As we near the home stretch of 2016 it seems like Mr. Market wants to give us some better buying opportunities compared to the recent months that have passed. Looking back at the summer doldrums, the market, so far in fall, has been ‘exciting.’ The increased volatility we have been witnessing in the health sector, finance sector and even a bit in the consumer staples sector has all been noteworthy and judging by all the recent buying posts I have been reading it looks like many of us are taking advantage of these near term dips in some otherwise solid dividend paying stocks. With a new month upon us it’s time, once again, for me to look at my portfolio holdings and watch lists and figure out where I’d like to deploy my fresh capital in November.
As I mentioned above, there’s no shortage of sectors nor individual stocks for us to choose from when considering where to invest this month. Looking ahead to November I’m having a relatively easy time figuring out where I would like to invest as many great names have gone on sale.
Let’s start with the obvious sector that’s getting hammered as of late, the health sector. Here, I am considering adding to my current positions of Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) and AbbVie Inc. (ABBV). While I realize both have their investment risks, I feel that at current levels they can make great long term additions to any dividend growth portfolio. With healthy double digit raises for both CAH and ABBV announced in 2016 and better prices and values and higher yields these days both names look like good candidates for November buys.
Moving over to the finance sector I am continuing to watch beaten down Wells Fargo & Company (WFC). It looks like this stock will experience more pain in the near and mid term but further down the road I think WFC will come out ahead. As long as that dividend payout ratio is well managed, which it is, and the potential for interest rate hikes in the next year, it becomes hard to ignore a 3%+ yielding dividend machine like WFC. Also, in the finance space I am considering adding to my small position of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW). Like many other financial names, TROW has been drifting lower the last couple of months and is now trading with an attractive current yield of 3.37% and moderate payout ratio too. These lower prices for TROW are making it look like a much better value than we saw as recent as August.
For “fun” I’m going to throw out a name that has been on my watch list for a long, long time but never initiated a position, Old Republic International Corporation (ORI). While not a dividend growth machine, this stock is one you hold for its current yield. As with other financial names, this stock has come down quite a bit in just the last few weeks and has a very well managed dividend distribution payout that ensures the dividend can continue to be paid.
Finally, I’m looking at two consumer oriented companies that have fallen out of favor in recent weeks, V.F. Corporation (VFC) and Unilever PLC (UL). VFC is a long time dividend raiser that has seen its stock price come down quite a bit in recent weeks. It boasts a large stable of well known consumer clothing brands that are more than likely in each of our homes. VFC has a five year average yield of 2.25% and today is yielding a healthy 3.10% which illustrates how far the stock has dropped. I have a feeling that as long as the stock yields 3% or more we’ll be seeing a lot of our fellow dividend investors buying into this name. Last, I’m looking at boosting my UL holding. This consumer staple has “quietly” dropped in price from about $49 a share in September to around $41 today. With lower prices comes better values and yields and UL is no exception. With a current yield north of 3% this is another solid stock I’ll be considering in November. I think the magic price of $40 or below will trigger a lot of buying activity in this name.
There you have it. My November stock considerations. As you already know, I usually end these “considerations” posts with the caveat that Mr. Market makes all the rules and names that are not mentioned above may suddenly become attractive to accumulate.
What are some of the stocks you are considering for your November purchases? Are any of the above names on your monthly watch list? Please let me know below.
Disclosure: Long CAH, ABBV, WFC, TROW, VFC, UL
Good list of names there, Keith. It was interesting to watch the healthcare sector take a beating … will be keeping an eye on how things progress there.
Thanks for sharing your watchlist
R2R
Roadmap2Retire recently posted…Outlook for November 2016
Hi R2R,
I think many of our fellow dividend investors are happier these days as we have quite a few choices of where to deploy our fresh capital compared to just a few months ago when everything seemed overpriced. As the health sector continues to take a beating it will be interesting to see which companies will offer us the best values and yields this month. I know many are waiting for JNJ to drop further but in the meantime, CAH, ABBV and the like will do just fine. As always, I appreciate your comment.
Ciao DH,
I actually bought 100 pieces of ORI in October (still have to report it), I think it’ a very good stock in a boring environment such as insurance… Elections are dampening the market a little and this is a good thing because “some” spaces are opening to start positions in interesting companies.
ciao ciao
Stal
Hi Stalflare,
I love boring stocks a lot. I guess it doesn’t get more boring than insurance. Currently I hold CB and AFL in the insurance space but was enticed by the current yield and dividend safety of ORI. It may not be a real dividend growth machine but it can offer a juicy current yield to boost income. Congrats on picking some up last month. As the price of ORI has come down a bit, it started to catch my eye. Whether or not I’ll buy remains to be seen. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
I had been riding my gold mining stocks for awhile but they took a huge plunge the last month. Not too worried about it though as I think they will go back up. Are you at all worried about a recession or the economy going down? I keep reading horror stories from all the future doomers out there.
Alexander @ Cash Flow Diaries recently posted…October 2016 Net Worth Update
Hi CFD,
Gold mining stocks have been quite volatile in 2016. Many climbed quite a bit only to drop back down. That’s the nature of investing in a commodity based asset. I think they’ll bounce back too. Gold and silver just bounced back quite a bit in the last couple days or so. Again, that’s the volatile nature of the sector. To answer your question, I am not worried at all about a recession or slowing economy. If you are a true long term investor you will inevitably hold stocks during boom and bust cycles. I went through 2008/09 with almost every stock you see in my current portfolio. I witnessed every holding go deep in the red but I did not panic nor sell one share. I simply stayed on course and continued to invest every month as I always have been doing and was able to average down quite a bit on a lot of my holdings. All you can do as an individual dividend investor is tune out the noise, stay diversified among your holdings and make sure the dividend remains covered. As long as that passive income continues to roll in I’ll be happy. Thank you for commenting.
Solid group of companies DH. I think BDX is another one in the healthcare space to consider. There’s a lot more values than the past few months have given although there’s still not much in the consumer staples space. I think that’s going to be a sector that you’ll just have to wait until a market calamity and really load up.
JC recently posted…Dividend Update Preview – October 2016 Infographic
Hi JC,
As we all know the consumer staples rarely go on sale. Like you said, we’ll need a serious calamity for prices, values and yields to make sense in that sector. Of course, UL is starting to look enticing as it nears the $40 mark. I wouldn’t mind adding to my current holding should it drop below $40. I like BDX a lot too. It’s been one of my top performers though not too exciting form a current yield perspective. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Have looked at ORI and was in my consideration but decided to go in a different direction the buy will be tomorrow
Doug recently posted…Oct Dividend
Hi Doug,
ORI has been on my watch list for a long, long time. It’s really a very steady performer and a great stock to hold for current yield. It’s not much of a dividend grower but that’s not the reason you’d want to invest in this name to begin with. I’ll be watching that stock closely this month and see if its price continues to weaken. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
DHut,
VFC all day for sure, in my Loyal3 account! I will be doing a little bit there this month for sure. Otherwise I have some free plays to use in my Capital One account before the end of the year, most of the free $ is headed that way for me.
Right now, looks like we have a lot good options to invest in, which is a nice change.
-Gremlin
Dividend Gremlin recently posted…October Review / November Preview, 2016
Hi DG,
What a difference a few months can make? I totally agree that these days we have quite a few great choices of where to invest for the long haul. This is the first month in a long time that I can remember where picking potential stock buys for the month was easy. VFC is still looking quite soft but I’d really like to see UL at $40 or below to make a good size buy. Thank you for commenting.
Great list DivHut. I like all of them. VFC and CAH both look good. I’d probably buy VFC first just because I’m getting heavy on health related stocks.
Investment Hunting recently posted…AbbVie Stock Buy – ABBV
Hi IH,
These are the dangerous times when certain stocks remain attractive for a while and we buy and buy into them throwing our allocations out of balance. Just two years ago everyone was buying into anything energy only to become overweight in that particular sector. Both CAH and VFC are still relatively small positions in my portfolio and I would still feel comfortable adding to those holdings. As always, I appreciate your thoughts.
I’ve been looking to pick up UL ever since I missed an opportunity in late June when it tanked over fears of Brexit. I already own PG and thought it would be good to pick up UL to round out my consumer staples. I think there’ll be some market volatility in the coming weeks that should provide some nice opportunities.
My Road to Wealth and Freedom recently posted…The Best Cash Rewards Credit Cards 2016
Hi MRtWaF,
From what I have seen in the past the magic price for UL seems to be $40. If we hit that mark or go lower I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of our fellow dividend bloggers buying into that name. Like you, I own PG as well and would rather wait to add to that stock as I think it’s still too expensive. UL on the other hand I’m liking a lot more as it’s getting closer to the $40 mark. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
All great companies. I am pretty much filled up on WFC. I am also looking to buy more CAH, ABBV, UL, and TROW. If they continue to remain at these levels I probably will buy all 4 companies again in the month of November. Thanks for the post!
Regards,
MrStockFox
MrStockFox recently posted…Weekly Purchases – 10/30/16
Hi MSF,
I like your thinking. I happen to feel the same way about buying pretty much all my considerations in November should they remain at these levels or lower. Just a few months ago it was a challenge finding a place to deploy our fresh capital and now it looks like we have quite a few solid choices. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Great picks. As mentioned I like ABBV, CAH and TROW the most. But VFC looks also very promising. Thanks for sharing!
DivRider recently posted…Goals updated
Hi DR,
There’s definitely no shortage of solid dividend payers going on sale these days. The question only becomes which stock(s) do I want to purchase in November. If this month resembles October in any fashion we’ll have quite a few buying opportunities. As always, I appreciate your comment.
Looks like a good list Keith, sounds like any of the health ones you’re considering would be good.
Tristan
Dividends Down Under recently posted…Dividend update: October 2016
Hi DDU,
This was the first time in a quite a few months where I had a clearer direction of where I’d like to deploy my fresh capital. In previous months it was a challenge trying to figure out which stocks presented the best values and yields. Thank you for commenting.
Actually ended up buying some UL (UNA actually), but for the same reasons you mentioned.
Hope it will be a successful month!
Hi TCF,
Thanks for sharing your recent pick up of UL. It’s not often we see a consumer staple looking attractive and UL has been drifting lower over the last few weeks. I’m waiting for a $40 or less entry point in November. As always, I appreciate your comment.
I actually picked up some more UL yesterday at 42.20 – it might go to $40 if the US$ strengthens after the Fed decision today or the election next week. TROW might be interesting now that consolidation in the asset management space has begun – though I suspect they would be an acquirer. With the pullback, CAH is looking good.
Hi Charlie,
I like all the names you mention and nice pick up of UL too. It will be interesting to see if UL continues to drift lower in the coming weeks as I would expect to see a lot of buying activity in the name if we hit $40 or below. As far as consumer staples, it’s really the only stock out there that I currently like. It seems like the markets will be on edge for another week or so which may give us some better buying opportunities in other names as well. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.