Seven Dividend Stocks I purchased for the long-term

In the past week, I acquired stakes in seven dividend growth companies. For three of the companies, I am adding to existing positions. For the rest of the companies, I initiated positions in companies which I believe will be around in 20 years, and stand a chance of earning more over time. The higher estimated level of earnings will hopefully lead to higher dividend payments to me as a shareholder. While the positions are small initially, I find it much better to monitor a company I am interested in by having some skin in the game. That way, if prices drop from here, I will be in a better position to take advantage of the situation, since I have done the prep work already and am monitoring the situation by being invested in the stock.

I am now increasingly favoring tax-deferred accounts, in an effort to minimize tax liabilities today, and enjoy uninterrupted tax-deferred growth of dividends and capital gains for the next 30 – 40 years. The 401 (k), Roth IRA and SEP IRA accounts are here to house the assets that will be generating my buffer dividend income. This is the income I don’t expect to ever need in retirement, but would have it just in case. I am also exploring ways to utilize a Health Savings Account, as another tool to cut down on taxes today, and have uninterrupted tax-deferred growth for decades on those funds. My only regret is that I didn’t max those out prior to 2012. If I had, I would have been much better off. Better late than never of course.

With those moves, my Roth IRA is maxed out for the year 2014. The companies I purchased there include:

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) explores and produces for crude oil and natural gas. This dividend champion has managed to increase dividends for 32 years in a row. In the past decade, the company has managed to increase annual dividends per share by 9.60%/year. Currently, the stock is attractively valued at 13.30 times forward earnings and an yield of 2.70%. Check my analysis of Exxon Mobil.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. This dividend achiever has managed to increase dividends for 19 years in a row. In the past decade, the company has managed to increase annual dividends per share by 19.40%/year. Currently, the stock is attractively valued at 10.50 times forward earnings and an yield of 2.40%. Check my analysis of IBM.

The Chubb Corporation (CB), through its subsidiaries, provides property and casualty insurance to businesses and individuals. This dividend champion has managed to increase dividends for 32 years in a row. In the past decade, the company has managed to increase annual dividends per share by 9.20%/year. Currently, the stock is attractively valued at 12.70 times forward earnings and an yield of 2.10%. Check my analysis of Chubb.

The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) operates as an energy infrastructure company. The company’s Williams Partners segment owns and operates natural gas pipeline system extending from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the offshore Gulf of Mexico through Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey to the New York City metropolitan area. The company has managed to boost dividends for 11 years in a row, and has a ten year dividend growth rate of 43.10%/year. I like the fact that the company owns the General Partner rights to Williams Partners, and has plans for further growth in dividend income through 2017. I have been monitoring the stock for 2 years, and just now initiated a position, which might not be at the best price of the moment. Of course, noone knows where prices will go next, which is why the best time to initiate a position is today. The yield is at 2.90%.

With the investment listed below, my SEP IRA is close to being maxed out for the year 2014 as well. I purchased the following investments there:

Baxter International Inc. (BAX) develops, manufactures, and markets products for people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney diseases, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. The company has managed to increase dividends for 8 years in a row. In the past decade, the company has managed to increase annual dividends per share by 12.40%/year. Currently, the stock is attractively valued at 14.70 times forward earnings and an yield of 2.80%. Check my analysis of Baxter.

Deere & Company (DE), together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes agriculture and turf, and construction and forestry equipment worldwide. The returns from this company are going to be lumpy from year to year, but the possibilities are high if world population increases, and more people in developing countries can afford to eat as much as those in the developed world. Deere is a dividend achiever, which has managed to increase dividends for 11 years in a row, and has a ten year dividend growth rate of 16.30%/year I believe the company will be around in 20 years, and given the low valuation today of 10.50 times forward earnings and yield of 2.60%, it offer a good opportunity for dividend growth and capital appreciation. Check my analysis of Deere.

Republic Services, Inc. (RSG), together with its subsidiaries, provides non-hazardous solid waste collection, transfer, and recycling and disposal services for commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential customers in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company is essentially part of an oligopoly, given the fact that waste storage locations need a lot of money, expertise to open and operate. I also like the recurring annuity like cash flow streams for the company. I believe that waste is going to increase over time in this country, and companies like Republic Services are going to benefit from this. I also like the fact that the company has managed to increase dividends for 11 years in a row, and had a five year dividend growth rate of 6.60%/year. The stock is close to being pricey at 19 times forward earnings and yields 2.80%. Check my analysis of Republic Services.

I consider myself incredibly lucky that I have been able to save money consistently, and put it to work towards my future. I have been very lucky that I kept adding money even throughout the 2008 – 2009 crash, and the subsequent recovery, when everyone was telling me that stocks are about to crash. Even if they do fall by 20%, 30%, 50% from here, as an investor in the accumulation stage, I am going to view this as an opportunity to get more stock for my buck. If you are building out your stock portfolio today, you should be praying for lower stock prices, which means better stock values and better dividend incomes. In addition, to paraphrase Charlie Munger, if you are not willing to sit through a 50% decline in stock prices, then you should not be in stocks.

What purchases have you recently been making to your dividend portfolios?

Full Disclosure: Long all companies listed above

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