Expected Dividend Increases for March 2026

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, February 20th. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach a high of 30 degrees Fahrenheit later. For this time of year, that's pretty typical. So, I plan on getting outside for a bit today.

With that aside, I have received almost all of the dividend announcements I anticipated for February 2026. That makes now a great time to highlight these dividend declarations and look ahead to the next month. Let's get into it!

Actual Dividend Increases for February 2026

Dividend Increase #1: Allstate (ALL)

Allstate announced an 8% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.08, which was perfectly in line with my expectation shared in this series' prior blog post.

My net annual forward dividends grew by $1.60 across my five shares of ALL due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #2: Brookfield Asset Management (BAM)

Brookfield Asset Management declared a 14.9% boost in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.5025. This was just above my prediction of a 14.3% raise to $0.50.

Across my 76 shares of BAM at the time of the declaration, my net annual forward dividends surged higher by $19.76 from this declaration.

Dividend Increase #3: British American Tobacco (BTI)

British American Tobacco announced a 2% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to 0.6126 GBP. That was below my forecast of a 3.6% raise to 0.6222 GBP.

My net annual forward dividends rose by $9.222 (based on current exchange rates) across my 141 shares of BTI due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #4: Equinix (EQIX)

Equinix declared a 10% boost in its quarterly dividend per share to $5.16. This came in above my expectation of an 8.1% increase in the quarterly dividend per share to $5.07.

Across my three shares of EQIX, my net annual forward dividends grew by $5.64 from this dividend declaration.

Dividend Increase #5: Genuine Parts Company (GPC)

Genuine Parts Company announced a 3.2% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.0625.

My net annual forward dividends edged $0.78 higher across my six shares of GPC due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #6: Coca-Cola (KO)

Coca-Cola declared a 3.9% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.53. That missed my prediction of a 4.9% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $0.535.

Across my 10 shares of KO, my net annual forward dividends increased by $0.80 from this dividend declaration.

Dividend Increase #7: NextEra Energy (NEE)

NextEra Energy announced a 10% hike in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.6232. This was slightly more than my forecast of a 10% raise to $0.6230.

My net annual forward dividends grew by $10.886 across my 48 shares of NEE due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #8: PepsiCo (PEP)

PepsiCo declared a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.48. That was just below my expectation of a 4.9% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $1.4925.

Across my 24 shares of PEP, my net annual forward dividends rose by $5.52 from this dividend declaration.

Dividend Increase #9: Prudential Financial (PRU)

Prudential Financial announced a 3.7% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.40. This was in line with my prediction.

My net annual forward dividends edged $2 higher across my 10 shares due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #10: Rexford Industrial Realty (REXR)

Rexford Industrial Realty declared a 1.2% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.435. That missed my forecast of a 2.9% raise to $0.4425.

Across my 30 shares of REXR, my net annual forward dividends inched $0.60 higher from this dividend declaration.

Dividend Increase #11: T. Rowe Price Group (TROW)

T. Rowe Price Group announced a 2.4% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.30. This fell short of my expectation of a 3.1% bump to $1.31.

My net annual forward dividends grew by $0.72 across my six shares of TROW due to this dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #12: Tractor Supply (TSCO)

Tractor Supply declared a 4.3% increase in its quarterly dividend per share to $0.24. That was less than the 8.7% boost to $0.25 that I was predicting.

Across my 25 shares of TSCO, my net annual forward dividends edged $1 higher from this dividend declaration.

Distribution Increase: Western Midstream Partners (WES)

Western Midstream Partners announced a 2.2% raise in its quarterly distribution per unit to $0.93.

My net annual forward distributions rose by $2.56 across my 32 units of WES at the time of the distribution announcement.

Pending Dividend Increase #1: The Home Depot (HD)

Home Depot hasn't yet declared its next dividend. However, I'm maintaining my forecast of a 4.3% raise in the quarterly dividend per share to $2.40.

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

Pending Dividend Increase #2: TJX Companies (TJX)

TJX Companies also has yet to announce its next dividend. Still, I'm sticking with my expectation of a 9.4% boost in the quarterly dividend per share to $0.465.

My net annual forward dividends would grow by $1.76 across my 11 shares of TJX due to such a dividend announcement.

Dividend Freeze: Meta Platforms (META)

In light of its significant uptick in capex for 2026 to pivot the company toward personal superintelligence, Meta Platforms opted to keep its quarterly dividend per share at $0.525. I was anticipating an 8.6% lift in the payout to $0.57.

Dividend Freeze: Realty Income (O)

Realty Income kept its monthly dividend per share at $0.27. Since O tends to announce one larger dividend raise at some point in the year (along with four smaller ones), I expected a 1.9% raise to $0.2750. I still believe we'll see that level of a dividend raise declared within the next few months.

Expected Dividend Increases for March 2026

Expected Dividend Increase #1: American Tower (AMT)

The first dividend raise that I'm predicting for next month will come from American Tower. I believe that AMT will announce a 5.9% boost in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.80.

Across my six shares of AMT, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $2.40 from such a dividend announcement.

Expected Dividend Increase #2: General Dynamics (GD)

The next dividend increase that I'm anticipating for March 2026 will be from General Dynamics. My guess is that GD will declare a 6% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.59.

My net annual forward dividends would grow by $2.16 across my six shares of GD due to such a dividend declaration.

Expected Dividend Increase #3: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

The third dividend raise that I'm expecting for next month will come from JPMorgan Chase & Co. My best guess is that JPM will announce a 6.7% raise in its quarterly dividend per share to $1.60 (JPM has raised its dividend twice a year in recent years to better manage its capital surplus).

Across my six shares of JPM, my net annual forward dividends would increase by $2.40 from such a dividend announcement.

Dividend Increase #4: Realty Income (O)

The final dividend increase that I'm predicting for March 2026 will be from Realty Income. I believe O will declare a 0.2% increase in its monthly dividend per share to $0.2705.

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

Concluding Thoughts:

If my remaining two dividend raises play out as anticipated, my net annual forward dividends would soar $64.848 in February 2026 from dividend hikes. This would be equal to investing $2,161.60 at a 3% net dividend yield.

If my four raises expected in March 2026 materialize, my net annual forward dividends would rise by $7.878. That would be equivalent to investing $262.60 at a 3% net yield.

Discussion:

How was your February 2026 for dividend raises?

Did you receive any first-time payout boosts as I did with EQIX and WES?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!

March 2026 Stock Watch List

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, February 13th. Despite the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th, it seems lucky to me. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach a high of 52 degrees Fahrenheit with sunshine as well. Needless to say, I will be getting outside today!

Now that I have likely completed all of my transactions for February 2026, I will be looking ahead to stocks on my watch list for the next month. Without further ado, let's jump into it!

Stock #1: Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

The first stock on my watch list for the month ahead is Automatic Data Processing (also my first pick in this series' previous blog post). Curious readers can peruse my investment thesis in this Seeking Alpha article from last month.

My investment thesis was once again validated a few weeks ago when ADP shared its fiscal second quarter earnings report. The company's revenue and adjusted diluted EPS grew at healthy clips again, surpassing the analyst consensus estimates by $21 million and $0.05, respectively. Overall, ADP remains positioned to deliver 8% to 10% annual adjusted diluted EPS growth over the medium term. The company also continues to sport an AA- S&P credit rating with a stable outlook. Its 3.2% dividend yield is comfortably backed up by adjusted diluted EPS and FCF generation. At the current $213 share price (as of February 13th, 2026), shares are priced at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of just 18.3. That's well below my fair value estimate of $313 (a fair value multiple of 27, which would still be less than the FAST Graphs 10-year average P/E ratio of 28.6).

Stock #2: Amazon.com (AMZN)

The next stock on my watch list for March 2026 is Amazon.com. Interested readers can find my investment thesis in this Seeking Alpha article from last November. This would be my first time adding to AMZN stock since last October.

Basically, I was encouraged by AMZN's AWS growth of 24% in Q4 2025. This was the strongest growth rate for the platform since 2022. Along with the booming ads business, this served as the rationale for AMZN to release a $200 billion forecast for 2026 capex. In the days following the earnings report, the market hasn't taken kindly to this capex bonanza.

However, I view this as a buying opportunity. The long-term growth thesis is intact, with the cloud computing, e-commerce retail, and digital advertising verticals set for outsized growth in the years ahead. AMZN's strength in each put it in a position where I believe that robust OCF per share growth can continue. Its balance sheet is rock-solid as well, with an AA S&P credit rating and a stable outlook.

Simultaneously, the stock is trading at a forward 12-month P/OCF ratio of just 11.5 from the current $199 share price. This is well below my fair value of $345 a share (a P/OCF ratio of 20, which would be moderately below the FAST Graphs 10-year average P/OCF ratio of 23.5).

Stock #3: Microsoft (MSFT)

The third stock on my watch list for next month is Microsoft. Like ADP, I'm also running MSFT back again for this series.

Macro concerns over accelerating hyperscaler capex have led this to sell off even further, currently sitting around $400 a share. That's equivalent to a forward 12-month P/E ratio of just above 22. This is substantially less than the FAST Graphs 10-year average P/E ratio of 29 and my fair value per share estimate of $525 (also a fair value multiple of 29).

Still, MSFT's growth outlook is exceptional, with the enterprise positioned for solidly double-digit percentage diluted EPS growth over the next few years. Cloud computing and enterprise software remain fast-growing markets to power this growth for the company. MSFT's 0.9% dividend yield is modest, but supported by a payout ratio in the low-20% range for FY 2026. That's why I remain confident the company will eventually become a Dividend Aristocrat. MSFT's also possesses the only AAA S&P credit rating among its Big Tech peers.

Bonus Stock #1: Intuit (INTU)

The next stock on my watch list for March 2026 is Intuit. Staying on the theme of high-quality software picks, Intuit is a new addition to my watch list for this month. Just like MSFT, INTU has seen a meaningful valuation reset to begin the calendar year.

At the current $399 share price, the stock trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio just above 16. That's less than half of the FAST Graphs 10-year average P/E ratio of 37.6 and far under the 20-year average P/E ratio of 29.8 as well. Moving forward, I think that its double-digit earnings growth prospects and high free cash flow margins can support a fair value P/E ratio of 28 ($696 fair value per share estimate).

QuickBooks and TurboTax are basically the operating systems for both small businesses and consumers. To this point, the data from the early 2026 tax season has been positive. I'm confident that combined with INTU's AI-assisted filings, this will driver higher retention and average revenue per user to sustain its double-digit percentage non-GAAP diluted EPS growth. The company's balance sheet is also respectable, with an A S&P credit rating and a stable outlook.

Bonus Stock #2: Western Midstream Partners (WES)

Shifting gears from growth to income, my fifth and final pick for next month is Western Midstream Partners. Readers can find the gist of my investment thesis in my December Seeking Alpha article co-produced with Treading Softly.

Recently, WES renegotiated its contract with its largest customer and its largest unitholder, Occidental Petroleum. The shift to a simplified fee structure and improved capital structure has de-risked its cash flow profile. Thanks to its net leverage ratio of 3x, WES enjoys a BBB- S&P credit rating with a stable outlook.

Valuation wise, units could still have some upside left after a hot start to 2026 (up 10% YTD). From the current $43 unit price, the partnership is still trading at a forward 12-month P/OCF ratio of only 7.2. This is moderately below the FAST Graphs 11-year average P/OCF ratio of 8.5 (and our corresponding fair value per unit of $51). On top of this undervaluation, WES offers a well-covered 8.4% distribution yield as I await a further valuation multiple re-rating.

Concluding Thoughts:

There we have it. Five fantastic companies that I'm likely to buy soon. My tentative weighting will be as follows: 25% to WES, 20% to AMZN, 20% to INTU, 20% to MSFT, and 15% to ADP. That should keep me in the high-2% to low-3% net yield range that I target, while offering attractive overall value and growth potential. 

Discussion:

Are any of ADP, AMZN, INTU, MSFT, or WES on your watch list for next month?

If not, what stocks are you watching for March 2026?

Thank you for reading and I welcome your comments below!

January 2026 Dividend Income

As I'm writing this blog post, it's Friday, February 6th. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach a high of 30 degrees Fahrenheit later today. For this time of year, that's pretty decent. As a result, I plan on getting outside a little bit.

With that aside, now that it's a new month, I will dig into my net dividend income for January 2026. Without further ado, I will jump into it!

Net Dividend Income Topped $300

In January 2026, I collected $302.24 in net dividends (including ADR fees for GSK). This was up 8.7% over the $278 in net dividends received in October 2025. As I have indicated in the past, quarterly growth for the first month of each quarter is often less than other months. That's because I own less names that pay dividends in these months, so there are often fewer buying opportunities.

Relative to the $268.05 in net dividends collected in January 2025, my net dividends rose by 12.8% in January 2026.

Within my Charles Schwab account, I received $238.94 in net dividends from 18 companies (up about $11 from October). The timing of dividend payments from Coca-Cola (KO) and Nvidia (NVDA) explains two less dividend payments versus October. On the other hand, the timing of PepsiCo's (PEP) dividend more than offset the absence of the aforementioned two. 

Extra shares of Philip Morris International (PM) purchased in October 2025 and December 2025 contributed to this higher dividend income. As did my new position in Royal Gold (RGLD) opened in November 2025.

In my Fidelity IRA portfolio, I collected $55.71 in net dividends from six companies. As was the case in my Schwab account, my higher net dividends in my Fidelity IRA were mostly due to the timing of dividends from NVDA and PEP. My purchase of additional shares of VICI in December 2025 also factored into my higher net dividend income.

Lastly, I received $7.59 in net dividends from two companies (PM and Altria Group) within my Webull account.

Concluding Thoughts:

The dividend growth portfolio is continuing to chug along. Since the first month of each quarter is slower for me for dividend growth, I'm relatively pleased with this performance. By God's grace, I hope to build on this momentum in the months and years ahead.

Discussion:

How was your January 2026 for dividend income?

Did you receive any first-time dividends in the month as I did with RGLD?

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

January 2026 Dividend Stock Purchases

As I'm writing this blog post, it's currently Friday, January 30th. The temperature here in Central Wisconsin is set to reach a high of just 5 degrees Fahrenheit later today. For this time of year, that's relatively unpleasant.

Weather report aside, January 2026 is just about over. That means now is as good a time as any to discuss my dividend stock purchases completed during the month. Without further ado, let's dig into it!

Dividend Stock Purchase #1: Brookfield Asset Management (BAM)

The first dividend stock purchase that I made in January 2026 was another 15 shares of Brookfield Asset Management at an average share price of $52.26. Curious readers can peruse my investment thesis in my January 2026 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post. This upped my net annual forward dividends by $26.25, which equates to a 3.35% net dividend yield.

Dividend Stock Purchase #2: Mastercard (MA)

I also purchased an additional share of Mastercard during the month at a cost of $584.74. Interested readers can find my investment thesis in the blog post that I linked to above. My net annual forward dividends grew by $3.48, which works out to a 0.60% net dividend yield.

Dividend Stock Purchase #3: Microsoft (MSFT)

The next dividend stock purchase that I completed in January 2026 was two more shares of Microsoft at an average price of $478.08 a share. Once again, readers can check out my investment thesis in the January 2026 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post that I linked to earlier. I added $7.28 in net annual forward dividends, which is equivalent to a 0.76% net dividend yield.

Dividend Stock Purchase #4: VICI Properties (VICI)

Another dividend stock purchase that I executed during the month was another 31 shares of VICI Properties at an average cost per share of $27.97. Once more, intrigued readers can read my investment thesis in the January 2026 Dividend Stock Watch List blog post that I linked to above. The $55.80 lift to my net annual forward dividends equates to a 6.43% net dividend yield.

Bonus Dividend Stock Purchase: Visa (V)

The one bonus dividend stock purchase that I completed in January 2026 was an extra share of Visa at a price of $326.50. Basically, the market was spooked by the potential for President Donald Trump to cap interest rates for one year at 10%. This was further exacerbated by the possibility of the Credit Card Competition Act's passage. Overall, I believe that just like Mastercard, Visa can overcome these headwinds if they do materialize. The $2.68 in net annual forward dividends added by this transaction works out to a 0.82% net dividend yield.

Concluding Thoughts:

In January, I put $3,518.53 to work. My purchases during the month lifted my net annual forward dividends by $95.49, which is equivalent to a 2.71% weighted average dividend yield.

Dividend increases announced in January 2026 helped raise my net annual forward dividends by $28.39. This pushed my net annual forward dividends from around $6,740 at the start of the month to about $6,885 heading into February 2026. This puts me in a good position to breach $7,000 in net annual forward dividends next month.

Discussion:

How was your January 2026 for capital deployment?

Did you open any new position(s) during the month?

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below!