* Why Dividend Stocks Are Evil

I can't carry on anymore. The secret has become too much of a burden and it must be shared with the masses. This will shock some and enrage others, but it must be said, and I should be the one to say it. Dividend stocks are evil and they will eventually lead to the collapse of western civilization as we know it. There, I said it and here is why I believe it...

* Cardinal Health,Inc. (CAH) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 21, 2011.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Cardinal Health,Inc. (CAH). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Cardinal Health Inc. is one of the leading wholesale distributors of pharmaceuticals, medical/surgical supplies and related products to a broad range of health care customers.

* Weekly Links: March 27, 2011

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:

* 13 Stocks Using Real Cash To Pay Higher Dividends

We have all heard it… Stodgy, for old people, yawn, boring! These have all been used to describe dividend growth investing. As a dividend growth investor, I sometimes think our strategy is the most misunderstood. It seems everyone understands a traders mentality and a high-yield mentality. Periodically, it is good to remind ourselves that dividend growth provides us with excellent long-term leverage.

Don't Touch These 5 Dividend Stocks!

Has someone near and dear to you responded with a 'I was only trying to help' after royally messing something up? Have you ever tinkered with a computer, smart phone or something else only to learn it no longer works and you are not sure how to fix it? Our dividend stock investments can suffer the same fate if we provide them with too much of the wrong type of attention. Here are some things to remember to keep your income investments on the straight and narrow...

* February 2011 Pocket Change Portfolio Performance Update

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.

* Walgreen Co. (WAG) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 14, 2011.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Walgreen Co. (WAG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Walgreen Co. is the largest U.S. retail drug chain in terms of revenues, this company operates more than 8,000 drug stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

* Weekly Links: March 20, 2011

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:

* 12 Confident and Secure Companies Boosting Dividends

If income investing were as simple as picking the stock with the highest yield, everyone would be an expert. Most assume (rightfully so) that yield is heavily influenced by risk, but much more goes into determining yield. The industry the company operates in, legal considerations (REITs and MLPs), maturity and growth potential all have an effect on an individual stock's yield, along with the company's ability to grow its dividend.

* 3 Dividend Stocks That I Will NEVER Lose Money On

Wouldn't it be nice to buy stocks that only had upside. While we are wishing why don't we add in predictable earnings, predictable dividends and, of coarse, we don't want to pay a premium for this investment. Does this sound unrealistic? Possibly, at face value, but there is a way to accomplish this. It won't happen overnight, but it can be done. Here is how I have been able to do it...

* The Best Energy Dividend Stock

The 2008 financial melt-down caught many income investors over-allocated in financial stocks. There was a false sense of security because stocks like Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Wells Fargo (WFC), and others, were large blue-chip stocks with a long string of consecutive dividend increases. Though they were deemed too big to fail, there weren't too big to cut their dividends, and they did. Many dividend investors learned the importance of sector allocation the hard way.

* Medtronic Inc. (MDT) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net March 7, 2011.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Medtronic Inc. (MDT). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Medtronic Inc.is a global medical device manufacturer has leadership positions in the pacemaker, defibrillator, orthopedic, diabetes management, and other medical markets.

* Weekly Links: March 13, 2011

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:

* 9 Dividend Stocks Sending More Cash To Shareholders

We all are looking for the perfect dividend stock. In an utopian world, the perfect dividend stock would be one that is both high-yield and provide a high dividend growth rate. Its share price would appreciate ratable with its increasing dividend. All of this would be driven by increasing earnings and cash flow.

* List of 195 Dividend Stocks Every Income Investor Should Know About

In 2009, I introduced the Stock Ideas list and it has proven to be immensely popular. The list consists of Dividend Aristocrats, US Broad Dividend Achievers and U.S. Dividend Champions. Duplications in the above lists are eliminated and stocks are crossed out when I learn that they have either cut their dividend or fail to raise it. Here is some information on each of the constituent lists and some highlights on this year's changes:

* Dividend Income Progress Update - February 2011

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income increased in February, extending the streak to 8 consecutive months of increases after June 2010's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 37 of the last 39 months.

* Weyco Group, Inc. (WEYS) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net February 28, 2011.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Weyco Group, Inc. (WEYS). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Weyco Group, Inc. distributes, wholesale & retail, men's branded footwear in the U.S., Canada, Europe; it offers casual footwear, dress shoes and accessories under Florsheim, other brands.

* Weekly Links: March 6, 2011

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:

* 10 Dividend Stocks Raising Their Payouts And Yields

When you purchase individual stocks, risk is inherit. Sometimes bad things happen to good stocks. Eventually, every investor will hold a stock that falls out of favor and endures a double-digit decline. Understanding this from the onset makes it easier to deal with. To minimize the risk of significant declines, your core portfolio should focus on blue-chip dividend growth stocks.

* These 11 Dividend Stocks Could Make You Wealthy

It seems the older I get the more I fight with my weight. I know how to lose weight - I have done it several times. The formula is not difficult, eat less and exercise more. My problem, like many others, is in the implementation. In much the same way, the formula to building wealth is rather simple - spend less than you earn and invest the difference. Once again implementation is where many people come up short. With the right focus and some positive feedback, building wealth can be much easier than shedding the spare tire around your mid-section. Here's how to do it...

* Don't Give Up On Nucor Just Yet

Nucor (NUE) is a different kind of company. A line worker at NUE’s plant in Darlington, S.C. sent John J. Ferriola, the company’s chief operating officer, a note that simply said “Thank you for caring about me and my family.” NUE’s top management have received hundreds of similar cards and e-mails from their staff of 22,000. If you think this is different and somewhat odd, it is for other companies, but not NUE.