Weekly Links: March 31, 2013

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:

4 Stocks Raising Dividends and Expectations

Gregg S. Fisher noted in a 2009 Forbes article that the assumption that investors are rational agents is bunk. He went on to say "We are not rational. We’re human. Even the most brilliant investor can be swayed by emotions into making irrational decisions that result in financial loss." Logic has very little to do with short-term movements in stock prices. Knowing this, there are some things that long-term buy-and-hold investors can do to profit from these irrational moves in the market, such as following a disciplined approach of acquiring stocks that routinely increase their dividends.

Medtronic Inc. (MDT) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Medtronic Inc.is a global medical device manufacturer with leadership positions in the pacemaker, defibrillator, orthopedic, diabetes management and other medical markets.

10 Dividend Stocks With A 10% Yield In 10 Years

There are income investors and Dividend Growth investors. While the distinction is rather simple, it slips past many casual observers. Income investors are investing for maximum current income, while dividend growth investors are looking to maximize income over an extended period of time -- usually sacrificing current income for higher future earnings.

General Dynamics (GD) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of General Dynamics (GD). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: General Dynamics is the world's fourth largest military contractor and also one of the world's biggest makers of corporate jets.

Weekly Links: March 24, 2013

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:

February 2013 Pocket Change Portfolio Performance

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 dividends earned.

7 Dividend Stocks Building Future Yield

Driven by computers that cost more than the average person will earn in their lifetime the investment markets move at light speed. To keep pace hedge funds, mutual funds, institutional investors and multi-billion dollar money managers spend large sums of money on high-tech tools to give them an edge. So, what chance does a small individual investor have? Not much of a chance if you let the Wall Street players define the rules. However, you might just slay the giant if you define the rules and focus on quality blue chip dividend growth stocks and long-term, buy-and-hold and investing strategy.

Abbvie Inc. (ABBV) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Abbvie Inc. is a global research-based pharmaceuticals business that emerged as a separate entity following its spin-off from Abbott Laboratories at the start of 2013. AbbVie's key drug is Humira for rheumatoid arthritis.

Free Cash Flow Payout vs. Dividend Payout

I am a firm believer in keeping things simple. However, you can simplify things to the point they no longer have value. In my opinion, a lot of the commonly used financial metrics can be very misleading unless you understand what is behind them. I would put EBIT, EBITDA and Dividend Payout in this category. As an investor in dividend growth stocks, I see Dividend Payout used a lot, so let's take a closer look at it.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Exxon Mobil Corp., formed through the merger of Exxon and Mobil in late 1999, is the world's largest publicly owned integrated oil company.

Weekly Links: March 17, 2013

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:

6 Dividend Stocks Building Superior Long-Term Returns

Investing in Dividend Stocks is a long-term strategy. Frequent buying and selling of dividend stocks can significantly increase your expenses and taxes, thus lowering your returns. A growing dividend is a strong indication of a company's increasing intrinsic value. Great companies that increase dividends tend to have rising share prices over time. Holding only first-rate businesses protects your dividend streams and helps ensure you’ll also get steady price appreciation.

Cincinnati Financial Corp. (CINF) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Cincinnati Financial Corp. is an insurance holding company that primarily markets property and casualty coverage. It also conducts life insurance and asset management operations.

9 Dividend Stocks Trading at a Double-Digit Discount

Getting a discount of 10%, 20% or even more is awesome. When it is on a big ticket item like a automobile, there are a lot of dollars to be saved and people have been known to drive great distances to receive the discount. Everyone loves a sale!

Well, maybe not everyone. When stocks go on sale it seems to depress a large number of market participants. However, for those of us that like buying stocks at a discount, a market pullback provides us a little relief.

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is a diversified manufacturer that operates a portfolio of 60 business units that serve industrial and consumer markets globally.

Weekly Links: March 10, 2013

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 - February 2013

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income increased in February, extending the streak to 32 consecutive months of increases after June 2010's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 61 of the last 63 months.

My goals were defined in this December 1, 2007 Investing Goals post and last updated in my 2013 Investing Goals post. Below is an updated version of the table found in the original post.

This Company Has Paid A Dividend For 118 Years And Increased It The Last 50 Years

In 1806, William, a soap and candle maker, opened up a starch, soap and candle factory on Dutch Street in New York City. William in 1833 suffered a severe heart attack stopping his business from selling. But after a couple of years of recovery he continued with his business. In the 1840s, the firm began selling individual cakes of soap in uniform weights.

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. is one of the world's leading agribusiness concerns, with major market positions in agricultural processing and merchandising.

6 High-Dividend, Low P/E Value Stocks

Before the internet and even before computers, critical financial information was printed daily in newspapers. Though many newspapers still print this information, most people find it easier (and faster) to get information on their stocks from financial websites. So back when financial information was a tedious and manual process what was considered relevant enough to warrant inclusion?

Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) Dividend Stock Analysis

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. designs and supplies product technology, and delivers engineering services and solutions to a wide range of industrial, commercial and consumer markets around the world.

Weekly Links: March 3, 2013

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:

18 Stocks Growing Their Cash Dividends

When people learn that I am an income investor, the reaction is often a desire to discuss high-yield investments. Many people commonly confuse income investing with high-yield investing. The two are not the same. High-yield investing often carries a greater degree of risk than I am willing to accept. For me, I will continue to focus on high-quality dividend stocks at lower, but growing, yields.