Monthly report: January 2025

As we step into 2025, it's time to review my monthly dividend income for January and assess how my portfolio performed over the past month. January turned out to be a strong month for the global markets, with positive momentum across major indices. Here’s a detailed breakdown of market performance, portfolio changes, and how my dividend income compared to the same period last year.

Global Market Performance in January 2025

January was an impressive month for the stock market, with major indices posting solid gains:

• AEXGR: Increased from €3,480 to €3,605 (+3.6%)
• SX5E (Euro Stoxx 50): Jumped from €4,918 to €5,282 (+7.4%)
• IWDA (Global Equity ETF): Increased from €105 to €107 (+1.7%)
• DJITR (Dow Jones Total Return Index): Rose from $106,133 to $112,454 (+6.0%)
• S&P 500: Climbed from $5,869 to $6,071 (+3.5%)

The strong performance was driven by resilient earnings, cooling inflation, and renewed investor confidence in economic stability. The Euro Stoxx 50 had the most notable increase, rising by 7.4%, indicating strength in European equities. The Dow Jones Total Return Index also had a significant 6.0% increase, reflecting strong market participation across sectors.

Top 3 Gainers and Losers in My Portfolio

Top 3 Gainers:

• APD (+18%) – Strong earnings and positive industry outlook drove this stock higher.
• MPW (+17%) – A rebound in healthcare REITs contributed to this significant gain.
• DE (+14%) – Continued demand for agricultural and construction equipment boosted the stock price.

Top 3 Losers:

• BEPC: -5% – Weak renewable energy sector performance impacted this stock.
• OHI (Omega Healthcare): -2%. Faced pressure from higher operating costs in the healthcare sector.
• TXN (Texas Instruments): -1%. A ,inor decline, likely a result of cautious semiconductor sector outlooks.

Overall, my portfolio had a strong month, with more stocks gaining than losing:

• 27 winners with an average increase of 6.1%
• 7 losers with an average decline of -1.6%

Winners/losers ratio: 3.9

This positive ratio indicates broad-based strength in my holdings, reinforcing my long-term investment strategy.

Dividend Income Comparison

One of the most exciting parts of dividend investing is watching income grow over time. Here’s how my January 2025 dividend income compared to the same period last year:

The YoY growth of 37% in after-tax dividend income is a fantastic milestone, showcasing the power of reinvestment, dividend increases, and portfolio expansion. The most important contributors to this success are:

• Increased dividend payment from Brink, my employer.
• Increased dividend payments from my US-holdings like HASI, MRK, O, CSCO and WMT.
• Purchase of ADP back in June 2024.
• I also sold my position in BAX back in March 2024 and suffered a dividend cut from MPW.  

Final Thoughts

January 2025 was a great start to the year, with strong market performance and impressive dividend growth. This reinforces my commitment to a long-term, dividend-focused investment strategy. To wrap up, here’s a quote from Warren Buffett that perfectly captures the essence of dividend investing:

“If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.”

I look forward to seeing how the rest of 2025 unfolds and hope to continue building a reliable and growing income stream. How did your dividends perform this month? Let me know in the comments!

Monthly report: Dividend 2024

December has come to a close, and as I reflect on the past month, I’m struck by how the global markets performed and how these shifts impacted my dividend portfolio. Let’s dive into the highlights for December 2024.

Global Market Overview for December 2024

December saw mixed movements across global indices, reflecting a somewhat turbulent month in financial markets. Here’s how the major indices performed:

• AEXGR: Dropped slightly by -1.8%, closing at €3,419.
• SX5E: Managed a modest gain of +0.5%, ending the month at €4,869.
• IWDA: Declined by -1.7%, finishing at €104.
• DJITR: Experienced the largest drop of -4.9%, closing at $106,587.
• S&P 500: Fell by -2.3%, settling at $5,907.

The global markets reflected caution among investors, with most indices posting declines. This downturn highlights the volatility in markets as the year wrapped up.

Portfolio Highlights: Top Gainers and Losers

While the broader markets faced challenges, individual stocks in my portfolio had varying performances. Here are the top three gainers and losers for December:

Top 3 Gainers
I only have 2 stocks in my portfolio with an increasing stock price during the last month. That kinda tells what a month it has been.

• ASML: Rose by +2%, continuing to showcase resilience as a leader in the semiconductor space.
• BLK (BlackRock): Held steady with 0% change, a testament to its stability despite market fluctuations.

Top 3 Losers
I have 31 losing stocks with an average loss of about 6%. It hasn't been a good month in terms of price appreciation. The biggest losers are:

• HASI: Dropped by -14%, reflecting challenges in the clean energy sector (mainly uncertainties regarding policies from Trump?)
• APD (Air Products and Chemicals): Fell by -14%, likely impacted by macroeconomic pressures.
• BEPC (Brookfield Renewable): Declined by -13%, facing headwinds in the renewable energy space (mainly uncertainties regarding policies from Trump?).

While the losses were notable, it’s essential to remember that these fluctuations are part of the journey as a dividend growth investor. Over time, the compounding effect of dividends smooths out these bumps.

December 2024 Dividend Income: A Year-Over-Year Comparison

Now, let’s talk about the core of my strategy—dividend income. December is traditionally a strong month for dividends, and this year did not disappoint. Here's a comparison of December 2023 and December 2024:

In december 2024 my dividend income jumped to €441, a +25% year-over-year increase! This significant growth was fueled by a combination of factors:

• Dividend increases from core holdings such as AFL (+19%),  V (+13%), CMI (+8%) and KO (+5%).
• Increased position in JNJ with a purchase back in January last year,
• New positions in BEPC, BIPC and CNI.
• I also sold my positions in IBM and INTC.  

The compounding nature of dividend reinvestments continues to be a driving force behind this growth, and December’s performance is a clear testament to the power of this strategy.

Cumulatieve dividend income

Last year I received almost € 11.200 in dividend income. This is almost € 2.400 more than last year, a whopping 27% extra! We'll have to see what next year brings. I don't expect this type of growth to continue. For next year I expect an increase of about 10% in my dividend income.

Final Thoughts

As I close the chapter on 2024, I’m reminded of a timeless quote from Sir John Templeton:

“If you want to have a better performance than the crowd, you must do things differently from the crowd.”

Dividend investing might not always grab headlines, but its steady, compounding nature provides a reliable path to financial freedom. By focusing on quality companies and embracing a long-term mindset, I’m building a portfolio that not only weathers market storms but thrives over time.

Here’s to a prosperous 2025, filled with more dividends, growth, and opportunities!