Here is the dividend income report for September, 2019.
The monthly dividend income came out to $2112.65. The yearly income total for 2019 through the end of the month was $6485.69.
The income for September, 2018 was $506.44, and the yearly income for 2018 through the end of September was $3476.52.
The international stock dividend fund did not pay as much this quarter as last quarter.
The Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) did not pay this month. It paid a dividend on October 1. I know it’s a first-world problem, but I am thinking of replacing it with State Street’s Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU). XLU is State Street’s only utility ETF, and BlackRock’s iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU) has a much higher expense ratio. VPU has the most holdings. I think for the time being I will stick with it.
I am a bit surprised that State Street does not have a broader utility ETF in addition to XLU. XLU has the dividend stocks that are in the S&P500.
Fidelity has the Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF, FUTY. It has the lowest expense ratio, almost as many holdings as VPU, and a nice dividend. But as I stated, I think for now I will stay put. As Buffett has stated, returns decrease and trading increases. Or maybe it was Jack Bogle.
My brokerage money market account paid $6.03 in August, and $4.86 in September. Interest rates are low and getting lower. The only reason Dolt 45 wants lower interest rates is because he owes a LOT of money. I don’t think the economy really needs it. Granted, things are not great, but I don’t think the economy is slowing down yet. I don’t think the next recession will be as bad as the one we say in 2008-2011 (depending on what country we are talking about), but cutting rates at this stage is a bad idea. Rates are historically speaking low right now. In 2006, the federal funds rate (what the Fed says banks can charge each other) was 5.25%, and the discount rate (what the Fed charges banks) was 6.25%. Right now, those rates are 1.75% and 2.75%.
A lot of people think interest rates are too high right now. Perhaps things are a lot worse than they seem. Or perhaps the whole Rethuglican Party is abandoning its supposed rock-solid principles, and just following Dolt 45’s lead. When conservatives seem inconsistent, they are really not. They are lying (whether to themselves as well as others I do not know) about what they are consistent about. It’s not about freedom, or balanced budgets. It’s about being in charge and staying in charge.
Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each September from 2011 through 2019:
| Month | YTD | Amount | 3MMA | 12MMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-09 | $6485.69 | $2112.65 | $744.85 | $831.74 |
| 2018-09 | $3476.52 | $506.44 | $430.49 | $518.06 |
| 2017-09 | $4796.80 | $775.50 | $562.76 | $551.05 |
| 2016-09 | $4260.70 | $720.86 | $505.47 | $499.02 |
| 2015-09 | $3744.49 | $659.59 | $443.06 | $432.46 |
| 2014-09 | $2993.02 | $536.75 | $353.04 | $335.39 |
| 2013-09 | $2374.05 | $395.65 | $293.78 | $294.44 |
| 2012-09 | $2425.78 | $315.21 | $283.66 | $283.00 |
| 2011-09 | $2121.78 | $243.26 | $256.81 | $233.01 |
Here are the securities and the income amounts for September, 2019:
- Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $39.47
- Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $11.22
- RLI Corp: $23.25
- SPDR S&P Dividend ETF: $694.60
- SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF: $264.32
- SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (second account): $436.67
- SPDR S&P Global Dividend ETF: $630.07
- Brokerage Money Market: $4.86
- Brokerage Treasury Account: $8.19
Big Jim pays attention to details and remembers the big picture.
German painting from about 1518 in a museum in Austria. Image from Wikimedia, assumed allowed under Fair Use.
