* 10 Stocks Expected to Grow Their Dividends in 2011

In this space we normally look at companies that have recently raised their dividends. However, as the year draws to a close there were very few companies of note increasing their dividends this week. With that, I thought it would be interesting to see who were the big dividend raisers in 2010 and what we might see in 2011. Here are ten companies for your consideration:

* Dividend Stocks vs. a Safe Distribution Rate

One of the most interesting questions that often comes up is "How much can you safely withdraw each year from your retirement portfolio?" In 1995, Peter Lynch wrote that a 7% annual withdrawal rate would be prudent for an all-stock portfolio. He later retracted his analysis when financial columnist Scott Burns proved that a 7% withdrawal rate could put you back into the work force just to make ends meet.

* 2011 Investing Goals

My goals were originally defined in this December 1, 2007 Investing Goals post and last updated in my 2010 Investing Goals. Unlike last year when I will fell short of my goal, I will greatly exceed my 2010 goal of $9,500 in annualized dividend income. Looking at my long-rang goals, I am still on track to reach my 2017 goal of $30,000 and based on my latest model, I could reach it in 2014. The 2027 goal of $110,000 is not as clear. Given the increased prices and lower yields of new investments, my model is currently indicating this could be difficult to make.

* Cincinnati Financial Corp. (CINF) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net December 20, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Cincinnati Financial Corp. (CINF). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Cincinnati Financial Corp. markets primarily property and casualty coverage. It also conducts life insurance and asset management operations.

* Weekly Links: December 26, 2010

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al. Below are the carnivals that I participated in this week, along with a link to my article:

Merry Christmas 2010

On this special day...

* 6 Stocks Giving The Gift of Dividend Growth

Christmas is a time of giving. Families and loved-ones give gifts to each other. People give money to the needy and charities, while others give their time to help those that are not quite as fortunate. It seems that everyone is involved in giving this time of year, even corporations. Dividend growth stocks give a gift that keeps on giving - ever increasing dividends!

* Best Stocks for 2011

It is a great time of year! The Christmas music, decorations, family gatherings, holiday plays and stock picks. Stock picks? Yes, 'tis the season for stock predictions! Virtually every financial writer will pen an article selecting his or her top picks for the upcoming year. I enjoy reading them and the logic behind the picks. As a long-term buy and hold investor, generally most aren't useful for me; nevertheless, I find them entertaining and sometimes there is a gem to be found. Here are some picks for 2011...

* McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net December 13, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of McDonald's Corporation (MCD). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: McDonald's Corporation is the largest fast-food restaurant company in the world, with about 32,500 restaurants in 117 countries.

* Weekly Links: December 19, 2010

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al. Below are the carnivals that I participated in this week, along with a link to my article:

* Pocket Change Portfolio - November 2010

The Pocket Change Portfolio (PCP) was first introduced on September 13, 2008 as a real money dividend income portfolio funded by the "pocket change" earned from my various online endeavors. Each month I report on the portfolio's progress and update its holdings.

* 22 Dividend Stocks Building Long-Term Returns

Investing in Dividend Stocks is a long-term strategy. Frequent buying and selling of dividend stocks can significantly increase your expenses and taxes, thus lowering your returns. A growing dividend is a strong indication of a company's increasing intrinsic value. Great companies that increase dividends tend to have rising share prices over time. Holding only first-rate businesses protects your dividend streams and helps ensure you’ll also get steady price appreciation.

* The 2011 Dividend Aristocrats

The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats is the most prestigious list of dividend stocks. The Dividend Aristocrats index is designed to measure the performance of S&P 500 constituents that have followed a policy of consistently increasing dividends every year for at least 25 consecutive years. This index is a member of the S&P Dividend Aristocrats index series.

* Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net December 6, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Johnson & Johnson is a leader in the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer products industries.

* Weekly Links: December 12, 2010

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

Below are the carnivals that I participated in this week, along with a link to my article:

• Carnival of Personal Finance published: 11 Higher-Quality, High-Yield Dividend Stocks
• The Wealth Builder Carnival published: 12 Stocks Not Missing Their Opportunity To Increase Dividends

Articles I enjoyed reading included (in no particular order):

The DIV-Net Featured Articles

• Dividends4Life presented Stock Analysis: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
• Buy Like Buffett presented Yum's Yield Is Inching Upward
• Barel Karsan presented A Dispute As To Whether It Exists
• Dividend Growth Investor presented Stock Analysis: McCormick & Company

Articles From DIV-Net Members

• Dividend Growth Investor presented The case for dividend investing in retirement
• Barel Karsan presented The CEO's Price vs His Value
• Buy Like Buffett presented Best Stocks For Creating A Passive Income Stream
• The Dividend Guy presented Investing In Yourself; It Pay Great Dividends!
• The Div Guy presented Nearing Retirement with a Skimpy Nest Egg
• Disciplined Approach to Investing presented Investors May Be Growing Wary of Bonds
• 40percent 20years presented Investment Savings Account - The tax is 1.08%
• Value Walk presented Europe’s highest dividend yields 2010 – Update
• The Market Capitalist presented Coal & Uranium - A Double Play on Energy Demand
• Dividend Monk presented Minimalist Challenge #4
• The Passive Income Earner presented News Update: 7.7% Dividend Increase by BCE (TSE:BCE)
• Learn Dividends presented How To Find The Best Dividend Stocks

Articles from D4L-News:

• A Dividend Star with a Lagging Price
• Dividend Stocks Perform Well in High Tax Environments
• Income Stocks for Retirement
• A Huge Dividend
• Stocks With 3% and Rising Dividends
• More Dividend News

There are some really good articles here, please take time and read a few of them.

(Photo: Sachin Ghodke)

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* Progress Update - November 2010

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income increased in November, extending the streak to 5 consecutive months of increases after June 2010's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 34 of the last 36 months.

* 15 Stocks Growing Their Cash Dividends

Throughout history there have always been great companies that stand head-and-shoulders above their peers and the competition. They are loved by their shareholders, hated by the competition and known by all. Just as all great companies have have something in common, great dividend companies also have something in common – they consistently raise their dividends each year.

* 13 Dividend Stocks With A Good Yield/Growth Mix

As dividend growth investors we understand the danger of focusing on high yield alone. Many, if not most, high yields are simply not sustainable over the long term. However, we often turn our heads to what can be an equally dangerous metric - high dividend growth rates. Like high yields, high dividend growth rates often are not sustainable. As a company grows and matures, incremental sales and earnings are harder to come by. So what is a good mix of yield and growth?

* D4L Premium Services' Price Will Never Be This Low Again

Since its introduction in July 2009, the D4L Premium Services has seen excellent growth in both features and subscribers. It started with the initial release of the D4L-Dashboard. Then other services were added such as Analytical Reports, D4L-Alerts, D4L-Data and the monthly D4L-Newsletter. We are constantly looking for ways to provide our subscribers with value.

* Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net November 29, 2010.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Owens & Minor Inc. is a leading domestic distributor of medical and surgical supplies to the acute care market, a health care supply chain management company, and a direct-to-consumer (DTC) supplier of testing and monitoring supplies for diabetes.

* Weekly Links: December 5, 2010

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* 16 Stocks Growing Their Cash Dividends

When people learn that I am an income investor, the reaction is often a desire to discuss high-yield investments. Many people commonly confuse income investing with high-yield investing. The two are not the same. High-yield investing often carries a greater degree of risk than I am willing to accept. For me, I will continue to focus on high-quality dividend stocks at lower, but growing, yields.

* 11 Higher-Quality, High-Yield Dividend Stocks

A successful dividend growth investor must start young enough to allow time for dividend growth to occur. What happens when a person waits too late in life to start investing and they need immediate income? Many times the person will invest in high-yield, high-risk stocks and lose their savings. If income is needed immediately and you want to mitigate the risk (to a degree), there are some things that can be done, such as...