Collection of RECENT BUYS (Summary) - August 2015

Since I began investing in dividend stocks approximately two years ago I've been keeping a personal log of what other dividend bloggers and dividend investors are buying.  Until now, I've just done it for my own personal knowledge and it has proven to be a great resource I use when I have no idea what I should buy. 

The collection essentially highlights the Recent Buys I have discovered throughout the dividend blog community. I always like to see what others are buying.  And with this collection, one can easily see all the buys in one centralized source. I Hope everyone has found it to be a great resource!

In case you just want a quick summary of what everyone has been buying this past month, below is a chart that depicts just that! :)

(The chart and table above only includes companies with more than 4 buys)

With the recent Black Monday sale and the overall decline in the market the past month and a half, the buying activity around the DGI community continued its momentum throughout the month of August. And once again, another record was set this past month for the highest number of buys logged by the DGI community in a single month. In all, a total of 132 buys were found throughout the month of August. 

Previously, we only charted companies with 3 or more buys. However, with 132 buys logged this past month, we decided to chart only those companies with 4 or more buys.  To think back to December of last year when we began our Collection of Recent Buys post, we had only charted companies with 2 or more buys.  

To summarize, out of a total of 132 buys found around the DGI community, a total of 61 companies were purchased, with 28 companies bought more than once.

1. The most popular company this past month was Chevron Corp (CVX), which was purchased by 9 different investors throughout the DGI community. CVX was the 2nd most popular purchase back in July.  
2. In second place was Emerson Electric (EMR), which was purchased by 8 different investors throughout the DGI community. EMR was the popular choice just last month. Good to see it hadn't lost to much of its luster. :)
3. Third place was a 2-way tie between 3M Company (MMM) and Kinder Morgan Inc (KMI) with a total of 6 buys.  
4. In forth place was a BHP Billiton Plc (BBL) with a total of 5 buys.
5. And fifth place saw a 4-way tie between Proctor & Gamble (PG), Union Pacific (UNP), The Walt Disney Company (DIS), and Oneok Inc (OKE).

And although not included in the chart, the following companies each had 3 buys (6 total): 

• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.B), Phillip Morris (PM), Apple Inc (APPL), International Business Machine (IBM), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Omega Health Care (OHI).

Our family remained active during this past month.  In fact, we ended the month of August with the most buys logged in a single month as we made a total of 17 buys for our family's dividend stocks portfolio.  Details coming on Saturday in our monthly summary post.

What have you been buying?  Please feel free to share in the comments or send me a link to your Recent Buy post in case I happened to have missed it.

Don't forget to bookmark or add this page to your favorites!!

 COLLECTION OF RECENT BUYS

If you have a chance, make sure you also take a look at my COLLECTION OF STOCK ANALYSES!! As with my collection of recent buys, my goal is to make this collection also become a centralized source for everyone. It could become a place where one can get ideas on what to invest in next, to establish a desired stock purchase price, or simply to see what your favorite bloggers are buying.  Whatever your reason, my hope is that this collection proves to be a great reference tool and helps provide you that little extra advantage that you are looking for in order to succeed with your investing.

Mortgage Balance (UPDATE) - Sept 2015

If you have viewed our family's Net Worth Page, you probably already know that it does not include the equity in our home.  Although, we do realize that it is technically part of our overall net worth, we decided that since our home equity is not an asset that we can count on for income (unless we sell and buy something cheaper) we would exclude it from our net worth calculation.

For the purpose of this blog, we are more interested in documenting our loan balance rather than our home equity.  With that said, we will use the current Zillow value as our estimated home value and use it to figure out the percentage we owe on our home. For those interested, we will include the amount of our home equity, but know that we are less concerned with the equity since we have no plans to cash out or otherwise sell our home. Our main goal is to pay off our home on or before my retirement date. 

HOME VALUE:

According to Zillow, our home is currently worth: $784,644 (up $8,427 since our June post).  Although home prices have been relatively flat the past few months, overall, we've continued to see a gradual climb this year.  Will we see home prices back to what they were before the crash in 2009, probably not anytime soon but I do think we will eventually get back to those levels one day. For now, we are certainly glad to see steady increases which allows us to build some equity.

If you follow us, the reality is that whether our home prices rise or fall, it really doesn't mean much to our family as we have no intentions to sell or otherwise move.  We are very lucky to be able to say that we love were we are and couldn't see ourselves living and/or raising our family any other place. :)

Mortgage Balance (Sept. 1):
$320,973 (down $5,417 from $326,390 back in June)

Percentage Owed:
40.9% (down 1.1% from 42.0% back in June)

Home Equity:
$463,671 (up $13,844 from $449,827 back in June)

With the market corrections, our net worth has definitely taken a hit these past two months.  Our home seems to be the only shining star these past two months. With that said, I'm happy to report that all the arrows all seem to be moving in the write direction. Our mortgage balance is down $5,417 and our home value is up $8,427. Which means our home equity is up a total of $13,844 during the last two months. 

Even though we don't consider home equity as part of our net worth, since I am sort of a statistics nerd, I still like to look at the numbers and draw fancy comparisons. :)  

Mortgage Background:
For those that have not read the Preface on our home equity, we currently hold a 15-year fixed rate mortgage at the incredibly low rate of 2.875%.  My goal is to retire within 12 years and 0 months so we are setting out to pay off our mortgage on or before my retirement date. Right now we are a few months behind the target retirement date. Currently, we have 12  years  - 9 months (153 months) left on our mortgage.  Nevertheless, I would like to have it paid off in another 10 years (or less). If we accomplish that, I plan to use the last few years to aggressively build our passive income to help supplement our retirement and defer tapping into the 457K as long as we can so it can continue to grow. 

Right now we are not putting any extra money towards the principal given our low 2.875% interest rate. We feel that we could make our money grow faster by investing it and while keeping the money more liquid. At a certain point, maybe in 8-10 years, we may consider using money from our investment accounts to wipe out the remaining mortgage balance.  Until then, we will continue to grow that money outside, rather than have it locked into our home.

  

Click on the link below to view our mortgage balance history:

Mortgage Balance History

Recent BLACK MONDAY Purchases!!

As everyone already knows, this past Monday was a pretty wild ride in the market. After historic 1,000-point plunge, Dow dives 588 points at close....the 588 decline was the worst since August of 2011. As a long term investor, we were definitely happy to see the correction we've been long awaiting. Sales were to be had throughout the market and our family went shopping! 

By the time the day was over, we had 7 limit orders execute.  In no particular order, below are the 7 companies that we bought on 8/24/2015:

• Enbridge Inc - 9 shares for $37.17/share
• Union Pacific Corp - 4 shares for $80.00/share
• Occidental Petroleum Corp - 5 shares for $64.08.share
• Kinder Morgan Inc - 12 shares for $29.00/share
• Johnson & Johnson - 4 shares for $90.00/share
• Oneok Partners LP - 12 shares for $28.09/share
• W. P. Carey Inc - 6 shares for $58.00/share.

We ended up spending a total of $2,380.01 on the 7 recent Black Monday buys. Our purchase will net an estimated average yield of 5.5% with our estimated forward dividends increasing by another $132.73, putting our yearly dividends at approximately $3,219/year (excluding our Edwards Jones account) and $3,576/year (including our Edward Jones account).

Of our buys, six out of the seven buys were companies that we had already owned. We did, however manage to pick up shares of W.P. Carey Inc to add yet another dividend paying stock to our family's dividend stocks portfolios (WF and EJ Accounts). Our portfolio now stands at a total of 47 different dividend paying stocks/ETFs and also 4 companies that either don't pay a dividend our has currently suspended their dividends.

Our family's dividend stocks portfolio may be found

by clicking on the link below:

DIVIDEND STOCKS PORTFOLIO

We also maintain an extensive list of stock analysis

that can be access through the link below:

COLLECTION OF STOCK ANALYSES

We also just started a list of Recent Buys by other bloggers

that can be access through the link below:

COLLECTION OF RECENT BUYS

What are your thoughts about my recent purchase?

What are you buying?

RECENT BUY - (NYSE: BNS)

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE FOLLOWING

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA (BNS)

Purchased 10 shares of BNS on 8/26/2015 at $42.80
Total Spent: $428.00

This morning, with Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) seemingly this month's ASK THE READERS pick, we decided to place an order to buy 10 shares of BNS.  In case you missed it, we asked our readers to pick a stock between BHP Billiton (BBL), Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), International Business Machine (IBM), and Walmart Stores (WMT).  At the time of this write up, the final tally was: BNS-5, WMT-4, IBM-1, and BBL-0.  We were not surprised by the top two picks based on the popular buys lately, but we were somewhat surprised that BBL did not receive a single vote. Regardless, we were happy to be adding 10 more shares of BNS to our family's dividend stocks portfolio. 

Company Description

From Google Finance:

“The Bank of Nova Scotia (the Bank) is a Canada-based diversified financial institution. The Bank offered a range of products and services, including retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking to more than 21 million customers in more than 55 countries around the world. The Bank has four business lines: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Scotia Capital and Global Wealth Management. The Canadian Banking segment provided a range of banking and investing services to more than 7.7 million customers across Canada, through a network of 1,190 branches, 3,869 automated banking machine (ABMs), as well as telephone, Internet banking and third-party channels. International Banking includes Scotiabank’s retail and commercial banking operations in more than 55 countries outside Canada. Global Wealth Management (GWM) consists of wealth management insurance and Global Transaction Banking businesses”

With the recent purchase Bank of Nova Scotio (BNS), our estimated forward dividends grew another $20,40, putting our yearly dividends at approximately $3,086/year (excluding our Edwards Jones account) and $3,444/year (including our Edward Jones account).

Since we had already held BNS shares in our family's dividend stocks portfolios (WF and EJ Accounts), the portfolio remains unchanged at a total of 46 different dividend paying stocks/ETFs and also 4 companies that either don't pay a dividend our has currently suspended their dividends.

Our family's dividend stocks portfolio may be found

by clicking on the link below:

DIVIDEND STOCKS PORTFOLIO

We also maintain an extensive list of stock analysis

that can be access through the link below:

COLLECTION OF STOCK ANALYSES

We also just started a list of Recent Buys by other bloggers

that can be access through the link below:

COLLECTION OF RECENT BUYS

HERE IS A QUICK FACT SHEET FOR THE STOCK I JUST PURCHASED:

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA (BNS)

P/E: 9.58
Payout Ratio: 46.44%
Dividend Yield: 5.07%
4 consecutive years of dividend increases
Last Ex-dividend date: 7/2/2015

Next Ex-dividend date: approx. - 10/2/2015
Have paid a dividend since: 1834 (181 years!)
Pays a dividend 4 times a year.
Market Cap: 53.1 Billion
52-week high: $67.75
52-week low: $39.55
Purchased Price: $42.80

What are your thoughts about my recent purchase?

What are you buying?

ASK THE READERS - Should I buy BBL, BNS, IBM or WMT?

We started this series back in November of 2014 as a way to add some fun to our buying process. We plan to continue doing these Ask the Reader post once a month (except when funds are limited) and will be maintaining the stocks purchased in a separate portfolio just to see how they perform. 

The four stocks we have chosen are stocks that are currently at the top of our watch list and thus stocks we would be comfortable buying regardless of the outcome.  But we thought it would be fun to get our readers input and see if collectively, we can all beat the market with this interactive portfolio. :) 

Below is a chart below of our ASK THE READER purchases to date: 



For each ASK THE READER post, we will select 3-4 current stocks on our watch list that we feel are worth buying.  But to add some fun into our buying process, we have decided to put our faith in our fellow bloggers and readers once a month. 

Please spend a few minutes to vote for ONE stock from the companies listed below.  Tell us why you like the stock that you picked. 

Thanks in advance for your STOCK PICK!

STOCK #1 - BHP Billiton Plc (BBL)

• Sector: Industrial Metals and Minerals
• Market Cap: 87.8 Billion
• Dividend Yield: 7.51% 
• Consecutive years of dividend increase: 12 Years
• Paying Dividends Since: 2002 (13 years)
• Payout Ratio: 66.99%
• P/E Ratio: 6.37

STOCK #2 - Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

• Sector: Banks - Global
• Market Cap: 52.8 Billion
• Dividend Yield: 4.94% 
• Consecutive years of dividend increase: 4 Years
• Paying Dividends Since: 1834 (181 years!!)
• Payout Ratio: 46.44%
• P/E Ratio: 9.52

STOCK #4 - International Business Machine (IBM)

• Sector: Informational Technology Services
• Market Cap: 145.8 Billion
• Dividend Yield: 3.49% 
• Consecutive years of dividend increase: 19 Years
• Paying Dividends Since: 1916 (99 years)
• Payout Ratio: 30.63%
• P/E Ratio: 12.97

STOCK #3 - Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)

• Sector: Discount Stores
• Market Cap: 214.2 Billion
• Dividend Yield: 2.95% 
• Consecutive years of dividend increase: 40 Years
• Paying Dividends Since:  1973 (42 years)
• Payout Ratio: 39.7%
• P/E Ratio: 13.89

For this months ASK THE READERS selection, we selected 4 companies that we already hold in our family's dividend stock portfolio.  Although we track these purchases separately, the stock we buy will still ultimately lower our cost basis. With the overall market in the midst of what appears to be a correction, we are actually thinking about possibly buying two the of four listed here.

**LET US KNOW WHICH STOCK YOU WOULD PICK AND WHY**

RECENT BUY - (NYSE: BBL)

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE FOLLOWING

BHP BILLITON PLC (BBL)
Purchased 12 shares of BBL on 8/18/2015 at $34.71
Total Spent: $416.52

With surge in iron ore inventory, BBL share price has been negatively effected lately. The decrease in share prices can safely be attributed to falling iron ore prices as supply gains momentum, setting off demand supply equilibrium. In our opinion, BBL is still one of the most attractive stocks in the commodity sector... and with a yield of roughly 7%!

Company Description

From Google Finance:

“BHP Billiton PLC (BHP) is an Australia-based mining company having interests in diversified natural resources. The Company mines, extracts and produce aluminum, coal, copper, iron ore, manganese, nickel, silver and uranium, and oil and gas. The Company extracts and process minerals, and oil and gas from its production operations located primarily in Australia, the Americas and Southern Africa. The Company’s assets, operations and interests are separated into five business units, Petroleum and Potash, Copper, Iron ore, Coal and Aluminum, Manganese and Nickel. The Company’s Petroleum and Potash Business comprises conventional and non-conventional operations and a potash project. The Company’s Copper business produces copper and related ores and minerals. The Company’s Iron ore business produces iron ore. The Company’s coal business produces multiple variants of coal. The Company’s Aluminum, Manganese and Nickel business is a producer of aluminum, manganese and nickel”

On Tuesday, we decided to pick up 12 more shares of BHP Billiton plc (BBL) in an effort to continue averaging down our current shares. We originally picked up shares of BBL back in September of 2014 and have since grabbed a few shares here and there as it continued to fall throughout the past year. With our purchase this week, we now own 79 total shares of BBL in our family's dividend stocks portfolio.  I'm happy to report that the cost basis for our BBL shares went from $48.28 to $46.22 (down a total of $2.06 from Tuesday's purchase). 

Our estimated forward dividends grew another $29.76, putting our yearly dividends at approximately $3,096/year (excluding our Edwards Jones account) and $3,405/year (including our Edward Jones account).

Since we had already held BBL shares in our family's dividend stocks portfolios (WF and EJ Accounts), the portfolio remains unchanged at a total of 46 different dividend paying stocks/ETFs and also 4 companies that either don't pay a dividend our has currently suspended their dividends.

Our family's dividend stocks portfolio may be found

by clicking on the link below:

DIVIDEND STOCKS PORTFOLIO

We also maintain an extensive list of stock analysis

that can be access through the link below:

COLLECTION OF STOCK ANALYSES

We also just started a list of Recent Buys by other bloggers

that can be access through the link below:

COLLECTION OF RECENT BUYS

HERE IS A QUICK FACT SHEET FOR THE STOCK I JUST PURCHASED:

BHP BILLITON PLC (BBL)

P/E: 6.77
Payout Ratio: 66.99%
Dividend Yield: 6.96%
12 consecutive years of dividend increases
Last Ex-dividend date: 3/11/2015

Next Ex-dividend date: approx. - 9/11/2015*
Have paid a dividend since: 2002 (13 years)
Pays a dividend 2 times a year.
Market Cap: 93.4 Billion
52-week high: $69.56
52-week low: $34.78
Purchased Price: $34.71

What are your thoughts about my recent purchase?

What are you buying?

RECENT BUY - (NYSE: BNS)

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE FOLLOWING

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA (BNS)

Purchased 9 shares of BNS on 8/17/2015 at $46.50
Total Spent: $418.50

On Monday, we decided to pick up 9 shares of BNS (Bank of Nova Scotia). And with our purchase of BNS, we added another NEW company to our family's dividend stocks portfolio.  BNS is now the second Canadian Bank stock we hold in the portfolio.  We also currently own 20 shares of Toronto Dominion Bank (TD).  I must say that we are extremely happy to be increasing our exposure to Canadian Banks at existing valuations.

Company Description

From Google Finance:

“The Bank of Nova Scotia (the Bank) is a Canada-based diversified financial institution. The Bank offered a range of products and services, including retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking to more than 21 million customers in more than 55 countries around the world. The Bank has four business lines: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Scotia Capital and Global Wealth Management. The Canadian Banking segment provided a range of banking and investing services to more than 7.7 million customers across Canada, through a network of 1,190 branches, 3,869 automated banking machine (ABMs), as well as telephone, Internet banking and third-party channels. International Banking includes Scotiabank’s retail and commercial banking operations in more than 55 countries outside Canada. Global Wealth Management (GWM) consists of wealth management insurance and Global Transaction Banking businesses”

With the recent purchase Bank of Nova Scotio (BNS), our estimated forward dividends grew another $19.29, putting our yearly dividends at approximately $3,066/year (excluding our Edwards Jones account) and $3,424/year (including our Edward Jones account).

As mentioned previously, our recent purchase of BNS added a new holding to our family's dividend stocks portfolio. So we now have a total of 46 different dividend paying stocks/ETFs in our family's dividend stocks portfolios (WF and EJ Accounts).  We also own stocks in 4 companies that either don't pay a dividend our has currently suspended their dividends

Our family's dividend stocks portfolio may be found

by clicking on the link below:

DIVIDEND STOCKS PORTFOLIO

We also maintain an extensive list of stock analysis

that can be access through the link below:

COLLECTION OF STOCK ANALYSES

We also just started a list of Recent Buys by other bloggers

that can be access through the link below:

COLLECTION OF RECENT BUYS

HERE IS A QUICK FACT SHEET FOR THE STOCK I JUST PURCHASED:

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA (BNS)

P/E: 10.12
Payout Ratio: 46.44%
Dividend Yield: 4.62%
4 consecutive years of dividend increases
Last Ex-dividend date: 7/2/2015

Next Ex-dividend date: approx. - 10/2/2015
Have paid a dividend since: 1834 (181 years!)
Pays a dividend 4 times a year.
Market Cap: 56.2 Billion
52-week high: $67.75
52-week low: $46.15
Purchased Price: $46.50

What are your thoughts about my recent purchase?

What are you buying?