Thankful for November Growth

Many unpredictable factors occurring as of this writing:

- Election is over and pro-business candidate lost.

- Covid vaccine claims are popping up with high percentages of effectiveness.

- War is brewing in the Middle East

- Covid cases are spiking and hospitalizations are at an all-time high.

- Families defy warnings during Thanksgiving.

- Black Friday IRL is dead, Cyber shopping is booming.

These are variables with unpredictable long-term outcomes, yet the market is optimistic.  I wish I could explain that, but I cannot.  It can't be because gamblers are stuck at home so they play the market.  Nor because Biden is set to roll back several pro-business regulation removals, that wouldn't make sense.  I know there is a lot of young money in the market, but I can't see how that accounts for anything.  Lack of jobs or people willing to fill them which damages tax income and social security income.  Also the old and infirm are dying which is helpful for the state of social security from an economic standpoint.  These deaths also are taxing to life insurance companies, but are positive for people set to inherit money from their relatives.  Government is set to swoop down on estates not legally protected.  Covid related deaths are set to peak in mid-January, which means further delays to education and some businesses.  I could go on and on with all the variables that add more uncertainty, but I won't.  The point is that no one knows what will happen next.  

As I write this, we have locked down our household.  Our church has been affected by Covid, my work is a ghost town with everyone working from home (myself included part of the week).  My wife's friends have contracted it, and thankfully she hasn't seen them for a few months.  Our annual vacation was cancelled, and we are thinking of buying a few more Oculuses to have a virtual vacation.  Not much to do but watch Kitboga on Twitch and play the market.  Crime seems to be increasing locally, a logical outcome of a hurting economy.  But I digress... the market is predicting that everyone will live happily ever after.  This makes it somewhat difficult to find bargains, but I'm buying when I can.

The ongoing drama of Chevron and Okeo:  Both companies seem to be improving, without cutting dividends.  I actually bought some Chevron recently because I feel more confident.  Hormel recently dropped after poor earnings so I swooped in and bought some up.  I also virtually toured the Spam museum on Zoom.  

As I look back on these words I write, I can't help but think how bizarre the world is currently.

Dividend Increases & Special Payouts

Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST) declares $0.40/share special dividend. Nice!

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) declares $0.245/share quarterly dividend, 5.4% increase from prior dividend of $0.2325.  Not bad!

November Purchases:

CVX: 3

JNJ: 5

XEL: 9

HRL: 13

ORI: 47

As Evie once sang:  "Be thankful for the good things that you got.  The good things that you got, are for many just a dream.  So be thankful for the good things that you got."