It is a great time of year! The Christmas music, decorations, family gatherings, holiday plays and stock picks. Stock picks? Yes, ’tis the season for stock predictions! Virtually every financial writer will pen an article selecting his or her top picks for the upcoming year. I enjoy reading them and the logic behind the picks. As a long-term buy and hold investor, generally most aren’t useful for me; nevertheless, I find them entertaining and sometimes there is a gem to be found. Here are some picks for 2011…
Wed. Dec. 22, 2010
classics, commentary
Best Stocks for 2011 *
Wed. Sep. 8, 2010
classics, commentary
Is It Time To Sell Long-Bonds? *
As the market declines and fear sets in, there has been a pronounced movement from equities to bonds. This cash in-flow has helped fuel higher bond prices and lower interest rates. For some portfolios, bonds have been one of the few positives over the last 24 months. Is it possible that bonds are the next big bubble to burst?
Wed. Aug. 4, 2010
classics, commentary
Income Annuities vs. Dividend Stocks *
I was born in 1962 which puts me on the tail-end of the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). We have been described by some as “the pig in the python.” Over the decades, the sheer size of our group has redefined many aspects of society. As we approach the tail of the python and look toward retirement, once again we have the government and others scrambling to figure out how to handle this aging and albeit disruptive force.
Wed. Jul. 14, 2010
classics, commentary
8 Dividend Stocks With Above Market Performance *
My goal as a dividend growth investor is to build a steadily increasing income and not necessarily to outperform the market via capital gains. However, as numerous research projects have shown, a conservative dividend-based investment strategy has consistently outperformed the market over time. Now that we are passed mid-year, let’s take a look at some of the above average dividend performers for the first six months.
Wed. Jun. 16, 2010
classics, commentary
What Determines A Dividend Stock’s Yield *
If income investing were as simple as picking the stock with the highest yield, everyone would be an expert. Most assume (rightfully so) that yield is heavily influenced by risk, but much more goes into determining yield. Below are several important factors that influence a stock’s yield, along with some illustrative examples:
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Wed. Jun. 9, 2010
classics, commentary
Managing Risk With Dividend Stocks *
When you purchase individual stocks, risk is inherit. Sometimes bad things sometimes happen to good stocks such as the Chicago Tylenol murders of 1982. This shook Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) , but eventually it prevailed. Sometimes it is difficult when a strong leader leaves a company and creates a void that just can’t be filled. Consider the performance of General Electric’s (GE) after Jack Welch retired and Microsoft’s (MSFT) after bill Gates began relinquishing his responsibilities. So how do you guard against these situations and disasters similar to what BP (BP) and their shareholders are currently facing?
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Wed. May. 12, 2010
commentary
The Secret To Finding The Best Dividend Stocks *
Is a stock with a 3% yield and a 9% dividend growth rate better than one with a 7% yield and a 1.5% dividend growth rate? Last week we looked at yield-on-cost (YOC) and how it can be used to track the progress of a growing dividend of an individual stock. However, it is not a good metric for comparing multiple dividend stocks with each another. For this I devised a metric I call NPV MMA Differential.
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Fri. Apr. 30, 2010
commentary
How Often Should A Stock Pay And Raise Dividends? *
In the U.S. and Canada, most companies pay dividends quarterly. In other parts of the world, it is not uncommon for companies to pay an annual or a semi-annual dividend. That is not to say that North American companies sometimes choose not to pay quarterly dividends. For many years McDonald’s (MCD) paid an annual dividend. Since 2000, Walt Disney Co. (DIS) has paid an annual dividend and Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (RT) pays a semi-annual dividend. Going in the other direction, Realty Income Corp. (O) and Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (AOD) pay monthly dividends.
Wed. Apr. 21, 2010
classics, commentary
How To Buy Dividend Stocks At The Bottom *
Everyone loves a deal and loves getting something at a rock bottom price. Dividend investors are no different. However, as long-term buy-and-hold investors, we aren’t known for our ability (or desire) to time the market and call the bottom. That’s not to say we can’t enjoy the benefits of buying at the bottom. So, how does a long-term buy-and-hold investor accomplish this?
List of 195 Dividend Stocks Every Income Investor Should Know About *
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