2 checks a month from 6-stock portfolios

Investors looking for regular income from their investments generally want that income to be paid out regularly throughout the year.

To help investors accomplish this, we�ve grouped these 18 stocks according to the dates on which they usually pay quarterly dividends. By purchasing just six issues � one in each time slot � you would receive two dividend checks per month during the course of the year.

These stocks provide the potential for a consistent dividend stream. In addition, all the stocks in the table are ranked four- or five-STARS for expected above-average price appreciation over the next 12 months.

We�ve gone one step further, and identified exactly how many shares to purchase, in order to receive monthly income of about $100 from selecting one stock from each dividend payment period.

EARLY JAN., APRIL, JULY, OCT.

• Coca-Cola (KO) -- 100 shares required for 6-stock portfolio
  
• Merck (MRK) -- 120 shares
  
• Nike (NKE) -- 140 shares
  

MID-JAN., APRIL, JULY, OCT.

• Altria Group (MO) -- 120 shares
• Heinz (HNZ) -- 100 shares
• Sempra Energy (SRE) -- 85 shares
  

EARLY FEB., MAY, AUG., NOV.

• AT&T (T) -- 115 shares
• Deere (DE) -- 110 shares
• Kinder Morgan Energy (KMP) -- 40 shares
  

MID-FEB., MAY, AUG., NOV.

• Abbott (ABT) -- 100 shares
  
• CVS Caremark� (CVS) -- 310 shares
  
• Home Properties (HME) -- 75 shares
  

EARLY MARCH, JUNE, SEPT., DEC.

• ExxonMobil (XOM) -- 85 shares
  
• Honeywell (HON) -- 135 shares
  
• NextEra Energy (NEE) -- 85 shares
  

MID-MARCH, JUNE, SEPT., DEC.

• Chevron (CVX) -- 55 shares
  
• ITC Holdings (ITC) -- 140 shares
  
• Travelers (TRV) -- 110 shares
  

You can also achieve regular dividend by focusing only on our Master List stocks.

For example, in order to receive monthly income of about $100, you could buy 100 shares of Coca-Cola, 120 shares of Altria, 40 shares of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, 100 shares of Abbott Labs, 85 shares of ExxonMobil, and 55 shares of Chevron.

At recent prices, the six-stock portfolio of Master List stocks would cost $32,565 (before brokerage commissions) and provide annual income of $1,189, for a yield of 3.6%, higher than the recent 2.5% yield on the S&P 500.



Related articles:

• 3 stocks for a modern value portfolio
• Start a 3-stock portfolio for just $300
• 10 picks for value, growth & income
• 10 stocks for a Peter Lynch strategy