* Weekly Links: May 31, 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.

* Dividend Stocks Are 'Slow Good'

For years Heinz Ketchup ran commercials describing their product as 'slow good'. It was an obvious inference to 'so good' and that it was worth waiting on. Investing in dividend stocks in very similar. You certainly won't find sudden wealth on any given day, but over time those compounding dividends will handsomely reward you.

* Is Now The Right Time To Start Investing?

Over the last six to eight months, there have been several prognosticators saying the market has finally hit bottom. In most cases they were quickly proven wrong as stocks continued to decline. What's an investor to do? When is the right time to start investing?

* News of the U.S.'s Demise May Be Premature

Quick, who is the world's largest exporter? China? Japan? Would you be shocked to learn it is the U.S.? Contrary to the "Made in China" stamps on clothing labels in Wal-Mart (WMT) and on the bottom of McDonald's (MCD) Happy Meal toys, the U.S. still leads the world in exports. To be a successful investor, we must keep things in perspective.

* Eli Lilly and Co (LLY) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net May 18, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Eli Lilly and Co (LLY). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, manufactures and sells prescription drugs that offers a wide range of treatments for neurological disorders, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions. The company also sells animal health products.

* Weekly Links: May 24, 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.

* Wealth, Money and Life Carnival - May 23, 2009

Welcome the the May 23rd edition of the Wealth, Money and Life Carnival. This week we had a phenomenal number of submissions. However, some were not included because 1.) they did not fit the topic, 2.) the page would not load and 3.) multiple submissions from the same site - in this instance, I selected the one I liked the best.

* Eight Companies Secure In Raising Their Dividends

People want to feel secure. National security and the military provide assurance that a country's citizens will be protected, thus allowing them to focus their attention on other interests and endeavors. National security is so large that no government can do it all alone. They all partner with companies like Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC) to provide the best defense products at the lowest price.

* Ten Dividend Stocks Beating The S&P 500

So far in 2009, the Dividend Aristocrats have under-performed the S&P 500. However there are several dividend stocks that have done quite well and beat the S&P 500 index, and some of those companies just might surprise you!

* Dividend Investing in a Bear Market

Dividend stocks have long been considered defensive stocks - those that you buy when the economy and the market go south. While everyone else is panicked about their portfolio’s decline, dividend investors see a downturn as an incredible buying opportunity.

* Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net May 11, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Illinois ToolWorks Inc. is a diversified manufacturer operates a portfolio of about 750 industrial and consumer businesses located throughout the world.

* Weekly Links: May 17, 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 - April 2009

Each month I update the Pocket Change Portfolio (PCP). The table below reconciles the PCP from beginning of period to end of period for April 2009, Year-To-Date (2009) and Life-To-Date. The Portfolio Returns line provides the calculated return for the three displayed periods.

* Five Companies Confident and Secure In Raising Their Dividends

I have read that most investors will lose money in the stock market over their lifetime. It is not that the market is a bad place to invest your money, but left unchecked the psychology of the market will lead you to do just the opposite of what you should to be doing. People become greedy when the market is surging to new highs and buy in only to become fearful and sell during the next slump. The great investors know this and use it to their advantage.

* No Such Thing As Free (TARP) Money

Several banks have learned the hard way that when you get the U.S. government's money, even in the form of a loan, as a bonus you get the government's "help" running your business.  Needless to say, this is not very appealing to most businesses. Looking at the country's deficit, the government doesn't specialize in running anything in the black. So what's a company to do when they realize they're in a bad relationship?

* High-Quality Low-Risk Dividend Stocks

To a large extent we are a product of our environment. Our life experiences not only shape out behavior, but at its very core, they shape our thought process. The Great Depression forever changed a generation of people. It appears the "Great Recession" may be having a similar effect on another generation.

* Brady Corp (BRC) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net May 4, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Brady Corp (BRC). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Brady Corp is an international manufacturer and marketer of solutions that identify and protect premises, products and people. Products include labels and signs, safety devices, printing systems and software, and precision die-cut materials.

* Weekly Links: May 10, 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 - April 2009

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income rose in April, extending the streak to 2 months after February's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 16 of the last 17 months. The good news is that as of the end of April, my annualized dividend income is now up for the year.

* PepsiCo Sustains Its String Of Dividend Increases

Dividend investors love companies that can sustain consistent dividend growth through the good times and the bad. For three years in a row PepsiCo (PEP) has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in recognition of the company's economic, environmental and social performance.

* Are ETFs and CEFs Good Income Investments?

Dividend investing is not about buying high-yield stocks to generate a high income. Instead, dividend investing is all about finding solid dividend stocks that are reasonably priced and are expected to continue raising their dividends in the future. Most of the time their current yields aren't eye-popping, but the growing divdends over time will more than compensate for the current yield. So, are Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Closed Ended Funds (CEFs) a good fit for this strategy?

* Underfunded Pension Plans: The Next Shoe To Drop?

As the government tries to thaw the credit freeze, the next potential catastrophe is starting to heat up. I am beginning to see more and more written on the pending problem of underfunded pension plans. Unfortunately, this problem could have many faces and take a significant amount of time to sort out.

* Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net April 27, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Johnson & Johnson engages in the manufacture and sale of various products in the health care field worldwide.

* Weekly Links: May 3, 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.

* IBM Assumes Familiar Leadership Role

IBM (IBM), a name once synonymous with blue-chip technology, faced a near-death experience in the early 1990's when it misjudged the importance of PCs at a time when demand for mainframes was waning and corporate downsizing was in full swing. IBM has never been able to regain it technology bellwether crown from Microsoft (MSFT) and Intel (INTC), but it has taken steps to regain its leadership role.