January 2026 Dividend Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, December 5th. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is expected to reach a high of 24 degrees Fahrenheit later today, with some snow in the forecast. This is exactly what you would expect living here in early December.

I have already made all the stock purchases that I anticipate for this month. That's why I'm going to be taking a moment to look ahead to the stocks that are on my watch list for January 2026.

Dividend Stock #1: Brookfield Asset Management (BAM)

The first dividend stock on my watch list for January 2026 is Brookfield Asset Management. The crux of my investment thesis can be found in my September Seeking Alpha article.

Essentially, BAM is an industry leader in the thriving alternative asset management industry. The company has plenty of liquidity and an A- S&P credit rating, too. On top of a 3.3% dividend yield, BAM is targeting at least 15% annual dividend growth. The current $53 share price is also moderately below my $58 fair value estimate, which could set it up for 20% annual total returns through 2030.

Dividend Stock #2: Mastercard (MA)

The next dividend stock that I'm watching for next month is Mastercard. Interested readers can peruse my investment thesis in this recent article.

Despite over $10 trillion in TTM gross dollar volumes, Mastercard has plenty of room to grow further. This is evidenced by an $11 trillion consumer secular opportunity upon which it is capitalizing. Mastercard's 0.6% dividend yield is small, but its dividend can arguably grow at a mid-teens percentage annually over the long haul. The company also possesses an A+ S&P credit rating. I also estimate that shares are worth $605 each, which equates to a decent discount to fair value. That's why I envision 15% annual total returns from Mastercard by the end of 2030.

Dividend Stock #3: VICI Properties (VICI)

The third dividend stock on my watch list for January 2026 is VICI Properties.

My investment thesis is essentially that VICI owns some of the best properties in the world. Along with annual contractual lease escalators that are increasingly being linked to inflation, this should provide it with the ability to grow AFFO per share by 3% to 4% each year. VICI's BBB- S&P credit rating is another positive. The company's 6%+ dividend yield is also well-covered by its AFFO generation, with a payout ratio in the mid-70% range for 2025. At the current $28 share price, shares are trading at a forward 12-month P/AFFO ratio of 11.6, according to FAST Graphs. This is below my fair value P/AFFO ratio of 14.5 and could lead to 13% annual total returns through 2030.

Bonus Dividend Stock: Microsoft (MSFT)

The final dividend stock that I'm watching for next month is Microsoft.

My general investment thesis is that MSFT is a leader in multiple fast-growing markets, such as cloud computing and enterprise software. The company boasts an immaculate AAA S&P credit rating. MSFT's 0.7% dividend yield comes with a payout ratio in the low-20% range for FY 2026. At the current $491 share price, the stock's forward 12-month P/E ratio of 28.5 is below its nine-year average P/E ratio of 30.4 ($523 fair value per share estimate). That puts MSFT in a position to deliver 15% annual total returns by the end of calendar year 2030.

Concluding Thoughts:

There we have it. I'm planning on allocating approximately 40% to BAM, nearly 25% to VICI, and the remainder pretty evenly to MA and MSFT. This should provide a net dividend yield of right around 3% to go with enticing value and exceptional growth prospects.

Discussion:

Are any of BAM, MA, MSFT, or VICI on your watch list for January 2026?

If not, what stocks are you watching for next month/next year?

I appreciate your readership and welcome your comments below!

November 2025 Dividend Income

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, November 28th. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is going to reach a high of just 27 degrees Fahrenheit later today. In other words, it feels every bit like it will soon be December.

Now that the month is just about complete, I'll be looking at my net dividend income for November 2025. Without further ado, let's dig into it!

Net Dividend Income Surpassed $650

In November 2025, I received $654.25 in net dividends (including ADR fees for British American Tobacco). Compared to the $622.85 in net dividends collected in August 2025, this is a 5% quarterly growth rate.

Relative to $449.18 in net dividends received in the year-ago period of November 2024, my net dividends were up 45.7%.

In my Charles Schwab account, I collected $616.04 in net dividends from 19 companies. The discrepancy between the number of dividend payments from August to November is explained by the timing of Novo Nordisk's (NVO) semiannual dividend and my sale of Abbott Laboratories (ABT) stock in August 2025. This higher income was made possible by additional purchases of ONEOK (OKE) in September 2025 and October 2025, as well as an additional MPLX buy in November 2025.

I received $21.63 in net dividends from three companies within my Fidelity IRA portfolio. This slight increase came from dividend boosts recently announced by Agree Realty (ADC) and Realty Income (O).

Finally, I collected $16.58 in net dividends from three companies in my Webull account. Modestly unfavorable currency translation on dividends received from BTI led net dividends incrementally lower.

Concluding Thoughts:

November 2025 represented another month of progress for the dividend growth stock portfolio. Through the first 11 months of the year, my net dividends received are up almost 28% over the first 11 months of 2024. By the grace of God, I aim to continue this compounding for many more years and decades.

Discussion:

How was your dividend income in November 2025?

Did you receive any first-time dividend payments during the month?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

Expected Dividend Increases for December 2025

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, November 21st. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach a high of 45 degrees Fahrenheit later today. Needless to say, that's balmy for this time of the year.

With that aside, I have receive all the dividend raises that I'm anticipating for November 2025. That's why I'll be taking a moment to recap them and look ahead to the payout boosts that I'm expecting for next month.

Actual Dividend Increases for November 2025

Actual Dividend Increase #1: Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

Automatic Data Processing announced a 10.4% lift in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.70. This came in just above my forecast of a 9.7% increase to $1.69.

Across my 12 shares of ADP, my net annual forward dividends rose by $7.68 due to this dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: Aflac (AFL)

Aflac declared a 5.2% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.61. My net annual forward dividends grew by $1.32 across my 11 shares of AFL from this dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: Main Street Capital (MAIN)

Main Street Capital announced a 2% raise in its monthly dividend per share to $0.26. That was in line with my expectations.

Across my 30 shares of MAIN, my net annual forward dividends increased by $1.80 due to this dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #4: Merck (MRK)

Merck declared a 4.9% bump in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.85, which was what I anticipated.

My net annual forward dividends rose by $3.04 across my 19 shares of MRK from this dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #5: Royal Gold (RGLD)

My latest new position, Royal Gold announced a 5.6% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.475. This was about half of the 11.2% hike to $0.50 that I was forecasting. However, I believe this is a prudent move by RGLD. As its recent acquisitions of Sandstorm Gold and Horizon Copper are incorporated into the business and it commits to completely repaying its debt in the next 18 months, I think that dividend growth will reaccelerate again. That's why I think next November could see a return to a double-digit percentage annual dividend growth rate.

Across my six shares of RGLD, my net annual forward dividends edged $0.60 higher due to this dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increases for December 2025

Expected Dividend Increase #1: Broadcom (AVGO)

The first payout boost that I'm predicting for next month will be from Broadcom. My best guess is that AVGO will declare an 18.6% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.70. Since AVGO is growing like a weed and has consequently deleveraged (S&P recently upgraded its credit rating from BBB to A-), I would argue this is a realistic projection.

Across my 20 shares of AVGO, my net annual forward dividends would surge by $8.80 from such a dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY)

The next dividend increase that I'm expecting for December will come from Bristol Myers Squibb. I believe that BMY will announce a 3.2% bump in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.64.

My net annual forward dividends would rise by $1.76 across my 22 shares due to such a dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: Mastercard (MA)

The third payout boost that I'm forecasting for next month will be from Mastercard. My guess is that MA will declare a 14.5% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.87.

Across my five shares of MA, my net annual forward dividends would increase by $2.20 from such a dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #4: Realty Income (O)

The next dividend increase that I'm predicting for December will come from Realty Income. I have a hunch that O will announce a 0.2% increase in its monthly dividend per share to $0.27. It's worth noting that O tends to up its dividend by incremental amounts four times a year and around two percent once a year.

My net annual forward dividends would edge $0.918 higher across my 153 shares due to such a dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #5: Pfizer (PFE)

The final dividend raise that I'm expecting for next month will be from Pfizer. My best guess is that PFE will increase its quarterly dividend per share to $0.44.

Across my 26 shares of PFE, my net annual forward dividends would grow by $1.04 from such a dividend declaration.

Concluding Thoughts:

My net annual forward dividends grew by $14.44 from the five raises that I received in November. This would be equivalent to investing $481.33 at a 3% net dividend yield.

If my five raises for December 2025 play out as predicted, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $14.718. That would equate to investing $490.60 at a 3% dividend yield.

Discussion:

How was your November 2025 for payout raises?

Did you receive any first-time dividend boosts for the month like I did with RGLD?

I appreciate your readership and welcome your comments below!

November 2025 Dividend Stock Purchases

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, November 14th. The high temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach 51 degrees Fahrenheit later today. For this time of the year, this is fantastic weather. Needless to say, I plan on getting outside for a while today!

With that aside, my purchases for November 2025 are likely complete. That's why I will now be highlighting my dividend stock purchases for the month.

Dividend Stock Purchase #1: Carlisle Companies (CSL)

My first dividend stock purchase during the month was another share of Carlisle Companies at a price of $323.69. For my investment thesis, readers can peruse my November 2025 Stock Watch List blog post. This transaction added $4.40 to my net annual forward dividends, which works out to a 1.36% net dividend yield.

Dividend (Distribution) Stock Purchase #2: MPLX LP (MPLX)

The next stock purchase that I completed in November 2025 was 13 units of MPLX LP at an average price per unit of $51.00. Readers may recall that ONEOK was on my watch list for November 2025. However, I felt compelled to pounce on the double-digit percentage distribution hike from MPLX announced earlier this month. This is a position I hadn't added to since last November, so it felt good to up the position. That raised my net annual forward distributions by $55.978, which is equivalent to an 8.44% distribution yield.

Dividend Stock Purchase #3: Novo Nordisk (NVO)

The third dividend stock purchase that I made during the month was 10 more shares of Novo Nordisk at an average cost of $49.43 per share. My investment thesis for this buy can also be found in the November 2025 Stock Watch List blog post that I linked to earlier. This lifted my net annual forward dividends by $15.31, which equates to a 3.10% net dividend yield.

Bonus Dividend Stock Purchase #1: Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

A bonus stock purchase that I completed in November 2025 was another share of Automatic Data Processing at a price of $257.17. Interested readers can find my investment thesis in this September Seeking Alpha article. The transaction increased my net annual forward dividends by $6.16, which works out to a 2.40% dividend yield.

Bonus Dividend Stock Purchase #2: Royal Gold (RGLD)

The other bonus stock purchase that I made during the month was a six share starter position in Royal Gold at a cost per share of $170.58. The gist of my investment thesis is available in this Seeking Alpha listicle or my December 2025 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post. This lifted my net annual forward dividends by $10.80, which is equivalent to a 1.06% net dividend yield.

Concluding Thoughts:

In November, I allocated $2,761.69 in net capital. These purchases lifted my net annual forward dividends/distributions by $92.648, which equates to a 3.35% net dividend/distribution yield.

If my remaining dividend hikes play out as anticipated, this will have also boosted my net passive income by $14.44 (including a raise from Aflac and Royal Gold). That would raise my net annual forward dividends/distributions from approximately $6,510 at the start of the month to around $6,615 to end the month.

Discussion:

How did you or how do you expect to fare with your capital deployment in November 2025?

Have you opened any new positions during the month as I have with RGLD? Do you expect to initiate any new positions?

Thank you for reading. I look forward to your comments below!