Our retirement portfolio gained another 1.58% in May after being up 3.1% in April, and after the 8.50% jump in March 2021. The S&P 500 index rose about 0.7% this month, while the Dividend Aristocrats index gained 5.4% in May. The benchmark for this portfolio, Invesco’s High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD), also gained and added 2.27%.
Since its inception in January 2017, the initial investment of $100,000 in this portfolio would have grown to $163,346, which is well ahead of our dividend ETF benchmark ($137,597).
The portfolio growth chart also clearly displays the results of the quality of the stocks in this portfolio and the smaller draw-down compared to the SPHD.
The composition of this conservative portfolio for retirees is constructed based on the following principles:
- Diversification in several sectors and minimum exposure to 20 stocks
- Average dividend yield 3.5% – 4.5%
- Dividend growth rate 4%+
- Dividend score above 60
- Average loss ratio 1.8-2.5 (see defensive aristocrats)
It is time to check on the average dividend yield this month. Based on the initial investment amount of $100,000, the retirement portfolio was able to generate an annual dividend income of 3.49% or higher. For this year, the dividend amount received so far is $2,010 representing 1.36%.
