Retirement Mantra, AT&T Inc. (T), Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED): Diversify with Dividend Growth and Reinvestment

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It has a current dividend yield of 6% and has been growing its dividend at a rate of 14.46% annualized.

Dividend Growth Rate Calculator
Stock kmp
Number dividends 82
Current dividend date 2013-01-29
Current dividend amount $1.2900
First dividend date 1992-10-27
First dividend amount $0.08350
Growth rate –
14.46%
Growth rate – total 1,444.91%

The next time you go to your gas station for a fill-up, if you own KMP, you won’t have to wince at the increased price of gas at the pump. You’ll be an owner in the transportation of this liquid gold. KMP is considered a toll road, charging for the transportation of these commodities through its pipes. It must pay out a minimum of 90% of its income to its unit holders as a distribution. As long as the world needs oil and its byproducts, KMP will be there with the transportation system, paying out a hefty flow of distributions in quarterly checks.

Apollo Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AINV) is a business development company that operates as a closed-end management investment company. The company invests in middle market companies. Its current dividend yield is 9.2%, and its dividend growth rate is 19.86%.

Dividend Growth Rate Calculator
Stock ainv
Number dividends 34
Current dividend date 2012-12-14
Current dividend amount $0.2000
First dividend date 2004-09-21
First dividend amount $0.04500
Growth rate –
19.86%
Growth rate – total 344.44%

With the economy gaining momentum, revenues and earnings should continue to build and develop from here and result in higher dividends going forward.

Assumption: $20,000 invested in each of the 5 companies

Name Amount Invested Dividend Yield Annual Dividends
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) $20,000.00 4.90% $980.00
Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) $20,000.00 4.30% $860.00
McDonald’s Corp (NYSE:MCD). $20,000.00 3.20% $640.00
Kinder Morgan Energy $20,000.00 6.00% $1,200.00
Apollo Investment Corp. $20,000.00 9.20% $1,840.00
Totals $100,000.00 5.52% $5,520.00

Growing Income Stream

The conservative investor, approaching or in retirement, can become an owner in these mainstays of the domestic market and sleep peacefully at night, comfortable in the knowledge that her companies have been around the block, have all grown their revenues and earnings in a predictable, stable fashion, and have shared those growing earnings in steadily increased dividends for stockholders, most of them for over 25 years. The protection against inflation is priceless and allows an investor to deal effectively with the question that faces the baby boomer generation: “will I have enough money to retire, and last me through retirement.”

Dividend Reinvestment

Investors further away from retiring would best be served by reinvesting these regular dividends and distributions back into the names in the portfolio in an opportunistic fashion. When there is a sell-off of several percent in a particular holding, if the investor is confident it is only temporary and feels the original reason for buying is still intact, he or she should buy in.

This method allows the investor to always buy low, accumulating a greater number of shares at lower prices, and benefit from the higher yield attained. Consequently, it increases the income stream. That’s called killing two birds with one stone, as you fulfill two goals simultaneously.

Risks

Of course, there is always the risk that one or more of your portfolio names decides not to increase the dividend at some time, or even to reduce it due to company-specific or macro factors. The proper way to hedge this risk is to buy 30-40 different names, diversified into at least 7 to 8 different sectors, and diversified as to large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap.

Conclusion

This portfolio is only a sample, illustrating investments in 5 different sectors, including telecommunications, utilities, services, energy and business development. It is shared as a guide to developing and building a strong foundation for recurring, monthly retirement income.

With CD rates and bond rates at historic lows, it is essential to build such a portfolio to protect against the ever-present threat of inflation and the devastation it visits upon the buying power of fixed assets.

In an upcoming article, I will set up a sample portfolio that smoothes the monthly dividend payouts.

The article Retirement Mantra: Diversify with Dividend Growth and Reinvestment originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by George Schneider.

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