Trades

As discussed in my post on 2024-05-30, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) announced that its board of directors unanimously approved the sale of UScellular’s [USM] wireless operations and approximately 30% of its spectrum assets to T-Mobile [TMUS] for $4.4 billion. TDS will be a much smaller company when the sale is finalized and in anticipation of that day, TDS also announced a massive cut to their dividend.

The dividend reduction marked the end of its short reign as a Dividend King, and it is disqualified from inclusion in the Royal Dividends Empire. Had I not had three covered calls on TDS, I would have exited the position shortly after that announcement.

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Closing a Position [TDS]Read More »

This week, five of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top 10: FMCB, MDT, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

Ticker	Account Value
FMCB	2,880.75
MDT	1,968.96
PPG	2,265.56
SJW	1,962.48
TGT	1,897.00

The lowest amount belongs to TGT which last traded at $135.50. Therefore, in order to invest a minimum of $250 in TGT, I need to purchase 2 shares on Monday.  See the post on 2024-06-24 for a closer look at TGT’s historical performance. Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.

TDS announced earnings on 2024-08-02 and while they beat pessimistic estimates slightly, the needle really didn’t move. This was really the last chance for a large upward move prior to the August 16th expiry date of the 3 covered call contracts on it. Apparently, in response to this rather lackluster earnings report or perhaps a less than stellar unemployment report here in the states, markets all over the world tanked. The carnage continues today, and I have taken the opportunity to roll down the outstanding calls.

In the same, two-legged, GTC option order:

Buy to Close: (3) August 16, 2024 $25.00 Call Options [Symbol: TDS240816C25]

Sell to Open: (3) August 16, 2024 $20.00 Call Options [Symbol: TDS240816C20]

Limit Order Price:  Credit of $0.42 per share

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Rolling a Covered Call [TDS][5]Read More »

This week, five of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top 10: FMCB, MDT, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

Ticker	Account Value
FMCB	2,802.06
MDT	1,956.24
PPG	2,345.74
SJW	2,095.08
TGT	1,670.04

The lowest amount belongs to TGT which last traded at $139.17. Therefore, in order to invest a minimum of $250 in TGT, I need to purchase 2 shares on Monday.  See the post on 2024-06-24 for a closer look at TGT’s historical performance. Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.

This week, five of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top 10: FMCB, MDT, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

Ticker	Account Value
FMCB	2,910.00
MDT	1,888.80
PPG	2,423.45
SJW	1,765.23
TGT	1,788.00

The lowest amount belongs to SJW which last traded at $60.87. Therefore, in order to invest a minimum of $250 in SJW, I need to purchase 5 shares on Monday.  Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.

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Dividend King of the Week [SJW][4]Read More »

This week is the third and final ‘off’ week intended to restore the $250+ per week pace of investment which became necessary with the establishment of a position in EPD. Read on to find out which position would have been most worthy of new money.

This week, five of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top Ten: FMCB, MDT, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

Ticker	Account Value
FMCB	2,910.45
MDT	1,907.52
PPG	2,432.76
SJW	1,711.58
TGT	1,796.76

The lowest amount belongs to SJW. There is nothing precluding further investment in that position, other than it being an ‘off’ week.

This week will count as the second of three ‘off’ weeks intended to restore the $250+ per week pace of investment due to the acquisition of EPD. However, there is over $250 ($263.24 to be exact) of uninvested income in the account and I am going to deploy it.

This week, five of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top Ten: FMCB, MDT, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

Ticker	Account Value
FMCB	2,903.25
MDT	1,636.95
PPG	2,481.78
SJW	1,691.57
TGT	1,834.20

While there is no sector imbalance at this time, there is a position imbalance. QCOM and TDS are off limits for additional investment, but they’re not in the Top 10 so there is no concern. The lowest amount belongs to MDT which last traded at $77.95. Therefore, being careful not to go over the $263.24 available, I will acquire 3 shares of MDT on Monday. Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.

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Dividend Stock of the Week [MDT][3]Read More »

This week is the first of three consecutive ‘off’ weeks intended to restore the $250+ per week pace of investment which became necessary with the establishment of a position in EPD. Read on to find out which position would have been most worthy of new money.

This week, six of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top Ten: FMCB, MDT, PII, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

Ticker	Account Value
FMCB	2,886.12
MDT	1,629.81
PII	1,410.56
PPG	2,379.37
SJW	1,574.99
TGT	1,747.80

While there is no sector imbalance at this time, there is a position imbalance. LEG, QCOM, and TDS are off limits for additional investment. The lowest amount belongs to PII. There is nothing precluding further investment in that position, other than it being an ‘off’ week.

This week, six of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top 10: FMCB, MDT, PII, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

Ticker	Account Value
FMCB	2,928.60
MDT	1,714.44
PII	1,496.06
PPG	2,443.21
SJW	1,517.86
TGT	1,461.30

There are imbalances in the portfolio due to the strong performance of TDS and to a lesser degree, QCOM. Now, those two stocks did not make the Top 10, but had they somehow weaseled their way in, rest assured – they would not have been blessed with additional funds. Their strong performance not only rules themselves out but has also caused a sector imbalance such that only the Energy sector is eligible for investment this week. Thus, even though TGT is the stock with the lowest account value, being a consumer discretionary stock, it is not eligible for investment. Ditto, the others. In fact, because there were no energy stocks in the Top 10, I had to relax the criterion ever so slightly and grab the Top 13 in order to capture the first energy stock and it isn’t current portfolio holding NC.

Folks, it is time to add a new position to the Portfolio for the Ages!

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Dividend Stock of the Week [EPD]Read More »

This week, six of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top 10: BKH, FMCB, MDT, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

Ticker	Account Value
BKH	2,708.10
FMCB	2,928.60
MDT	1,714.44
PPG	2,443.21
SJW	1,517.86
TGT	1,461.30

There are no restrictions on this week’s investment. The lowest amount belongs to TGT which last traded at $146.13. Therefore, in order to invest a minimum of $250 in TGT, I need to purchase 2 shares on Monday.  Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.

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Dividend King of the Week [TGT][2]Read More »