Dividend summary – March 2015

Looking at dividends received though the month and summarizing the numbers at the end of the month is such a great feeling because dividends represent real tangible income. I started focusing on dividend investing early last year and therefore, this is going to be the first full year where I can see the benefits of investments from last year. Starting this blog and documenting my progress has been really a great factor to keep me focused on investing regularly and aggressively. So let’s take a look at the dividends received in March 2015.

After a wonderful and smashing start to dividends in January, February 2015 turned out to be a slow month for me in terms of dividends. But it was just a short-term dip and my dividends bounced back big time in March 2015 raking in over $200 again and the highest ever yet. I received $261.00 in March which is the highest ever yet surpassing the previous record $235.85 set in January 2015.

Typically the 1st month of the quarter is the highest one for me, but March did turn out to be a great month. I received dividends from 16 different stocks/ETFs which is also a record for a single month. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the dividends received in March. 

Here are the dividends for March 2015. Total = $261.00

• ConocoPhillips (COP) – $36.50 
• Ford Motor Company (F) – $22.50
• Phillips 66 (PSX) – $2.50
• Schwab Strategic Trust ETF (SCHD) – $20.24
• Visa Inc (V) – $1.35
• Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) – $12.35
• Technology SPDR ETF (XLK) – $17.34
• Target Corporation (TGT) – $15.60
• Chevron Corporation (CVX) – $21.40
• McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) – $15.30
• AFLAC Incorporated (AFL) – $7.97
• Unilever N.V. (ADR) (UN) – $11.23
• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) – $7.48
• BP plc (ADR) (BP) – $25.20
• PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) – $5.52
• BHP Billiton plc (ADR) (BBL) – $37.45 (first dividend)

Here is how March 2015 ($261.00) compares with previous months.

• March  2014: $74.47, increased by $186.53, 250.47% increase.
• December 2014: $189.70, increased by $71.30,  37.58% increase.

Here are some of the reasons for the increase in March dividends compared to December 2014.

• COP dividends increased by a nice chunk due to additional purchases in November and December of last year.
• Similarly, additional investments in stocks like AFL, JNJ and BP produced increased dividends.
• Also, I got my first dividend of BBL this month. BBL pays semi-annual dividend and therefore, this is bigger than usual.

Here are some charts looking at dividend growth over the years 🙂

The below chart shows March dividends over the years. Looking forward to seeing this chart go higher and higher.

The below chart shows the dividends that I have received until March each year. By March last year, I had received $246.46 and it has grown to $597.27 this year. That’s more than double 🙂

The below chart represents the total annual dividends. Looking at the numbers below, I have received little over 37% of my entire 2014 dividends in just 3 months in 2015. That’s really impressive.

Progress for 2015:

With March dividends of $261.00, I have received 23.89% of my 2015 target of $2,500.00. I still need to keep adding capital early to take advantage of the dividends during the remaining quarters to meet the goal for this year.

The dividends page will be updated to reflect the March dividends.

Disclosure: Long on all stocks mentioned above.

Advertisements