* Introducing Dividends Value

I am pleased to announce the official launch of Dividends Value. This new site will replace Dividends4Life as my flagship investing site focusing on dividend investing using a value-based approach. Dividends Value is a self-hosted site running on the latest version of WordPress (v2.7). All the historical posts from Dividends4Life and the feed have been converted over to the new site. If you are reading this post via a RSS reader or email then the feed conversion worked and you don't have to do a thing. If you aren't reading this, drop me an email and let me know. ;)

* Big Names and Dividend Cuts Make The News

Dividend cuts, such as Pfizer's (PFE) 50% slash earlier this week, along with big name companies such as General Electric (GE) and Dow Chemical (DOW) trying to convince their shareholders they won't cut their dividends still dominate the business news. What is being overlooked is the steady stream of companies stepping up to the plate and raising their dividends, as good companies do - even during recessions.

* Dividend Stocks: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Like virtually everything else in this world Dividend Stocks can be placed into a few categories based on their historic performance and expectations for the future. Here are three broad categories and some representative selections from each:

* Stock Analysis: Legg Mason, Inc. (LM)

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net January 19, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Legg Mason, Inc. (LM). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Legg Mason, Inc. is a diversified investment manager serving individual and institutional investors through offices around the United States.

* Weekly Links: Carnivals & Articles - January 25, 2009

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* Big Banks, Little Dividends: More Bad News For Large Banks

Big banks continue to struggle and rely on TARP funds to prop them up. Last week Bank of America (BAC) reported a net loss of $0.48 per share for the fourth quarter, well below the consensus of an $0.08 profit. Merrill Lynch's preliminary results indicate a fourth quarter loss of $15 billion due to the turmoil in the capital markets. The U.S. government agreed to provide BAC an additional $20 billion to assist in the Merrill acquisition. In addition, the government has agreed to provide BAC protection against certain losses on $118 billion in selected capital markets.

* TARP Investment ROI Significantly Down

When the government wants to spend pork, but not call it pork they rebrand it as an "investment" in our future. Such is the case with the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). So, as taxpayers and "investors" how have we fared with our "investment" and how does TARP fit into our dividend portfolios?

* Stock Analysis: Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR)

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net January 12, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial services primarily in Texas.

* Weekly Links: Carnivals & Articles - January 18, 2009

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* 2008-Q4 Progress Review

On the third Saturday after each quarter-end I review my asset allocation and year-to-date total returns by category. The attached PDF contains my actual asset allocation as of 2008-Q4.

* Bank of America Headed Back to the TARP ATM

Someone once said that there is no such thing as bad publicity. I think Bank of America (BAC) would take exception to that statement. BAC has been in the news all week and it has not been flattering or reassuring to it shareholders. This once proud dividend aristocrat continues to struggle even after slashing its dividend.

* Dividend Stocks Role In The Future Recovery

Dividend stocks are sometimes referred to as defensive stocks since many investors flee to them in an economic downturn. Their dividends, if sustainable, provide a minimum level of positive return. This cushions the downward pressure from the market. But what happens when the market turns up?

* Stock Analysis: Procter & Gamble Co. (PG)

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net January 5, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Procter & Gamble Co. (PG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is focused on providing branded consumer goods products. The Company markets its products in more than 180 countries.

* Weekly Links: Carnivals & Articles - January 11, 2009

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* Pocket Change Portfolio - December 2008

On the second or third Saturday of the month I update the Pocket Change Portfolio (PCP). The table below reconciles the PCP from beginning of period to end of period for December 2008, Year-To-Date (2008) and Life-To-Date. The Portfolio Returns line provides the calculated return for the three displayed periods.

* GE: Keep Your Dividend or AAA Debt Rating, But Not Both

Is General Electric (GE) the next major company to cut its dividend after holding it flat for a period of time? Last year, in a public statement GE CEO Jeff Immelt said that GE would hold its dividend flat through 2009. Recently, there has been mounting pressure on the company that may make that promise difficult to keep.

* 2008: It Wasn't All Bad

For most people, 2008 will not be looked upon with fond admiration. The average investor likely suffered their largest portfolio loss in 2008, if not in dollar terms, certainly in percentage. However, if we stop and reflect, we just might find some good in 2008. With that in mind, let's consider the following:

* Stock Analysis: PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP)

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net December 29, 2008.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: PepsiCo, Inc. (PepsiCo) is a global snack and beverage company. The Company manufactures, markets and sells a range of salty, convenient, sweet and grain-based snacks, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages and foods.

* Warning: Please Check Your System

I got a recent email that Dividends4Life was thought to have infected a reader with the Prunnet Virus. I found one of the ad networks that I use exhibited suspicious behavior and removed it. I Googled it and found it had been a source of Malware in the past. I have pulled all ads from that network.

* Weekly Links: Carnivals & Articles - January 4, 2009

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* Progress Update - December 2008

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. December finally provided some relief from a dividend cut standpoint. My only cuts were in ETFs/CEFs and resulting from currency conversions. This allowed me to lower my exposure to high-yield and high risk securities. I am pleased to say that my annualized dividend income increased for the month, keeping alive the string of 13 consecutive months of increases dating back to December 2007 when I began tracking it. 2009 will be a challenge to keep the string going. I anticipate additional dividend cuts in the near-term.

* Double-Digit Dividend Securities In the News

Mango trees will settle into a cropping pattern by the third year after planting and reach peak production in six to eight years. The tree is long-lived with some specimens known to be over 300 years old and still producing fruit. Dividend investing is similar to planting a mango tree. Things start very slowly at first. It appears as if all your efforts are in vain, but ever so surely the process begins to produce fruit (dividends). Just as picking fruit from a mango tree does not harm it, living off dividends does not damage the investment's ability to produce future results.

* 2009: Happy New Year!

This day brings...