March Review / April Preview 2020

Quarantined Gremlin here for an update on March.  We have been mostly holed up for three weeks now, only venturing around for fresh air, exercise, and the occasional medical or grocery need.  Mentally, doing this with little kids is exhausting; so those of you without better take advantage and all of you better come out of this healthy and speaking like 1 new language + have some other trivial knowledge base.  I will continue to buy stocks, but I am looking for high quality positions from here on out only.  In the meantime, everyone stay sane out there.  This crisis will not last forever, eventually things will return to the new normal.

March:

This month I added shares to eight positions in my accounts, including new positions in Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Medtronic PLC (MDT).

Last month I brought in a total of $504.43 in dividends ($217.82 taxable, $122.20 Roth, and $164.41 in my IRA).  This is an increase from last year ($429.57 total) by 17%.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized 12 dividend increases from the Archer Daniel's Midland (ADM), Amgen (AGMN), Canadian National Railway (CNI), Dominion Power (D), Dunkin Brands (DNKN), Eaton Corp. (ETN), 3M (MMM), Waste Management (WM), YUM! Brands (YUM), Corning (GLW), Prudential (PRU), and T. Rowe Price (TROW). The increases range from just about 1.5% to 10+%. This brings my total raises to 17 for 2020.

Next month I will realize 6 dividend increases from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM), Coca Cola (KO), Realty Income (O), TD Bank (TD), WalMart (WMT), and Kimberly Clark (KMB).  The increases range from 0.2% to 7%.

In addition, I have received one dividend halt/pause/suspension from the Gap (GPS).  This is not a huge position for me, and I will hold, but it is annoying.  I think this will become a wider spread item, and I will continue to hold, but remember this going forward after the crisis abates.

NOTE: I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

April:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets, because I consider our house a liability and NOT an asset.

I will continue to make rolling purchases going forward. I will also take advantage of the low prices and move some shares from my IRA to my Roth.

Next month should produce around $123 in dividends, which is a 20% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great April.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers