Weekly Links: November 30, 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.

October 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.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY), 4-Star Stock With A High Free Cash Flow Payout

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

Company Description: Occidental Petroleum Corporation is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the U.S., OXY has global exploration and production operations. Its subsidiary, OxyChem, is one of the largest U.S. merchant marketers of chlorine and caustic soda.

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Happy Thanksgiving 2014!

Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S. On this day most Americans reflect on all that they have been blessed with and give thanks for it. As an investor in dividend growth stocks, there are many things to be thankful for this year, including a wonderful family, friends and a country that allows me to pursue my dreams.

General Mills, Inc. (GIS) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: General Mills, Inc. is a major producer of packaged consumer food products, include cereal, yogurt and Betty Crocker desserts/baking mixes.

6 High-Yielding Mega-Cap Stocks

There is perceived safety in size. Giant corporations aren't randomly grown. Instead, they are carefully built through superior management and foresight. Often these are more mature companies that also offer stability and predictability, usually at the expense of dynamic growth. These are your mega-cap stocks.

5 Dividend Stocks Paying More Cash

When selecting income investments, the three most important questions to answer are: 1.) Is the investment increasing its dividend each year, 2.) Is the increase likely to continue to do so into the future and 3.) Are you being compensated for the risk you are taking? When you answer yes to all three of the questions, you just might have found an excellent income investment.

Below are several stocks that recently answered yes to the first question by increasing their cash dividends...

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Tags: INTC, NKE, SYY, SU, GGP,

Weekly Links: November 23, 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.

Walgreen Co. - A 5-Star Stock Trading At A Discount, But Is It Enough?

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Walgreen Co. (WAG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Walgreen Co. is the largest U.S. retail drug chain in terms of revenues, this company operates more than 8,000 drug stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description...

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Tags: WAG, CVS, RAD, WMT,

Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BDX) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BDX). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Becton, Dickinson and Co. provides a wide range of medical devices and diagnostic products used in hospitals, doctors' offices, research labs and other settings.

Dividend Investors Should Focus On Stocks, Not The Market

The election may be settled, but investors fears are not. When Obama was first elected, the market plunged on worries of the looming Fiscal Cliff and European concerns. Budget negotiations began on Capitol Hill, optimism returned and the market responded. More recently, Obama's popularity plunged, then the Republicans regained control of the Senate. Is it a stock market, or a yo-yo?

4 Stocks Growing Future Yield With Increased Dividends

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.

Below are several companies planting the seeds for future yield by increasing their cash dividends...

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Tags: CBL, PRU, ADP, STNG

Weekly Links: November 16, 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 - October 2014

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income increased in October, extending the streak to 52 consecutive months of increases after June 2010's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 81 of the last 83 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.

Exxon Mobil Corporation, Currently Undervalued And A Strong Buy

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: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.

Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value, along with these four calculations of fair value; see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description...

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Tags: XOM, BP, CVX, COP,

Waste Management, Inc. (WM) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Waste Management Inc. is the largest U.S. trash hauling/disposal concern.

The Secret Ingredient of Dividend Growth Stocks

When people learn that I am an income investor it is not uncommon for them to ask why I invest in stocks instead of  other "safer" alternatives such as bonds, high yield money market accounts [MMA] or certificates of deposits [CD]. I generally start with my short answer of, "Dividend stocks have a secret ingredient that makes them a much more desirable investment."

Stocks Providing Positive Feedback With Increased Dividends

It seems that every so many years, the market turns down and someone declares the death of buy-and-hold. Some even go as far to say that Warren Buffett has lost his touch. With time on their side, the buy-and-hold investors and Mr. Buffett always seem to make a spectacular rebound. As long-term dividend investors, our focus should be on acquiring fundamentally sound dividend growth stocks at a reasonable valuation and maintaining our asset allocation.

This week, several companies provided their shareholders positive feedback with increased cash dividends...

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Tags: VVC, SEP, ROK, ATO, AFSI, OZM, CLNY, AGU, MCY, HON,

Weekly Links: November 9, 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.

Abbvie Inc. (ABBV) Trading At A Deep Discount, But With Risks

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.

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Monsanto Co. (MON) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Monsanto Co. (MON). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Monsanto Co. is a global provider of agricultural products and integrated solutions for farmers.

Dividend Growth Stocks With A Defined-Benefit Pension

This year I turned 52. It seems that with each birthday, I think about and plan for retirement a little more. I have long since resolved that social security will not provide for my needs in retirement (nor was it ever intended to). I am one of an ever-shrinking group that is still covered by a defined benefit pension plan, though it was recently frozen and closed to new employees. So, how should a pension fund figure into my retirement?

8 Stocks Heating Up Their Yields With Higher Dividends

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.

This week as the weather turns cold, the dividend increases heat up with several companies raising their cash dividends...

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Tags: MCHP, STAG, EDE, AFL, APL, ACMP, DPM, FNF,

Weekly Links: November 2, 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.