Dividends

We all know that the mood of the typical investor can swing violently between extreme bullishness and despair. When one has magically (typically by accident rather than by deliberate choice) hit on a investment that return mutiple times on the original vested sum over a short period of time (eg buying OSIM when the price is low), there is a tendency to be carried away with how easy money can be made. Vice-versa, we often turn into despair when we see our invested counters plunging in value day after day. One of the way to smoothen over such period is really to devote a substantial  portion of your investment into good quality stocks that give  a decent dividend regularly. From example,

Berkshire Hathaway pays no dividend. However, yield-bearing companies still represent a major chunk of Buffett's portfolio. Aside from being leaders in their respective fields, Buffett positions including Coca-Cola, Proctor & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson are also notable dividend payers.
As we saw last year, distributions have become essential to navigating today's volatile economic climate. The constant reminders of economic turmoil facing both the U.S. and abroad can lead to unexpected shake ups and gut wrenching dips.

Consistent dividends can help alleviate some of this volatility, providing conservative investors with some comfort and confidence.

Having a large number of quality companies sharing the fruits of the success regularly with their investors also lead to a healthier and functional market, In China, despite the booming economy, the market is still at its doldrums because very few (less than 5%) of the companies pay any dividends at all. There is really no point in investing in such companies because whatever fruits of the success of these companies will eventually be swindled away or gambled on some foolish business expansions, if management consciously overlook investor interest over a long period of time.

My dividends for Jan 2011
Suntec Reit
Singtel

Wilmar

I invested 2 lots into Wilmar at $5.70 today. Probably my last investment this year.

I always wanted to build a portfolio around a few good commodities companies. I already had banking, Telcos, Transport, Reits, Infrastructure Trust, Property and Media of varying sizes.

Unfortunately, the entry price was high for companies like Wilmar, Olam, Noble, IndoFood and others throughout this year.

Took opportunity of the "bad" news surrounding Wilmar today to take a small position. I typically monitor companies that I would like to be invested and take position when there are "bad" news that cause a sudden price drop to make a entry. This is one of my ways to minimise going in at a higher than warranted price. I missed the opportunity to invested earlier when there some a tax fraud rumour against Wilmar previously as I had not clue how bad that can be.

Taking a small position in a company forces me to monitor the company performance closely to see if I can continue to build up my position.

Some Personal Reflections on 2010

The year is drawing to a close. My portfolio remain largely the same as in the beginning of 2010 with some additions. Most of the additions are done beginning of the year. I divested Cosco, NOL and MIIF with some small capital gains. I did a rough calculation and my average passive income is running around $5K/month.

My near misses for the year are GMG, Genting and Thomson Medical where I have seriously look at them but hesitated for too long before the counters took off.

Two of my substantial holding (DBS and Capitaland) have been laggards this year but I am not thinking of divesting.

I expect or have received dividends for the following this month:-

StarHub
CitySpring
SP Ausnet
SPH

Suntec Reit

The shareholders have already approved the motion to purchase 1/3 the interests of MBFC. Funding will be through a mix of debt and equity. But existing shareholder will be bypassed as a private placement will be made.
I sincerely hope the management will take existing shareholder's interests to heart and not succumb to too large a premium on the private placement just for the sake of executing this deal.

I also expect DPU for Suntec Reit to decrease next year due to rental reversions. The MBFC deal, if it go through, will not accrue too much benefit in 2011, at least.

 I am also concern that gearing will hit 37% after the MBFC deal.

Two Trillion Dollar Meltdown

I have been reading the book "The two trillion dollar meltdown"  by Charles Morris recently.

Quite a good book that explains how complex financial instruments can be built layer upon layer to squeeze every ounce of profit for greedy bankers and hedge funds. Instruments that are created to spread out the risk of debt ended up being the percolated to every aspect of daily life and almost pushing the world economy to the point of collapse.

I am convinced after reading the book that banking should be kept boring and exotic innovation should be kept out of our banks.

In banking, I rather they earn less (and my dividends of course) but play it safe.

DBS Pref Shares

I applied for 500 lots of DBS Pref Shares. I allocated 20 lots. Right now, I own Pref Shares for UOB. OCBC and DBS. Together, they make up about 30% of my portfolio. I treat them like bonds as I am not looking at the capital appreciation but rather the regular interest payment bi-annually.

I have look at the balance sheet of local banks and come up the conclusion that they are still conservatively managed. Right now, the local banks cannot pool mortgages into collateral debt obligations that can be sliced into multi-tier bonds and offloaded from their balance sheets. During March 2009, during the depths of the recession, NPL peak around 3%.


These Pref Shares may not be risk free but they are probably the "best" fixed income instruments you can get locally next to holding SGS bonds. I do own some SGS bonds but the yields have come down quite a bit over the last one year. In addition, at least I am not exposed to currency fluctuations as opposed to holding fixed income instrument denominated in other currencies.

I should be receiving dividends for the following this month:-

China Merchant Pacific
First Reit
AscendasIndiaTrust
Suntec Reit
LMIR
Starhill Global
SMRT

First Reit

The suspense is finally out. First Reit is acquiring two additional properties in Jakarta (MRCCC and SHLC) via a 5:4 rights issue at 50 cents per share. On top of that, it will raise a $50million debt from OCBC. Implied TERP is $0.70.

First Reit sponsor, PT Lippo Karawaci Tbk will be the master tenant for both properties.

I view this deal positively as the funds raised are used to acquire additional yield-accretive assets and not to par down existing debt. In fact, First Reit gearing, after this acquisition is still low relative to peers.

The main thing is do you trust the business environment in Indonesia? Will it degenerate to the days in 1998? After watching it for more than a decade, I think it would be worthwhile to make some small bets in the country especially in business that support domestic consumption. About 70% of the economy is domestic and it was hardly scathed by the financial crisis in 2008/2009.

I will be going for the rights.

Meanwhile , I have divested Cosco and vested some additional lots in SMRT.