A word on Debt

As long term investors, security and income are paramount to success. A growing income stream is very welcome as long as the underlying companies paying out the dividends remain healthy. Given the current financial crisis, a companie's debt load becomes a more important factor to consider going forward. As capital becomes more difficult to obatin, companies with large debt loads in many cases will have problems financing day to day operations.  As investors, conservation of capital becomes more and more important moving forward. In the past, a company with a strong franchise but a high debt load may have been considered for inclusion in our list. This will change now until capital markets stabilize. 

This should also serve as a reminder to all that over the long run, strong balance sheets with little debt, strong business franchises, and comitted management will ultimately pay of in higher returns down the road, or as today's markets show us, preservationof capital duringthe rough times.

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What Now ?

As the financial news worsens from day to day, I have been receiving inquiries ranging from "what should we do now" to "the sky is falling".

It is very interesting that investors panicked to buy when prices fall and ecstatic to buy when prices are high. As long term players looking to cash in on growing dividend income, we get paid to wait with our current holdings, and those of us with excess cash can search the markets for opportunities for buying in at very attractive prices.

Keep watching for new opportunities at The Dividend Post.

Locating Dividend Data is Easy

My favorite online spot to locate the dividend payment history of any particular issue is located on Yahoo. Just go to Yahoo.com and locate the finance link. Enter the ticker symbol and request a quote. On the left size of the page a many links where financial data is listed.

Visit the JNJ quote page as an example: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=jnj

Top left locate the link called "Historical Prices" - For JNJ this link is located http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=JNJ

Top Right: Click on the button that indicates "Dividends Only" and GET PRICES.

This is a great tool to scan quarterly payments over long periods pf time. Consistency and constant increases are what I look for.

Locate research online at www.dividendpost.com

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Sysco Foods - More Good News

 Sysco has sent out some great news to shareholders today announcing a new stock buyback. We will take dividends in any form they come as long as they are not diluting our position. Sysco has the cash to return value to shareholder.

SYY analysis is online at The Dividend Post

Updates: Septtember 21, 2008:
HOUSTON, Sep 22, 2008 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- SYSCO Corporation (NYSE:SYY), the world's largest foodservice marketer and distributor, announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a 20-million-share repurchase program.
The approved program is SYSCO's fifteenth share repurchase program since fiscal 1992. SYSCO's previously approved 20-million-share repurchase program from July 2007 has approximately 3.0 million shares remaining. These remaining shares will be repurchased prior to the initiation of the new program. Under the new repurchase program, shares will be acquired in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at the Company's discretion, subject to market conditions and other factors, and in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Company may use 10b5-1 plans from time to time in connection with its repurchases.
"Our share repurchase program is one important part, in addition to investing in our business and returning cash to shareholders through dividend payments, of utilizing cash flow from operations," said Bill DeLaney, SYSCO's executive vice president and chief financial officer. "For the last 16 years, we have returned a total of approximately $9.4 billion to shareholders, consisting of approximately $5.8 billion in share repurchases and approximately $3.6 billion in dividend payouts."
SYSCO is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 180 distribution facilities serving more than 400,000 customers. For the fiscal year 2008 that ended June 28, 2008, the company generated more than $37 billion in sales. For more information about SYSCO visit the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com.

3M Company - Now at www.dividendpost.com

3M Company holds great promise for readers looking for a great brand, strong financials, as well as a great longterm history. Visit my analysis online at www.dividendpost.com. 

Look for the data HERE