W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Grainger Inc. is the largest global distributor of industrial and commercial supplies, such as hand tools, electric motors, light bulbs and janitorial items.

5 Dividend Stocks Delivering The Secret To Successful Investing

Many people spend their investing lives jumping from one investing strategy to another. It seems they are always looking for that hot combination that will produce instant wealth. Think about it, most things that are instant, such as potatoes and coffee, aren't really that good. Quick and easy, yes; but not really good.

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Colgate-Palmolive Company (Colgate) is a major consumer products company markets oral, personal and household care and pet nutrition products in more than 200 countries and territories.

Weekly Links: July 27, 2014

Each Sunday I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week, along with any Carnivals I participated in. 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 Stocks Building Long-Term Wealth With Increased Dividends

Forget about those 'Make 534% On Every Trade' ads that you see on many financial websites. Real wealth is built with sweat equity and a sound financial plan. A long-term buy-and-hold investing approach focusing on quality dividend growth stocks has provided the means for many investors to enjoy a comfortable retirement. If you start early enough, you will go beyond a comfortable retirement into the realm of building long-term wealth.

Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Hormel Foods Corp. is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products.

Mid-Year 2014 Top And Bottom Performing Dividend Stocks

Investing in dividend growth stocks is a long-term proposition. One of the beauties of following a dividend growth strategy is that you don't have to watch your portfolio or the market on a daily basis. For the most part, daily, monthly and yearly movements are just noise in the system.

Sysco Corporation (SYY) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Sysco Corporation is a large distributor of food and related products, primarily to the foodservice or food-away-from-home industry.

Weekly Links: July 20, 2014

Each Sunday I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week, along with any Carnivals I participated in. 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.

2014-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 2014-Q2. Below is a high-level summary of the information contained in the PDF:

6 Stocks Raising The Bar With Dividend Increases

Have you ever noticed those that most vehemently attack a buy-and-hold strategy really don’t understand how the strategy works? They confuse a buy-and-hold strategy with day-trading with a longer duration. A true implementation of buy-and-hold includes a focus on blue-chip stocks with a sustainable advantage, along with a reasonable asset allocation framework.

Nucor Corporation (NUE) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Nucor Corporation is the largest minimill steelmaker in the U.S., Nucor has one of the most diverse product lines of any steelmaker in the Americas.

6 Dividend Stocks With A Low P/B Ratio

A declining market is what value and dividend investors long for. There have been times in the past where I struggled to find stocks worthy of purchasing. In a down market, the challenge is to pick the best available stocks that will maximize my chances of future success. When looking for value priced stocks, the Price-To-Book (P/B) ratio is one that I like to focus on.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Cisco Systems, Inc. offers a complete line of routers and switching products that connect and manage communications among local and wide area computer networks employing a variety of protocols.

Weekly Links: July 13, 2014

Each Sunday I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week, along with any Carnivals I participated in. 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.

June 2014 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.

4 Stocks Compounding Your Returns With Increased Dividends

Too often we take a short-term approach, to our long-term detriment. There is a reason we don't see infomercials selling dividend growth investment strategies. For those looking to get rich now, a disciplined approach to investing that focuses on the long-term simply isn't appealing. if I knew in my 20's or 30's what I know now about dividend growth stocks, I would likely be retired now. The compounding power of growing dividends is tremendous.

Community Trust Bank Corp. (CTBI) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Community Trust Bank Corp. (CTBI). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Community Trust Bank Corp. owns and operates Community Trust Bank, Inc. of Pikeville, KY, which provides commercial banking services in Kentucky and West Virginia; and a trust company.

Are Storm Clouds Gathering For These 5 High-Yielding Securities?

Everyone wants to earn more. For investors in dividend growth stocks, the quick way to earn more is to select dividend stocks with higher yields. Swap those 2-4% yields in for stocks earning 7-10%, or more. Before making the trade, you should ask yourself the following two questions:

Procter & Gamble (PG) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Procter & Gamble (PG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: The Procter & Gamble Company is a leading consumer products company that markets household and personal care products in more than 180 countries.

Weekly Links: July 6, 2014

Each Sunday I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week, along with any Carnivals I participated in. 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.

Dividend Income Progress Update - June 2014

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income increased in June, extending the streak to 48 consecutive months of increases after June 2010's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 77 of the last 79 months.

My goals were defined in this December 1, 2007 Investing Goals post and last updated in my 2014 Investing Goals post. Below is an updated version of the table found in the original post.

4 Stocks Increasing Dividends

Most investors are not surprised when a company cuts its dividend. They see the early warning signs well in advance of the actual cut. Here are three signs that a company is heading toward a dividend cut:

Kellogg Company (K) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Kellogg Company is a producer of ready-to-eat cereal also sells snack and convenience foods such as cookies, crackers, potato chips, cereal bars, fruit snacks and frozen waffles.

Why Dividends Matter

Over the last several years Dividend Stocks have become immensely popular. It seems that every financial adviser or financial publication is proclaiming that you should own dividend stocks. Each are singing the virtues of dividend stocks from their own perspective.

To that I have two questions: