The Dirty Dozen: SitRep 08-17-2014 "Heading To Full Strength"

I should have made this post on Friday, August 8, when all of my stocks ended up for the day for the first time in months. Unfortunately, these modest upticks didn't come close to making up for the the YTD declines my stocks were experiencing.  Both Mattel and B&G Foods laid eggs for the second time in as many quarters, while Kraft and Nutrisystem had sizable dips, from which they eventually recovered.

On the activity side, Paychex had grown to the point where it could no longer provide a full share every quarter in reinvested dividends (my growth strategy), so I sold my stake to purchase shares in Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) and AT&T (T). The combination of stocks actually put me ahead of my dividend earnings pace with Paychex.

Recently, Darden Restaurants had sold its Red Lobster business, much to the dismay of an activist investor group, and the stock started to tumble. I sold my stake at a loss in the middle of he decline. The stock has since returned to a level above where I sold it. I exchanged those shares for ones in PetMed Express (PETS) and increased my holdings in Nutrisystem to outpace the dividends from Darden. 

On Friday, I received my first dividend payout from PetMed, which turned into more than four reinvested shares.  Here is how my portfolio looks today:

First Month of Quarter Payers
B&G Foods (BGS)
Profit/Loss Per Share:                +$3.94
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  6.00

• Increased dividend to $.34 per share starting in April

Kraft (KRFT)
Profit/Loss Per Share:                +$0.52
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  4.75

Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profit/Loss Per Share:               +$4.86
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  5.50

Crown Crafts (CRWS)
Profit/Loss Per Share:               -$0.08
Annual Reinvested Share Pace:  7.00


Second Month of Quarter Payers
PetMed Express (PETS)
Profit/Loss Per Share:                +$0.37
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  19.50

NutriSystem (NTRI)
Profit/Loss Per Share:                +$3.81
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  10.00

AT&T (T)
Profit/Loss Per Share:                -$0.55
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  5.00


Third Month of Quarter Payers
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF)
Profit/Loss Per Share:                +$0.99
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  4.50

Mattel (MAT)
Profit/Loss Per Share:                +$8.85
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  6.00

Waste Management (WM)
Profit/Loss Per Share:                +$12.81
Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:  4.00

365 in 365 in 2014: Images 090 through 096

Has anyone else noticed how ugly the months of March and April are?  I don't mean any offense in case anyone has birthdays or anniversaries in those months; but let's face it, there's not a lot of pleasantness to see. If you're lucky enough to be in an area where Spring actually springs, you're still witness to Winter's death throes - gray weather, bare trees, and the crystallized grime of melting snow. However, the Earth still turns and orbits the sun, so you know you're in the home stretch to Memorial Day, when just about everywhere in the northern hemisphere is blissfully warm and bright.  Except maybe Canada.

Now that I've set the tone, here are seven more pictures from earlier this year.

No. 090:  03-31-2014

A remarkably sylvan scene near downtown Minneapolis

No. 091:  04-01-2014

I don't know what this guy's April Fool's Day prank was (far left),
but the police were NOT amused!

No. 092:  04-02-2014

One of several small statuary on the riverside paths in Minneapolis.

No. 093:  04-03-2014

Another day, another snow storm.

No. 094:  04-04-2014

Another four to five inches to shovel.

No. 095:  04-05-2014

Interesting view of the drop in water level at one of the many
locks and dams along the river.

No. 096:  04-06-2014

The North Star Woolen Mill that was in operation until
1949, but has been made into condo lofts.