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No Purchase This Week [27]

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.

TickerAccount Value
FMCB2,910.45
MDT1,907.52
PPG2,432.76
SJW1,711.58
TGT1,796.76

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

Performance Update [3]

On 2022-01-04, the equally weighted S&P 500 Index [SPXEW] closed at an all-time high of $6,664.65. It took 918 days, over 2.5 years, to get above that mark. It closed at $6,697.32 on 2024-07-10. The market had finally decided that there is some merit to owning the other 493 companies after all. The market liked how it felt and SPXEW rose again on July 11th and then again on July 12th. The weekend saw a failed assassination attempt on former President Trump and the market seemed to like that, too. SPXEW gapped up on the 15th and followed still higher on the 16th. The index traded slightly down today and closed at $6,932.70. Thus, it took 918 days to move 0.5% and a week to move up another 3.0%.

But that’s SPXEW; I care about Royal Dividends. And guess what? The Portfolio for the Ages turns two years old today. Let’s take a closer look.

Dividend Stock of the Week [MDT][3]

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.

TickerAccount Value
FMCB2,903.25
MDT1,636.95
PPG2,481.78
SJW1,691.57
TGT1,834.20

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.

No Purchase This Week [26]

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.

TickerAccount Value
FMCB2,886.12
MDT1,629.81
PII1,410.56
PPG2,379.37
SJW1,574.99
TGT1,747.80

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.

Dividend Stock of the Week [EPD]

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

TickerAccount Value
FMCB2,928.60
MDT1,714.44
PII1,496.06
PPG2,443.21
SJW1,517.86
TGT1,461.30

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!

Dividend King of the Week [TGT][2]

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

TickerAccount Value
BKH2,708.10
FMCB2,928.60
MDT1,714.44
PPG2,443.21
SJW1,517.86
TGT1,461.30

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.

Dividend King of the Week [SJW][3]

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

TickerAccount Value
FMCB2,988.00
MDT1,701.84
PII1,463.95
PPG2,419.08
SJW1,247.76
TGT1,411.60

Currently, there is a position imbalance. QCOM and TDS are off limits for additional investment. The lowest amount belongs to SJW which last traded at $51.99. Therefore, in order to invest a minimum of $250 in SJW, I need to purchase 5 shares on Monday.  See the post on 2024-06-09 for a closer look at SJW’s performance over the years. Below, is the purchase history and average cost calculation.

Dividend King of the Week [SJW][2]

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

TickerAccount Value
BKH2,734.11
FMCB2,955.00
PII1,478.01
PPG2,439.79
SJW1,000.73
TGT1,460.00

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 SJW which last traded at $52.67. 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.

No Purchase This Week [25]

This week is the third and final 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 GRC. 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, GRC, MDT, PPG, SJW, and TGT.

TickerAccount Value
FMCB3,000.03
GRC1,588.84
MDT1,708.77
PPG2,496.79
SJW1,039.49
TGT1,561.60

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

Abdication [TDS]

Remarkably, three Dividend Kings have chosen to cut their dividends this month. And these weren’t just any Kings, but Kings in the Portfolio for the Ages. LEG cut their quarterly dividend 89%, from $0.46 to $0.05. MMM cut their dividend 54% from $1.51 to $0.70. Then on Tuesday, the newly crowned – and to my knowledge, the first ever Dividend King from the Communication Services sector – announced a major sale of assets they own and control, to T-Mobile [TMUS]. This was news we’ve been waiting for since August 2023.

Unfortunately, this highly anticipated press release also announced a 79% reduction to its dividend. Folks, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. has abdicated the throne!

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