February 3, 2026
January 2026 Dividend Income Review —A Strong Start to a Record Year
January is rarely a blockbuster month for dividends—but that’s not the point.
January is about positioning, and this year, that’s exactly what this portfolio did well.
After trimming and selling positions at the end of 2025, January 2026 marks the first month of a reset dividend portfolio—one built for durability, growth, and consistency.
The income didn’t explode yet, but the groundwork is firmly in place for what should be a record-setting year.
Let’s break it down.
January 2026 Dividend Income – The Numbers
Total Dividends Received: $85.79
Dividend-Paying Stocks: 11
Average Dividend Per Stock: $7.80
For context, January 2026 dividend income came in just under 1% higher than January 2025, which paid $85.02.
That’s not headline-worthy growth—but it is progress, and more importantly, it came after intentionally trimming the portfolio late last year.
Flat income during a reset phase is a win.
Why January Matters (Even When the Numbers Are Modest)
Here’s the truth most investors don’t like to hear:
Dividend growth doesn’t show up immediately after portfolio changes—but it compounds after the right changes are made.
Selling and trimming positions in late 2025 was about:
- Cleaning up underperformers
- Reducing overexposure
- Reallocating into higher-quality dividend growers
January reflects the transition, not the payoff.
The payoff comes in the following months and quarters—and those are already shaping up to blow last year’s income out of the water.
Be Sure to Check My Annual Dividend Reports:
2025 Monthly Dividend Investing Reports!
- JANUARY DIVIDENDS – $85.02
- FEBRUARY DIVIDENDS – $117.52
- MARCH DIVIDENDS – $288.66
- APRIL DIVIDENDS – $93.86
- MAY DIVIDENDS – $134.71
- JUNE DIVIDENDS – $326.84
- JULY DIVIDENDS – $88.69
- AUGUST DIVIDENDS – $133.29
- SEPTEMBER DIVIDENDS: $349.39
- OCTOBER DIVIDENDS: $90.70
- NOVEMBER DIVIDENDS: $140.56
- DECEMBER DIVIDENDS: $349.27
Also, have you grabbed your copy of my dividend tracker tool?
The portfolio currently has Twelve (11) Stocks that pay dividends in January or the First Quarter of the year.
Seventeen (9) are quarterly dividend companies
And..
And now TWO (2) are monthly payout (Realty Capital – O) & (Main Street Capital Corp – MAIN).
January Dividends:
TOTAL DIVIDENDS RECEIVED $85.79
Average Dividend Payment: $7.40
That’s a total of $85.79 of completely passive income I received from just owning a piece of a company.
In perspective, that is UP $1% from this same month last year. (See Below).
- January 2023: $137.78
- January 2024: $85.02
- January 2025: $85.79
- Year-over-year increase: +1%
Dividend Payments by Month since 2019
Stock Purchases for January!
January 2026 Dividend Additions – Key Takeaways
The goal isn’t flashy income spikes—it’s predictable, growing cash flow that rewards patience and discipline.
$112+ in new annual dividend income added from January purchases alone, before any future dividend increases.
Every position added is a cash-flow-positive, dividend-paying business with a long operating history and strong balance sheets.
These buys prioritize dividend reliability and growth, not short-term yield chasing.
Several holdings (KO, PEP, DUK, SO, WMT, MKC) have decades-long dividend growth streaks, reinforcing income durability.
This income will compound quietly through reinvestment and future dividend raises throughout 2026 and beyond.
January focused on foundation building, setting the stage for higher quarterly payouts later in the year.
| Ticker | Shares Purchased | Annual Dividend per Share | New Annual Income Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| KO | 6 | $2.04 (Koyfin) | $12.24 |
| DUK | 3 | ~$4.10 (annualized) (Duke Energy Investors) | $12.30 |
| KR | 7 | $1.22 (approx TTM) (MarketXLS) | $8.54 |
| MKC | 5 | $1.92 (forward est) (GuruFocus) | $9.60 |
| PEP | 5 | $5.42 (Nasdaq) | $27.10 |
| SO | 10 | $2.88 (WSJ reported) (The Wall Street Journal) | $28.80 |
| WMT | 5 | $0.94–$0.91 range (avg) (MarketXLS) | $4.70 |
| UNH | 1 | $8.84 (Koyfin) | $8.84 |
Total New Annual Dividend Income: $112.12
Bottom line:
This was a textbook month of dividend investing—slow, deliberate, and positioned to pay off for years.
The income didn’t explode yet, but the engine is running, and 2026 is shaping up to be a breakout year.
STRATEGY & EDUCATION
Every month, I share lessons and tools to help you strengthen your dividend investing approach.
Whether you’re just getting started or already managing a solid portfolio, these resources are designed to help you earn more.
They are intended to help you stress less. Ultimately, they aim to build lasting passive income.
📚 Check out these key reads:
- How to Build a 10-Stock Dividend Portfolio – A beginner-friendly blueprint to start investing with confidence.
- Types of Dividend Paying Stocks (Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly) – Understand which payout schedules fit your goals.
- Why I Buy Individual Stocks over Mutual Funds – Why focusing on stocks, not funds, gives dividend investors more control and better results.
Each article builds on the same principles I use in my own portfolio—steady income, long-term discipline, and smart reinvestment.
Looking ahead and my Yearly Progress:
My Goal for 2026 was originally $2,500. That Said I am investing and hustling toward the $3,000 mark!
Only Time Will Tell!
That Said, currently, If I add no additional funds I will earn $2,525 by the end of the year.
Thanks for reading – be sure to subscribe to stay up to date on my progress:
Final Thoughts
Dividend investing isn’t about excitement—it’s about ownership, patience, and consistency.
Month to month, the numbers will move slowly. Some months will look unremarkable. Others will quietly surprise you. But over time, the pattern becomes clear: reliable companies send you cash simply for staying invested.
That’s what this portfolio is built to do.
There were no dramatic swings this month, no speculative bets, and no chasing yield. Just steady contributions to high-quality businesses that generate real cash flow and share it with their owners.
The real progress shows up when you zoom out—quarter by quarter, year by year—where small payments stack, dividends grow, and income becomes more predictable.
This is how long-term wealth is built. Not by reacting, but by staying the course.
As always, the focus remains the same:
own good companies, let time do the heavy lifting, and allow income to grow quietly in the background.
Did You Check Out My 2025 Yearly Dividend Review>??<
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