Here is the dividend income report for March, 2015.
The monthly dividend income came out to $612.48. The yearly income total for 2015 through the end of the month was $1179.82.
The income for March, 2014 was $437.87, and the yearly income for 2014 through the end of March was $934.15.
For the first time, the monthly income was over $600 without any special dividends. The moving averages are almost at $400. Granted, most of this money is in a traditional IRA, so I will have to pay taxes when I take it out. But still, $400/month would pay quite a few bills.
There were a few stocks that increased their dividends. I also bought more JNJ. I might buy even more soon to get up to 100 shares. I also bought more ADM, so in June there will be another increase. So the Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec haul will get even bigger than the other months.
I think the drop in oil prices has not hurt my portfolio too much. As much as we need to do something about climate change, the fact is that people will not stop using oil for transportation any time soon. I don’t think the major oil companies will have too many issues. It seems like most of the drama is in smaller companies. The big oil stocks that I own have gone down in price, but I am still higher than my cost basis. I think that using the dividends to re-invest in more shares has actually lowered my cost basis. At least, that what I gather from my broker’s web site. Maybe I don’t need to worry too much about basis; the plan is to live off the dividends and not sell the shares.
Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each March from 2012 through 2015:
| Month | YTD | Amount | 3MMA | 12MMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-03 | $1179.82 | $612.48 | $393.27 | $390.27 |
| 2014-03 | $934.15 | $437.87 | $311.38 | $301.75 |
| 2013-03 | $719.36 | $360.85 | $239.79 | $292.68 |
| 2012-03 | $792.26 | $294.68 | $264.09 | $269.92 |
| 2011-03 | $645.19 | $229.43 | $200.06 | $163.15 |
Here are the stocks and the income amounts for March, 2015:
- AFLAC Inc: $40.95
- American States Water Co: $23.56
- Black Hills Corp: $14.32
- Bemis Co Inc: $28.48
- ConocoPhillips: $79.11
- Vectren Corp: $21.87
- Archer-Daniels-Midland Co: $18.16
- Chevron: $24.68
- Emerson Electric Co: $25.55
- Johnson & Johnson: $45.10
- Sonoco Products Co: $21.60
- Exxon Mobil Corp: $76.62
- 3M Co: $13.64
- Walgreen Co: $19.33
- Valspar Corp: $17.53
- Dover Corp: $9.13
- Consolidated Edison Inc: $19.64
- Questar Corp: $11.66
- Kellogg Company: $50.08
- RLI Corp: $21.81
- Eaton Corporation: $29.66
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