* Five Aristocrats That Have Been There Before

In sports after a player or team scores there is a celebration. Sometimes the celebration is extreme and designed to focus attention on the individual. As a kid growing up in the 70's and 80's this behavior was not tolerated. The coaches would say, "Act like you been there before." There is something to be said for those that consistently perform at the highest levels, like the Dividend Aristocrats.

* Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net June 22, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Cardinal Health Inc. is one of the leading wholesale distributors of pharmaceuticals, medical/surgical supplies and related products to a broad range of health care customers.

* Weekly Links: June 28, 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.

* PetSmart (PETM) Announces a 233% Dividend Increase

In this environment many income investors are happy to see any dividend increase. Not all companies are hiding behind the economic downturn and short-changing their dividend increases. To the contrary, PetSmart (PETM) after an extensive analysis of expected free cash flows showed confidence in their our operating plan with a generous dividend increase and share repurchase plan.

* 3 Simple Steps For A Successful Retirement

Have you ever read something then paused and said well that's stating the obvious? Then upon further reflection realize what is obvious to you may not be obvious to others. This happened to me recently as I was scanning some retirement headlines.

* Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC) Under Investigation

While suffering through a large market decline, the last thing you want to see is a letter from the government. It is never good news. Either you are being drafted, they want more money from you or you are under investigation. In the case of Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC), Canada's largest insurance company, it was the latter.

* Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net June 15, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Emerson Electric Co. (EMR). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Emerson Electric Co. primarily makes backup power equipment for telecom and Internet providers and users, climate control components, and electric motors.

* Weekly Links: June 21, 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 - May 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 May 2009, Year-To-Date (2009) and Life-To-Date. The Portfolio Returns line provides the calculated return for the three displayed periods.

* Five Dividend Stocks Raising Their Dividends

When it comes to selecting dividend stocks, one of the most important items to look for is consistency in raising dividends. Sure it is easy to increase dividends when the economy is booming and business is good, but to be consistent a company has to persevere and continue to increase dividends during the tough times.

* Five Stocks With A Low Debt To Total Capital

If the goal of dividend investing is to find and buy dividend stocks that will continue to raise their dividends, it is not enough to only look at a company's free cash flow. Many companies generate significant free cash flow, but often that cash is already spoken for in the form of debt obligations.

* Bogle Still Believes In Buy And Hold

Vanguard Group founder Jack Bogle has not changed his tune as a result of the economic downturn. At the ripe age of 80, he is still preaching buying-and-holding domestic stocks and bonds, cheaply, in an asset allocation that's appropriate for your age. Below are some key excerpts from a recent Market Watch article.

* Sysco Corp. (SYY) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net June 8, 2009.

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

Company Description: SYSCO Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and distribution of a range of food and related products primarily for food service industry in the United States and Canada.

* Weekly Links: June 14, 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 - May 2009

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income rose in May, extending the streak to 3 months after February's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 17 of the last 18 months.

* Wal-Mart Has Gone Shopping

What do you do when the economy tanks and the stock market follows suit, but you are still generating a lot of cash? Many people would look for bargains in the market. Wal-Mart (WMT) [analysis] has done just that.

* Five Stocks With A Low Dividend Payout Ratio

The main focus of dividend investing is finding and buying dividend stocks that will likely continue to raise their dividends in the future. In making this determination there are many factors to consider. One of the more important metrics to consider is the Dividend Payout Ratio.

* Warren Buffett's Dividend Stocks

Some of my fellow dividend investors have accused Warren Buffett of being a closet dividend investor. I won't quite go that far, but there is significant common ground between dividend and value investors. With that said, let's take a close look at Mr. Buffett's most recent 13-F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

* Nucor Corp. (NUE) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net June 1, 2009.

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

Company Description: Nucor Corporation is engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. As the largest minimill steelmaker in the U.S., Nucor has one of the most diverse product lines of any steelmaker in the Americas.

* Weekly Links: June 7, 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 Delayed One Week

I was vacationing last week, so my monthly progress report and PCP update will be delayed one one week.

Some of you may have noticed that I am now on Twitter. You can follow me here.

As always, thanks for reading!

* Equity Returns Are Driven By Reinvested Dividends

It is well-documented that a significant portion of the historical equity returns are a result of reinvested dividends. In Triumph of the Optimists: 101 Years of Global Investment Returns (2002), the authors looked at equity returns from capital gains and dividends from 1900 to 2000. They determined that performance in any given year was driven by capital appreciation, but long-term returns were largely the result of reinvested dividends. Looking at 101 years of data in the U.S. and U.K., they found that a market-oriented portfolio with dividends reinvested would have generated nearly 85 times the wealth of the same portfolio relying solely on capital gains.

* Are Defense Stocks Good Defensive Stocks?

When the economy and the market starts heading south, many investors start buying Dividend Stocks. They have long been considered a defensive position in turbulent times. Given many investors recent defensive stance, one might ask how about some real defense stocks, as in the Aerospace and Defense industry. Here are five for your consideration:

* All Investing Involves Risk

If your goal is to accumulate wealth for a comfortable retirement, then there is no risk-free path. Throughout time every angle has been tried and failed. However, some approaches carry less risk than others. Let's consider some of the popular paths.

* AFLAC Inc. (AFL) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net May 25, 2009.

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

Company Description: Aflac Incorporated engages in the marketing and sale of supplemental health and life insurance plans in the United States and Japan.