For those readers who are new to the Dividend Ninja, this is a regular series on the Dividend Growth Index (DGI). Rather than a stock picking contest, the DGI is a collaborative effort among eight dividend investors choosing three stocks each, and following these companies over the long term. For those who are already following, this is the third quarterly update for the 9 month period, since the project was launched last September. If you’re unfamiliar with the DGI, then these two introductory posts as well as my quarterly updates, will give you an excellent background to the project: Introducing the Dividend Growth Index Stock Picks for the Dividend Growth Index The Dividend Growth Index – Q4 2011 The Dividend Growth Index – Q1 2012     Benchmarking: How Are We Doing? Since the Canadian and U.S. dollar spread is within 2% for the year, I’ve given the following returns in local currency. Since inception (9 months), the Dividend Growth Index has returned 18.09% ...

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Back in March I purchased shares of Husky Energy (HSE), and wrote a detailed post on my reasons for buying this diversified oil and gas producer. Husky has also been one of my stock picks for the Dividend Growth Index.  With its generous dividend yield of 4.9%, low payout ratio of 50%, and low debt levels, it’s no wonder investors are interested in the company. Since that post, I’ve received a few emails from readers who are confused how to DRIP their shares. The confusion arises once the trade for HSE settles, and investors phone their broker and ask to have their shares of Husky enrolled in the DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan). Husky (HSE) cannot be enrolled in the DRIP with the broker. So if you phone up your broker and say enrol me in the DRIP for Husky, they will tell you that Husky is not part of the DRIP program. Corporate Action Notice Each quarter on behalf of Husky, my broker TD Waterhouse mails out a Corporate Action Notice. This notice is called a Voluntary – Optional ...

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For those readers who are new to the Dividend Ninja, I wanted to introduce you to the Dividend Growth Index (DGI). For those who are already following, this is the second quarterly update (for the 6 month period) since we launched the project back in September 2011. A Quick Recap Here are my previous posts on the Dividend Growth Index, including a detailed introductory post and my three stock picks. If you are unfamiliar with the DGI, then these three posts will give you an excellent background: Introducing the Dividend Growth Index  Stock Picks for the Dividend Growth Index The Dividend Growth Index – Q4 2011 Back in September 2010, the Dividend Guy came up with the brilliant idea to setup a dividend index created by eight dividend investors, from the blogging community. The idea was that each of us would pick three stocks to contribute to the index. We would keep track of our companies and the index over the long term, and at the end of each quarter we would update readers ...

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courtesy of www.huskyenergy.com Today the bad news on markets caused the TSE to slip nearly 80 points in midday trading. Commodity prices sank on reports of slower growth in the euro zone and China, which fueled concerns over the demand for Canadian resources. This was exactly the good news I was waiting for, as my order for 100 shares of Husky Energy (HSE) was filled at $25.49 per share. As mentioned in my previous weekly lineup, I was waiting for a pull-back in the price of Husky, so today I was delighted to wakeup and see the TSE in the red. Husky Energy is a stock I’ve been watching and wanting to own since I started dividend investing, but never seemed to actually buy. It was one of my 2011 Stock Picks, I chose it for the Dividend Growth Index, and again recommended it in my 2012 Stock Picks. Now I’m an owner in this company, and plan to hold this one for the long term. I’ll be buying more of Husky on the dips, and gain a nice 4.60% dividend yield while I’m waiting. With a ...

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Being a guy, shopping isn’t exactly at the top of my priority list. But with a few thousand left from selling my index funds last week, shopping for dividend stocks was  just what I needed to get in the buying mood. In fact the last time I saw a grown group of men get excited over shopping, was last August when markets took a nose dive, and investors were backing up the truck on their favourite stocks on sale!  Unfortunately last week, stocks were certainly not on sale, with seven days of continuous gains. That was good news for my RRSP holdings, but not for the stocks I was eagerly awaiting to invest in. I’m not sure how the universal laws of money really work. All I do know is I had been watching these stocks for a few weeks, and then when I decided to make a move, it just happened to coincide with a nice market gain. Why do markets always rise when you want to buy stocks? Manulife Financial (MFC-T) was one stock on my watch list, and I felt at $12 it was a good value play, ...

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