2020 Year End Review & Year To Date Dividends

This time last year, Covid19, then known as Coronavirus was just breaking out in Wuhan. No one knew what was coming except for those in the medical professions in Wuhan dealing with the outbreak. The market bottomed in March 20 and recovered shortly after.

The biggest take away from this is to STAY INVESTED, DO NOT TIME THE MARKET. 

When I look back at my 2019 year end review, I was spot on, on Singtel and Keppel Corp. I wrote "I am expecting Singtel to cut its dividends as this is the last FY it is paying a fixed dividends amount.  Keppel Corp is another share to look out as Temask may or may not control 50% of its share come end 2020." If only I had taken profit then. But this is life, you never know what will happen. 

I had put in more capital this year and crossed both $200k and $250k milestone for my portfolio as the overall portfolio turns green. I am aware that should my portfolio becomes red, I would go back to below $250k. 

In 2020, I received $6,803.58 dividends as I went for scrip dividends for bank shares. My average yield decreased too. Year to date, I have invested a total of $241,900.93 into the market, with current value at around $270k.

In terms of total dividends received over the years, I have received $35,825. It is a slow ride up for me. 

This year I made a total of 25 transactions, the highest ever in a year. 18 buy/add/scrip transactions and 7 sell transactions. I made more transactions this year due to the pandemic as I rebalance my portfolio and also added more stocks with my warchest. I am gladfully to have managed to welcome DBS, Mapletree Ind Tr, Mapletree Log Tr and STI ETF into my portfolio. Adding on Keppel DC Reit, Keppel Corp and OCBC. 

I had make my maiden foreign stock purchase this year. Since they account for less than 2% of my portfolio, it is nothing to shout about, hopefully more opportunities arise for me to add on to this portfolio. 

I think that 2021 will be a recovery year for STI. It is very unlikely that STI will go back to below 2,500 levels. It will likely trend side ways as financial results are not going to be great. With more vaccinations getting approved for use and the way investors and traders price in future growth, it is just a matter of time STI continues it ride up breaking the 3,000 levels. 

Even if touch wood another circuit breaker is implemented, it will only have short term impact as everyone seems to have taken a long term view judging from how overseas market is reacting too. They have priced in the fact that vaccination will be widely available and accessible, and can control the pandemic, although  rationally we know that it will take time to mass produce and vaccinate everyone in stages. 

As always, I will continue to stay vested and add more shares when there are opportunities.