Recent buy: NextEra Energy

I’m excited to share that I recently bought 15 additional shares of NextEra Energy (NEE), increasing my stake meaningfully in what has become one of my core dividend-growth holdings.

What I Bought Before & When

Back in April I made a purchase of NEE shares (see my April buy post), when I added to my position at an average cost of around $66 per share. That earlier buy was meant to start out a base position, and since then I’ve watched the company’s fundamentals and prospects unfold favorably.

This new purchase was done at current market levels (roughly $72), reflecting the stock’s rise since that earlier buy.

Why Buy More — Rather Than Opening a New Position

I see several reasons to deepen an existing position rather than diversify into another name:

1. Concentration in quality – I already believe strongly in NEE’s long-term outlook; adding to what I own increases potential upside and dividend yield on capital already committed.

2. Efficiency of capital deployment – Rather than spreading thin, adding to a proven idea lets me leverage research I already have, and lowers friction costs (brokerage, tracking).

3. Compounding effect – More shares in a high-quality dividend grower means faster growth in future income, all else equal.

In short: if I’m confident in NEE, it makes sense to lean in.

Why It Looks Attractive Now

• Earnings strength & tailwinds: NEE recently beat profit expectations for Q2 2025 (adjusted EPS of $1.05), even if revenue came in a bit light.

• AI / data center demand: The company is ramping its backlog of renewable + storage projects geared toward tech/data center customers — a growth vector in a world hungry for clean, reliable power.

• Nuclear revival opportunity: NEE is advancing plans to restart its Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa (shut in 2020), tapping into renewed interest in firm, low-carbon baseload for AI/data center loads.

• Valuation and forward growth: Analysts forecast mid-to-high single digit growth in adjusted earnings over 2025–26.

Given all that, the current price offers a compelling risk/return tradeoff for long-term investors.

Final Thoughts

With this move, I’m not just padding my portfolio — I’m reinforcing conviction. NEE checks many boxes: stable regulated utility + growth in renewables + optional upside from nuclear revival. By increasing rather than diversifying, I double down on a name I trust, and position myself for better compounding of dividend income down the road.

I can’t wait to see how this holding contributes to my passive income stream in the years to come.

Recent buy: ASML

This week, I completed a milestone: I bought 1 additional share of ASML, taking my total position to an even 10 shares. My previous buys were from back in 2023 at prices between € 400 and €480. Today's purchase was a bit pricier—around $680.

Rounding up the position to 10 felt cleaner—not just psychologically, but it also helps me simplify tracking and future dividend calculations. An odd number always felt like unfinished business.

Why Now? 

ASML was trading at around € 1.000 last year but declined significantly. In the last 12 months the share price hovered between € 550 and € 750. Todays price seems reasonable if you still believe in ASML's leading position in the semi-conductor business. 

ASML’s move this week adds a powerful strategic dimension: it has led a major funding round in French AI startup Mistral AI, investing €1.3 billion—becoming its largest shareholder with an approximate 11% stake. This isn’t just financial support—it’s a synergy play. ASML now gains a seat on Mistral’s strategic committee, positioning the company to integrate advanced AI into its lithography tools. That could mean smarter, more efficient chip manufacturing—an edge that may well translate into future profits.

So Why Is This a Smart Move?

Technological Alignment – ASML isn’t just lending cash; it's embedding itself in the frontier of AI-powered chipmaking. That convergence could fuel long-term innovation.

European Sovereignty – Both ASML and Mistral contribute to strengthening Europe’s tech base, reducing dependency on US or Chinese firms.

Growth Potential – ASML stands to benefit from improved tool performance via AI, while Mistral gains credibility and scale. It’s a mutual boost.

Conclusion

With this acquisition, I’m not just boosting my dividend potential—I’m aligning with a tech leader stepping firmly into the future of AI-enabled semiconductor production.

Monthly report: August 2025

August has wrapped up, and with it another month of dividend income and portfolio performance. Compared to July, global markets were far more upbeat this time around, with several indices showing healthy gains. Let’s take a closer look at how the broader market did, how my portfolio movers stacked up, and finally how my dividend income compared year-over-year.

Global Market Performance in August

August was a strong month for global equities. The market mood was fueled by resilient corporate earnings, cooling inflation numbers, and renewed investor optimism:

• AEXGR (Netherlands): +1.9% – Dutch equities posted a solid gain, supported by cyclical names and financials.

• SX5E (Euro Stoxx 50): +3.9% – European blue chips rallied, making August one of the better months this year.

• IWDA (World ETF): +2.9% – diversified global exposure continued to pay off.

• DJITR (Dow Jones Industrial Total Return): +4.2% – a strong showing for U.S. industrials, with defensive names holding steady.

• S&P 500: +2.8% – tech kept the U.S. benchmark moving higher, but breadth improved compared to earlier months.

In short: August was a rising tide that lifted most boats. With this backdrop, my portfolio benefited strongly as well.

Portfolio Movers: Top 3 Gainers and Losers

Even though the general trend was positive, individual holdings had their own stories.

Top 3 Gainers

• CMI (Cummins) +12%: Cummins continued its strong run from July, fueled by investor enthusiasm around hydrogen and electrification projects. With consistent earnings and a solid dividend policy, the market rewarded CMI once again.

• TXN (Texas Instruments) +12%: After struggling in July, Texas Instruments bounced back. Investors seemed reassured by management’s outlook, expecting a gradual recovery in semiconductor demand. Its stability as a dividend payer added to the appeal.

• MPW (Medical Properties Trust) +11%. Surprisingly, MPW staged a recovery after months of weakness. Positive news on debt restructuring and progress in selling non-core assets gave investors confidence that the company is addressing its balance sheet challenges.

Top 3 Losers

• DE (Deere) -4%. Deere faced headwinds as analysts cut outlooks for agricultural equipment demand. Farmers have been more cautious with capital expenditures, weighing on Deere’s short-term prospects.

• KMI (Kinder Morgan) -4%. Energy infrastructure names lagged as oil and gas prices cooled off during August. For a pipeline operator like Kinder Morgan, stable volumes help, but investor sentiment remains tied to broader energy trends.

• BEPC (Brookfield Renewable) -1%. Renewable energy names took a breather after a strong July. Rising interest rates pressured yield-sensitive assets like Brookfield Renewable, even though the long-term story remains compelling.

The August picture looks much brighter than July:

• Around 33 stocks posted gains, with many names like HASI, BHP, and AFL also delivering strong double-digit or high-single-digit returns. The winners gained on average almost 5%.

• Roughly 8 stocks declined, mostly in the -1% to -4% range.

This healthy skew toward gainers explains why my portfolio kept pace with the strong performance of the global indices.

Dividend Income – August 2025 vs. August 2024

Now to the real reason I track my portfolio so closely: dividends. Here’s the comparison for August:

In constant FX terms, my dividends actually grew.  USD dividends rose by +4.5%, with Deere (+22.4%) and Texas Instruments (+4.6%) leading the way. Dividend income from Deere was fueled by purchasing extra shares last year. Euro dividends also grew, with ASML increasing its payout by +5.3%. Unfortunately, the strong euro-dollar exchange rate worked against me, turning a nice underlying growth into a reported -1.4% decline after tax.

This illustrates an important point: even if your companies continue to grow payouts, currency fluctuations can mask the underlying progress. 

Final Thoughts

August was a refreshing change compared to July. Markets rallied, my portfolio had far more winners than losers, and dividend income—although slightly down after FX—was solid. Dividend growth investing is a long game, and months like this show that patience pays off, even if currency swings occasionally hide the true growth underneath.

As Peter Lynch once said:

“The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.”

Dividend investing works the same way: stay invested, reinvest dividends, and trust in the compounding power of time.