BUY: Procter & Gamble (PG)--A Small Bite of a Consumer Giant

This was composed of two small purchases made in late September and early October.

Price: $71.31
Shares: 5
Predicted annual dividend income: $13.25 (£7.50 minus withholding tax)

My direct holdings in US-listed companies is pretty thin on the ground. In fact, it amounts to one holding: XL Group. What is more, that joined my portfolio as part of the Catlin acquisition back in May.

Nonetheless, I have always been interested in opening a few small positions in some American giants. Indeed, I hope to set a target at some point of having certain amount of my portfolio in non-UK equities of which the US will form a large part.

So why have I not already built up my US exposure? Chiefly this was because I had yet to find an economical means by which to do it. Elsewhere I discussed the possibility of opening a US brokerage. However, that faces various difficulties.

But recently, a fairly well-established European broker has landed on the shores of Britain. With them they brought incredibly cheap trading charges for the US market. I am still experimenting with them at present and will write about it in more detail later.

So who did I buy? Well, I went with the consumer giant and Dividend Aristocrat: Procter & Gamble.

September 2015: Dividend Income, Trading Activity and Portfolio Snapshot

Every month I am going to be providing a breakdown of the dividend income received from my shares. The overall monthly total will be included on the main “Dividends Received” page.

• AstraZeneca--£18.98
• Barclays--£4.11
• Bought 1 new share.
• BHP Billiton--£23.35
• Bought 2 new shares
• BP--£15.52
• Bought 4 new shares
• BT Group--£10.71
• Bought 1 new share
• Imperial Tobacco--£4.49
• Lancashire--£3.02
• Legal & General--£17.66
• Bought 6 new shares
• Royal Dutch Shell--£20.10
• Bought 1 new share
• SSE--£25.34
• Bought 1 new share
• Stock Spirits--£3.01
• Bought 1 new share
• Unilever--£8.44
• XL Group--£0.32

Total for September: £155.04 ($234.73).

BUY: Unilever (ULVR) and SELL: Amlin (AML)--Swapping the Consumed for a Consumer

NB: This purchase was actually made on 10 September. 

Earlier this month it was announced that the FTSE250 reinsurer, Amlin, was to be bought for an all-cash 670p per share offer by Mitsui Sumitomo. At that time I noted that I had two options:

1. Hold: Continue to hold the company until the sale (presumably) goes through and then bank the 670p per share.
2. Sell: Sell before the deal is completed (at a slightly lower price) and use the proceeds to work for me as soon as possible.

In the end I decided to go for option two. Why? Well, although I don't doubt that the deal will go through, it is nice to bank the profit now. 

Also, the price difference today and the final bid price was limited and seeing as the markets are rather depressed at the moment it seems an opportune time to deploy the cash elsewhere.

BUY: PZ Cussons (PZC)--More Cussons for My Investment Family

Shares: 233
Price: 298.76
Predicted annual dividend income: £18.64 (this purchase) and £32.32 (entire holding)

Despite having to go a little quiet of late on the purchase front (read why here) I decided the current market is too good to overlook. So, I plumped for a little top-up purchase. I had quite a few options I considered:

1. Top up a financial giants, most likely insurer Old Mutual;
2. Add some more drinks exposure through a Diageo top-up or new position in SABMiller;
3. Top up on FTSE 100 consumer giant, Unilever or smaller peer PZ Cussons.

It was a hard choice. All are, in my mind, extremely attractive purchases at present. However, in the  end I plumped for option 3 and, specifically, the FTSE 250 consumer defensive company, PZ Cussons.

So, why did I choose PZC?

Another One Bites The Dust: Reinsurer Amlin (AML) to be Acquired by Mitsui Sumitomo

Hot on the heels of a number of other acquisitions in the specialty insurance and reinsurance sector, this morning Mitsui Sumitomo declared that they were planning on acquiring FTSE250 reinsurer, Amlin.

Amlin has been in my portfolio since March 2015. Indeed, it replaced another FTSE250 reinsurer, Catlin, which was acquired in May this year by XL Group. The sector is consolidating rapidly with the modestly sized UK companies in the sector being snapped up pretty swiftly after one another.

I can’t deny I am a little sad to see this happen. Amlin—like Catlin before it—I considered an extremely well-run company and a good long-term dividend investment. To see another well-covered and solid 5% yielder leave my portfolio will be sad.

That being said, the deal is very generous. So what is being offered?

August 2015: Dividend Income, Trading Activity and Portfolio Snapshot

Every month I am going to be providing a breakdown of the dividend income received from my shares. The overall monthly total will be included on the main “Dividends Received” page.

• Babcock International--£13.03
• Bought 1 new share
• Banco Santander--£2.78
• This was actually c.£3.36 but had 21% deducted as withholding tax as it was paid cash rather than as a SCRIP. Future dividends are returning to SCRIP so will not be subject to this.
• National Grid--£19.71
• Bought 2 new shares
• HSBC Income Index Funds
• FTSE 250--£7.07
• FTSE All-Share--£4.37
• European--£4.74

Total for July: £51.72 ($79.46).

July 2015: Dividend Income, Trading Activity and Portfolio Snapshot

Every month I am going to be providing a breakdown of the dividend income received from my shares. The overall monthly total will be included on the main “Dividends Received” page.

• Britvic--£6.70
• GlaxoSmithKline--£36.67
• Bought 2 new shares
• HSBC--£18.41
• Bought 3 new shares
• WPP--£10.90

Total for July: £72.68 ($113.54).

BUY: Legal & General (LGEN)--Topping up on Top Dividend Growth Insurer?

Price: 260.0395p
Shares: 266
Predicted annual dividend income: £30 (this purchase) and £57.60 (entire holding)

I have had to cut back the number of purchases I can make at present as from the end of this month I will be without a wage but--quite naturally--still with expenses which means I need to stockpile a little more cash than I would normally carry.

As a result, my limited investing funds are having to be even more efficiently used than normal. Consequently, I have been on the look out for a high yield and high growth dividend company. Quite a challenge

Ultimately, I decided it would be a top up of either of one of my current life insurance holdings:

• Old Mutual (OML) which I bought into in January, or
• Legal & General  (LGEN) which I opened a position in May.

It was a tight run thing. However, in the end I went with Legal & General. Let's see why.

BUY: Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR)--Preparing to Power Future Earnings?

Price: 783.8p
Shares: 86
Predicted annual dividend income: £19.57

Two purchase in quick succession. After my recent AstraZeneca top-up, I turned my eyes to a fresh addition helped by circumstances.

On Monday the news broke that Greece had voted "no" to accepting the bailout proposal offered to them. Over here in the UK the effect on the FTSE--although certainly negative--was rather more muted than I expected.

Nonetheless, Rolls-Royce Holdings was a stand-out faller with it edging near to a 10% drop in one day. This sharp day drop was preceded by drops of 1.52% and 2.28% the two trading days before.

Why? Well it seemed there was a perfect storm in the making. Greek crisis, a third profit warning and the company recently paying out their Final dividend. All in all, it seemed a large number of investors had decided it was time to jump ship for now. Fair enough.

Nonetheless, for me this was the perfect opportunity to jump on board. I have been wanting to initiate a position in the engineering giant for well over a year. So I was glad to do so when it was just above its 52 week low.

BUY: AstraZeneca (AZN)--Further into Pharma?

Price: 4048.88
Shares: 18
Predicted annual dividend income: £32 (this purchase) and £59 (entire holding)

A couple of you may have noticed that the sad economic plight of Greece has had a teeny-weeny effect on the global markets. The UK market was no different. The FTSE 100 index dropped about 2% on 29 June with a further 1.5% on 30 June. Pretty hefty.

But, of course, the FTSE 100's different constituents each got hit by the sell-off to different extents. Some got hit harder, some less so. But what about my recent buy, AstraZeneca?

Well, AstraZeneca got hit even harder over this period after a fairly consistent price slide in recent times. On 29 June it dropped 2.31% with another 1.9% shed the next day. Pretty shocking to see as a shareholder.

I bought into the company in May after its share price slide--post-Pfizer bid--had seemingly been well developed. From its high of about £49 it had slipped to £44. I must admit that I had not expected to see it a little over a month after dropping to its 52 week low just above £40.

However, these are the opportunities that a long-term dividend investor is looking for.

It actually took me two days to hit the buy button. First because I wanted to see how things developed as it was clear that markets were not finished selling off yet. But also because so many opportunities had shown themselves. My options, really, boiled down to this:

1. Top-up my AstraZeneca holding (down 9% since purchase);
2. Top-up one of my insurer holdings. Either Legal & General (down 8%), Old Mutual (up 6%) or--less likely--Amlin (down 6%).
3. Open a new position. Rolls Royce, in particular, caught my eye.

In the end, I went for option 1 and bought AstraZeneca on 30 June. But why? Let's take a look.

June 2015: Dividend Income, Trading Activity and Portfolio Snapshot

Every month I am going to be providing a breakdown of the dividend income received from my shares. The overall monthly total will be included on the main “Dividends Received” page.

• Barclays--£4.10
• Bought 1 new share
• BP--£15.28
• Bought 3 new shares
• Carillion--£18.47
• Bought 5 new shares
• Imperial Tobacco--£4.49
• Royal Dutch Shell "B"--£19.68
• Bought 1 new share
• Unilever--£8.72
• XL Group--£0.30

Total for June: £71.04 ($111.65).

BUY: WPP (WPP)--Doubling Up on a Global Media Giant

Price: 1482.3
Shares: 43
Predicted annual dividend income: £18.67 (this purchase) and £36.47 (entire holding)

With the Greek Crisis still looming large over Europe, understandably the markets have been a little jittery. Of course, not ideal in general, but for long-term dividend investors it all looks a bit rosier.

Lower share prices mean higher yields.

As a result, I have been looking at my portfolio for where to put my next tranche of cash which has been supplemented by a bonus from work and additional funds pulled from the sale of unwanted items (more on this in another post).

So what was my course of action this time? Well, chiefly I have been looking at my portfolio as it currently stands as I have been particularly interested in beefing up one of my current holdings (with a particular emphasis on those currently below my original purchase price). I had a couple of thoughts. I could top up:

1. My pharmaceutical holdings--GlaxoSmithKline (-10%) and AstraZeneca (-3.7%)--both of which look attractively priced.
2. Drinks maker Britvic (-4%) whose share price drop now sees it likely yielding comfortably in the 3 to 3.5% range  this year and next;
3. One of the high-yielding insurers: Legal & General (-4.5%), Old Mutual (+9%) or Amlin (-4%). All looks great purchases for the long run.

However, in the end I went for the media and advertising giant, WPP.  Let's see why here.

BUY: Stock Spirits Group (STCK)--Spirited Growth in Central and Eastern Europe?

Shares: 330
Price: 197.17
Predicted annual dividend income: £10

Regular readers of the DD have no doubt noticed I have been looking to increase my consumer goods exposure of late.

This is especially the case with regards to the beverage sector.

Recently I added FTSE 250 soft-drinks Britvic and I have fairly regularly topped up my holding in FTSE 100 spirits giant, Diageo.

With my new funds I was looking to continue this shift. I had a few options I considered:

1. Top up my Britvic or Diageo holdings. Britvic, in particular, was looking attractive;
2. Open a new position in FTSE 100 beer giant, SABMiller;
3. Add a mid-cap like AG Barr, Nichols or Stock Spirits.

In the end I went for option 3 and recently-listed Buckinghamshire-based Stock Spirits (LON:STCK). 

But why?

May 2015: Dividend Income, Trading Activity and Portfolio Snapshot

Every month I provide a breakdown of the dividend income received from my investments as well as various updates on my goal progress and other portfolio activity for the month.

• Amlin--£42.71
• Bought 8 new shares.
• Banco Santander--£10.18
• Bought 2 new shares. The last of the higher dividend payouts.
• Hansteen Holdings--£34.20
• Bought 27 new shares.
• Interserve--£43.40
• Bought 6 new shares.
• Old Mutual--£19.88
• Bought 8 new shares.

Total for May: £150.37 ($229.83).

To see my overall dividend totals and those from previous months see my Dividends Received page.

A Minor Miner Addition: South32 (S32) Joins My Portfolio After BHP Billiton Demerger

May has been an interesting month for my portfolio. Obviously, being chiefly UK-focused my portfolio has been buffeted due to the preparations for and fall-out from the General Election on 7 May.

May has also already seen the addition of new buys in the form of AstraZeneca and Legal & General.

In addition, my portfolio has seen corporate actions abound which has created two (very) small holdings to emerge in my portfolio.

Earlier this month I wrote how Catlin Group's final purchase by XL Group was completed with its concomitant addition of a handful of XL Group shares.

Now, with BHP Billiton's demerger, I have some shiny new South32 shares hit my portfolio.

As this is a new addition I think it is appropriate to give it a little write-up welcome (with appropriate fresh, clean overalls mining man to accompany it).

BUY: Legal & General (LGEN)--Growth and Income Going for a Song?

Price: 269.64
Shares: 246
Predicted annual dividend income: £27.68

Earlier this month I noted that I had received the XL shares element of the Catlin buyout.

Well, yesterday I also got my cash element. As a result, I was sitting on about £670 that needed to be reinvested.

A nice position to be in, I know. What to do with it? I had many thoughts.

1. Mirror replacement income reinsurer: This would involve chucking more funds at the Amlin purchase replicating the industry sector that Catlin left.
2. Dividend growth top up: I was thinking maybe topping up on one of my dividend growth holdings which have not moved much since being added. My thoughts here were WPP or Britvic.
3. A mixture of the two: Here heading down an insurer route--not necessarily a specialist reinsurer--with a high income and high growth profile. Here I was thinking either of topping up my Old Mutual holding or opening one in fellow FTSE 100 peer Legal and General.

In the end I plumped with option three and the opening of a new holding in Legal and General--which has seen some price weakness--rather than topping up Old Mutual.

Why? Well let's take a look.

I'm Exposed in the US! XL Group Joins My Portfolio After Catlin Acquisition

For those of you who were drawn by the first part of the title. Sadly, it is a little sensationalist draw for you.

No, my secret James Bond-baddy style Dividend Drive bunker has not been discovered.

Nor have I had an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction whilst holidaying across the Atlantic.

So what has been exposed? Well, in this case it is portfolio exposure to a US-listed equity. Thanks to a little unexpected twist I now find myself with a holding on the New York Stock Exchange.

So how have I dipped my toe in the world of US equities? Well, let's take a look.

BUY: AstraZeneca (AZN)--Healthy Future in Healthcare?

Price: 4403.75p
Shares: 15
Predicted annual dividend income: £26.80

I have been quiet this month with regards purchases. Since my last purchase of soft drinks giant, Britvic at the end of April I have not made any trades. This was for a variety of reasons, but the General Election here in the UK was one of them.

Nonetheless, I was finally moved to make a purchase today in the FTSE 100 pharma mega-cap, AstraZeneca.

It is facing a number of challenges. Several of its key blockbuster drugs--such as Crestor--are coming out from patent protection soon (or already) which will adversely affect sales.

Nonetheless, it is clear that Astra's pipeline of new drugs does show great promise even if, as always, such things are far from certain. Nonetheless, Astra's CEO Pascal Soriot believes that a targeted $45 billion revenue by 2023 is likely (from $26 billion in 2014).

I have been watching Astra for ages now and each time it sat at about this level I nearly pulled the trigger, wavered and then saw the share price shoot up. This time I thought it was time to dive in quicker for a purchase.

So why AstraZeneca?

BUY: Britvic (BVIC)--Taking a Sip of a Soft Drinks Giant

Price: 747.32p
Shares: 100
Predicted annual dividend income: £20.90

"Buy what you know", they say.

It is sound advice. After all, if you consume the products a company produces yourself you will have a better grasp of how other customers feel about the stuff they churn out the factory. If you like it, it is quite likely so do others.

That is why FTSE 250 soft drinks giant, Britvic (LON:BVIC), has been on my radar for some time.

Their drink brands abound everywhere.

Indeed, as I write I am sipping on a glass of R Whites Lemonade. And this weekend me and Miss DD were enjoying a little J2O together during whilst out and about.

Similarly, I am probably not the only one (especially in the UK) to admit I have a cupboard stocked full with Robinsons squash. We usually have at least two different flavours on the go at any one time (fruit and barley, usually).

As such, investing in them myself certainly seems logical. I know their drinks. I like their drinks. I buy their drinks. As do others around me.

So I finally overcame my reservations (more on this later) and pitched some of my cash in Britvic's direction. Let's see why here.

March 2015 Goals Progress Report: First Quarter

It is that time already. March has been and gone. The first quarter of 2015 has passed.

Sad, I know.

However, it is an opportune time to take a little look at how things are rolling along so far. How have I done in trying to achieve my investing goals laid out earlier this year?

Let's take a look.