February Update: Breaking Records, New Purchases & More

Another month has come and gone – which means time for the monthly update post!

Personal Highlights for February:

• Finished reading “Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely.  Was a pretty interesting read – and reminded me of one of my favourite books “Thinking fast & slow”.  Currently looking for book recommendations on what to start next.  In the mean time I am flipping through “Warren Buffet & the Interpretation of Financial Statements” which I had read a long time ago.
• I was able to write 5 new blog posts in February.
• I reserved my Winnipeg Jet Playoff tickets.  These tickets will end up costing me between $300-$3500 depending how far they go which makes me both happy and frustrated at the same time..hah
• Started watching “Peaky Blinders” on Netflix.  So far so I like it.
• Found a home day care for BOTH kids – which will be able to take them by May 1st so Amber can go back to work once her maternity leave ends….and the best part – it’s 5 minutes from my house!
• Last month I had over 1000 visitors to the blog (which was a new record).  This month I smashed that record:

• I had over 1300 visitors this month!  Thanks for stopping by and reading/leaving comments.

Financial Highlights for February:

• February was the first full month since I transferred all my RBC Mutual funds into my Direct Investing account.
• I updated my portfolio page to make my holdings a little easier to read.
• Started preparing my taxes.
• Continued bi weekly payments into RRSPs & Spousal RSP.
• Made $1250 from selling some memorabilia that was just sitting in my closet.  You can read more about that here
• Made 2 new stock purchases in my TFSA.  Added to my position in Algonquin Power & opened a position in Interrent REIT.  You can read about my most recent purchase HERE
• My overall portfolio value went down for the first time in 6 months due to the volatility in the market, however as things leveled out it finished the month down just -1.07%.

 

Passive Income Update For February 2018.

TFSA’S:

Diversified Royalty: $9.10 (Dripped 2 new shares)

Artis Reit: $50.13! First time breaking $50 (Dripped 3 shares)

Plaza Reit: $25.75 (Dripped 6 shares)

Chorus Aviation: $10.84 (Dripped 1 share)

TFSA’s Total: $95.82  

RRSP:

Canadian Equity Income Distribution: $242.88

Total Passive Income January 2018:  $338.70 

 

Portfolio Update:

My portfolio decreased by 1.07% month over month.  This is first time my portfolio has decreased in 6 months. The early retirement portfolio now sits at $303,31.11.

Dividends grew by $48.67 vs last February(year over year growth of 16%).

Although February wasn’t a great month for dividend income, I expect to see huge improvements vs last year( mostly due to my funds being switched to direct investing).

Current Watch List:

Andrew Peller: ADW

Cascades: CAS

InterRent Reit: IIP

Northview Apartment Reit: NVU

Caledonia Mining: CAL

My Watchlist hasn’t changed from last month, but I did initiate a position in InterRent Reit.

 

That’s it!  Hope everyone else had a great February – and if you have any book recommendations let me know!!

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First monthly update of 2018 & 5 stocks I’m keeping an eye on.

Sweet Jebus…the first month of 2018 is already over & although it went by too fast – I am happy with what was accomplished!

Personal Highlights for January:

• One of my goals for the year was to take the wife out to dinner at least 5 times, and I am happy to say we were able to get a baby sitter and went to a nice steakhouse earlier this month!
• I was able to find the time to write 6 new blog posts as well as play with the theme/look of the site.  This will continue to be a work in progress.
• Added a new section to the website called “My Bar” which although is(slightly off topic) a lot  of fun for me to write about & even more fun making and trying new drinks.
• Started (finally) watching Last Man On Earth on Netflix and it is GREAT!
• Had over 1000 visitors to the website in a month for the first time.

 

Financial Highlights for January:

I am happy to report that I have already followed through with one of my financial goals for the year – and one that I have wanted to do for some time.

• Sold my high cost RBC mutual funds and moved them to my direct investing RSP.  Replaced with a lower cost Canadian equity fund & super low cost Global fund. As detailed in this post
• Started gathering all my statements for tax time 🙂
• Continued bi weekly payments into RRSPs & Spousal RSP.
• Increased Spousal RSP amount by $100 bi weekly to try and get our accounts closer in size.
• Set up an RESP for my kids
• Got out of the Penny stock/speculation game completely(for good) and made 2 new stock purchases.  You can read more about that HERE.

 

Passive Income Update For January 2018.

TFSA’S:

Diversified Royalty: $9.07 (Dripped 2 new shares)

Canadian Western Bank: $0.24

Artis Reit: $49.86 (Dripped 3 shares)

Plaza Reit: $24.75 (Dripped 5 shares)

Algonquin Power: $110.35 (Dripped 8 shares)

Chorus Aviation: $10.80 (Dripped 1 share)

TFSA’s Total: $205.07

RRSP:

Canadian Equity Income Distribution: $213.99

Total Passive Income January 2018:  $419.06

*The transfer of funds from mutual fund to ETF/Direct investing hasn’t happened as of writing this – even though papers have been signed – so next month will represent the new funds.

Portfolio Update:

My portfolio grew by 1.67% month over month and once again hit an all time!  The early retirement portfolio now sits at $306,396.65.  Dividends grew by $14.95 vs last January (year over year growth of 3.69%).  I expect my dividend growth rate to increase quite a bit more this year once my funds are transferred from my Mutual Funds and into my direct investing account/redeployed.  I am also planning on trying to contribute more into my TFSA this year which should help increase dividends for the year.

I’ve decided to add a new section to the monthly updates, which will be my top 5 stocks I am looking to buy in the future/keeping an eye on:

Current Watch List:

Andrew Peller: ADW

Cascades: CAS

InterRent Reit: IIP

Northview Apartment Reit: NVU

Caledonia Mining: CAL

 

How was your month?

3 Stocks: My Biggest Mistake, My Highest Return(so far) & My Top Pick!

Summer is upon us, and since I’ve been trying to focus on paying down my line of credit & getting my house ready to sell unfortunately my portfolio hasn’t seen too much action.  I thought now would be a good time to do a quick fun post in relation to:

1. My Worst Ever Stock Pick
2. My Best Performing Stock Pick (to date)
3. What I’d buy right now if I had some extra cash aka my “Top Pick”

 

My Worst Ever Stock Pick: TallGrass Energy

My worst stock pick – also happened to be my FIRST stock pick.  I was young and impressionable (also known as an idiot).  I took the advice of an older friend who had a “hot tip”.  At the time I think deep down I knew it was a bad idea but pulled the trigger anyway after doing about 2 minutes of “research” on the company.  I made my first trade that day and spent $1000 on 2600 shares.  Looking back this had all the warning signs:

• A “hot tip” from a guy with no track record
• A penny Stock
• A company I had never heard of
• Purchase made with zero due diligence done

The company is now bankrupt and my shares are worth nothing.  It was an expensive lesson – but a lesson learned nonetheless.  I keep the 2600 shares in my brokerage account as a reminder to always do my own research and to never listen to any “hot tips”.

My Best Performing Stock(so far): Organigram Holdings

Organigram(OGI) is an East Coast based supplier of medical marijuana.  This company has had some ups and downs this year: losing their organic certification due to pesticides found,(currently in process of getting certification back),  potential class action lawsuit, partnering with the Trailer Park Boys, etc.  This has caused the stock to be extremely volatile (which I expect  to continue until full legalization).

I took my first position in OGI at $0.44.  Today it is trading at $2.22.  (It has traded as high as $4.49) I fully expect it to continue to dip and rally over the next few months.  I bought this stock for the long haul – and I intend to keep it – but it is not for the faint of heart. The stock consistently gains or loses 10-15% of its value in a single trading day.

Although OGI is my best gaining stock (so far) it’s not my favorite stock I own.  Don’t get me wrong – I will continue to hold, and expect more growth – but there are a few others I like a bit better. Over the past 6 months I’ve continued to buy on some of the dips but don’t plan to increase my position as I am happy with the % allocated in my portfolio.

 

My Top Pick: Caledonia Mining

Caledonia is a Mining, Exploration and Development company focused on Southern Africa.  They are one of the lowest cost producers in the world and as long as you can stomach the fact that they operate in Zimbabwe, and that volume is fairly thinly traded* all their operating metrics look great:

*Currently in plans to trade on the NYSE which should increase volume*

• The company pays a healthy dividend which it increased in July 2016
• EPS: 0.26
• P/E Ratio: 6.6
• 18% increase in gold production year over year
• -9% decrease in cost per ounce to produce
• +98% increased Net Profit year over year

Caledonia has paid consistent dividends since 2014 and is covered 2.9 times by earnings & 7.7 times by operating cash flow.  They are on track to produce 80,000 ounces by 2021(to put that growth into perspective they produced 50,351 in 2016).

I plan to update my “top pick” at least once a year – as well as look back on them and see how they performed.

Do you have any Worst, Best Or Top Picks? If so – I’d love to hear about them.