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.
Dividend Growth Journey 
Congrats on the dividend income, DGJ. Thats a great rate of progress…keep up the great work!
R2R
Thanks R2R. Hoping to make more and more “all time records”
DGJ
Fantastic progress! It’s really awesome to see those dividend piling up both throughout the months and as a comparison to previous years.
Hopefully by the end of Q2, you’ll have over 50% of your annual target achieved, and this will give you a bit of a cushion.
Keep up the good work,
Cheers
Thanks TV. It is great to see the graphs keep climbing quarter after quarter.
Yes. Hopefully, with new investments, I am at or above 50% by June.
Thanks for the support.
DGJ
you’re welcome, go for it!
Congrats!!!
March was the first time I broke $100 in a month across my accounts. I am hoping and pushing to break $1000. I think I will fall short though.
Thanks and all the very best to you. With $100 in March, you are already set for $400 in the 3rd month of each quarter. Keep investing consistently and you will surely hit your goal.
All the best
DGJ
DGJ
You had a great march over there, keep the snowball rolling.
Thanks and welcome to my blog.
DGJ
DGJ,
Congrats on the new record! That’s awesome. 🙂
Things are really starting to take shape for you. Keep it up!
Best regards.
Very nice results, and congratulations on setting a new monthly record. Also, great year-over-year increases! Those graphs look great — keep up the good work!
Cheers
FerdiS
Thanks FrediS. The YoY results are impressive right now, but don’t think I can sustain this level of increase going forward. This is my first full year since starting my dividend journey and therefore, the numbers will be a little inflated this year since it is being compared to a very low base. But either way, some progress is better than no progress.
Thanks for stopping by.
DGJ
DGJ,
It’s great seeing those weekly purchases starting to produce results. Keep planting, cultivating, and harvesting. Consistent processes repeated over and over is the name of the game.
MDP
Thanks MDP. The weekly purchases are definitely starting to give results and it will only go higher from here.
DGJ
Amazing! Keep it up! 😀
Thanks.
Congrats DGJ on a stellar month. I think once you commit to DGI and get a year’s worth of history is when it really starts to show how awesome a strategy DGI is. Seeing that your passive income increased 250% in just one year is really motivating to keep you on the path. Best of luck in reaching your goals for the year.
Thanks JC. Like they say, the snowball is getting bigger slowly and steadily. 250% increase was primairly due to the fact that I started focusing on dividend investing just last year and the dividends were much lower. I am sure I can’t keep up this increase going forward, but any increase is better than no increase.
DGJ
Haha, look at that awesome yearly jump up on the bar graph! Very inspiring my friend, that’s how you do it. Great work over here and it’s been fun reading your progress this past year and seeing how everything led up to this explosion. Maybe it won’t happen that convincingly again, but it’ll for sure keep going up and up! I’m excited to follow along 🙂
Thanks Ryan. I am sure it won’t happen at such numbers again because the base is going to be much higher. But something is better than nothing.
You are doing great there as well. Looking forward to reading about your next purchase.
DGJ
Hi DGJ,
Congrats on an awesome month, and it looks like you’re close to meeting your year’s goal, being 24% of the way there at the end of the first quarter. Hopefully some more dividend increases in the year will help as well as the additional capital you plan to add.
Best wishes,
– DL
Hi DL,
Thanks. March was definitely a great month in terms of dividends and investments. with new investments and dividend raises, I am sure I will be able to meet the goal.
Regards,
DGJ