TARP is bad for dividend investors

TARP allows the United States Department of the Treasury to purchase nonliquid, difficult to value assets from banks and other financial institutions. TARP also allow the Treasury to purchase whole loans and make direct equity investments in banks themselves. The targeted assets are securities backed by mortgages, sometimes described by the government, media, and others as “troubled” or “toxic” assets.
As of November 12, 2008, $290 billion of the first $350 billion allotment funding TARP has been allocated, primarily to the Capital Purchase Program: $250 billion for bank equity infusions, and $40 billion for an equity infusion into insurer American International Group.[
The eight financial companies that were the first to have received TARP funds include:

Bank of America (BAC) (analysis)
Bank of New York Mellon Corp
Citigroup (C )
Goldman Sachs (GS)
JPMorgan Chase (JPM)
Morgan Stanley (MS)
State Street (STT)
Wells Fargo (WFC)

There were 44 other institutions that received TARP money, including USB, CMA, Northern Trust, Suntrust Banks, KeyCorp, RF, BB&T and others. Check out my analysis of USBank or my analysis of BB&T.

There is some talk that a TARP funding to banks essentially marks the end of their dividends.

"Restrictions on Dividends:
For as long as any Senior Preferred is outstanding, no dividends may be declared or paid on junior preferred shares, preferred shares ranking pari passu with the Senior Preferred, or common shares (other than in the case of pari passu preferred shares, dividends on a pro rata basis with the Senior Preferred), nor may the QFI repurchase or redeem any junior preferred shares, preferred shares ranking pari passu with the Senior
Preferred or common shares, unless (i) in the case of cumulative Senior Preferred all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods on the Senior Preferred are fully paid or (ii) in the case of non-cumulative Senior Preferred the full dividend for the latest completed dividend period has been declared and paid in full.

Common dividends: The UST’s consent shall be required for any increase in common
dividends per share until the third anniversary of the date of this investment unless prior to such third anniversary the Senior Preferred is redeemed in whole or the UST has transferred all of the Senior Preferred to third parties." Source TARP Capital Purchase Program

What really showed me that TARP program is serious, is a recent statement from State Street last week, which announced that it wasn’t going to raise its dividends in compliance with the restrictions on dividend rate increases generally imposed on all participants in the U.S. Treasury's TARP Capital Purchase Program.

Before that State Street (STT) was the only dividend aristocrat which had consistently increased its dividends twice per year for almost 27 years in a row.

Traditionally, financial shares were one of the best yielding stocks in the marketplace. It seems that TARP essentially is bad news for any dividend investors, as it could result in further decreases to already lowered payments. The lesson to be learned for individual investors is to diversify across sectors, no matter how great the yields look.

Disclaimer:

Long STT

Relevant Articles:

- My Dividend Growth Plan - Diversification
- My Dividend Growth Plan - Money Management
- Why do I like Dividend Aristocrats?
- Bank of America (BAC) Dividend Analysis
- BB&T Corporation (BBT) Stock Dividend Analysis

Best High Yield Dividend Stocks for 2009

There is a stock picking competition between several US and Canadian bloggers to pick the best four stocks for 2009, which I was invited to participate in. The rules do not allow trading or selling of these picks, and requires a quarterly review of how the stocks selected have performed.

The stocks that I selected are representative of four high-yield sectors, where dividend investors typically shop for current income. Furthermore despite their high current yields, the dividend payments for the four stocks below seem sustainable.

Realty Income (O) a commercial retail real estate company yielding 7.30% . Realty Income is a dividend achiever which pays dividends monthly to its shareholders. If the credit market remains frozen in 2009 Realty Income could suffer if its vacancies increase or it can’t find more funds to keep expanding. If the financial situation normalizes however, real estate stocks in general will benefit from low interest rates.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) is a pipeline transportation and energy storage company in North America yielding 9%. This master limited partnership is a member of the dividend achievers index. The low energy prices could stimulate demand in 2009, which could positively affect pipeline businesses like Kinder Morgan.

Consolidated Edison (ED) provides electric, gas, and steam utility services in the United States yielding 6.10%. Even during tough economic conditions people keep paying their electric bill and keep heating their homes. Con Edison is a member of the dividend aristocrats index.

Phillip Morris International (PM) is an international tobacco company yielding 5.10%. The international tobacco market is a growth story, and unlike the US market is not facing as many issues in the short term as Altria (MO). Even during a recession, people continue smoking, as this product is very difficult to stop using.

With an average yield of 6.9% and the possibility for long-term dividend growth, these stocks should weather well any market conditions in 2009. In order to generate dividend income for the long run however, a more diversified portfolio consisting of at least 30 stocks should be constructed in order to withstand market forces. Check out the Best Dividend Stock for the Long Run list, which is a good addition to today's post.

Disclaimer: At the time of this writing I owned shares of O, KMR, PM and ED.

Trade stocks for free through Zecco.com, the Free Trading Community. www.zecco.com

The other bloggers participating in the contest include:

Where Does My money Go

Four Pillars

ZachStocks

The Wild Investor

The Financial Blogger

Intelligent Speculator

My Trader's Journal

Million Dollar Journey

Relevant Articles:

- Trade stocks for free through Zecco.com, the Free Trading Community. www.zecco.com
- Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) Dividend Analysis
- Consolidated Edison (ED) Dividend Analysis
- Realty Income (O) Dividend Analisys
- My Dividend Growth Plan - Diversification
- Best Dividends Stocks for the Long Run

Dominion Resoures and Realty Income Increasing their payouts

Dominion (D), which provides electricity, natural gas, and related services to customers , announced that its Board has approved an 11% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.46 to $0.47 per common share. Dominion Corporation has consistently increased its dividends since 2005. The stock currently yields 4.50%.

Realty Income (O), the monthly dividend real estate company dedicated to providing shareholders with dependable income, announced that its Board has approved an increase in its monthly dividend from $0.141125 to $0.14175 per common share. Realty Income is a dividend achiever which has increased its dividends several times per year since 1994. The stock currently yields 6.90%. You could check my analysis of the stock from this link. To date the Company has declared 462 consecutive common stock monthly dividends throughout its 39-year operating history and increased the dividend 52 times since Realty Income's listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994.

Full Disclosure: Long Realty Income (O)

Relevant Articles:

- Realty Income (O) Dividend Analisys
- Why do I like Dividend Achievers
- My Dividend Growth Plan - Diversification
- National Retail Properties (NNN) Dividend Stock Analysis.

Dividend Aristocrats in danger

There were several dividend aristocrats that recently announced no increase in their payments to shareholders.

Pfizer (PFE), which is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world, announced no increase in its annual dividends for the first time in 41 years. In the past decade, the company was used to increasing its dividend payments to shareholders every December. It comes as no surprise to me that PFE is not raising its dividends. The company needs to increase its drug pipeline either through research or acquisitions as most of its drugs will be facing serious generic competition after they go off patent in 2011. Furthermore, the rising payout and stagnating earnings show danger to the dividend growth investor. In order to maintain its dividend aristocrat status, Pfizer has to increase its dividends by November 2009.

Another stock that announced no increase in its dividends was State Street (STT), which received 5 billion from the Treasury several months ago. The company broke a 27 year streak of two dividend increases per year. In order to maintain its dividend aristocrat status, State Street has to increase its dividends by the end of 2010. As a holder of STT, I am planning to be a seller at $51, which is my breakeven price as I fear that TARP might limit dividend payments for financial companies which received funds from the Treasury.

Progressive (PGR), which is a dividend aristocrat as well, announced that it won’t be paying a dividend in 2008, which terminates its status of a consistent dividend performer.

As a dividend growth investor an unchanged dividend is not necessarily bearish news. Most companies don’t raise their dividends every year, but still could achieve a decent dividend growth rate. If I could exit the position at least at breakeven however, I would most probably invest in companies which could support an increasing dividend payments even during cyclical downturns.

Relevant Articles:

- Why do I like Dividend Aristocrats?
- State Street Corporation (STT) Dividend Stock Analysis.

Dividend Stocks in the news

Last week saw even more notable dividend increases as companies from many sectors showed confidence not only in their ability to generate increasing profits, but also to share the wealth with their owners.

BB&T Corporation (BBT), which is a financial holding company, announced that its Board has approved a 2.20% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.46 to $0.47 per common share. BB&T Corporation is a dividend aristocrat which has consistently increased its dividends for 38 consecutive years. The stock currently yields 6.30%. Check out my analysis of BBT from this link.

Eli Lilly (LLY), which engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of pharmaceutical products, announced that its Board has approved a 4.3% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.47 to $0.49 per common share. Eli Lilly is a dividend aristocrat which has consistently increased for 42 consecutive years.. The stock currently yields 5.30%.

Waste Management, Inc. (WMI), which provides integrated waste services in the United States and internationally, announced that its Board has approved a 7.40% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.27 to $0.29 per common share. Waste Management, Inc. has consistently increased its dividends since 2004. The stock currently yields 3.40%.

Boeing (BA), which engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and support of commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight, and launch systems and services worldwide, announced that its Board has approved a 5% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.40 to $0.42 per common share. Boeinghas consistently increased its dividends since 2004. The stock currently yields 4.10%.

None of the stocks that raised their dividends fit my entry criteria at this time. I would add LLY and BBT to my screen in case their payouts become more reasonable.

Relevant Articles:

- Why do I like Dividend Aristocrats?
- BB&T Corporation (BBT) Stock Dividend Analysis
- Why should companies pay out dividends?
- Is GE’s dividend safe?