Dividend report: August 2021

August is over! Let's see how many companies sent me a dividend check for my ownership. These checks are the results of decisions I made earlier in life, sometimes years ago, where I decided to purchase shares in these companies. Nowaydays I still collect these checks but I have to do absolutely nothing to receive them. They just get deposited in my brokerage account, no questions asked. Isn't that great?!

A total of just over € 100! Six companies paid me dividends. Deere announced a dividend increase earlier this year. A few days ago they announced a 2nd increase, but more on that later! The rest of the year-over-year dividend increases are small or nonexistent. The rest of the growth in income is due to a relatively new position in Bristol-Meyers Squib. The dividend income increased by about 20% compared to last year.

Currently my annual dividend income is around € 2.320. I do find it somewhat hard to find a good candidate for my purchase(s) during the next month. We'll see what happens in the markets in the coming weeks!

How was your August? What is your watchlist?

Dividend raise: Royal Dutch Shell (+40%)

Last year Royal Dutch Shell (RDS) slashed their dividend with 66%. This was an unprecedented move for the company but I guess they didn't have any other option. Oil prices were low already due to the geopolitical struggles between big oil producing countries. Then COVID-19 entered our world which lowered demand drastically. This perfect storm (or black swan) was just too much.

However since 2020 the price of oil has risen from $20 to about $70. RDS raised their dividend earlier this year with about 4%. Their recent earnings report showed a lot of positive signs. Adjusted Earnings for the quarter were $5.5 billion and cash flow from operating activities for the second quarter 2021 was $12.6 billion. According to their press release: "At the end of the second quarter 2021, net debt was $65.7 billion, compared with $71.3 billion at the end of the first quarter 2021, mainly driven by free cash flow generation in the quarter. Gearing was 27.7% at the end of the second quarter 2021, compared with 29.9% at the end of the first quarter 2021, mainly driven by net debt reduction and improved earnings.".

Finally Royal Dutch Shell decided to increase their shareholder distribution with almost 40% to $0.24 per share. This raise adds about € 30 to my annual dividend income (before tax). All of the 2021 dividend raises combined result in an increase of €110 to my annual dividend income. Awesome! 

Dividend report: July 2021

July is over! Let's see how many companies sent me a dividend check for my ownership. These checks are the results of decisions I made earlier in life, sometimes years ago, where I decided to purchase shares in these companies. Nowaydays I still collect these checks but I have to do absolutely nothing to receive them. They just get deposited in my brokerage account, no questions asked. Isn't that great?!

A total of more than € 100! Seven companies paid me dividends, including a one time special dividend from TROW. Regular year-over-year dividend increases are rather small. Most of the growth in income is due to relatively new positions in Cisco and Merck. The dividend income increased by about 250% compared to last year. Without the one time special dividend from TROW, the increase was still more than 60% so nothing to worry.

Currently my annual dividend income is around € 2.280. I do find it somewhat hard to find a good candidate for my purchase(s) during the next month. We'll see what happens in the markets in the coming weeks!

How was your July? What is your watchlist?