Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Portfolio Update: CCCXXII sells FDG! & Watch those Closed End Fund payout ratio's.

Checked out my Roth this afternoon and saw that FDG was up nicely.

Actually, it's up over 19% from my last entry point. Seemed like the time to reap profits. So I've sold my entire FDG position. It was good too me... good ol' FDG .

Honestly, I may get back into after it goes back down as long as the payout ratio holds steady.


The reason I mention payout ratios is that these closed end funds can be fidgety and risky and somewhat confounding. Some funds I have followed have had dividend payout ratio go from say 98% up to 135%. Seemingly, without warning. Some factors are, changes in earnings per share and the numbers are in the midst of shaking out (also, pay attention to Forward Earnings projections) or it could be the funds management actually raising the payout. Whatever the case stay on the lookout.

Now, I like dividends... what I wouldn't like is a jump from 98% to 135% in the payout ratio because basically that just results in a return of capital.

I must admit I like my funds with a bit lower ratio but I've made allowances for that high dividend yield as long as it is just that, a dividend and not a return of capital.

Something else to look at in buying Closed End funds are NAV (Net Asset Value.) A fund trading at less that the NAV is discounted. One trading at a price above NAV is trading at a premium.

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