Introduction Dividend Champions/Aristocrats are the go-to dividend paying stocks for prudent investors desirous of a safe, predictable and growing stream of income on the common stock portion of their retirement portfolios. As most investors are aware, in order to be classified as a Dividend Champion/Aristocrat a company must meet the stern test of consecutively increasing their …
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20 Dividend Growth Stocks To Buy Today For Your Retirement Portfolios: Part 1
Introduction We are in the seventh year of a strong bull market, and stock valuations have generally become extended as measured by the S&P 500. It is undeniable that the overall market’s valuation today is higher than it has been in years. However, even though that statement may be true in the general sense, it …
The Best Way to Judge Past Performance: Part Two
Introduction On virtually every financial website on the planet there is a never-ending daily stream of stock tips and recommendations. Consequently, the investing public is literally flooded with information and advice regarding what stock to buy today or not to buy. Some of what is offered is supported by factual information and logic, but unfortunately, …
“Ye Of Little Faith” What Has It Cost You? Part 1
Introduction I believe that one of the most important attributes that a successful investor must possess is optimism. Any serious student of financial history would recognize and acknowledge that economically speaking, things are good much more often than they are bad. In the general sense, common stocks have risen far more often than they have …
Aflac: Still Cheap Despite The Recent Price Run-Up
Georgia based Aflac (AFL) is probably best known among the general public for the Aflac duck parading about television commercials. However, investors probably know Aflac just as well by its consistency towards rewarding shareholders. Over the past 31 years this supplemental insurer has not only paid a dividend but also increased each year; during the …
Invest In Stocks With A Margin of Safety To Reduce Risk And Enhance Returns
Introduction Of all of the many sound investing principles that legendary teacher and investor Ben Graham put forward, he believed that his concept of “margin of safety” was the most important of all. This investment lesson was so deeply ingrained into the mind of Ben Graham’s most famous student, Warren Buffett, that he created his …
Is The Financial Crisis Over For Financial Stocks?
The cause of the financial crisis of 2007 -2008, also known as the Great Recession of 2008, is attributed to many different theories. However, one of the most common theories is an easy money regulatory environment that led to an abundance of subprime loans, which in turn inflated real estate prices to bubble levels. Additionally, …
How To Remain Solvent Longer Than The Market Is Irrational
I believe it is extremely important that investors focus on the value of what they own more than they do on the day-to-day machinations of price volatility. However, I also believe, and even recognize, that very few investors are capable of ignoring volatile stock price movements. When the price of a stock that they own …
The Shiller PE Continues to Mislead Investors, The S&P 500 Is Fairly Valued in Early 2013
Allow me to start this article by emphatically stating that I have a real problem with forecasting stock markets in the general sense. Instead, I prefer to forecast the intrinsic values of individual businesses based on their earnings justified fundamental values. I hold this position because I believe that it is not only possible, but …
Blue-Chip Dividend Aristocrats – There is a Lot of Value in this Market: Part 4
This is the fourth in a series of articles designed to counter a pervasive attitude that common stocks are expensive today. Furthermore, we would agree with those that contend that we have been in a stealth bull market for the last 18 months or more. However, would also contend that stocks were so cheap prior …