Is The Dividend or Distrubition Safe?

     As an investor I am like most people, I want to get paid via a dividend or distribution.  Any investor loves dividend increases.

     Every time a company makes an announcement regarding their dividend or distribution, the result can be one of four things:  dividend or distribution can be increased, decreased, ssuspended, or remain the same.

     I recently wrote about a REIT that I owned has lowered its annual distribution.  Since writing that post, I received another distribution payment and increased the number of units via drip.  Going forward the drip will be turned off.  Dream Office REIT (D.UN.TO) reduced its annual distribution rate from $1.50 to $1.00 effective with the July 2017 distribution and corresponding August 15th. I currently own 631 units in my margin account and 168 units in my TFSA.  That means my annual dividend/distribution income will be reduced by $399.50.

      Another REIT that I owned, Cominar REIT (CUF.UN.TO) just released earnings in the past week. They also announced  a distribution cut from  $1.47 per unit per year to $1.14 per unit per year. This reduction will start with the August distribution to be paid out September 15th. I currently own 176 units in my TFSA.  This reduction will reduce my annual dividend / distribution by another $58.08

      Besides holding CUF.UN.TO inside my TFSA account,  I hold CUF.UN.TO in small savings account.  The interest rate for high interest rate savings account are so low that it is actually laughable.  So I started a small experiment with a few positions. These 2 positions are 26 units of HNY.TO and 152 units of CUF.UN.TO.  Horizon's Natural Gas Yield ETF has ticker symbol HNY.TO.  So for this savings account, my annual distribution is reduced by $50.16.  My adjusted cost base of CUF.UN.TO is $14.25 per unit.

     This distribution cuts are proof it is best to diversify. A reasonable portfolio should be around 15 to 20 positions with their weights more equal to each other. When there is a cut to a major holding and not many positions, you will feel it more as a greater percentage of your income is lost. 

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.

Dividend Income Update - July 2017

      The month of July is another month of dividend income landing in my accounts. This money is used to help pay my expenses if it is needed. If the money is not needed, it is ALL used to purchase new investments to further increase my cash flow.

        The price of barrel of crude oil continues to channel between $45 to $50 per barrel of WTI crude oil.

        Emera Inc. reported its earnings and there was no dividend increase announced.  This payment on Aug 15th will be the 5 quarter of a quarterly dividend of $0.5225 per share. Emera Inc. (EMA.TO) is a utilities company involved with the transportation and distribution of energy.  Emera Inc. is a partner in the controversial Muskat Falls project. The Muskrat Falls project is a Hydro Electric Project the will create electricity from the falls to supply Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. The electricity will come to Nova Scotia via a subsea cable and land on the Eastern shore of Nova Scotia. This project is currently over budget.
.

      One thing for sure, is that I was paid dividends and distributions for being a shareholder or unit holder in  various companies or funds. In  Sept 2016, the Dream Office REIT in the margin account will be counted as dividend income  for the first time.

 Non-registered Account

• Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) - $71.75
• Bank Of Nova Scotia (BNS) - $15.20
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) - $35.56
• Enerplus (ERF)  -$ 5.58
• Dream Office REIT   (D.UN)  - $78.50
• Roger's Communications Class B (RCI.B) - $96.00
• Shaw Communications (SJR.B)    - $19.75
• Bank Of Nova Scotia (BNS) - $25.21  (Transfer Agent) 

TFSA

• A&W Royalties Income Fund (AW.UN) - $5.05
• Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund   (BPF.UN) - $26.91
• iShares 1-5 yr Laddered Canadian Corporate Bond ETF (CBO) - $0.62
• Cominar REIT (CUF.UN) - $21.44
• Dream Office REIT   (D.UN)  - $ 20.88
• Horizons Natural Gas Yield ETF (HNY)  - $5.83
• Killam Properties REIT (KMP.UN) - $  15.60
• TFI International (TFII) - $9.50

Total = $453.38

    
    As the amount of distribution from D.UN inside my margin account, will have a large impact on the comparison of dividend income from 12 months ago. This dividend income total of $453.38 represents an increase of 1.455% from 3 months ago.

     Dream REIT has reduced the amount of distribution they pay monthly which was announced in February 2016.  Dream Office REIT again reduced their annual distribution again and will take effect with the July 2017 distribution to be paid on August 15.  Recently, I wrote about purchasing more units of D.UN inside a margin account.  Starting in September, the distribution from this D.UN inside the margin account will be included in my dividend income.

    I received $68.05 in option premiums for July  2017.

     I will update my dividend income tab with the new amount I will include my option premium income also.  It is great to see money from passive income sources deposited into my brokerage account every single month.

How was your dividend income for July?

Disclosure : Long all securities above.

Photo Credit: www.mipaq,co.za

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.

Portfolio Update - July 2017

        The month of July 2017 is now behind us.  We have seen the markets hits new all time highs a few times, usually the results of strong earnings from selective companies.

     We have seen strengthening of the Canadian dollar, equivalent of a decrease in the US dollar.  The price of a barrel of crude oil continues to channel for the most part between $45 and $50.  As a result of the low oil prices, the province of Alberta continues to struggle with its finances and it's overall economy.  Alberta is the only province in Canada that does not have a sales tax, as the GST of 5% is a federal tax. Alberta government receives royalties from the oil and gas activity, which greatly affects the government's revenue.

     As earnings are reported on a daily basis in the short term, is going to affect the markets positively or negative.


Shares Acquired Through DRIP

3 Unit of D.UN.TO @ $19.84574 for a total cost of $59.54 (Margin Account)

1 units  of CUF.UN @ $13.12431 for a total cost of $13.12 (TFSA)

1 unit of D.UN @ $19.84574 for a total cost of $19.85 (TFSA)

0.324878 shares of BNS.TO @ $77.5984 for a total cost of $25.21 (Transfer Agent)           

    I have turned off all DRIPs in my margin and TFSA accounts. They only drips turned on will be for BNS.TO and ENB.TO directly with the transfer agent.  These 2 positions are shown in the investment tab spread sheet with the color orange.

I recently wrote about Dream Office REIT after they made an announcement. They are once again, cutting their annual distribution by around 33% starting with July's distribution which will be paid on August 15.  There annual distribution will be cut from $1.50 per unit to $1.00.  So, my annual dividend income will be cut by approximately $400.00.


As of August 1,  the value of the portfolio is $104451.57. This is a 1.148%  increase over last month's total.  The spreadsheet in the investment tab above has been updated.

Note:  I do  have 2 short put option contracts currently in my portfolio as of Aug 1.

Disclosure:  Long D.UN, ENB.TO, CUF.UN, BNS.TO

Please Note:  All stocks are from the Toronto Stock Exchange except TTR which trades on the Venture Exchange.
.

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.