7 Stocks Delivering What's Important: Dividend Increases

We all know what surprising The Street will do to a stock’s price - just ask Wal-Mart (WMT). The street focuses on quarterly revenue, EPS, EBIT, EBITDA and margins. The income statement is where you find all the metrics that The Street loves. It therefore must be the most important financial statement. Not! That title goes to the lowly cash flow statement. Ultimately cash flow is what drives the value of any financial asset, including dividend stocks.

This week several companies provided their shareholders with a special delivery in the form of higher cash dividends:

Weekly Links: July 29, 2017

Each weekend I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week. Though I may not always agree with each of the articles highlighted, they will often provide an interesting argument for their position. We can take some concepts that may or may not align with our vision, then apply them to our framework, and voila, a new idea is born.

How To Be a Better Investor During Difficult Times

With the markets getting ahead of the underlying fundamentals, a correction is bound to happen in the near-future, and it could be a really ugly one this time around. A Motley Fool article back in 2008 (during the financial disaster) pointed out that now is the time that Baron Rothschild was referring to when he said, "Buy when blood is in the streets." It listed the following 5 ways to help you be a better investor during difficult times:

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 leading 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.

4 Higher-Yielding, Low Debt Stocks With A Tiny Payout Ratio

All income investors love a stock with a good yield. The smart ones look for dividends that are sustainable and likely to grow. The question is, 'In an uncertain world, how do you determine which dividends are sustainable and likely to grow?'

Of coarse, there is no way to know with exact certainty which dividends are sustainable, but there are tell-tale signs that often foretell the future. Let's look at a couple of them.

CVS Health Corporation (CVS) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: CVS Health Corporation is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the U.S.

3 Stocks Increasing Dividends Like A Champion

There are winners and there are champions in every walk of life. The difference is subtle, but very real. A champion is driven for success and will not let anything stand in its way. Some dividend stocks can be classified as champions. A bad economy, tight credit markets and a dark cloud of uncertainty are enough send some dividend companies running for the exit. However, these are the times that champions stand firm.

This week several companies answered the call and rewarded their shareholders with higher cash dividends:

Weekly Links: July 22, 2017

Each weekend I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week. Though I may not always agree with each of the articles highlighted, they will often provide an interesting argument for their position. We can take some concepts that may or may not align with our vision, then apply them to our framework, and voila, a new idea is born.

The Next Great Company

There have always been companies that stand head-and-shoulders above their peers and the competition. They are loved by their shareholders, hated by the competition and known by all. Who are these companies and how can I find the next great company? All the great companies have something in common. Let's look at a few of them:

Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Qualcomm Incorporated focuses on developing products and services based on its advanced wireless broadband technology.

5 Stocks With a Sustainable Dividend

To succeed as a dividend growth investor you must identify and purchase stocks with sustainable dividend growth. Put another way, targeted companies must be both capable and willing to grow their dividends. Obviously, we can not look into the future and see who will and will not perform. However, there are critical bits of information that we can evaluate today that often foreshadow the company's future behavior. Here are some of the more relevant ones:

AFLAC Incorporated (AFL) Dividend Stock Analysis

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 Japan and the U.S. Products are marketed at work sites and help fill gaps in primary coverage.

8 Stocks Building A Higher Yield On Cost With Increased Dividends

Most casual income investors focus on current yield, which is important. However, if your objective as an income investor is to build a portfolio of securities with increasing income, then Yield on Cost is an excellent metric to measure your progress. Yield on Cost is simply the annual dividend rate times number of shares owned divided by what you paid for the investment (basis). As companies increase their dividend, your yield-on-cost goes up.

Working to increase their shareholders Yield on Cost, these companies recently announced higher cash dividend payments:

Weekly Links: July 15, 2017

Each weekend I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week. Though I may not always agree with each of the articles highlighted, they will often provide an interesting argument for their position. We can take some concepts that may or may not align with our vision, then apply them to our framework, and voila, a new idea is born.

Dividend Investing + Value Investing = Superior Returns

Some may have wondered what is the connection between Dividend Growth and Value Investing. The connection does not necessarily exist in all cases. For example, an investor selecting investments based solely on dividend yield, is not considering the value aspect of the equation. Conversely, value investors selecting stocks based only on current valuation and future capital appreciation, are ignoring the dividend aspect.

Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Wells Fargo & Company (WFC). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Wells Fargo & Company, with March 31 assets of $1.85 trillion, is the fourth largest U.S. bank, by global assets, but has the largest U.S. lending footprint.

Mid-Year 2017 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.

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.

5 Stocks Providing A Growing Income With Increased Dividends

How much money will you need for retirement? This a very difficult question to answer. There are many factors and assumptions that go into estimating the income that will be needed in retirement. However, one certainty is that if you only invest in fixed income securities, you will need more than if your investments provide you a growing income.

Below are several companies that are providing their shareholders a growing income with higher cash dividends:

Weekly Links: July 8, 2017

Each weekend I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week. Though I may not always agree with each of the articles highlighted, they will often provide an interesting argument for their position. We can take some concepts that may or may not align with our vision, then apply them to our framework, and voila, a new idea is born.

The Dark Side of Dividends

In life there are precious few things that are lily pure in which nothing negative could rightfully be said about them. I am not foolish enough to believe that dividends are the ultimate panacea. Join me today as don myself in black and explore the Dark Side of Dividends.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) Dividend Stock Analysis

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

Company Description: Consolidated Edison, Inc. is an electric and gas utility holding company serves parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

7 Higher Yielders With A Low Free Cash Flow Payout

All dividend growth stocks are not created equal. Good companies maintain their dividends during a downturn (like the one we experienced in 2008); while great companies continue to increase their dividends during a downturn. To find these great companies, you will need to focus on more than just yield. You need to consider the stock's Free Cash Flow Payout.

3M Co. (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. 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.

6 Stocks Building Future Yield With Higher Dividends

As a young investor I followed an aggressive growth strategy. Having narrowly missed the tech bubble bursting, I purchased my first dividend stock on December 11, 2003. I had heard dividend investments were supposed to be safer, but knew very little else about the strategy. I was fortunate enough to accidentally buy several good dividend growth stocks and learn the “secret” of dividend investing. It is not necessarily starting with a high-yield investment, but ending up with a high-yield investment. This usually occurs by buying stocks with a moderate yield and a long history of growing dividends and letting time do its job.

This week several companies are building future yield by increasing the cash dividends paid to their shareholders:

Weekly Links: July 1, 2017

Each weekend I highlight any notable articles that I came across over the past week. Though I may not always agree with each of the articles highlighted, they will often provide an interesting argument for their position. We can take some concepts that may or may not align with our vision, then apply them to our framework, and voila, a new idea is born.