Weekly Links: July 31, 2011

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:

15 Companies Compounding Shareholder's Wealth With Higher Dividends

Compound interest is what occurs when interest previously earned is added to the principle and is considered when calculating future interest – i.e. earning interest on interest. So, what’s more powerful than compound interest? Compound dividends! Compound dividends are like compound interest on steroids – you are not only earning on reinvested dividends, but the dividend rate is increasing.

8 High-Yielding Dividend Aristocrats Not Afraid to Raise Their Dividends

The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats is the most recognized list of dividend stocks. The Dividend Aristocrats index is designed to measure the performance of S&P 500 constituents that have followed a policy of consistently increasing dividends every year for at least 25 consecutive years.

AT&T Inc. (T) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: AT&T Inc. (formerly SBC Communications) provides telephone and broadband service and holds full ownership of AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular Wireless). AT&T Corp. was acquired in late 2005 and BellSouth in late 2006.

The Greatest Asset For Building Wealth

You may think your greatest wealth building asset is the Chevron (CVX) stock that has appreciated more than 15% from the beginning of the year and pays you a 3% dividend. Even though CVX has treated you kindly for the last several years, it is not your greatest wealth building asset.

The traditionalist would say your home is your greatest wealth building asset. This is getting closer, but it is not your greatest wealth building asset.

Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net July 18, 2011.

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

Company Description: Lockheed Martin Corp. is the world's largest military weapons manufacturer and is also a significant supplier to NASA and other non-defense government agencies. LMT receives about 93% of its revenues from global defense sales.

Weekly Links: July 24, 2011

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:

2011-Q2 Performance 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 2011-Q2. Below is a high-level summary of the information contained in the PDF:

13 Dividend Stocks Delivering Good News With Higher Dividends

I couldn’t begin to estimate how many different stocks are traded around the world on the various exchanges. Like everything else, there are many participants, but few players. Though the population of stocks may be large, there are only a precious few that are worthy dividend stocks. Increasing dividends is one attribute that separates the good dividend stocks from the rest.

6 High-Yield Financial Services Stocks With Rising Dividends

The Financial Services Sector includes insurance companies, banks, brokerages, mutual funds and other similar companies. Before the 2008-09 financial services meltdown, these stocks were the cornerstone on many income portfolios. The companies were flush with cash, the stocks provided relatively high yields, good dividend growth rates and carried very little perceived risk.

Unfortunately, things are not always as they seem. Under the surface banks were making questionable loans, while investment firms were creating and peddling exotic financial instruments. In effect, their CEO's were building houses of cards in a hurricane - it was destined to come tumbling down, and it did.

D4L-Premium Services Celebrates Its Two Year Anniversary

Recently, D4L-Premium Services celebrated its second birthday. It was officially launched on July 9, 2009 with the D4L-Dashboard as its only product. Since then then I have added Analytical Reports, D4L-Alerts, D4L-Data, D4L-Newsletter, D4L-Forums and a FAQ section.

10 Stocks With A Strong Cash To Dividend Coverage

Dividends are not paid with sales, earnings, EPS, EBIT or EBITDA. Instead dividends are paid with cash. As an investor, you want to pay close attention to the cash flow statement. Unfortunately, it is probably the least used and most misunderstood statement.

Ultimately, cash flow is what drives the value of any financial asset. The reason analysts look at revenue, EPS, EBIT, EBITDA and margins, they are trying to estimate the level of cash the company will generate in the future.

H.J. Heinz Company (HNZ) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net July 11, 2011.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of H.J. Heinz Company (HNZ). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: The H.J. Heinz Company produces a wide variety of food products worldwide, primarily condiments, convenience meals and snacks.

Weekly Links: July 17, 2011

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:

June 2011 Pocket Change Portfolio Performance Update

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.

10 Dividend Stocks Sharing The Fruits Of Increased Dividends

Just as picking fruit from a mango tree does not harm it, living off dividends does not damage the investment’s ability to produce future results. A mango tree’s life will easily span an entire generation. Similarly, well-chosen dividend investments will not only provide income in retirement, but can be passed to your children who can continue to reap the benefits.

12 Industrial Strength Dividend Stocks With Annual Dividend Growth

The Industrials Sector consists of companies that manufacture products or provide business services. The products are often inputs or raw materials into another manufacturing process, such as steel producer.

Many of these companies are often referred to as members of the “smokestack industry” and are classified as cyclical stocks. A cyclical stock is one that rises and falls in step with the economy.

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Watsco Inc. is the largest U.S. distributor of air-conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment, and related products.

15 Dividend Stocks Trading Below Their Calculated Fair Value

Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.
-Warren Buffett

This is one of my all-time favorite Buffett quotes. In ten small words the entire philosophy of value investing is conveyed. The inherent message is that price and value aren't necessarily the same. This is how value investors make money in the stock market - buying stocks for less than their fair value.

AFLAC Incorporated (AFL) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net July 4, 2011.

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

Company Description: Aflac Incorporated provides supplemental health and life insurance in the U.S. and Japan. Products are marketed at work sites and help fill gaps in primary insurance coverage. Approximately 80% of earnings comes from Japan and 20% from the U.S.

Weekly Links: July 10, 2011

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:

Dividend Income Progress Update - June 2011

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income increased in May, extending the streak to 12 consecutive months of increases after June 2010's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 41 of the last 43 months.

My goals were defined in this December 1, 2007 Investing Goals post and updated in my 2011 Investing Goals post. Below is an updated version of the table found in the original post.

Companies Creating Real Wealth With Higher Cash Dividends

A stock dividend, also known as a "scrip dividend", is a dividend payment made with stock instead of cash. Sometimes when companies are tight on cash, they will declare and pay a stock dividend in lieu of a cash dividend.

Most shareholders feel like they are getting something. But are they really? In short, a stock dividend is nothing more than a glorified stock split. At the end of the process, the shareholder has more shares that are worth less. Like a stock split, you can not create value by issuing paper and getting nothing in exchange.

9 High Yield REITs With Growing Dividends

U.S. REITs were created in 1960 by Congress as a way for all investors to have access to large-scale, income-producing real estate accessible. To qualify as a REIT, the trust must comply with IRS rules. These rules include: 1) distributing annually as dividends at least 90% of its taxable income, 2) investing at least 75% of its total assets in real estate and 3) deriving at least 75% of gross income from real estate.

The Most Important Thing To Consider When Selecting A Dividend Stock

In selecting a dividend growth stock, investors look at many metrics and try to determine what the future holds for the company. Among those considered are free cash flow, debt levels, current yield, dividend growth rate and fair value. Not to diminish any of these, because they are all very important, but they are not the most important thing that we need to look for.

3M Company (MMM) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of 3M Company (MMM). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: 3M Co. is diversified global company provides enhanced product functionality in electronics, health care, industrial, consumer, office, telecommunications, safety & security and other markets via coatings, sealants, adhesives, and other chemical additives.

McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net June 27, 2011.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of McDonald's Corporation (MCD). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: McDonald's Corporation is the largest fast-food restaurant company in the world, with about 32,500 restaurants in 117 countries.

Weekly Links: July 3, 2011

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:

Five 'Good' Stocks Raising Their Dividends

Virtually everything in this world can be placed into a few basic categories. This is especially true for Dividend Stocks when looking at their historic performance and expectations for the future. Consider these three broad categories: The Good: As you might guess, these are the dividend stocks that are doing exactly what they should do – consistently raising their dividends each year. The Bad: Companies that held their dividends flat. The Ugly: Companies that cut their dividends.