* Weekly Links: October 31, 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.

* Third Anniversary Post

Tomorrow, October 31, 2010, will mark my third full year of writing as Dividends4Life. It is hard to believe another year has passed. Like the first two years, it has been a wonderful and eventful year. Looking back so much has changed since last year's anniversary post. Below are some of the more notable changes:

* 16 Dividend Stocks Growing Future Yield

In the southern U.S. where I live, there has been some controversy over harvesting forests of hardwoods and reseeding them with pines. Growing hardwoods is very similar to investing in dividend stocks. What you plant or invest in today will not yield much for years to come. That is not to say progress is not seen. It is just slow and deliberate. To grow hardwoods it takes great foresight and commitment to the process. The small investments we make in quality dividend stocks each month won’t yield large payments in the near-term. It will take time for the payments to grow and compound, but they will.

* 17 Stocks With Room To Grow Their Dividend

Dividend sustainability is paramount for the high-yield investor. Having a stock cut its dividend could potentially crush their income. A high-yield investor is less concerned about dividend growth than maintaining the current high-yield. Most traditional dividend growth stocks pay a moderate to low yield, thus sustainability is not enough - the dividend growth investor also expects substantial and consistent growth.

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

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net October 18, 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: October 24, 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-Q3 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-Q3. Below is a high-level summary of the information contained in the PDF:

* 19 Dividend Stocks Heating Up Their Yields

Dividends from a quality, well-diversified portfolio are much more predictable than capital gains and best of all, they are passive. You don't have to do anything, they just show up in your brokerage account each quarter. Inflation? Not to worry, the good companies routinely raise their dividends well in excess of the inflation rate.

* We Were Dividends, Before Dividends Were Cool

It seems nowadays that every investing article ends with the same conclusion - you should be buying dividend stocks. They are all quoting studies citing the performance edge that dividends have enjoyed over the long-term and the value of a semi-fixed return generated from periodic dividend payments. However, you should beware of some of the information provided. Beyond the simple concepts, some of the writers are making really bad recommendations and cross-breeding dividend investing with their preferred form of investing.

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

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net October 11, 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: October 17, 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.
Below are the carnivals that I participated in this week, along with a link to my article:

* Pocket Change Portfolio - September 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.

* 12 Stocks Sending A Strong Message With Higher Dividends

One of the many reasons I like dividend stocks is because they provide continuous feedback. As time passes, dividend investors see their income grow steadily. You don’t have to wait five to ten years to determine if the strategy is working. Each dividend and dividend increase provides reassurance that the strategy is working. When companies like 3M Company (MMM), Emerson Electric (EMR) and Dover Corp. (DOV) put together a string of consecutive dividend increases in excess of 50 years, they are sending a strong message to their shareholders.

* 12 Dividend Stocks Delivering The Secret To Success

We all want to learn the secret to success. Many get-rich-now infomercials have preyed on this desire while making the sellers wealthy at the expense of the buyers. I have good news for you, there really is a secret to success, and what is even better news is that the secret is not hard to discover. It has been right there in front of you all this this time. Your parents likely taught it to you in the form of a fable. Let's explore this secret to success a little more...

* The Clorox Company (CLX) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of The Clorox Company (CLX). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: The Clorox Company is a diversified producer of household cleaning, grocery and specialty food products is also a leading producer of natural personal care products.

* Weekly Links: October 10, 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 - September 2010

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income increased in September, extending the streak to 3 consecutive months of increases after June 2010's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 32 of the last 34 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.

* 9 Dividend Stocks Enriching Their Shareholders

In one form or another, I get the this question, “What do you think of the market? Where’s it headed?” Normally, I politely respond as expected, but occasionally I will startle the person with a reply like, “I don’t know. For me it really doesn’t matter much.” My investing goals are not defined by movements in the market. Instead of looking at the market and its direction, dividend investors should focus on quality, price and ultimate value of individual stocks.

* Will You Have A Growing Income In Retirement

During this economic downturn, my employer decided to forgo annual raises for all salaried employees for one year. After enjoying a raise for every year of my working life, I certainty missed not getting one. It made me stop and think, when I retire inflation will not stop and my expenses will continue to increase. Just to maintain my current standard of living, I will still need to see my annual income grow each year. It is not in my plans to continue working after retirement, so if I want to enjoy a rising income in my golden years, I had better start planning for it now.

* 12 Dividend Stocks For A Rainy Day

A pessimist might say life is a series of bad things happening, then we die. I certainty wouldn't go that far, but life often deals us unfortunate circumstances to work through at what seems to be the most inopportune time. During this most recent economic downturn, many people lost their jobs at a time when companies weren't hiring. When things like this happen, those with an alternative income, including dividend growth stocks, are in a better position to deal with the circumstances thrust on them. Here are some things you can do today to prepare for your financial rainy day:

* HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. (HCC) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net September 27, 2010.

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

Company Description: HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. is a multi-line insurer specializes in aviation, marine, medical stop-loss, offshore energy and property and casualty insurance in the U.S. and the U.K.

* Weekly Links: October 3, 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.

* 5 Companies Willing and Capable To Raise Dividends

The main focus of dividend investing is finding and buying stocks that will continue to raise their dividends in the future. In making this determination there are many factors to consider such as dividend payout ratio, debt levels, the company’s dividend policy and track record.