* Elite Dividend Stocks

There are many lists of dividend companies such as S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, US Broad Dividend Achievers™ Index and The U.S. Dividend Champions. They all have one thing in common - trying to narrow the population to the very best dividend companies. When combined, as I did with the Stock Ideas list, this is a large and daunting list of 319 unique companies. So, how do we find the Elite companies on this list?

* Buy-And-Hold Under Attack

Have you ever noticed those that most vehemently attack a buy-and-hold strategy really don't understand how buy-and-hold works? They confuse a buy-and-hold strategy with day-trading with a longer duration.

* McDonald's Corp. (MCD) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net April 20, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of McDonald's Corp. (MCD). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: McDonald's Corporation is the largest fast-food restaurant company in the world. Its restaurants serve a varied, yet limited, value-priced menu in more than 110 countries around the world.

* Weekly Links: April 26, 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.

* Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Increases Dividend For 47th Consecutive Year

Thursday, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) declared a 6.5% increase in its quarterly dividend rate, from $0.46/share to $0.49/share (yield: 3.6%). This follows last week's 10% increase from the other blue-chip ampersand company Proctor & Gamble (PG). JNJ's CEO William C. Weldon stated, "Given our strong financial position, confidence in the future of Johnson & Johnson, and in recognition of our solid results in 2008, the Board has voted to increase the dividend for the 47th consecutive year." JNJ is engaged in the research and development, manufacture and sale of a range of products in the healthcare field. The Company has more than 250 operating companies within three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices and Diagnostics. (Analysis)

* A Two Step Process To Follow After A Dividend Freeze

I hate to sell a stock. When I buy a stock, my intention is to hold it forever and enjoy its ever-growing dividend income. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes a stock changes and no longer fits in my income portfolio. It could be a company that cuts its dividend or in some cases freezes its dividend. Let's take a look at a two-step process designed to help us determine if we should sell a stock after a dividend freeze.

* Who is Irving Kahn and Why Should We Listen to Him?

Last week we looked at confidence in your investing process and noted that true confidence comes from knowledge and experience. Knowing how your investing process works is important in gaining confidence, but real comfort only comes from having been there before and experiencing the gains after coming out of a downturn. Although experiencing tough times first hand, creates lasting memories it certainly is not pleasurable. Today we have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of someone who has lived through many downturns and profited from it.

* Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net April 13, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Abbott Laboratories (ABT). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Abbott Laboratories is engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture and sale of a diversified line of healthcare products including: drugs, nutritional products, diabetes monitoring devices and diagnostics.

* Weekly Links: April 19, 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.

* 2009-Q1 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 2009-Q1.

* Procter & Gamble (PG) Increases Dividend 10%

If you closely follow the daily financial news, it is easy become jaded and start believing that there isn't any good news good news out there. Don't be confused by the noise. There are still great companies committed to generating superior returns and rewarding their shareholder ever-increasing dividends. One blue-blood aristocrat did just that this week.

* International Income Investing

Any investor that understands the merits of asset allocation also understands the importance of including an international allocation in their portfolio. The concept is that in "normal" times there is always a market somewhere in the world rallying. To meet my set international allocation, I have focused on the following four areas of my overall portfolio:

* Nucor Corp. (NUE): Forging A Different Path

In a recent article looking at early warning signs of a dividend cut, two companies concerned me over their potential for a future dividend cut: Nucor Corp. (NUE) and Caterpillar Inc. (CAT). The economic downturn lowered demand for the companies products which has resulted in sharply lower earnings. It is interesting to contrast their responses to the slowdown. In short, the actions taken couldn't have been more different.

* Progress Energy, Inc. (PGN) Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net April 6, 2009.

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

Company Description: Progress Energy, Inc. is a diversified energy company that owns two electric utilities serving approximately 3.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.

* Weekly Links: April 12, 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 - March 2009

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 March 2009, Year-To-Date (2009) and Life-To-Date. The Portfolio Returns line provides the calculated return for the three displayed periods.

* Auto Parts Retailers Rallying

As consumers delay in purchasing new cars, they are forced to perform additional maintenance on their existing cars. The primary beneficiary of this phenomenon and one of the few industries experiencing success in this downturn are retail auto parts companies such as Autozone (AZO). AZO is the nation's leading specialty retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories, focusing primarily on do-it-yourself consumers.

* Dividend Stocks: Confident and Secure

Are you confident and secure in your investing process? It appears many people are not. From the famed Canadian dividend investor Derek Foster who sold all his dividend investments in February to co-workers who have moved to the sidelines waiting on the bottom, many investors are abandoning their process.

* 10 Dividend Stocks That Excelled In March

For many investors, the glass is always half full. Even in the darkest of times, they always see the bottom just around the corner and it really doesn't take much good news to get them into the buying mood. The month of March provided those investors with a lot to celebrate, and they did!

* Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT) Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 30, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Federal Realty Investment Trust is an equity real estate investment trust that specializes in the ownership, management and redevelopment of community and neighborhood shopping centers.

* Weekly Links: April 5, 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 - March 2009

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income rose in March after February's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 15 of the last 16 months. Contrary to the enthusiasm generated by recent market gains, the economic crisis is not over and we will have to contend with future dividend cuts.

* Will ETFs Be The End Of Traditional Mutual Funds?

A relative new comer to the investment world is the Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). You can think of it as a cross between individual stocks and mutual funds, with a mixture of advantages and disadvantages of each. An ETF trades on a stock exchange like a stock but the underlying investment holds stocks and bonds similar to a mutual fund. Like stocks, when you buy and sell an ETF you generally pay a commission. Since the underlying securities are not being traded there are potential tax efficiencies from avoiding capital gain distributions and minimizing management fees.

* Low-Debt Dividend Stocks

With the dramatic market declines over the last 18 months, most dividend stocks appear to be fairly priced on a historic basis. However, when you consider the record number of dividend cuts and near-term prospects, many of the lower valuations are justified. So how do you sort through the massive Dividend Stock list to find the companies worthy of consideration?