October 2025 Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, September 5th. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach a high of just 56 degrees Fahrenheit later today. That's considerably less than the average temperature for this time of the year.

Now that I'm likely done with my stock purchases for this month, I'll look ahead to the stocks on my radar for October 2025. Without further ado, let's jump into it!

Stock #1: MercadoLibre (MELI)

The first stock is MercadoLibre, which is a newcomer to the watch list. Interested readers can check out my investment thesis in this recent Seeking Alpha article.

Otherwise, the gist of my investment thesis is that MELI is the leading e-commerce and fintech company in Latin America. As the local economies expand, the penetration rate of e-commerce and fintech services is likely to also rise. The company's credit ratings with S&P and Fitch were also both upgraded in the past 12 months to BBB- on stable outlooks. Best of all, I believe the stock is significantly undervalued from the current $2,370 share price.

Stock #2: NextEra Energy (NEE)

The next stock on my watch list for October is NextEra Energy. Curious readers can find my updated investment thesis on NEE in this Seeking Alpha article.

The crux of my investment thesis revolves around the company's presence in the demographically thriving state of Florida. This is supporting heavy capex investments, which has the company confident in its 6% to 8% annual adjusted EPS growth rate through 2027. Honestly, I'd be surprised if growth didn't come in on the high end of that range. What's more, NEE has an A-rated balance sheet. The 3.1% dividend yield is also well-covered by adjusted EPS. That's why the company has committed to annual dividend growth of approximately 10% through at least 2026. The stock is also moderately discounted from the current $72 share price.

Stock #3: ONEOK (OKE)

The final stock on my watch list for next month is ONEOK. Readers can peruse either my September 2025 Stock Watch List blog post or my recent Seeking Alpha article.

OKE's recent acquisitions are unlocking new growth opportunities for the company. Anticipated synergies are another lever that the company is pulling to grow. OKE's financials are also healthy, with a BBB credit rating from S&P on a stable outlook. The 5.6% yield is also secure and set to grow at a mid-single-digit rate annually. Finally, the stock is trading far under my fair value estimate from the current $74 share price.

Discussion:

Another month. Three more great businesses on my radar. MELI would represent a new position for me. I anticipate a roughly 40% allocation to it, an approximately 35% allocation to more OKE, and a ~25% allocation to more NEE.

Concluding Thoughts:

Are any of MELI, NEE, or OKE on your watch list for next month?

If not, what stocks are on your radar for October 2025?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

August 2025 Dividend Income

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, August 29th. With Labor Day around the corner, the temperatures here in Central Wisconsin are cooling. The high temperature today is set to reach just 65 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Now that I have received all of my dividends for the month, I will take a moment to outline my dividend income for August 2025. Let's dig into it!

Net Dividend Income Topped $600

In August 2025, I collected $622.85 in net dividends (including ADR fees for British American Tobacco and Novo Nordisk, as well as withholding taxes for Novo Nordisk). Relative to the $568.35 in net dividends received in May 2025, that's equivalent to a 9.6% quarterly growth rate.

My net dividends were also up 61.9% against the $384.73 in net dividends collected in August 2024.

In my Charles Schwab portfolio, I received $584.70 in net dividends from 21 companies. Due to the sales of General Mills (GIS) and Clorox (CLX) in June 2025 and my initial August 2025 stock purchase of Novo Nordisk (NVO), my company count was one lower than in May 2025. Purchases in recent months of more British American Tobacco (BTI) and Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) were mostly to credit for higher income in this account.

I collected $21.48 in net dividends from three companies within my Fidelity IRA account. This was the result of my purchase of 11 more shares of Realty Income (O) in May 2025.

My net dividends received from three companies in my Webull account were $16.67.

Concluding Thoughts:

My net dividends through August 2025 are up nearly 30%. Overall, I still believe that my net dividend growth for the entirety of 2025 will be somewhere around 25%, with a percent or two of upside potential.

As this post will be published the day after Labor Day weekend concludes, I hope everyone had a safe, healthy, and relaxing long weekend!

Discussion:

How was your dividend income in August 2025?

Did you receive any first-time dividend payments during the month as I did with NVO?

I appreciate your readership and welcome your comments below!

August 2025 Dividend Stock Purchases/Sales

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, August 22nd. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is expected to reach a high of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also expected to be partly sunny, so I'm definitely looking to get outside later today.

Since I'm probably done deploying capital for the month, I'm going to highlight my dividend stock purchases and sales for August 2025. Without further ado, let's jump into it.

Dividend Stock #1: Alphabet (GOOGL)

My first purchase in August 2025 was another five shares of Alphabet at an average cost of $188.86 a share. Interested readers can find the gist of my investment thesis in my August 2025 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post. This transaction added $4.20 to my portfolio's net annual forward dividends, which is equivalent to a 0.44% net dividend yield.

Dividend Stock #2: Realty Income (O)

The next purchase that I made during the month was 14 more shares of Realty Income at an average price per share of $56.39. Curious readers can find my investment thesis in the August 2025 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post that I linked above. My net annual forward dividends climbed by $45.192, which equates to a 5.72% net yield.

Dividend Stock #3: UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

My third purchase in August 2025 was another two shares of UnitedHealth Group at an average cost of $236.18 a share. Readers can find my investment thesis in the blog post that I linked earlier. My net annual forward dividends grew by $17.68 from this transaction, which works out to be a 3.74% net dividend yield.

Dividend Stock Sale: Amgen (AMGN), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

I closed a six share position in Amgen at an average price per share of $286.54. To be clear, I believe the stock can deliver high-single-digit annual total returns over the next several years. It's arguably a bit discounted, the dividend is well-covered, and mid-single-digit annual non-GAAP EPS growth is fairly realistic. For me, this was about opportunity cost. This move reduced my net annual forward dividends by $57.12.

I also exited a six share position in Abbott Laboratories at an average price of $130.51 and a five share position in Johnson & Johnson at an average price per share of $177.35. ABT and JNJ are both qualitative companies to be sure. However, I believe with their stocks near fair value and their growth prospects, high single digit annual total returns over the next several years is likely. These sales lowered my net annual forward dividends by $40.16.

Dividend Stock Purchases: Novo Nordisk (NVO)

I used the proceeds from my Amgen sale to buy 38 shares of Novo Nordisk at an average cost of $45.59 a share. Overall, I like NVO's AA credit rating from S&P. I'm also a firm believer in the company's existing drug portfolio and drug pipeline. This is why I'm confident that the stock can grow earnings at a high-single-digit to low-double-digit annual rate annually for the foreseeable future. The stock's forward 12-month P/E ratio of approximately 11 was less than half of its 10-year average P/E ratio of 27. Overall, I believe that could set NVO up for 20%+ annual total return potential from this cost basis over the next five years. This transaction added $57.11 to my portfolio's net annual forward dividends.

I also redeployed my proceeds from the ABT and JNJ sales to purchase another 30 shares of NVO at $55.13 per share. I think that high teens annual total return potential from the cost basis on this tranche is a realistic expectation through 2030. This added $45.09 to my net annual forward dividends.

Concluding Thoughts:

In August 2025, I invested $2,206.07 in fresh capital. These purchases added $67.072 to my net annual forward dividends. That's equivalent to a 3.04% net dividend yield. Capital redeployment lifted my net annual forward dividends by another $4.93 during the month.

The dividend raise announced in August 2025 increased my net annual forward dividends by $3.84. An upward adjustment in my dividends from my Capital Income Builder (CAIBX) mutual fund increased my net annual forward dividends by $10.23. This led my net annual forward dividends to grow from around $6,160 at the start of August to $6,245 heading into September.

Discussion:

How was your capital deployment in August 2025?

Did you open any new positions like I did with NVO? Did you close any positions like I did with AMGN, ABT, and JNJ?

Thanks for reading. I look forward to your comments below!

Expected Dividend Increases for September 2025

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, August 15th. The temperature is set to reach a high of 86 degrees Fahrenheit today here in Central Wisconsin. However, thunderstorms are expected throughout the day. Thus, I won't be getting outside much, if at all today.

Now that August is about half over, I figure it would be a good time to look at the one dividend raise that I'm expecting for this month. I will also preview the dividend boosts that I'm anticipating for September 2025. Let's dive into it!

Actual Dividend Increase for August 2025

Pending Dividend Increase: Altria Group (MO)

Altria Group has yet to up its quarterly dividend per share. However, it will be announcing this on August 21st. I continue to believe that MO will announce a 3.9% bump in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.06.

My net annual forward dividends would grow by $3.84 across my 24 shares of MO from such an announcement.

UPDATE: As expected, MO raised its quarterly dividend per share by 3.9% to $1.06. Across my 24 shares, my net annual forward dividends rose by $3.84.

Expected Dividend Increases for September 2025

Expected Dividend Increase #1: McDonald's (MCD)

The first raise that I'm anticipating for next month will be from McDonald's. I believe that MCD will declare a 5.6% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.87.

Across my five shares of MCD, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $2 due to such a dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: Microsoft (MSFT)

The next dividend boost that I'm expecting for September 2025 will come from Microsoft. My best guess is that MSFT will announce a 10.8% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.92.

My net annual forward dividends would jump by $3.96 across my 11 shares of MSFT from such a dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: Realty Income (O)

The third dividend bump that I'm predicting for next month will be from Realty Income. I believe that O will declare a 0.2% increase in the monthly dividend per share to $0.2695.

Across my 153 shares of O, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $0.918 due to such a dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #4: Philip Morris International (PM)

The next dividend raise that I'm anticipating for September 2025 will come from Philip Morris International. My best guess is that PM will announce a 4.5% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.42.

My net annual forward dividends would climb by $3.92 across my 14 shares of PM from such a dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #5: VICI Properties (VICI)

The fifth payout increase that I'm expecting for next month will be from VICI Properties. I believe that VICI will declare a 4% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.45.

Across my 106 shares of VICI, my net annual forward dividends would surge by $7.42 due to such a dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #6: Verizon Communications (VZ)

The final dividend bump that I'm predicting for September 2025 will come from Verizon Communications. My best guess is that VZ will announce a 1.8% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.69.

My net annual forward dividends would edge $2.25 higher across my 45 shares of VZ from such a dividend announcement.

Concluding Thoughts:

My net annual forward dividends grew by $3.84 in August 2025. This would be like investing $128 at a 3% net dividend yield.

If my six raises for September play out as expected, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $20.468. That would be equivalent to investing $682.27 at a 3% yield.

Discussion:

How has your August been for dividend raises thus far? Are any still outstanding?

Did you receive any first-time dividend hikes this month?

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