Dividend Portfolio Update #9 – January 2025
Apologies for the late post—yes, it’s January 31! Let’s jump right into our ninth monthly update, highlighting how our dividend-focused portfolio is shaping up in the new year.
Overview
• Total Portfolio Value: $803.24 (slightly higher than last month’s $766.58)
• Number of Holdings: 9 stocks
• Key Milestones This Month:
• New Addition: Mastercard (MA) joins the financials group alongside Visa (V) and our regional bank HFBL.
Portfolio Breakdown
1. Apple (AAPL)
• Shares Held: 0.782333
• Comment: Apple remains our cornerstone tech dividend name. It continues to exhibit a strong performance supported by its steady dividend increases and robust cash flow.
2. Alphabet (GOOGL)
• Shares Held: 0.224334
• Comment: Since adding Google in our stealth #7 update, the position has seen modest appreciation. Its dividend may be small now, but we’re banking on long-term growth in cloud and search revenues.
3. Meta Platforms (META)
• Shares Held: 0.108607
• Comment: Meta’s “baby dividend” is still more symbolic than sizable, but the company’s pivot toward the metaverse and AI could pay off in the long run, potentially boosting future dividend growth.
4. Costco Wholesale (COST)
• Shares Held: 0.128974
• Comment: Costco remains a stable dividend contributor. Membership renewals and consistent consumer demand make it a defensive play against economic ups and downs.
5. Microsoft (MSFT)
• Shares Held: 0.317028
• Comment: Despite a slight dip this month, Microsoft’s fundamentals (especially Azure) remain strong. We’re comfortable holding for both dividend income and growth.
6. Mastercard (MA)
• Shares Held: 0.001974 (new!)
• Comment: Our newest financial-services position. Like Visa, Mastercard offers a growing dividend and a foothold in global payment technology—an industry with solid long-term tailwinds.
7. Home Federal Bancorp of Louisiana (HFBL)
• Shares Held: 12.06
• Comment: HFBL saw a small pullback this month. However, it’s still one of our more “classic” dividend payers in the portfolio, and we’re satisfied with its relatively stable track record.
8. Visa (V)
• Shares Held: 0.069747
• Comment: Visa slipped a bit in January but has robust fundamentals and a history of dividend hikes. We’ll continue to watch how macroeconomic conditions affect consumer spending and, in turn, payment volumes.
9. Dell Technologies (DELL)
• Shares Held: 0.700924
• Comment: Dell pulled back noticeably. As a hybrid player in consumer/enterprise tech, it can be more volatile. Nonetheless, we’re holding for the longer-term dividend and potential rebounds in enterprise solutions.
Strategy & Rationale
1. Dividend Growth Focus
We maintain a balanced approach: strong dividend mainstays (Apple, Microsoft, Costco, HFBL, Visa, Mastercard) plus a few high-growth tech names (Meta, Google, Dell) that could blossom into more robust dividend payers over time.
2. Sector Diversification
• Tech: Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, Dell
• Financial Services: HFBL, Visa, and now Mastercard
• Consumer/Retail: Costco
3. Long-Term Outlook
January can be a volatile month as investors rebalance after the holiday season. While some of our positions dipped, overall portfolio value rose above $800. That modest bump is a good sign that our mix of dividend consistency and growth potential is holding strong.
Looking Ahead
• Further Diversification: We’re still missing exposure to sectors like Energy or Healthcare. Watch for a future addition to broaden our defensive stance.
• Dividend Updates: Expect upcoming ex-dividend dates from several holdings—especially the financial names—and keep an eye on any mid-year dividend growth announcements.
• Market Volatility: Rates and inflation remain on everyone’s radar, but we’re confident in holding high-quality dividend payers through short-term ups and downs.
Closing Thoughts
That wraps up our January 2025 update, albeit a bit late! The portfolio notched above the $800 mark, and we’re pleased to officially welcome Mastercard to our dividend family. As always, we aim to blend stability (through steady dividend payers) with long-term growth (via tech leaders).
Thank you for following along with another monthly snapshot. Stay tuned for more updates—and here’s to a prosperous year for all dividend investors!
— The Gedal Notes Team
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making investment decisions.
