* Increasing Dividend Yield Part V: MLPs

This is the fifth installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio's overall yield-on-cost. Last week we looked at Bonds. This week we are looking at Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs).

* Kimberly Clark Corp. (KMB) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 22, 2010.

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

* Weekly Links: March 28, 2010

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.

* 8 Dividend Stocks Avoiding the Cash Trap

In their efforts to balance short-term investor expectations with long-term strategic goals, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) warns companies to avoid cash traps that can negatively impact near-term shareholder returns. One of which is the The Stock-Buyback Trap. BCG doesn’t discount the role that stock buybacks can play in boosting near-term returns for some companies. But the firm’s research indicates that buybacks do not change investors’ estimates for long-term earnings-per-share growth, or induce them to accord a company a higher valuation multiple. By contrast, it says, dividend growth has a far more positive long-term impact.

* Increasing Dividend Yield Part IV: Bonds

This is the fourth installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio's overall yield-on-cost. Last week we looked at Preferred Stock. This week we are looking at Bonds.

* Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 15, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Leggett & Platt Inc makes a broad line of bedding and furniture components and other home, office and commercial furnishings, as well as diversified products for non-furnishings markets.

* Weekly Links: March 21, 2010

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.

* 9 Dividend Stocks Building Future Yield

As a young investor I followed an aggressive growth strategy. Having narrowly missed the tech bubble bursting, I purchased my first dividend stock on December 11, 2003. I had heard dividend investments were supposed to be safer, but knew very little else about the strategy. I was fortunate enough to accidentally buy enough good dividend stocks to learn the “secret” of dividend investing. It is not necessarily starting with a high-yield investment, but ending up with a high-yield investment. This usually occurs by buying stocks with a moderate yield and a long history of growing dividends and letting time do its job.

* Increasing Dividend Yield Part III: Preferred Stock

This is the third installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio's overall yield-on-cost. Last week we looked at REITs. This week we are looking at Preferred Stock.

* Meridian Bioscience Inc. (VIVO) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 8, 2010.

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

Company Description: Meridian Bioscience Inc. develops, makes and sells disposable diagnostic test kits and related products used for the rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases.

* Weekly Links: March 14, 2010

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 - February 2010

Each month I update the Pocket Change Portfolio (PCP). The table below reconciles the PCP from beginning of period to end of period for February 2010, Year-To-Date (2010) and Life-To-Date. The Portfolio Returns line provides the calculated return for the three displayed periods.

* 5 Dividend Stocks Delivering What's Important

We all know what surprising The Street will do to a stock’s price. The street focuses on quarterly revenue, EPS, EBIT, EBITDA and margins. The income statement is where you find all the metrics that The Street loves. It therefore must be the most important financial statement. Not! That title goes to the lowly cash flow statement. Ultimately cash flow is what drives the value of any financial asset, including dividend stocks.

* D4L-Premium Services Affiliate Review

The greatest compliment a colleague can pay you is to purchase your premium service (unsolicited), then ask if he can become an affiliate. I was certainty humbled when The Dividend Guy did just that. But he didn't stop there. Earlier this year he did a full review on the D4L-Premium Services. Here is a small sample:

* Increasing Dividend Yield Part II: REITs

This is the second installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio's overall yield-on-cost. Last week we looked at Utilities. This week we are looking at Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

* The Coca-Cola Company (KO) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 1, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of The Coca-Cola Company (KO). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest soft drink company. It engages in the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates, fruit juices and syrups worldwide.

* Weekly Links: March 7, 2010

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 - February 2010

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income rose in February, extending the streak to 12 months after February 2009's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 26 of the last 27 months.

My goals were defined in this December 1, 2007 Investing Goals post and updated in my 2010 Investing Goals post. Below is an updated version of the table found in the original post.

* 11 Dividend Stocks Providing Positive Feedback

What is the primary reason you invest in dividend stocks? For me, it is a means to build a growing income that can be relied on during retirement. One of the beauties of dividend investing is it provides you continuous feedback. As the years and decades go by you can see your earnings steadily grow as you invest your money in dividend stocks, and as an added bonus, great dividend stocks will increase their dividend payments each year.

* Increasing Dividend Yield Part I: Utilities*

This is the first installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio's overall yield-on-cost. This week we are looking at Utilities - those investments long considered as a safe harbor for "orphans and widows."

* Walgreen Co. (WAG) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net February 22, 2010.

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

Company Description: Walgreen Co is the largest U.S. retail drug chain in terms of revenues. It sells prescription and non-prescription drugs, beauty care, personal care, household items, candy, photofinishing, greeting cards, seasonal items and convenience foods.