The month of December 2023 was a whirlwind. The Russian-Ukraine war is still ongoing.
The war in the middle east involving Israel continues to escalate. There has been lots of peaceful protests / gatherings over this war in this country. These people want a ceasefire.
As we approached the end of December, the premier of Saskatchewan did not seem to back down for his province to stop collected the carbon tax on all forms of home heating. This action is a result of the federal government suspending the carbon tax for 3 years on home heating oil, aka furnace oil, across the country. This benefits Atlantic Canada as the majority of heating in Atlantic Canada is by the use of furnace oil.
Also, rents across Canada have increased a lot over the last year. This is mostly due to the interest rate increases, property tax increases and increased carbon tax. I was not immune to a rent increase. My rent went up January 1 by $200.00 per month.
The S&P500 was up 2.43% over the past month. In 2023, the S&P 500 returned over 24%.
The S&P TSX Composite Index was up 3.25% over the past month. In 2023, the S&P TSX Composite Index returned near 8%.
Portfolio Activity
Margin Account Activity
On December 8, I sold all 160 shares of Cineplex. Cineplex (CGX.TO) stopped paying a dividend in 2020 after Cineworld agreed to buy them. Then the pandemic occurred full force, and Cineworld backed out of the deal.
Due to the pandemic, a lot of their theaters were closed due to lockdowns.
So, I sold out of the position due to tax loss harvesting. During 2023, the deal with Rogers purchasing Shaw Communication was finally approved. I had a large capital gain with Roger's buying my shares at $41.50 per share.
As the Cineplex dividend was suspended in 2020, there is no loss in my annual dividend income. With the Rogers' buyout, my annual dividend income was decrease by $237.00.
On December 20, I added 100 shares of Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE.TO). I purchased the 100 shares at $51.08 for a total cost of $5112.95 including commissions. Currently, Bell Canada Enterprises pays a dividend of $0.9675 per share quarterly, or $3.87 per share annually. The yield on cost for this purchase is 7.57%.
This purchase adds $387.00 to my annual dividend income.
TFSA Activity
There has been no activity in this account since the last update.
Shares Purchased Via DRIP
1 share of FTS.TO @ $54.57403 for a total cost of $54.57 (TFSA)
1 unit of KMP.UN @ $18.2435 for a total cost of $18.24 (TFSA)
1 unit of BPF.UN @ $15.30565 for a total cost of $15.31 (TFSA)
7 shares of TTNM.TO @ $2.32592 for a total cost of $16.28 (TFSA)
3 shares of ERF.TO @ $20.23982 CAD for a total cost of $60.72 CAD (Margin)
1 share of MFC.TO @ $28.59484 for a total cost of $28.59 (TFSA)
1 unit of BEP.UN @ $26.32USD for a total cost of $34.82 CAD (TFSA)
Fortis pays a quarterly dividend of $0.59 CAD per share quarterly, or $2.36 per share annually. This drip adds $2.36 CAD to my annual dividend income. The yield on cost for this drip is 4.32%.
Killam Properties REIT pays a distribution of $.058333 CAD per unit monthly, or $0.70 CAD per unit annually. This drip adds $0.70 CAD to my annual dividend income. The yield on cost for this drip is 3.84%.
TItanium Transportation Group (TTNM.TO) pays a dividend of $0.02 CAD per share quarterly, or $0.08 CAD per share annually. This drip adds $0.56 CAD to my annual dividend income. The yield on cost for this DRIP is 3.44%.
Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund (BPF.UN.TO) pays a distribution of $0.107 CAD per unit monthly, or $1.284 CAD per unit annually. This drip adds $1.28 CAD to my annual dividend income. The yield on cost for this DRIP is 8.39%.
Manulife Financial Corporation pays a quarterly dividend of $0.365 CAD per share quarterly, or $1.46 per share annually. This drip adds $1.46 to my annual dividend income. The yield on cost for this drip is 5.11%.
Enerplus Corporation pays a dividend of 0.06USD per quarter or 0.24 USD per share annually. This drip adds $0.72 USD to my annual dividend income. At the time of this writing, this is equivalent to $0.96 in Canadian dollars. Using the Canadian Dollar equivalent, the yield on cost for this drip is 1.59% .
Brookfield Renewables Partners LP (BEP.UN) pays a quarterly distribution of $0.3375 USD per unit quarterly, or $1.35 USD per unit annually. This drip adds $1.35 USD to my annual dividend income. At the time of this writing, this is equivalent to $1.81 in Canadian dollars. Using the Canadian dollar equivalent, the yield on cost for this drip is 5.18%.
I have some other positions with the DRIP turned on but might not have enough of a dividend to purchase a whole share.
My Enbridge position directly with the transfer agent is set up to DRIP. Around November 2018, Enbridge stopped their DRIP program. If Enbridge decides to start a DRIP, then my shares will start to DRIP again automatically.
Dividend Increases
On December 1, Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) increased their dividend from $1.47 CAD to $1.51 CAD quarterly, or from $5.88 CAD from $6.04 CAD annually. This is an increase of 2.72% .
I currently own 85 shares of Bank of Montreal. This increase adds $13.60 CAD to my annual dividend income.
Dividend Decreases
There were no dividend decreases in December 2023.
Summary:
As of January 6 , 2024, the total value of the portfolio is $215577.96 . This is a 5.12% increase over last month's total.
The portfolio is estimated to produce an estimated $9495.98 in dividend income over the next 12 months. This is an increase of $398.53 CAD , or 4.38%. Some of the dividends in the Canadian stocks section are paid in US dollars, which are converted to Canadian dollars.
Googlesheets is still not operating properly. So, I had to manually enter the market value for the REITS, BEP.UN, BPF.UN, and AW.UN.
Please Note: Positions in Enerplus Corporation (ERF.TO), Restaurant Brands International (QSR.TO) , Intertape Polymer Group (ITP.TO), Brookfield Renewables Corporation (BEPC.TO), and Algonquin Power and Utilities (AQN.TO) pay dividends in US dollars. Brookfield Renewables Partners (BEP.UN) pays distributions in US dollars. My investment tab spreadsheet displays the Canadian dollar equivalent within 15 to 20 minutes of real time.
Disclosure: Long aforementioned stocks
DISCLAIMER
I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant or tax attorney. The information on this blog represents my own thoughts and opinions and should NOT be taken as investment or business advice. Every individual should do their due diligence to make their own financial decisions based on their financial situation and tolerance for risk.ir financial situation and tolerance for risk.
