Asset Allocation For A Well-Rounded Dividend Portfolio

I am a firm believer that asset allocation plays a significant part in a portfolio's long-term results. Recently, I received a question asking if you could have a diversified portfolio of dividend stocks. It is an interesting question that deserves further examination.

As for my portfolio, I consider asset allocation only when looking at my holdings in total. It would be much too difficult to maintain a good allocation within individual portfolios (income, growth, 401(k), Roth IRA, etc.), while trying to maintain my overall allocation. However, an investor could build a degree of allocation into a portfolio of dividend income securities. Consider the following:

Business Services Sector

• Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP)
  Yield: 3.33% | Style: Large Growth | Analysis


• C H Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW)
  Yield: 1.86% | Style: Large Growth


• Expeditors International of Washington Inc. (EXPD)
  Yield: 1.16% | Style: Mid Growth

Consumer Goods Sector

• Clorox Company (CLX)
  Yield: 3.23% | Style: Mid Core


• Coca-Cola Company (KO)
  Yield: 3.04% | Style: Large Growth | Analysis


• Procter & Gamble Company (PG)
  Yield: 2.85% | Style: Large Core | Analysis

Consumer Services Sector

• Genuine Parts Company (GPC)
  Yield: 4.19% | Style: Mid Value | Analysis


• Sysco Corporation (SYY)
  Yield: 3.56% | Style: Large Core | Analysis


• McDonald's Corporation (MCD)
  Yield: 3.22% | Style: Large Core | Analysis

Energy Sector

• BP Plc ADR (BP)
  Yield: 6.15% | Style: Large Value


• Chevron Corporation (CVX)
  Yield: 3.75% | Style: Large Value


• ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM)
  Yield: 2.56% | Style: Large Value

Financial Services Sector

• Harleysville Group Inc. (HGIC)
  Yield: 3.90% | Style: Small Value | Analysis


• Chubb Corporation (CB)
  Yield: 2.85% | Style: Large Value | Analysis


• Aflac Inc. (AFL)
  Yield: 2.38% | Style: Large Core | Analysis

Hardware Sector

• Diebold Incorporated (DBD)
  Yield: 3.67% | Style: Small Value


• Linear Technology (LLTC)
  Yield: 3.23% | Style: Mid Core


• Raven Industries Inc. (RAVN)
  Yield: 1.90% | Style: Small Growth | Analysis

Health Care Sector

• Meridian Bioscience Inc. (VIVO)
  Yield: 3.27% | Style: Small Growth


• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
  Yield: 3.08% | Style: Large Core | Analysis


• Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH)
  Yield: 2.10% | Style: Large Core | Analysis

Industrial Materials Sector

• Nucor Corp. (NUE)
  Yield: 3.40% | Style: Large Core | Analysis


• Emerson Electric Co. (EMR)
  Yield: 2.90% | Style: Large Core | Analysis


• 3M Company (MMM)
  Yield: 2.58% | Style: Large Core

Media Sector

• McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. (MHP)
  Yield: 2.63% | Style: Large Core

Pharmaceuticals Sector

• Eli Lilly & Company (LLY)
  Yield: 5.77% | Style: Large Value


• Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
  Yield: 2.97% | Style: Large Growth | Analysis

Real Estate Sector

• Essex Property Trust (ESS)
  Yield: 5.14% | Style: Mid Core


• Corporate Office Properties Trust Inc. (OFC)
  Yield: 4.29% | Style: Mid Core


• Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)
  Yield: 4.06% | Style: Mid Core

Telecommunications Sector

• CenturyLink Inc. (CTL)
  Yield: 8.10% | Style: Large Value


• AT&T Inc. (T)
  Yield: 6.54% | Style: Large Value | Analysis

Utilities Sector

• Integrys Energy Group Inc. (TEG)
  Yield: 6.61% | Style: Mid Value


• Consolidated Edison Company (ED)
  Yield: 5.59% | Style: Large Value


• MGE Energy Inc. (MGEE)
  Yield: 4.45% | Style: Small Core

Bonds

• Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV)
  Yield: 2.74% | Style: Short-Term Bond


• Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV)
  Yield: 4.32% | Style: Intermediate-Term Bond


• Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV)
  Yield: 5.16% | Style: Long-Term Bond

Needless to say, the above will not provide a perfect allocation, but it goes a long way to provide diversity in a portfolio focused only on income securities. In my personal portfolio, I buy the best available dividend securities and use my other investments to balance my asset allocation.

Full Disclosure: Long ABT, ADP, AFL, BIV, BLV, BP, CLX, CTL, CVX, ED, EMR, GPC, HGIC, JNJ, KO, LLY, MCD, MMM, NUE, PG, SYY, T, TEG. See a list of all my income holdings here.

(Photo Credit)

Related Articles:

• Who is Jeremy J. Siegel and Why Should We Listen to Him?
• Protecting Your Dollars With Foreign Currency
• Searching the World For The Best Dividend Stocks
• Best Stocks For 2010
• In Dividend Investing, Cash Is King