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Easy Peasy #53: Build Your Dividend Portfolio & Live Off Dividends with Pre-Selected Stock Sets

Dividend Growing Stock Sets – Start with $300, $500, or $1,000 Weekly

Author

Serhio MaxDividends
August 21, 2025

MaxDividends Mission: Helping & Supporting Everyone in Building a Growing Passive Income, Retiring Early, and Living Off Dividends.

Partnerships & Sponsorships: [email protected]

In this section, we share ready-made sets of promising dividend growth stocks with strong future dividend potential.

We also track performance and provide portfolio links for each set, so you can monitor past results and real-time updates.

Top Stuff is Going On Inside. Check Your Status & Upgrade to Paid to Join the movement.

Intro

Small-Caps Lead as Rate Cut Bets Heat Up

U.S. markets notched another round of record highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, but it was the Russell 2000 stealing the spotlight for a second straight day, surging on growing odds of a Fed rate cut in September after the latest CPI print. The Dow climbed sharply, helped by rebounds in lagging 2025 names like UNH, NKE, and SHW. Optimism over easing trade tensions, fading tariff risks, and pure upside momentum have powered a four-month winning streak.

All eyes now on Thursday’s PPI, then a busy Friday with Retail Sales, Import Prices, Industrial Production, and the Trump–Putin meeting. Breadth was strong with nearly all eleven S&P sectors higher, led by Healthcare, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary, while big-cap Tech cooled off on profit-taking in NVDA, NFLX, MSFT, META, and GOOGL. Crypto jumped, the dollar slipped, oil fell, and gold caught a bid.

📊 Economic Data

30-Year Mortgage Rate fell to 6.67% (from 6.77%), lowest since early April; refi applications up 23% to 4-month high, per MBA, but little impact on new homebuying.

💰 Commodities, Currencies & Treasuries

  • WTI Crude $62.65 (-0.52) – slid to 11-week low on surprise U.S. crude build, higher output, and ahead of Trump–Putin talks.

  • Brent $65.63 (-0.49) – pressure from IEA supply growth forecast boost to +2.5M bpd in ’25 and +1.9M in ’26.

  • Gold $3,408.30 (+9.30) – higher on softer dollar, rate cut bets; 6 gains in past 9 sessions.

  • EUR/USD1.1698 (+0.0025) – euro firmer on U.S. rate cut expectations.

  • JPY/USD147.43 (-0.40) – yen stronger as yields fell.

  • 10Y Yield4.24% (-0.053) – drop on mounting September cut odds; Fed funds futures price 98% chance for -25bps, hope for -50bps.

🛒 Retail, Consumer Staples & Restaurants

  • CPRI jumped after JPM upgrade to Overweight, tgt $30 from $24, citing FY28E EPS power +25% above consensus.

  • GIL buying HBI for $2.2B cash/stock; ONON cut to Underperform at Jefferies on slowing growth from ’26. LULU +3% on strong session.

  • DLTR, OLLI, DG, FIVE, TGT estimates raised by Truist Card Data; LOW slightly cut; WMT, HD, BBY sales in-line to better.

  • PETS slid as CEO/CFO resigned; COOK cut to Neutral at B Riley, tgt $1.50 from $3 on weak grill sales.

  • CAVA tumbled on miss ($280.6M vs est. $285.6M) and soft SSS growth 2.1% vs est. 6.47%; FY SSS guide 4%-6% vs est. 7.67%.

  • EAT popped on Q4 beat ($1.46B vs $1.21B y/y), 24% Chili’s comp sales jump, $400M buyback.

  • AMZN to expand grocery delivery for Prime; WMT, CART, KR dipped on news.

  • STZ, SAM, TAP, BUD weak after Gallup showed U.S. adult alcohol consumption at record low 54% vs 58% in 2024.

⚡ Energy, Industrials & Materials

  • VG gained after tribunal win over SHEL in LNG cargo dispute; COP awarded HAL 5-year stimulation services deal.

  • OKLO selected for 3 DOE reactor pilot projects; LEU fell on $650M convertible note offering.

  • KBR cut to Neutral at BofA, tgt $55 from $70 after $20B DoD HomeSafe contract cancellation.

  • DHI, BZH, LEN, TOL, PHM rallied with yields lower.

  • CF, CTVA upgraded to Overweight at Barclays on strong ag chem results; CMP cut to Underweight at JPM on weak FY25 outlook.

🏦 Banks & 💳 FinTech

  • BLSH IPO opened at $90 after pricing at $37; highs $109 before fading; HOOD, IBKR soft.

  • CRCL filed to sell 2M Class A shares; holders offering 8M.

  • HRB mixed FQ4; margins/FY26 guide missed; volumes -0.9% y/y vs industry +1.7%.

  • BRO cut to Equal Weight at Wells on slower near-term organic growth; Cantor initiated AJG, AON, MMC at OW; various mixed ratings across brokers and insurers.

  • Kobeissi Letter flagged serious delinquency rates: credit cards 12.3% (highest since 2011), auto loans 5.0%, student loans 10.2%.

🧪 Biotech & Life Sciences

  • ATNF +200% prior day, +again on Peter Thiel 7.5% stake; rebranding to ETHZilla, holding 82,186 ether ($349M).

  • GBIO + on strategic review, 90% workforce cut by Oct after weak Q2 ($765K vs est. $3.1M).

  • IBRX rose on promising Phase I lymphoma results for CD19 CAR-NK therapy.

  • INSM cut to Equal Weight at MS post-BRINSUPRI approval; PT to $126 from $112.

  • LLY launched Mounjaro pen in India for $160; insider buys from CEO ($1M), CSO ($643K), others.

  • VOR said Telitacicept met Phase 3 endpoint in primary Sjogren’s.

🚁 Aerospace & Defense

  • CDRE cut to Underperform at BofA, tgt $26 from $38; VVX upgraded to Buy, tgt $65 from $55; HII tgt to $260 from $180, BWXT tgt to $220 from $155.

  • CACI double-upgraded to Buy at GS, PT $544 from $407; PSN cut to Neutral.

📰 Internet, Media & Telecom

  • WBTN jumped on content deal with DIS; CMCSA launched $85/mo “World Soccer Ticket” ahead of FIFA 2026.

  • GOOGL’s YouTube to launch AI age-verification in U.S.

🔌 Semiconductors, Hardware & Software

  • SPNS + on $2.5B buyout by Advent at $43.50/sh.

  • INTA + on beat-and-raise Q4 and $150M buyback.

  • CRWV fell on mixed guide; TSSI offering; VRT, NBIS down in sympathy.

  • LITE upgraded to Neutral at BofA, tgt $135 from $78 on earlier margin expansion path.

  • PANW upgraded to Buy at Deutsche, tgt $220; survey showed mixed cyber demand, ZS uptick.

  • SSYS cut FY guide to $550M-$560M revs, EPS $0.13-$0.16.

  • AAPL reportedly planning AI-driven devices incl. home robots, smart speaker with display in ’26–’27.

  • RGTI on track for 100-qubit QPU by year-end.

U.S. reportedly tracking AI chip shipments from NVDA, AMD to prevent diversion to China; AMD + on Fubon note naming AMD, AVGO as fastest-growing CoWoS customers in 2026.

🧠 What’s Next?

Thursday brings PPI; Friday loads up with Retail Sales, Import Prices, Industrial Production, and Trump–Putin meeting. Rate cut odds remain the big market driver.

--

But none of this news really matters to MaxDividends members. We're focused on growing the cash flow that lands in your pocket every month—not stressing over price swings or stock market noise.

At MaxDividends, we focus on a dividend growth strategy, perfect for investors seeking capital appreciation, solid safety, and a steadily growing income.

A rising dividend is a strong sign that a company is thriving—and wants its shareholders to thrive with it.

Top Stuff is Going On Inside. Check Your Status & Upgrade to Paid to Join the movement.

This week, we’ve rolled out a fresh batch of ready-to-go Stock Sets 💪.

Easy Peasy #53: Pre-Selected Dividend Growth Stock Sets

⭐️ $300 per Week – Week 53

  • Today's Investment: ~ $333.81

  • Total Invested: ~ $15,689.06

  • Portfolio Dividend Yield On Cost: ~ 3.16%

  • Current Dividends: ~ $508.27 

$ 333.81 / 300.00

Snap-on Incorporated | Shares: 1 Price: 333.81

Modeled Portfolio: $300 Weekly Investing. With $300 invested each week, the projected monthly income from this portfolio in 10 years is $190.89, which represents a ~13% Dividend Yield on Cost.

Stock News in the Portfolio

🚀 CompX International Inc - has shown solid momentum over the past week, with a gain of +18.62%

  • Greif, Inc - has delivered a solid gain of +11.12%

  • Nexstar Media Group, Inc - has delivered a solid gain of +23.85%

Dividend Hikes Q3

  • +Universal Corporation raised its dividend by +1.23% ↑

  • Lowe's Companies, Inc raised its dividend by +4.35% ↑

  • General Mills raised its dividend by +1.67% ↑

⭐️ $500 per Week - Week 53

  • Today's investment: ~ $466.05

  • Total Invested: ~ $26,776.86

  • Portfolio Dividend Yield On Cost: ~ 3.26%

  • Current Dividends: ~ $880.21 

$ 466.05 / 500.00

Toro Co | Shares: 3 Price: 77.30

Kforce Inc | Shares: 7 Price: 33.45

Modeled Portfolio: $500 Weekly Investing. With $500 invested each week, the projected monthly income from this portfolio in 10 years is $345.74, which represents a ~13% Dividend Yield on Cost.

Stock News in the Portfolio

🎉 Papa John's International Inc - has shown solid momentum over the past week, with a gain of +8.08%

  • Magic Software Enterprises Ltd - has delivered a solid gain of +84.76%

  • Nexstar Media Group, Inc - has delivered a solid gain of +29.83%

Dividend Hikes Q3

  • +Universal Corporation raised its dividend by +1.23% ↑

  • General Mills raised its dividend by +1.67% ↑

How to Get Started: Roadmap and Tools to Live Off Dividends (Weekly Updates)

⭐️ $1,000 per Week - Week 53

  • Today's investment: ~ $1,052.15

  • Total Invested: ~ $53,095.05

  • Portfolio Dividend Yield On Cost: ~ 3.20%

  • Current Dividends: ~ $1,769.67 

$ 1,052.15 / 1,000.00

Pool Corporation | Shares: 1 Price: 330.73 

Lockheed Martin Corporation | Shares: 1 Price: 442.57

Shoe Carnival Inc | Shares: 13 Price: 21.45

Modeled Portfolio: $1,000 Weekly Investing. With $1,000 invested each week, the projected monthly income from this portfolio in 10 years is $642.94, which represents a ~12% Dividend Yield on Cost.

Stock News in the Portfolio

💣 CompX International Inc - has shown solid momentum over the past week, with a gain of +18.62%

  • Nexstar Media Group, Inc - has delivered a solid gain of +24.84%

  • L3Harris Technologies, Inc - has delivered a solid gain of +20.74%

Dividend Hikes Q3

  • +Lowe's Companies, Inc raised its dividend by +4.35% ↑

  • General Mills raised its dividend by +1.67% ↑

Max’s Comments

Every single week. That’s the beauty of this strategy — steady investing, same amounts, week after week… and yet, month after month, everything keeps growing.

  • ✅ More dollars invested.

  • ✅ More shares purchased.

  • ✅ More total shares in the portfolio.

  • ✅ More passive income.

What really fires me up? In August, I added $497 more on top of my usual weekly contributions. And since the start of the year, I’ve reinvested $5,200 — straight from the dividends paid by the companies I own.

This isn’t “theoretical future growth.” This is real cash — real money I received, reinvested, and that’s now paying me an extra $246 per year.

And yep, it keeps growing — even if I stop putting in more of my own money.

Oh, and the cherry on top? 20 companies have already announced dividend hikes for me this year. That’s 20 pay raises… without a single meeting or negotiation.

And here’s the kicker — my current portfolio value? It’s already larger than the total amount I originally put in. Capital growth + growing cash income = a win-win strategy.

Thanks to the MaxDividends rules, the strategy, and the top stocks from our Dividend Eagles list, I’m building out real passive income, seeing capital growth, and following a crystal-clear plan toward the ultimate goal: 👉 living off dividends.

And helping me get there? The MaxDividends App and my partners in the community. Seriously — huge thanks to all of you for the support.

The power of compounding is gaining momentum. My dividend snowball keeps growing.

Ready to Give It a Try?

Check Your Subsription Status & Upgrade to Premium.

The companies we select for the Easy-Peasy Section are exceptional compounders with double-digit dividend yield potential over the next 10-12 years.

The Easy-Peasy Portfolios are built using MaxDividends Tools, which include:

Investing in dividend growth stocks allows you to generate growing passive income over time. By using ready-made dividend stock sets, you can see exactly how this strategy works in action and how your portfolio can steadily build income through reinvested dividends and consistent growth.

It’s a powerful, simple approach to achieving financial freedom and living off dividends!

Anyone can follow the MaxDividends Concept

We’ve gathered a variety of tools for investors to make dividend growth investing easier and more effective. We’re proud to be the largest dividend community on Earth, united by a shared goal: living off dividends.

Our community doesn’t just dream about financial freedom—we’re actively building it, one dividend at a time.

For Dividend Beginners

Start with the ready-to-go MaxDividends Assistant to kickstart your journey toward building growing passive income, retiring early, and living off dividends.

For Experienced Dividend Investors

List of Top Dividend Stocks for your own due diligence, Top Ideas Weekly to keep you informed about the best opportunities, In-Depth Reports on the most undervalued, high-potential dividend companies, and much more…

For All Dreamers Who Want to Live Off Dividends

Join the most dividend-focused community on Earth, where you'll receive:

  • Personal support from Max and the MaxDividends Team

  • Access to powerful dividend tools to enjoy the journey

  • A network of like-minded investors committed to financial freedom

MaxDividends App

We’re building the best app in the world for dividend investors—designed to help everyone retire early, live off dividends, and build a growing passive income.

With MaxDividends, you’ll have everything you need to track your investments, manage your dividend portfolio, and stay on track to financial freedom—all in one place.

MaxDividends Idea

Retire early and live off dividends. $12,000 monthly for 120 months. No one wants to work forever—make it happen! If you have any questions, feel free to message me.

Stay updated on the stocks I’m keeping an eye on.

Follow along with my real-time portfolio updates and investment ideas.

Check out my most recent stock purchases and the reasoning behind them.

MaxDividends Key Concept

At MaxDividends, we focus on dividend growth investing—a strategy that helps you build a growing stream of passive income over time.

We believe in predictability and peace of mind, which is why we prioritize investing in companies with a proven track record of sustainable, growing dividends.

Why Dividend Growth Investing?

  • Capital Appreciation & Growing Income: You can enjoy both capital growth and increasing income as dividends rise over time.

  • Consistency: By investing in companies that have been paying and increasing dividends for decades, you can count on a reliable and growing income stream.

  • Long-Term Success: The power of compounding dividends allows you to build wealth over time and ultimately live off dividends.

If you like what we do, you can always provide additional support for the project.

Thank you for being a part of it!

MaxDividends Strategy

We aim to maximize dividend yields and income growth by carefully selecting the best dividend stocks, tracking performance, and offering tools to help you manage your investments effectively.

Our goal is to help you achieve financial freedom through dividend growth investing and create a life where you can live off your dividends, retire early, and focus on what matters most to you.

Look at This Magic ✨

  • September 2024 – $1,814

  • Thursday, September 26 – $1,827

  • Friday, September 27 – $1,834

  • November 2024 → Today – $2,043 → $6,650.10

Just a few days in the life of a dividend investor. These are my monthly dividends from my total investments for now.

MaxDividends Premium Partners already know the magic formula: Each dividend increase puts more money into our pocket.

Remember, dividends are deposited as cash into your trading account. You can either spend the money or reinvest it to keep growing your passive income!

My dividend income just keeps growing. Almost every day. Always upward.

As my income increases, everyday expenses like coffee and lunch get easier to afford, and life just keeps getting brighter.

My Projected MONTHLY Income in 10 Years:

October’24: $10,393.59 → Today: $26,330.18 per month

It’s all about consistent growth and the power of dividends!

Enjoy the Dividend Idea?
Join me on this journey and let’s move forward together toward financial freedom and a life where you can live off dividends

FAQ

Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. ― Warren Buffett.

*Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s personal opinions and is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor. The author may hold positions in some of the stocks mentioned, in line with the views expressed. This is a disclosure, not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.