Dividend Portfolio Update #8 – December 2024
Welcome back to another monthly update on our dividend-focused portfolio! We missed doing an official #7 (where we quietly added Google to the mix), so we’re jumping straight to #8 with some exciting new figures and positions as we head into the close of 2024.
Overview
• Total Portfolio Value: $766.58 (fluctuates slightly in after-hours)
• Number of Holdings: 8 stocks
• Key Milestones:
• Added Google (GOOGL) last month (unofficial #7 update).
• Added Visa (V) this month, further diversifying our portfolio into the financial services sector.
Portfolio Breakdown
1. Apple (AAPL)
• Shares Held: 0.757537
• Current Value: $189.71
• Comment: Apple continues to demonstrate robust performance, buoyed by new product releases and steady dividend growth. Our position has grown since the last official update (#6).
2. HFBL (Home Federal Bancorp of Louisiana)
• Shares Held: 11.60
• Current Value: $146.13
• Comment: HFBL remains a solid local bank stock with a consistent dividend track record, maintaining stability in a shifting market.
3. Microsoft (MSFT)
• Shares Held: 0.302836
• Current Value: $127.73
• Comment: Microsoft’s cloud offerings (Azure) and productivity suite expansions continue to bolster its fundamentals and dividend outlook.
4. Costco Wholesale (COST)
• Shares Held: 0.122468
• Current Value: $112.21
• Comment: Costco’s membership-based model and consumer demand resilience make it a dependable dividend payer in the consumer staples space.
5. Dell Technologies (DELL)
• Shares Held: 0.650937
• Current Value: $74.93
• Comment: Dell’s enterprise solutions and PC market share help stabilize returns; it’s been showing slow but steady growth.
6. Meta Platforms (META)
• Shares Held: 0.098821
• Current Value: $57.89
• Comment: Added in Update #6. Meta currently offers a baby dividend, but it’s part of our strategy to include high-growth tech names that can offset slower dividend payers.
7. Alphabet (GOOGL)
• Shares Held: 0.193382
• Current Value: $36.65
• Comment: Our “stealth” addition in Update #7. Google is a pillar in digital advertising and cloud, offering significant growth potential (though baby dividend).
8. Visa (V)
• Shares Held: 0.050546
• Current Value: $15.97
• Comment: A brand-new addition this month, Visa combines a modest dividend yield with strong growth prospects in global payments.
Strategy & Rationale
1. Dividend Consistency + Growth:
We remain primarily focused on strong dividend-paying companies—Apple, Microsoft, Costco, Dell, HFBL, and Visa—while sprinkling in a few high-growth names (Meta, Google) that could deliver strong long-term capital & dividend appreciation.
2. Sector Diversification:
• Tech Dominance: Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Dell, Google
• Consumer Staples & Retail: Costco
• Financial Services: HFBL, Visa
3. Long-Term Outlook:
As the market winds down for 2024, we anticipate continued volatility but remain optimistic that these high-quality, dividend-friendly companies will weather short-term turbulence. Adding Visa helps diversify our income streams in a payment processing giant with a history of raising its dividend.
Looking Ahead
• Potential New Additions: We may explore energy or healthcare sectors to enhance diversification.
• Rebalancing: Watch for opportunities to rebalance if any position becomes too large relative to the others or if market conditions shift dramatically.
Closing Thoughts
Our eighth update shows how this small but steadily growing portfolio continues to evolve. We’re excited to have boosted our tech footprint with Google (#7) and added a reliable dividend grower in Visa (#8). As always, our goal is to blend steady dividend payers with a few high-growth tech leaders to position ourselves for both near-term returns (in the form of dividends) and long-term capital appreciation.
Thank you for following along, and we’ll see you in the next update!
— Gedal Notes Team
