The month of March 2026 as ended and it was quite the month!
The conflict in the middle east is the major news event over the past month. This has led to increase fuel costs across the globe.
The cost of living is strongly affected by the price of gas and diesel. The cost of transporting goods from pickup to final destination means higher prices for consumers due to rising fuel costs. Airlines have started to charge or increase their fuel surcharges to offset the increase in price of jet fuel.
The minority federal liberal government has called 3 byelections. The results of these 3 byelections could mean a majority government.
The federal NDP party has elected a new leader during the month of May. The newly elected leader does not have a seat in the House of Commons.
The S&P 500 has been down 4.18% over the last month and up 2.00% over the last 5 days.
The S&P TSX Composite index has been down 2.46% over the last month and up 4.11% over the last 5 days.
Portfolio Activity
Margin Account Activity
On March 10, I sold my 100 shares of Ivanhoe Mines (Ticker symbol : IVN.TO) at $13.75 per share for a total profit of $46.00.
On March 13, I purchased 100 shares of Ivanhoe Mines at $12.55 per share. Ivanhoe Mines does not have pay a dividend. As of the time of this writing, I still have this position.
On April 2, I sold 175 shares of Loblaws Companies LTD (Ticker symbol L.TO) at approximately $64.02 per share for a profit of $100.50. Currently, Loblaws pays a dividend of $0.141075 per share quarterly, or $0.5643 per share annually.
This sale reduces to my annual dividend income by $98.75 CAD.
On March 30, I sold 2 19June2026 NFI.TO $22.00 covered calls at $0.65 per contract for a net premium of $128.01.
TFSA Activity
This purchase adds $7.20 CAD to my annual dividend income.
On March 19, I purchased 5 shares of Telus Corporation at $18.08 per unit for a total cost of $90.40. Currently, Telus pays a dividend of $0.4184 per share quarterly, or $1.6736 per share annually. The yield on cost is 9.26%.
This purchase adds $8.37 CAD to my annual dividend income.
On March 25, I purchased 2 shares of Telus Corporation at $17.90 per unit for a total cost of $35.80. The yield on cost is 9.35%.
This purchase adds $3.35 CAD to my annual dividend income.
On March 27, I purchased 10 units of Harvest Diversified High Income Shares ETF (HHIS.TO) at $9.82 per unit. This ETF pays a distribution of $0.27 CAD per unit monthly, or $3.24 CAD per unit annually. The yield on cost for this purchase is 32.99%.
This purchase adds $32.40 CAD to my annual dividend income.
During the month of March, I turned off the DRIP for Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund (BPF.UN).
As of April 4 2026, the total value of the portfolio is $352772.06 . This is a 1.716% increase over last month's total.
The portfolio is estimated to produce an estimate $13630.21 CAD in dividend income over the next 12 months. This is an increase of $36.26 CAD , or 0.267%. Some of the dividends in the Canadian stocks section are paid in US dollars, which are converted to Canadian dollars.
Disclosure: Long aforementioned stocks
Shares Purchased Via DRIP
1 unit of HHIS.TO @ $10.67262 for a total cost of $10.67 CAD (TFSA)
1 unit of REI.UN @ $19.40865 for a total cost of $19.41 CAD (TFSA)
1 share of BEPC.TO @ $54.65914 for a total cost of $54.66 CAD (TFSA)
1 unit of BEP.UN @ $32.69009 USD for a total cost of $45.53 CAD (TFSA)
1 unit of AP.UN @ $9.44 for a total cost of $9.44 CAD (TFSA)
1 unit of KMP.UN @ $16.33 for a total cost of $16.33 CAD (TFSA)
1 unit of SRU.TO @ $27.05017 for a total cost of $27.05CAD (TFSA)
1 share of MFC.TO @ $46.35118 for a total cost of $46.35 CAD (TFSA)
1 share of AW.TO @36.96138 for a total cost of $36.91 CAD (TFSA)
1 share of CNR.TO @ $141.22155 for a total cost of $141.22 CAD (TFSA)
7 shares of T.TO @ $18.0011 per share for a total cost of $126.01 (TFSA)
1 share of QSR.TO @76.3086 USD per share for a total cost of $105.89 CAD (Margin)
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
Dividend Increases
There was no dividend increases in the month of March 2026.
Dividend Decreases
There was no dividend decreases in the month of March 2026.
Summary:
As of April 4 2026, the total value of the portfolio is $352772.06 . This is a 1.716% increase over last month's total.
Googlesheets is still not operating properly. So, I had to manually enter the market value for the REITS, BEP.UN, and BPF.UN.
Any dividend increases or decreases in April 2026 will be included in the next portfolio update.
Please Note: Positions in Restaurant Brands International (QSR.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 own research and tolerance for risk.
