US Consumption in Real Time

Source: Couponbox.com

Is Kimberly-Clark Corp (KMB) a buy ?

Hmmm, as a shareholder of Kimberly Clark (NYSE : KMB), I guess this is a good bullish sign (?)

The Adult Diaper Market Is About to Take Off (Bloomberg)

Sales of adult incontinence garments in the U.S. could equal those of baby diapers in a decade.

Stock Buy - Chatham Lodging (50 shares, $66 dividend income)

Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT) is a real estate investment trust that owns a portfolio of upscale hotels with almost 6000 rooms. Some of their hotel brands include extended-stay types such as the Residence Inn by Marriott, Homewood Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, the Hampton Inn, the SpringHill Suites, the Hilton Garden Inn and the Hyatt Place. Additionally, the company owns interests in over 130 hotels totaling over 18,000 rooms/suites.

Hotel Portfolio by CLDT

Chatham is a small cap company under 1B with a low dividend payout ratio (~53%) and healthy profit margin so I'd expect the company to keep growing revenues and their dividend to be sustainable. The recent volatility in the hotel REIT sector is providing an attractive entry to this stock and I will put the almost 6% dividend to good use by reinvesting it to get more shares for a long time to come.

This purchase will add $66 dividend income to my dividend stock portfolio

Basic info:
Market CAP: 860m     EPS:$0.86   Dividend: $1.32 (5.95%)

Best-paid U.S. hedge fund managers take home $13 billion (reuters)

Best-paid U.S. hedge fund managers take home $13 billion (src: reuters)

Stock buy - GILD (12 shares, $20 dividend income)

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) is a biotechnology company that specializes in antiviral drugs for HIV, hepatitis B, influenza and pulmonary diseases.

I first bought 10 shares of Gilead in March 2016 but the price has pulled back off considerably. After a recent weak quarter result, Gilead's stock price is now at a level which I think is even more attractive. However for the next few months, the whole biotech sector will still be challenging because of election politics. I predict this weakness will blow over eventually and I'm willing to wait while earning almost 2% dividend.

This purchase will add $20 dividend income to my dividend stock portfolio

Basic info:
Market CAP: 119B     EPS:$11.69    Dividend: $1.72 (1.93%)

Prince - Purple Rain

Stock Purchase - WPG (100 shares, $100 div income)

WP Glimcher Inc., (NYSE: WPG) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio of 119 shopping centers, including enclosed regional malls, open-air lifestyle centers and community centers. The company specializes in the ownership, management and development of retail shopping centers throughout the U.S.

Some of their biggest anchors and tenants include Macy's, Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Sears, Target, The Bon-Ton Stores, Kohl's, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and TJX.

The current retail sector is facing a glut of mall space nationwide (aka dead mall) and vacancy rate is a real issue. Online shopping has effectively replaced most of our past shopping in a physical store. J.C. Penny is in a multi-year business downtrend and conditions are not improving. Sears is liquidating and downsizing themselves just to survive. Therefore WP Glimcher is facing major challenges ahead and their stock price and revenues has reflected tremendous downward pressures these past few years. With dividend yield approaching 10%, this is definitely an investment with risks of default if the company fails to turn things around and navigate through the tough times ahead. I'm betting they will not just survive but slowly thrive and grow in the years to come. I'm crossing my fingers :))

This purchase will add $100/yr to the dividend income portfolio

Basic info: 

Market CAP: 1.98B        EPS: -$0.55     Dividend: $1.00 (9.62%)

Are you drinking too much ?

Stock Purchase - Pfizer (40 shares, $48 div income)

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in discovering, developing and manufacturing of healthcare products. Some well known products/brands from Pfizer include Atorvastatin (trade name Lipitor), Advil (ibuprofen) for pain and fever, Centrum (a multi-vitamin), ChapStick (a lip balm), Dimetapp for the common cold, Preparation H (a hemorrhoid cream), Robitussin (coughs and colds) and many others.

Illnesses and diseases are part of human lives worldwide and Pfizer has been in the business of treating and providing healthcare solutions for many decades. With dividend yield approaching 4%, I decided to add this income stock to my portfolio.

This purchase will add $48/yr to the dividend income portfolio

Basic info:

Market CAP: 186B   EPS: $1.11  Dividend: $1.20 (3.99%)

Stock Purchase - Diageo (12 shares, $31 div income)

Diageo plc (Diageo) (NYSE: DEO) is a global provider of beverage alcohol of various brands in spirits, beer and wine in over 30 countries. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray, Guinness, Crown Royal, Yeni Raki, JeB, Buchanan's, Bundaberg, Ypioca, Cacique, Windsor, Bell's, JeB, Grand Old Parr, Shui Jing Fang, Ciroc and Bulleit Bourbon, among others.

I seldom drink but I am very familiar with some of Diageo products => my now almost 90 yr father is a lifelong Guinness fan ! :) Alcohol is one class of consumer product that is unique and its demand is inelastic in a sense that it is a very branded centric business. I like the slow steady dividends this business generates and I'm a buyer at these levels and lower.

This purchase will add $31/yr to the dividend income portfolio

Basic info:

Market CAP: 67B   EPS: $5.55  Dividend: $2.60 (2.4%)