Value Investing News

Lockheed Martin Corp. is the world's largest military weapons manufacturer, and is also a significant supplier to NASA and other non-defense government agencies. LMT receives about 93% of its revenues from global defense sales. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

For investors in dividend growth stocks, The Broad Dividend Achievers™ Index is one of the most widely used resources. With 211 stocks on the 2012 list, it is certainty one of the largest lists and contains most stocks listed on other similar lists. In addition, to the mainstream dividend growth stocks, The Broad Dividend Achievers lists many up and coming stocks that...

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Stanley Black & Decker Inc. is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories and systems resulted from the March 2010 merger of StanleyWorks and Black & Decker. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

Dividend growth investing in its classic form focuses on identifying solid companies with a long record of growing their dividends each year; and an expectation that they will continue to do so into the future. The focus is not solely on yield but a combination of yield and dividend growth. Often it is the lower yield, higher growth, security that will provide the best return over time.

For many people the S&P 500 and U.S. Stock Market are synonymous terms. While in reality the U.S. stock market is much larger with public companies numbering in the thousands. The S&P 500 Index is owned and maintained by Standard & Poor's, a division of McGraw-Hill. The index was first published in 1957 and is the second most recognized index in the U.S.

Leggett & Platt Inc. makes a broad line of bedding and furniture components and other home, office and commercial furnishings, as well as diversified products for non-furnishings markets. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

It seems that every financial adviser or financial publication is proclaiming that you should own dividend stocks. Each are eschewing the virtues of dividend stocks from their own perspective. To that I have two questions:

3M Co. is a diversified global company that provides enhanced product functionality in electronics, health care, industrial, consumer, office, telecommunications, safety & security and other markets via coatings, sealants, adhesives, and other chemical additives. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

Dividend growth investing is a long-term strategy. A growing dividend is a sign that the company is becoming more valuable. Companies that consistently increase dividends tend to have steadily rising share prices and the best way to benefit from this is to buy and hold the stocks. Diversification and a focus on blue-chip stocks provides insurance for the few companies that don't pan out.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), that owns, acquires, repositions and manages technology-related real estate. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

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Investing in dividend growth stocks is a long-term proposition. One of the beauties of following a dividend growth strategy is that you don't have to watch your portfolio or the market on a daily basis. For the most part, daily, monthly and yearly movements are just noise in the system.

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Verizon Communications Inc. offers wireline, wireless and broadband services primarily in the northeastern United States. It acquired MCI in 2006 and has since sold or spun off non-core assets. Alltel was acquired in early 2009. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

After each quarter-end, I review my asset allocation and year-to-date total returns by category. The attached PDF contains my actual asset allocation as of 2011-Q4. Below is a high-level summary of the information contained in the PDF:

Dividend growth investing is a long-term strategy. A growing dividend is a sign that the company is becoming more valuable. Companies that consistently increase dividends tend to have steadily rising share prices and the best way to benefit from this is to buy and hold the stocks. Diversification and a focus on blue-chip stocks provides insurance for the few companies that don't pan out.

Have you ever looked at your pay stub, sighed, and wished you didn't have to pay taxes? After the government gets a hold of out paycheck, what's left seems so small compared to the pretax annual salary quoted to us by our employers. The good news is some don't have to pay taxes, and it is legal. Consider this...