For every 25 shares of CMCSA held at the close of business on 2025-12-15, shareholders received 1 share of VSNT plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares after market close on 2026-01-02. The Royal Dividends portfolio received 4 shares and no cash1. Using a market order set up before market open, my shares sold for $45.17 per share. The $180.68 in proceeds will be treated as dividend income received from CMCSA for performance purposes.
…Five colleagues left Litton Industries in 1966 with a plan to go it alone and sell high‑altitude research balloons. The balloons didn’t sell. So, they tried vacuum‑forming plastic canoes. The canoes didn’t sell either. Then came computer software and then, naturally, leather footwear. By 1968, one cofounder had died, three had bailed, and the lone survivor—staring down bankruptcy—brought in an outside investor and bought a failing paper mill, mostly because at that point, why not.
Against all odds, good management actually turned the paper business around, and those profits fueled a long run of acquisitions. Paper eventually gave way to power tools, which gave way to industrial equipment, which gave way to pumps and valves. Today, the whole enterprise has reinvented itself yet again—this time as a focused water‑technology company.
Founded in Minnesota, later headquartered in Switzerland, then incorporated in Ireland, with tax residency in the United Kingdom, yet still keeping its main U.S. office right back in Minnesota, this company of product pivots and postal codes apparently has the financial stability and discipline required to raise dividends for 50 consecutive years.
All hail Pentair plc!
…This week, six of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top Ten.
| Ticker | Account Value |
| BDX | 3,703.86 |
| CMCSA | 2,954.00 |
| HTO | 3,398.25 |
| PEP | 2,417.91 |
| PPG | 3,443.55 |
| VZ | 7,172.04 |
The lowest amount belongs to PEP which last traded at $142.23. Therefore, I will acquire 2 shares on Monday. See the post from 2025-12-07 for a more in-depth look at PEP. Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.
On 2025-12-31, the equally weighted S&P 500 Index [SPXEW] closed at 7,763.92, up 9.3% for the year excluding dividends. To assess the performance with dividends, it is convenient to look at the total return of the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF [RSP].
The dividends yielded 1.8%. The real question: How did the Portfolio for the Ages do?
…CMCSA’s $0.33 quarterly dividend is yielding 4.5% right now. Wouldn’t it be nice to collect two dividends every quarter? Done.
Sell to Open (GTC): One March 20, 2026 $35.00 Call Option [Symbol: CMCSA260320C35]
Limit Order Price: Credit of $0.35 per share
This call has an 87.32% chance of expiring worthless in 82 days and pays us slightly more than the dividend we will collect on 2026-02-04.
Selling the covered call on VZ (see last post) will bring the uninvested cash to $278.72. We will add that to our typical $250+ investment.
This week, six of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top Ten.
| Ticker | Account Value |
| BDX | 3,730.27 |
| CMCSA | 2,432.12 |
| HTO | 3,369.27 |
| PEP | 2,444.26 |
| PPG | 3,442.56 |
| VZ | 7,164.96 |
The lowest amount belongs to CMCSA which last traded at $29.66. With the additional cash mentioned above, I will acquire 18 shares on Monday. See the post from 2025-11-01 for a more in-depth look at CMCSA. Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.
Our existing call, VZ251226C42, has expired worthless and Royal Dividends is $44.59 richer for it. It is time to rinse and repeat.
Sell to Open (GTC): One March 20, 2026 $43.00 Call Option [Symbol: VZ260320C43]
Limit Order Price: Credit of $0.50 per share
Barring any unforeseen developments, this will process at market open on Monday morning. Depending on one’s commission rate this will bring in at least $49.00. I expect $49.59 to land in the Royal Dividends account.
This week, six of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top Ten.
| Ticker | Account Value |
| BDX | 3,716.21 |
| CMCSA | 2,424.74 |
| HTO | 3,377.55 |
| PEP | 2,222.40 |
| PPG | 3,388.44 |
| VZ | 7,048.14 |
The lowest amount belongs to PEP which last traded at $148.16. Therefore, I will acquire 2 shares on Monday. See the post from 2025-12-07 for a more in-depth look at PEP. Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.
This week, six of the portfolio holdings ranked in the Top Ten.
| Ticker | Account Value |
| BDX | 3,816.91 |
| CMCSA | 1,960.56 |
| HTO | 3,384.45 |
| PEP | 2,259.75 |
| PPG | 3,416.82 |
| VZ | 7,237.53 |
The lowest amount belongs to CMCSA which last traded at $27.23. Therefore, I will acquire 10 shares on Monday. See the post from 2025-11-01 for a more in-depth look at CMCSA. Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.
Two adjustments have been made to the weekly ranking process, prompting a refreshed presentation of the investment plan. The modifications are minor refinements; eight stocks remained consistent across both the previous and revised methods applied to this week’s Top Ten.
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