April Review / May Preview, 2019

Sneezy Gremlin here to discuss how I did for this past month, and what is ahead in the next.  It is allergy time, and the sneezes are strong with me.  I have found that caffeine and an allergy pill seem to be the best cure.  I never really had bad allergies, then I moved to the DC area where something in the air haunts me for a couple of weeks each spring and fall.  For the record I am getting my caffeine from 'bad' work coffee.  I never used to drink coffee, then I became a parent...  Also of note, I don't know what is good or bad coffee, which is for the best.  I like to save my taste buds for more refined purposes.  Anyways, between sneezes I was lap up some nice dividend stocks and increases.  Lets see how April was crushed.

April:

This month I made three purchases, acquiring shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) and Matthews International Corp (MATW) in my retirement accounts and acquiring shares of WestRock Company (WRK) in my taxable account.

Last month I brought in a total of $102.76 in dividends ($82.96 taxable, $9.50 Roth, and $10.30 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (75.85 total) by 37%.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* seven (7) raises from the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM), Coke Cola (KO), Realty Income (O), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD), WalMart (WMT), and Kimberly Clark (KMB).  The increases are from about 0.2% to about 10%.  I have now realized 25 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize five (5) raises from the Apple (AAPL - forthcoming shortly...fingers crossed), Royal Bank of Canada (RY), Ameriprise Financial (AMP), Kinder Morgan (KMI), and General Dynamics (GD).  The increases are from about 6% to about 25%.

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

May:

The mortgage continues and I am putting a little extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house or cars as assets).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car).  Debt is being eliminated, and we are aggressively building and assets.

My next purchase will be in May, which will make for 11 consecutive months of buys across all accounts.

Next month should produce around $304 in dividends, which is a 13% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

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