December 2016 Progress Report

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income increased last month, extending the streak to 51 consecutive months of increases. As noted in the June 19, 2015 post,  I changed to reporting on total dividend income instead of just income from my Dividend Growth Portfolio beginning in July 2015.

Since I began tracking my total income progress, annualized dividend income has increased in 51 of the last 51 months.

Dividends Growth Stocks Portfolio

Dividend Changes:
During the month the following securities in my Dividend Growth Portfolio paid a higher dividend (a=dividend stated in annual terms, q=quarterly, m=monthly):

- AFLAC Incorporated (AFL) $0.41q>$0.43q
- Chevron Corporation (CVX) $1.07q>$1.08q
- Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) $0.475q>$0.48q
- Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) $0.36q>$0.39q
- McDonald's Corporation (MCD) $0.89q>$0.94q
- Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) $1.65q>$1.82q
- Universal Health Realty (UHT) $0.65q>$0.655q

For the year, the Dividend Growth Portfolio has recorded a 5.40% increase in dividend income from higher dividends. This exceeds my goal for the year of a 5.0% increase. Yield on cost is currently 4.85%.

Sales:
There were no sales in December.

Portfolio Allocation

 75.6% Dividend Growth Stocks
 10.3% High-Yield
 00.8% High Dividend Growth
 13.0% Debt & Preferred Stock
 00.3% Precious Metals

My long-term target allocation is:

 60.0% Dividend Growth Stocks
 10.0% High-Yield
 10.0% High Dividend Growth
 15.0% Debt & Preferred Stock
 05.0% Precious Metals

Year-To-Date Annualized Portfolio Returns

+17.1% Dividend Growth Stocks
+13.7% High-Yield
+29.1% High-Growth
+12.8% Core-20
+01.2% Debt & Preferred
+11.1% S&P

For the last three calendar years my Dividend Growth Stocks Portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500. Since 2008, the portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 six of the nine years. Click here for more information on historical performance.

That's it for this time. The next monthly progress update will be in early February.

Full Disclosure: Long, all the aforementioned securities. See a list of all my Dividend Growth Portfolio holdings here.

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(Photo: Arcelia Vanasse)

Tags: AFL, CVX, EMR, MSFT, MCD, LMT, UHT,