MARCH 2020 BUYS

March was Wall Street Armageddon.  Volatility was completely out of control.  Down 30% one day, up 30% the next.  Then down 30% the next 2 days, etc..

The only solid stocks out there were the basic staples that everyone needed during the Covid 19 scare.  Ones like Clorox, Johnson & Johnson, Costco, and the like.

I did make a few buys and sells early on.  I was way heavy with ownership of Apple (APPL), which is not a bad thing, but the dividend was just so small.   I took some profits from the sale of 19 shares and bought a few companies that had a higher dividend.  Then the hammer dropped on Wall Street..

I took the gains and got some shares of AT&T (T) to keep up with my plan of buying shares of companies I spent money on.  As well as Costco.

I also bought some shares of Ameriprise Financial (AMP), Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) that was paying over 5% at the time, and Interpublic Group (IPG), a marketing firm that also paid over 5%.  So far these companies have not cut the dividends.  Phew.. 

The switcheroo added $173 to my annual dividends.  Hopefully.   I actually fell confident they will hold. 

Here is the breakdown.

Ticker	Date	QTY	Price	Total	DIV INC / Yr	YIELD
BMO	3/2	1	$68.7950	$68.80	$4.24	4.66%
AAPL	3/6	16	$285.6617	-$4570.00	-$49.28	1.08%
AAPL	3/6	3	$286.1557	-$858.45	-$11.40	1.33%
IPG	3/6	46	$19.8470	$912.96	$46.92	5.14%
AMP	3/6	2	$128.8931	$257.79	$7.76	3.01%
COST	3/6	5	$304.4146	$1522.07	$13.00	0.85%
HBAN	3/6	222	$11.2566	$2498.97	$133.20	5.33%
T	3/6	14	$36.6560	$513.18	$29.12	5.67%
TOTALS				$345.32	$173.56	50.26%

Since I only spent $345 of new money, I do (did) have quite a stash to invest here in April.   I picked up a bunch of AT&T and Morgan Stanley.  More about that next month.

Until then, hunker down and stay safe.

MARCH 2020 DIVIDEND INCREASES & CUTS

I just could not call this post "March 2020 Dividend Increases"  because I got a few cuts that, hopefully, are only temporary.   

Once this CoVid thing passes, many of these companies will roar back and return to their regular dividend rates.  Some only suspended their dividend for one quarter at this time.  Phew.

TICKER	OLD DIV	NEW DIV	% Gain	old annual	new annual	INCREASE	Yield	Yield on Purchase	Date
AMNF	$0.0250	$0.0275	10%	$159.70	$175.67	$15.97	3.42%	4.36%	3/6/20
QCOM	$0.6200	$0.6500	4.8%	$181.04	$189.80	$8.76	3.58%	4.72%	3/12/20
CL	$0.4300	$0.4400	2.3%	$37.84	$38.72	$0.88	2.45%	2.48%	3/12/20
O	$0.2325	$0.2330	0.2%	$186.93	$187.33	$0.40	5.07%	4.73%	3/18/20
DAL	$0.4025	$0.0000	-100%	$109.48	$0.00	-$109.48	0%	0%	3/25/20
BA	$2.0550	$0.0000	-100%	$205.50	$0.00	-$205.50	0%	0%	3/20/20
TWO	$4.0000	$0.0000	-100%	$566.40	$0.00	-$566.40	0%	0%	3/25/20
CLDT	$0.1100	$0.0000	-100%	$257.40	$0.00	-$257.40	0%	0%	3/25/20
				$1704.29	$591.52	-$1112.77	-65.29%

...a negative 65% yield..  Math does crazy stuff sometimes..

Delta Airlines (DAL), Boeing (BA) should return to their dividend after this shakes out.  
TWO and CLDT will be a bit more challenged in my opinion.  CLDT is a Hotel Property REIT.  their recovery make take a bit more time.

At least I got an increase from Armanino Foods of Distinction, one of my favorite holdings. They are consistent to say the least.

Let's see what happens in April.  This should be interesting.

MARCH 2020 DIVIDEND INCOME

Made it the month!  Still have a family!   Still have a job, with some reduced hours.  Still have not gotten any symptoms of an illness.  Neither has my family.  That's the biggest blessing of all.  Very thankful for that.

The dividends also continue to come in.   Yes, some have suspended their dividends for the time being, but overall, I am receiving them as scheduled.  I plan on reinvesting all of these earnings once the market stabilizes.  In normal times, the more we invest, the higher the return, etc. 

Eventually, the passive income from dividends will surpass my regular income and allow me to retire.  This coronavirus bump in the road is just that - a bump in the road.  Over the long haul this will be a blip on my portfolio.

Over the past month, I received 52 payments totaling $1,485.86.    Still just a touch down from last year after my huge stock switcheroo back in August, but real close.   And in a much more solid position.   Had I kept all of the REITs I had, a large portion of my dividend income would be on hold and the losses would be around 70%.   I feel fortunate I invested in solid companies that had a much more modest dividend, but will survive this economic horror story.

Here's the breakdown!

Date	Company	Dividend
3/1/20	AFL	$24.64
3/1/20	AWR	$9.15
3/1/20	INTC	$28.05
3/1/20	PSX	$16.20
3/5/20	ADM	$30.60
3/5/20	CMI	$39.33
3/5/20	DFS	$24.20
3/5/20	SBSI	$35.65
3/6/20	AMGN	$28.00
3/6/20	BA	$51.38
3/6/20	PFE	$20.90
3/6/20	SO	$50.84
3/10/20	CVX	$49.02
3/10/20	EMR	$17.00
3/10/20	HE	$49.50
3/10/20	IBM	45.36
3/10/20	JNJ	$33.25
3/10/20	TGT	$36.96
3/10/20	UPS	$37.37
3/12/20	CNP	$36.83
3/12/20	DAL	$27.37
3/12/20	MSFT	$17.34
3/12/20	MMM	$32.34
3/13/20	AVA	$37.67
3/13/20	BOH	$0.67
3/13/20	FLO	$36.10
3/13/20	MAIN	$20.50
3/13/20	OMF	$0.99
3/13/20	OMF	$7.50
3/13/20	O	$15.58
3/13/20	TSN	$11.34
3/16/20	APLE	$11.00
3/16/20	ASB	$1.08
3/16/20	IPG	$1.02
3/16/20	MCD	$37.50
3/16/20	ORI	$44.31
3/18/20	UL	$24.56
3/20/20	GM	$42.56
3/24/20	DK	$3.41
3/24/20	BBL	$113.10
3/26/20	EAT	$28.88
3/26/20	HD	$22.50
3/26/20	LVS	$51.35
3/26/20	QCOM	$45.26
3/27/20	BAC	$24.12
3/27/20	CLDT	$21.45
3/30/20	TROW	$42.30
3/31/20	NWE	$36.60
3/31/20	PEP	$47.75
3/31/20	TRV	$12.30
3/31/20	WU	$0.90
3/31/20	CNQ	$2.28	1485.86

The big winner this month was the $113.10 form BBL (BHP Group), a Melbourne Australia based in company that mines copper, silver, gold, zinc, uranium, iron ore, and petroleum products.   Even with the large drop in price, they are still only paying at 78% of their earnings.  Hopefully, the dividend will not be cut or paused.

Next month will be another adventure to say the least.  I do have faith that the investing picture will be much more clear when we revisit in a month.

Until then. stay safe.  and come visit my site for updates on my watch list, recent buys, and dividend increases (and cuts...)