Weekly Purchase - DE

7 shares DE, 2.70% yield, $16.80 annual income
1 share GE, 3.35% yield, $.88 (FRIP purchase)

More Deere this week.

Weekly purchases are winding down for me. Two more then I revert back to bigger buys.  I'm still not convinced frequent small purchases is really better than large purchases.  But I will say it's fun!  The biggest advantage is psychological.  It's far easier to commit a few hundred bucks at a time than a few thousand.  There is some value in that, especially for new investors or those prone to hold too much cash.

Dividend Increases
ConocoPhillips (COP) raised quarterly dividends from $.69 to $.73 which equals a 5.8% raise.  5.8% is higher than inflation, not bad!  In the past COP announced dividend raises at irregular intervals so I'm quite pleased the company seems to have started a pattern of raises each July.  Irregular intervals cause me to worry.  I much prefer regular schedules I can count on.  This increase puts an extra $12.48 in my pocket over the course of a year which is just as good as many of these weekly purchases I've been doing.

Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI) announced quarterly dividends will be raised from $.50 to $.51.  This is the third OHI increase this year for a total of 6.3%.  6.3% easily beats inflation, so yeah I'm quite pleased!  OHI is a beast of a REIT growing FFO and FAD rapidly.  Glad I got in on this one.  I can now expect to rake in an extra $4.28 per year based on the new payment.

LO and RAI to Merge
Today we were informed Reynolds American plans to gobble up Lorillard for $50.50 cash and .2909 shares RAI stock.  Regulators still have to pass the merger, but I really don't care either way.

I'd have no problem taking the RAI stock and using the cash to buy more.  Reynolds is a fine tobacco company in its own right.  Quite a few investors seem to be spooked by a potential menthol ban.  I personally don't think it will happen (blatantly unAmerican to which I take offense, plus you need an iron stomach to hold tobacco stocks anyways), but if it was to occur RAI is better positioned than LO.  RAI doesn't rely as heavily on menthol cigarettes. It also sells dip and snus with awesome brands such as Camel, Kodiak, and Grizzly.  I wouldn't mind owning a piece of those businesses.  Not at all!

RAI = suitable replacement for LO.  Better diversity, higher current dividend yield, less reliance on menthol.  At the cost of lower dividend growth.  Overall I don't mind.

Or regulators kill the deal and I can continue owning LO with its higher dividend growth.  Not a problem.

If the deal does go through, Blu e cigs will sold.  Reynold's already owns Vuse (I didn't know that till today) which seems to be more popular than Blu anyways.  Not sure if Vuse is marketed nationally yet, but I see it all the time in Colorado.  More so than Blu, though my experience is anecdotal.  Also Maverick, Kool, and Winston get the axe.  Basically they keep only the best brands in Newport, Camel, Pall Mall, Kodiak, Grizzly, and Vuse.  Makes sense.

RAI or LO.  Rising dividends will continue hitting my account either way.  We'll see what happens.