* How Often Should A Stock Pay And Raise Dividends?

In the U.S. and Canada, most companies pay dividends quarterly. In other parts of the world, it is not uncommon for companies to pay an annual or a semi-annual dividend. That is not to say that North American companies sometimes choose not to pay quarterly dividends. For many years McDonald’s (MCD) paid an annual dividend. Since 2000, Walt Disney Co. (DIS) has paid an annual dividend and Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (RT) pays a semi-annual dividend. Going in the other direction, Realty Income Corp. (O) and Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (AOD) pay monthly dividends.

* Seven Dividend Stocks Trading Below Fair Value

Fair value is really a simple concept. Given some select information such as dividends, dividend growth, holding period, discount rate and few other inputs, one can easily calculate the fair value of a stock. As with most simple things, the devil is in the details - the inputs must be correct to calculate a reasonable fair value, otherwise, garbage in, garbage out.

* Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net April 19, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Colgate-Palmolive Company is a consumer products company, whose products are marketed throughout the world. Colgate’s Oral Care products include toothpaste, toothbrushes, oral rinses, dental floss and pharmaceutical products.

* Weekly Links: April 25, 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.

* 2010-Q1 Progress Review

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 2010-Q1. Below is a high-level summary of the information contained in the PDF:

* 16 Dividend Stocks Providing An Inflation Hedge

With all the other investment strategies out there, why should investors consider dividend or income investing? There are a multitude of reasons to follow a dividend growth strategy. These include: investment stability, security of cash, continuous feedback, potential higher returns, low maintenance, et. al. But for me the most important reason is the inflation hedge that a growing dividend will provide in my retirement years.

* How To Buy Dividend Stocks At The Bottom

Everyone loves a deal and loves getting something at a rock bottom price. Dividend investors are no different. However, as long-term buy-and-hold investors, we aren't known for our ability (or desire) to time the market and call the bottom. That's not to say we can't enjoy the benefits of buying at the bottom. So, how does a long-term buy-and-hold investor accomplish this?

* Need More Dividend Stock News?

For those that just can't get enough dividend stock news, I have just the fix for you! In January 2009 when I moved my flagship dividend site to Dividends Value, I was left with the question of what to do with my old site Dividends4Life. I thought eventually it would dry up and go away, but several hundred readers refused to leave, so I continued to post on Dividend4Life much of the same content that was found here. That really wasn't really adding much value.

* Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net April 12, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the largest retailer in North America. The company operates retail stores in various formats worldwide. It operates through three segments: Wal-Mart Stores, Sam's Club, and International.

* Weekly Links: April 18, 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 - March 2010

The Pocket Change Portfolio (PCP) was first introduced on September 13, 2008 as a real money dividend income portfolio funded by the "pocket change" earned from my various online endeavors. Each month I report on the portfolio's progress and update its holdings.

* 4 Dividend Stocks Raising Dividends and Expectations

Have you ever pondered the concept of forever or infinity? It is truly mind boggling! What is even more astonishing is that when I buy a stock, my target holding period is forever. For most people, myself included, that is hard to grasp and to carry out. When things start going bad, our primal instinct of flight kicks in and we want to sell. In many cases, that is the time we should be buying. Holding a stock through an economic downturn is much easier when it pays a rising dividend.

* Four Dividend Stocks Stepping Up In The Downturn

I have often heard that a person's character is determined by how they behave when no one else is looking and during difficult times. In much the same way, we can learn a lot about a company's management when they face adversity. One metric I look at closely during a downturn is cash generation relative to earnings.

* Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net April 4, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Lowe's Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate as a home improvement retailer in the United States and Canada. The company offers a range of products and services for home decoration, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and property maintenance.

* Weekly Links: April 11, 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 - March 2010

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income rose in March, extending the streak to 13 months after February 2009's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 27 of the last 28 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.

* 5 Dividend Stocks Building Superior Long-Term Returns

Ned Davis Research examined the relative performances of stocks between 1972 and 2006 and established a link between rising dividends and superior long-term returns. The study found S&P 500 stocks that consistently increased their dividends returned 10.4% total return (dividends + share price appreciation), while those that did not increase their dividends returned only 8.2%. The 2.2% advantage of the dividend raisers would equate to an additional $1,802 per $100 invested in 1972.

* Increasing Dividend Yield Part VI: Time

This is the sixth and final 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 Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). This week we are looking at Time.

* Introducing D4L-FAQ

The number of D4L-Premium Services subscribers continues to grow each month. With that growth, I have noticed that several questions tend to get asked more than others. To help address many of those questions, I am pleased to introduce the D4L-FAQ page.

* McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 29, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of McGrath RentCorp (MGRC). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: McGrath RentCorp rents and sells modular buildings and electronic test and measurement equipment; and manufactures and sells portable classrooms.

* Weekly Links: April 4, 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.

* 4 Dividend Stocks Acting Like a Money Machine

Growing up in the late 60’s early 70’s, I spent a fair amount of time reading comic books. I don’t remember much about them, but I do remember several of classic ads. Of course, there was the Charles Atlas ad where the beach bully kicked sand on the skinny boy and his girlfriend. But the ad that I remember the best was the “Magnificent Marvelous Money Machine“. It was a wooden block with some rollers in which you would put a one dollar bill in one side and a five dollar bill would come out the other.