March 2020 Dividend Income: Owned

Often times, the opening to these articles muses on the speed in which time has passed. Such was not the case this month; March dragged.  This was most apparent to me when I was watching the latest Super Bowl on YouTube (they're uploading full games to their channel now and it's freaking awesome.)  Seeing as most of the games were from a few years back, I just assumed that this one was in the same boat.  However, when they started promoting the half time show, I realized that it was this most recent one.  It seems like so long ago.  Also, Super Bowl 51 was a hell of a game.  But enough about that, we're not here for sports.  This isn't "Let's Get It Right"; this is dividend posting a-go-go.  Let's get to it.

Kroger (KR): $0.98      Same as last quarter
The SJW Group (SJW): $0.32   Up $0.02 from DRIP
AGNC: $0.18   Up a penny from DRIP

Bloomin Brands (BLMN): $0.60  This is up $0.30 from their last payment.  The dividend increase was substantial, but I've been wary of this position.  Even before the Corona madness, I had seen mention that the company was looking into strategic alternatives (a phrase I've come across before hintBarnesAndNoblehinthint) and they were looking for buyers.  On the plus side, I don't have the attachment to this company that I did to the bookstore chain, so even if things do play out the same way, I won't be lamenting it to the same extent.

Flowers Foods (FLO): $0.98   Up a penny from DRIP
Realty Income (O): $0.73 Same as last month
Wendy's (WEN): $0.86 Up a penny from DRIP
CenturyLink (CTL): $0.27 Same as last quarter
VF Corp (VFC): $0.48 Same as last quarter

That brings the total to $5.40.  It is technically down from last quarter, but Westrock shifted their payout schedule.  Upward trajectories are always more interesting, but at least it wasn't due to cuts or stock sales.  On the contrary, there were quite a few positions that ticked up just due to reinvesting dividends.

The 401K also threw in $1.14, which is up $0.50 from last month.  That brings the grand total to $6.54.  December's a powerhouse month, so the drop isn't too surprising there.  It's pretty standard fare, otherwise.

Interest clocked in at $5.52, a solid showing.  What's weird is that this wasn't really the result of new capital.  As I've mentioned, I've been moving money from my online savings to my IRA's.  For a while, this was having a negative effect on the numbers, but the recent transfers were such that it actually made the payment more substantial this time around.  It's weird, but I'm not going to complain.

Just the one buy of Realty Income this month.  I did also acquire 30 shares of Publix stock at a cost of 0 dollars.  Part of this was matching 401K contributions, but a vast majority of it was a perk of working for the company.  It's employee-owned, and to further push that bragging right, they give you shares just for being an employee.   It's not too shabby.  This was the thing that had my hyped for 2019.  It was kind of vexing having to wait until March of the following year to see it, but this is a hell of a trump card and I'd say it was worth the wait.  Definitely looking forward to seeing this position build over the years to come.  At about a $1,300ish value, this is simultaneously the biggest and the smallest move that's been made in the portfolio to date.  It's very Schrodinger's Cat.  And yes, the portfolio has been updated. 

That about wraps things up for this month.  Given the chaos that unfolded, it was nice to see things continue their slow and steady progression upward.  Whether things will continue that way remains to be seen.  It seems like even the stronger dividend payers are falling victim to Corona, but we'll see how things play out in the weeks to come.

                       "stock dividend" by CreditDebitPro is licensed under CC BY 2.0 












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