March Review / April Preview, 2015

Robber Gremlin here to talk about March and April.  March was a crazy month in many ways for me.  Work wise my boss is retiring in a month.  My wife's car got a new timing belt, and my car decided its cylinders and pistons were not all on the same page.  My car left me with two options - get a new a engine or a new car.  So my old car engine robbed me, it was going to hit 200,000 miles soon too.

This led to a lot of car shopping.  I was looking to get a used car that would last a long time.  However, I found a helluva deal and purchased a new car.  This was not the intent, but it turned out to be a smarter purchase with a family possible and other issues.  The expectation is that this car will last 13+ years as the last one did.  She only needs a name...

March:
My last month's prediction of pain was correct, but not for the reasons anticipated. 

Last month I brought in a total of $73.37 in dividends ($49.34 taxable, $24.03 Roth).  This is an overall increase over last year ($52.19) by 40.58%.  The majority of the growth was from the Roth account.  A dividend increase came from Waste Management (WM) and a cut came from Pengrowth Energy (PGH).

Kraft (KRFT) announced a merger with Heinz to make one of the largest food companies in the world.  I purchased my shares at approximately $55, they are currently worth $87.11!  Plus a special $16.50 dividend per share was included in the deal.  KRFT's merger creates an outstanding chance at capturing future growth.  This all has to be approved of course, yet it makes my dividend goal seem very attainable, but the special dividend will not be a part of future comparisons.  It is only a one time deal after all.

In my Roth I received my last Dupont (DD) dividend; the position was sold and a new position was opened in Deere (DE).  This was done as a forward looking move, with DE providing a better prospect for growth and current dividend.  I added only one share in Kellogg's (K) at Loyal3; the goal was to add more Coca Cola (KO), however car situations required me hold onto extra cash.  We even received a tax refund (unplanned), but that is already spoken for going towards my wife's car.

April:

There are only 2 (two) debts I currently owe; our wedding rings and new car.  The rings are almost done, fitting a new one would pop up.  Once the rings are done, a little extra capital will be funneled the car's way.  I hate having debt.  However, this will in no way slow down future investments; they are just going to be a blip in the long term.

Next month should produce a similar amount of dividends to this month, which will be a negative percentage.  This is due to holding toxic Windstream (WIN) last year, which paid out a massive dividend and to PGH's cut.  However, my Roth should see an increase.  I expect to realize 5 dividend increases: CIBC (CM), Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS), KO, Realty Income (O), and Chubb Corp (CB). 

Change has been coming to my account, better growth trends and stability.  Hopefully, life calms down next month and continues to head in the appropriate direction.

Hope everyone has a great April.
- Dividend Gremlin.
- Long WM, PGH, KRFT, DE, K, KO, CM, DPS, O, and CB