March 2025 Dividend Income Update
Hi again, and welcome to my latest: our March 2025 dividend income update.
As many readers will already know, this series is a monthly update related to our hybrid investing approach followed for the last 15+ years:
- We invest in Canadian and U.S. dividend paying stocks – about 25-some stocks that collectively deliver income and growth over time…and
- We invest in some low-cost equity ETFs – that deliver (hopefully) long-term growth for extra diversifcation.
You can always read a bit more about what we own, why and where (i.e., in what accounts) on this dedicated My Dividends page here.
March 2025 Dividend Income Update
A few months ago I wondered:
“What will the investing year bring?”
Maybe I have my answer: drama and trama!
Dedicated readers will know I wrote this about my investing plans and decisions for 2025:
Well, still no changes to that plan above during some very trying investing times of late.
What calms my investing nerves a bit is some higher dividend income – by staying invested.
In March, without buying anything new:
- Power Corporation (POW) increased their dividend by 10%.
- One of my top-holdings Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) increased their dividend by 4%.
- Tourmaline (TOU) not only increased their quarterly dividend by a whopping 43% last month, they also delivered a special dividend to shareholders like myself too – with potentially more special dividends on the way in 2025.
That said, it’s going to be a tough investing year I think. I would be happy if there were no dividend cuts in our portfolio.
While many of the stocks and ETFs we own remain WAY up over the last five (5) years, some of our holdings are taking a beating in 2025 year-to-date:
- My low-cost tech kicker ETF QQQ is down almost 20%!
- My favourite ex-Canada global ETF XAW is down close to 13%.
Ouch.
But, I’m in this for the long-haul. I started this hybrid investing approach 15+ years ago and it’s no time to change my overall approach now.
And…since I’m not Warren Buffett, I believe there are a few key ways to manage your portfolio if you haven’t already done so during some trying market times.
- Not all types of investments perform well at the same time. Stocks from different sectors will raise dividends sometimes when you least expect it!
- Different types of investments can be affected differently by factors such as interest rates, exchange rates and inflation rates. Interestingly, some Canadian utility stocks have held up rather well in 2025 despite the drama and trama.
- If your portfolio is not diversified, you could be taking on unnecessarily risk. To compound that, you may or may not be compensated with returns for accepted this unnecessary risk. Can you imagine going all-in on tech stocks / QQQ in your portfolio? Again, ouch.
March 2025 Dividend Income Update
Thanks to these dividend raises last month, coupled with a few more units of HEQT DRIPped inside my small LIRA, our income moved higher this past month – doing nothing and buying nothing – despite tariff wars triggering stock market havoc.
Our *projected annual dividend income trend for the 2025 calendar year is now:
*Recall these all PADI updates focus on 1. our non-registered accounts, 2. our RRSPs, and 3. my small LIRA from a former job years ago. I have reported things this way since January 2023 since these are the first accounts I will use to fund semi-retirement along with part-time work: live off taxable dividend income, live off RRSP withdrawals and live off LIRA/LIF withdrawals.
I share this information not to brag. Hardly. I know folks that earn much more income from their portfolio than I do. Rather, I share it to tell part of our overall investing journey – to keep me honest, motivated and accountable for my investing decisions. I hope this transparency and what I share helps you too.
To put this monthy income update into perspective:
- That’s averaging about $4,150.92 per month without our TFSA assets.
- We’re earning over $136 per day every day.
A big part of being a successful long-term investor is keeping your wits about you / sticking with your plan while others around you might be deviating from their plan.
If and when we can afford it this year, we hope to buy more equities if they continue to stay on sale. If I do buy more XAW or any individual stocks I will let you know in my next update.
Onwards and upwards for your investing journey too. Stay well!
Mark
Mark
My name is Mark Seed – the founder, editor and owner of My Own Advisor. As my own DIY financial advisor, I’ve reached financial independence. Now, I share my lessons learned for free on this site. Find out what I did and how I reached financial independence to tailor your own path. Join the newsletter read by thousands.
