dividends would rise by $1.44 across my four shares of LHX from such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #5: NextEra Energy (NEE)

The fifth dividend hike that I'm predicting for next month will be from NextEra Energy. I believe that NEE will announce a 9.7% boost in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.565.

Across my 18 shares of NEE, my net annual forward dividends would surge by $3.60 due to such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #6: PepsiCo (PEP)

The next dividend raise that I'm projecting in February will come from PepsiCo. My best guess is that PEP will declare a 6.3% lift in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.44.

My net annual forward dividends would be boosted by $5.78 across my 17 shares of PEP from such a declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #7: Prudential Financial (PRU)

The seventh dividend increase that I'm expecting for next month will be from Prudential Financial. My guess is that PRU will break from the usual $0.05 raises and announce a 4.6% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.36 (a $0.06 raise).

Across my 10 shares of PRU, my net annual forward dividends would be lifted by $2.40 due to such an announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #8: Tractor Supply (TSCO)

The final dividend hike that I'm predicting in February will come from Tractor Supply. I believe that TSCO will declare a 9.1% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.24.

My net annual forward dividends would grow by $2.00 across my 25 shares of TSCO from such a declaration.

Concluding Thoughts:

The seven dividend raises that I received in January 2025 have lifted my net annual forward dividends by $21.41. That's equivalent to investing $713.67 at a 3% net dividend yield.

If the eight dividend raises that I'm expecting in February play out as expected, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $25.62. That would be like investing $854.00 in fresh capital at a 3% dividend yield.

Discussion:

How was your February 2025 for dividend boosts?

Did you benefit from any first-time payout raises during the month?

Thanks for reading and I welcome your comments below!

February 2025 Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post on Friday, January 17th, it's going to reach a high of 40 degrees Fahrenheit here in Central Wisconsin later today. For this time of year, that's a definite heat wave. I'll gladly take it, too!

Now that there are just two weeks left in January, I'm going to take a moment to look ahead to the stocks on my watch list for February 2025.

Stock #1: Amazon (AMZN)

The first stock on my watch list for next month is once again Amazon. This has been a pick that I've been adding to just about every month lately. Interested readers can find my buying rationale in my December 2024 Stock Watch List blog post and my Seeking Alpha article from last November.

AMZN continues to have undeniable catalysts in e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital advertising. The net cash and marketable securities position continues to grow. Best of all, shares look to be substantially discounted from the current $226 share price (as of January 17th, 2025).

Stock #2: British American Tobacco (BTI)

Next up on my watch list for February is British American Tobacco. My investment thesis is essentially unchanged from my December 2024 Stock Purchases blog post.

BTI's 8.1% yield is effortlessly covered by profits and free cash flow. The company looks poised to generate mid- single-digit annual EPS growth in the years ahead. Finally, the forward P/E remains below eight. Thus, why I'm interested in buying more BTI at the current $36 share price (as of January 17th, 2025).

Stock #3: PepsiCo (PEP)

The third stock on my watch list for next month is PepsiCo. Curious readers can check out my investment thesis in my November 2024 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post and December Seeking Alpha article.

The higher for longer rate environment and concerns about GLP-1 weight loss drugs have pressured PEP's stock in recent months. Yet, the company's annual core EPS growth looks to be holding around 6% or 7% for now. PEP also boasts an A-rated balance sheet. Along with a well-covered 3.7% dividend yield, I believe the stock should deliver double-digit annual total returns from the current $148 share price (as of January 17th, 2025).

Concluding Thoughts:

That's it for now. My plan is to allocate about 45% of my capital to AMZN and split the remaining 55% between BTI and PEP. In my view, this is an excellent mix of growth at a cheap valuation in AMZN and sustainable and growing income on sale in BTI and PEP.

Discussion:

Are any of AMZN, BTI, or PEP on your watch list for February 2025?

If not, what are you keeping on your radar for next month?

I appreciate your readership and look forward to your comments below!

My Financial And Personal Goals For 2025

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, January 10th, 2025. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is going to reach a high of 24 degrees Fahrenheit later today. For this time of year, I'll take it!

Now that we're into the new year, it would be a good time to briefly highlight my financial and personal goals for 2025.

My Financial Goals For 2025

1. Generate At Least 25% Growth In Net Dividends Collected

I believe that a realistic goal for 2025 is for 25% growth in net dividends collected. This is because for the last few months of 2023 and the first few months of 2024, I didn't invest any capital. I made up for it in later months, but that cost me some dividends. As I outlined in last week's blog post, this helped my net dividends received in 2024 rise by 22% to a new all-time high.

2. Grow Net Annual Forward Dividends By 25%

My second goal is similar to my first goal. I'm aiming for 25% growth in my net annual forward dividends from the start of 2025 to the end of it. If I can continue to compound my net annual forward dividends by around this rate, I could reach financial independence at around age 35 or 36 (adjusting for a 3.5% annual inflation rate).

Personal Goals For 2025

1. Bike 40 Miles A Week

As I indicated in my prior blog post, I have shifted my focus to the stationary bike. Overall, I find it more enjoyable than a treadmill. Thus, I'm going to stick with it. That's why my goal is to bike right around 40 miles a week (10 miles a day, four days a week).

2. Lift Weights Four Times A Week

As far as strength training is concerned, my goal is to stick with doing it four times a week. I'll gradually move up and would like to end the year doing three sets of 12 reps of various motions with 20 lb dumb bells.

3. Publish A Blog Post Each Week

As there were 53 Tuesdays in 2024, I published a blog each week. For 2025, I plan on keeping this same pace. It's a nice balance for me to document my journey for myself and for any interested readers.

Concluding Thoughts:

That's all for now. I have my goals set for the year. Now, it's time to work on achieving them and enjoying the journey along the way!

Discussion:

What are your goals for 2025?

Do you anticipate that any of your goals will be more difficult to achieve versus others?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

Review of 2024 Goals

As I'm writing this blog post, 2024 has recently concluded. The weather here in Central Wisconsin isn't bad for this time of the year, either. The high is expected to reach a balmy 26 degrees Fahrenheit today, January 1st.

Now that we have entered a new calendar year, it would be a good time to look at how I fared in achieving my goals in 2024. Without further ado, let's dig into it!

Financial Goals for 2024

1. Generate at least 20% growth in net dividends collected - Pass

In 2024, I received $4,781.80 in net dividends across my accounts. That equates to a 22% growth rate versus the amount collected in 2023. Thus, I narrowly surpassed this goal. Dividend raises and my allocation of nearly $24,000 in fresh capital contributed to this uptick in my net dividend income.

2. Grow net annual forward dividends by 20% by the end of the year - Pass

Heading into 2025, my net annual forward dividends are right around $5,455. That's good enough for a 26.5% growth rate versus the $4,315 in net annual forward dividends heading into 2024. As a result, I exceeded this goal.

Why the disconnect between net dividends collected and net annual forward dividends? I didn't put capital to work in the last few months of 2023 and the first few months of 2024. This limited the growth in my net dividends received to start 2024.

Personal Goals for 2024

1. Jog at Least 10 Miles a Week - Mostly Pass

Throughout 2024, I met my goal of jogging 10 miles a week all but a handful of weeks. For the most part, my failure to fully meet this goal was because my family recently purchased a stationary bike. I've been getting more into that lately, so I haven't been using the treadmill quite as much. That's why I would say I mostly met this goal.

2. Lift Weights at Least Four Times a Week - Mostly Pass

Minus a couple of occasions in 2024, I lifted weights four times each week. I finished the year doing three sets of 12 reps of various movements with 10 lb dumb bells. That was less than my initial goal of 15 lb dumb bells. However, the route that I have been taking is paying off. I've been happy with my incremental gains in muscle and want to continue that in a sustainable way (e.g., avoiding injury and a setback). That's why I give myself a mostly pass on this goal.

3. Publish a Blog Post Each Week - Pass

I published 52 blog posts in 2024, so I managed to post one blog each week. That has been the case since the start of this blog and I hope to continue this tradition into 2025 and beyond.

Concluding Thoughts

Overall, 2024 was a solid year for me. I met or exceeded three out of my five goals for the year. The other two that I didn't technically meet still represented solid progress for me. This blog post won't be published until January 7th, but I wanted to close by wishing everyone a great start to the New Year!

Discussion:

How was your 2024?

Did you achieve your goals?

I appreciate your readership and look forward to your comments below!