Quarter 1 of 2017 is now officially int he books! Here we go, the music starts, the sun is brighter and I am feeling better/more rested each day. What else does this mean for, more specifically, US dividend income investors? The biggest month worth of paydays has finished and I can only hope the community feels the same. Did we set records? Did we reach expectations or did we learn something that we can create growth from? Time will tell when we are able to review all of the articles being released, but I am very pleased with how March ended from a dividend income stand point. Let’s dive into the results!
Dividend income
Another record month for March, I received a total of $1,223,70. Very consistent names here, with a decent number of entities sending checks my way, see the table below. Remember when BHP Billiton (BBL) cut their dividend by 3/4, well – I received $20 from them last year and this month was almost a staggering $52! You can see, below, I am running out of room, big time, on the excel chart:
Here we have a solid 27 different entities sending checks to me this month! In addition – there are quite a few massive aristocrats here – Aflac (AFL), Emerson (EMR), Target (TGT), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Archer Daniels (ADM), McDonalds MCD), T. Rowe Price (TROW) and Pepsi (PEP) – now that’s insane I feel like! 8 different dividend aristocrats sending payments my way, so damn lucky, wow, just wow. Quite a few of those names are within my foundation stock for any dividend investors portfolio.
Similarly, I have split out between the individual stock amounts and the retirement accounts, as the ” – R” indicates a retirement account dividend (or the furthest column to the right). I separate these two, as I like to know what portion of my dividend income is coming from those retirement accounts that I cannot touch until 59.5 (barring any other usage rule I could use). Here, it shows that I received a small total of $457.42 (up from $263.12 last year or up a staggering 73.8%) or 37.4% of my income from retirement accounts and the other 62.6% was from my individual taxable account portfolio. Additionally, this shows from retirement accounts that I’m all ready for my set it and forget it mentality to keep that income going. To see my portfolio – one can go to our portfolio summary page.
Dividend income year over year comparison
2017:
2016:
Okay, okay! February had a 17% growth and I was fairly excited about that, however 38.3% growth is nice too : ) But Holy crap. Just massive amounts of growth and my income from Vanguard’s VINIX doubled since last year! No shock there, as I have been on the trip of maximizing the pre-tax 401(k) since last fall and it has paid off in dividends, literally. My purchase into Pfizer (PFE) has also paid off in the first quarter already, as the dividend was much higher than last year because of it. Kraft (KHC) also snuck in this quarter, as they’ve been moving their dividend a little bit. Proof is in the pudding here, as the dividend are just churning and burning along and all have paid a higher dividend in comparison to prior year’s March. This growth right here shows why I’m looking forward to 2017, that’s for sure and one can see my goals for 2017 here.
dividend increases
A month wouldn’t be a month without high quality companies increasing their dividend! See the small chart below for the details on the dividend increases announced this month that are holdings in my portfolio.
Not the biggest month but all are surprises, nonetheless – as Realty Income (O) had increased a large one in January and never would I have thought they would do another. Intel (INTC) was tricky, this time and announced in March – hey, I’ll take it! To add a forward $7.02 to my income, I would have had to invest at 3.50% $200. This is when it really starts to show, in regards to how critical dividend increases are. As Bert stated in his article – excited for April’s increases!
dividend income conclusion & Summary
Pretty solid overall and played out reasonably, as expected. However, similar to last month with Kraft (KHC) switching months, HCP switching months had a small impact. Overall, the growth and dividend increases has been very nice and I’m very fortunate to close out February on the note that I was able to. Very lucky.
As I discussed with my updated – normal monthly expenditures at the moment, this $1,223.7 would cover ~124% of my average $984 monthly expense for my house, including utilities; up from last year and can say it would fully cover my living/house expenses, no doubt, and then some – that damn auto loan even. In similar fashion – all of the investing from last year and moves this year, show being frugal to save 60% of my income, that every dollar counts, has helped me in achieving lofty goals that I set in place for my 2017 year. LET’S GO!!!!
Did you set records this month? Have a great finish to the quarter? Feel like you are on track? Seeing any fruit from the labor? Pumped to hear everyone’s results! The tide is turning and we are 25% finished for the year.
Remember – keep it up everyone, stay consistent, turn off the noise and lay your passions out on the line and make an impact to what matters to you! The time is now and we should take advantage of the time that we have. Thank you again everyone, please share your thoughts, feedback, guidance and notes below! Talk soon and happy investing!
-Lanny
Lanny,
$1,223,70…. must be great to break through that 1K per month level – awesome job.
I’ll have my March dividend income report up by tomorrow morning. Not quite at your level yet – but a new record for me nonetheless!
Keep it up!
Tall Investing
Tall I –
Appreciate it and you are at the level – we are ALL there. Why? Because we all have something similar in common, remember that! Thank you for stopping by.
-Lanny
Tall investing, well done to you too. Not many can reach that 1k a month goal, but those who do. Boy! That must be an awesome feeling. Working hard to reach that goal one day soon!
Lanny –
Congrats on another solid quarter of dividend investing!
I noticed on my site that $TGT hit a 52 week low recently.
The stock price is in the low 50s but there seems to be price support at that level on the 5 year chart.
Would you consider buying more $TGT shares at this point?
Symbol Surfing –
Thank you very much! And yes – TGT is wayyyy down. I would say for Target to read management’s place for online business, retaining customers and look into new floor/design plans. They have solid/sound financial statements, but retail has had a ROUGH year. Thoughts?
-Lanny
Yes, it’s been tough year for retail consumer staples, but charges from Target keep showing up on my bank statement every month. #REDcard
This is a good post from Zacks about $TGT recent earnings on Tue, Feb 28, 2017.
https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/251128/heres-why-target-tgt-stock-plummeted-after-earnings
$TGT is down over 33% for the past 12 months.
I feel that the sell off on $TGT is just overblown now so I am considering buying some shares.
Over the long term, I think $TGT will climb back.
I’m just doing the “buy low, sell high” thing while collecting dividends.
38% growth y/y is awesome! Love seeing the big numbers especially when you know it’s all reinvested and will continue to keep compounding for you.
Time –
That’s the craziest part – SO much reinvestment this month – it really is a purchase in and of itself. Now… only to keep making this bigger, haha. Love the vibes, keep it coming!
-Lanny
Insane growth there just goes to show us the power of DGI. Good job on this month soon you will be hitting 1500 a month.
Doug –
Automation, reinvestment, dividend investing. That’s been the plan and that’s now showing the proof! However, I feel like I need to do more, you know? Let’s keep it up!
-Lanny
Lanny,
Awesome results as always! Next stop $2k!
MDP
MDP –
Chugga, chugga, chugga. Chugga, chugga, chugga. Ready to make it happen – $2k will be nice and I don’t believe I’m far off. However – you are on the relentless path over there. Forward movement, progression, the pursuit, damn we love it. Keep it up.
-Lanny
Excellent quarter. I’m definitely going to start keeping track of the historical value of my portfolio so I can see (and report on) my progress on a regular basis. I also like the advice you gave at the end. Sometimes we need a little motivation to keep going. There are a lot of noise out there, including other strategies to focus on, people (and maybe even you) doubting this path to financial freedom, etc. Consistency and time are what’s needed but it only works if we stay the course.
DP –
Appreciate that you took that to heart! I do mean it – make a decision and follow the pursuit to financial freedom. If it motivates you, makes you happy, excites you and means something, then we need to recognize it and GO FOR IT! The hell are we waiting for?! LETS GO!!!
-Lanny
Excellent results. Great growth and it must be exciting to see a 124 pct coverage!
Way to go!
Amber –
Thank you, it is very exciting! Wish it were every month though… but that’s what saving and investing is for!!
-Lanny
Wow nicely done, you beat me to it and broke the $1200 milestone. I’m a bit jealous of you. 🙂
Tawcan –
Haha, barely, though, right? What did I have, $50 on you maybe?? We are making moves, together. Remember that!!
-Lanny
Man that’s some awesome stuff Lanny. Over $1.2k for one month is fantastic. And that’s some incredible year over year growth. I’m hoping to get PFE added to my portfolio too to get some pharma exposure and that solid dividend too. Can’t believe Q1 has already come and gone.
JC –
Appreciate it, as always. What I see it as – that is some serious dividend reinvestment, eh? I know, time is something that has been hard as heck to even keep track of. Kills me. Wish that PFE could have a 5-10% pullback, I’d scoop up some more with ya, that’s for sure.
-Lanny
Excellent month Lanny, very impressive growth! Must be a great feeling to collect over 1k in dividends. And if you continue like this, I suppose in 2019 you’ll break the 2k mark. Keep up the good work!
RR –
Thank you so much! It does feel weird, as it’s been the trend lately on my quarter ends. I wonder if I’ll break the $2k in two years, damn right I will do everything I can to get there!
-Lanny
Thanks for sharing Lanny. I almost hit $1k this month and think there’s a possibility I’ll be over $1k pretty consistently in the last quarter of this year (fingers crossed). Keep rocking,
Passive Income Dude
PID –
Thanks for the comment Dan! Appreciate it, as always. Yes you will, no fingers crossed needed, just keep doing what YOU are doing.
-Lanny
Very well done Lanny. 1k a month is fantastic. I would love to be at that level. A lot of hard work to happen before that happens for me! Cheers
Buy Hold Long –
Hard work and time will take care of it, literally – take that from me. You are blazing trails over there, and Bert/I frequent your site quite a bit. Cheers to you as well!
-Lanny
WOW! Very impressive numbers Lanny. Congrats to you! Here’s to an even better 2nd qtr!
Bean –
Thank you!! Appreciate it and to you as well, love a fellow bean counter!
-Lanny
Now that’s a ‘holy cow’ month! Congrats on such an awesome total and with so many aristocrats on that list. I love seeing that. As you stated, “stay consistent, turn off the noise,” which is what I have been doing for many, many years. Can be hard at times but in the long run pays off. Keep inspiring me and others.
Hut –
Thank you very much. Yep – aristocrats are always solid when you have a strong foundation for them paying you decent chunks – where the growth and reinvestment really make an impact.
Keep it going DH, you’re pushing me as well.
-Lanny
What a month. Congrats Lanny!
CF –
As always – thank you! Took a lot of consistency, and the power of maximizing the 401k was seen within VINIX. Ready to continue making moves.
-Lanny
Congrats Lanny on a great month! 1k in a singe month is awesome for sure. One thing unless I’m reading wrong, second paragraph starts out with “Another record month for February”. Shouldn’t that be March? But running out of room on your excel chart doesn’t seem like a bad problem to have haha. Keep up the great work!
Daze –
Thank you, thank you. Yes, Yes it should!!!!! Great correction, FIXED!
-Lanny
Hi Lanny,
Fantastic month, more than 1k in dividend income is really impressive. I just crossed the 100 EUR the third time.
Cheers
DivInc –
Thank you very much! And niiiice – crossing the 100 mark again, there we go. What’s next – 250 or 500?!
-Lanny
Wow what a great month, congrats! We did quite well ourselves, although no new records broken 🙂
MrSLM –
All good and over $2.2K on your end is P H E N O M E N A L!!! Just remember that, way ahead of me, that’s for sure. Appreciate what you do!
-Lanny
Congrats on another great month. you’re on a roll!
Lanny,
Excellent progress. I’m still striving for that magic $1000. Hopefully this December I’ll hit it. You guys are inspiring.
Good to see INTC give a boost after the stagnation a few years back.
Now if we can get a pullback to find some better bargains.
-RBD
Holy cow, this is even more than our forward YEARLY income. haha. Great results Lanny, really shows that all the hard work is getting some real results here.
Nice set of companies paying, Lanny. $1K+ is awesome and it covers your average expense as well: you are already FI 🙂 and can live w/o even working, fantastic job!
Wow what a great result. And congrats for reaching the 1K barrier
This is for now just a dream for me. But I’m working hard on my dream ????
Cheers,
Pollie
WOW Lanny. Not sure how I missed this post. Glad I visited your site today and found it. Congrats on some serious dividend income.
IH –
Haha, too funny and APPRECIATE the comment, regardless of when! Love the early morning motivational comment, thank you.
-Lanny
Great job Lanny! It is amazing to think that you literally could live without any work for that month, amazing! It’s really paying off for you now. Really glad I’m getting to see the awesomeness unfold with my own eyes.
Mr DDU