2018 Q1 / March Dividend Report

Finally! Time for my first dividend report! I own ETFs in my portfolio which pays quarterly dividends. Q1 has had significant market turmoil. I saw it as excellent buying opportunities for long term investors. It’s a way increase the overall portfolio yield.

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Dividends
Hitting three figure dividends seems to be the norm now. I received $182.58 in dividends this quarter. Thanks to consistent saving and compounding it’s more than the dividends I received in entire 2015 ($135.10) and 2016 ($149.36). I am happy to be off to a fantastic start. It would have been nice to beat my 2017 Q4 dividends to keep the upward trend. But, it was always a stretch goal. Q4 is the best quarter for ETFs and mutual funds. My goal to reach $400.00 in dividends in a single quarter needs to wait till next quarter.

Dividend Growth
In terms of growth, in 2017 Q1 I received $70.32 in dividends. Compared to 2017 Q1 I had a 159.64% increase in dividends. Not too bad, but much lower than the 294.17% increase in dividend I had in 2017 Q1.

Dividend Increases
Expected dividend is based on the dividends received in 2017 Q1. Actual dividends are the dividends I received in in 2018 Q1. Any increase is considered to be an organic growth i.e. the growth I got without investing any new capital. Unlike dividends growth stocks, ETFs tend to have quarters with increases and decreases. I had a 4.83% increase in dividends. International ETF had a major drop in dividends.

Roth IRA
Starting 2018, I have been contributing to my Roth IRA. There is a good feeling associated with tax-deferred growth. This would be my first non-taxable dividends. I received $17.98 in dividends in my Roth IRA account. I am hoping to increase this as the year progresses.

Portfolio
My plan is to continue to grow my S&P 500 position and cut down a little bit on international position. This would help with increasing the growth characteristics of my portfolio. I would like my international portfolio to be around 25%. I don’t plan on increasing my allocation to high yield stocks anytime soon.

Goals
My forward dividends are now at $955.89 (getting really close to the four figure mark). I am at 63.73% of the goal for 2018. The market pull back has definitely had a negative impact on my FIRO target. My FIRO number is now 5.70%. It’s only new capital infusion driving it forward. Progress is slow but steady.