One Millennial's Doggone Dandy Dividend Growth Portfolio

My father's initials match the symbol for Mead Johnson Nutrition (NYSE: MJN), yet somehow I have resisted the urge to buy shares of that company's stock. I also have passed on two companies whose symbols reflect my kids' names, Kate Spade (NYSE: KATE) and Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN). Oh, and I managed to avoid the meltdown at Micron Technology (Nasdaq: MU) despite the temptation to show school spirit for my alma mater, Marquette University.
Which leads me to recall the conversation I had last year with my aforementioned daughter, Katie, about Baxter International (NYSE: BAX):
Katie: "I think Baxter would be a good stock to buy for my Roth IRA."
Me: "Maybe, but you really shouldn't buy it just because your dog's name is Baxter."
Katie: "Yeah, but Baxter is a good company, right? Don't you own it?"
Me: "Well, yeah."
Katie: "OK then. Baxter it is!"
And so, on Feb. 18, 2015, Katie initiated a small position in the medical supply and pharmaceutical company - the first buy for the Roth IRA account she had just opened. She paid $69.00 per share.

Let me go on record right now to say that buying a company because its name or symbol reminds you of your dog - or any other loved one - might not be the wisest investing strategy. Then again, if such an association pushes you to invest in a good, fundamentally sound business, who am I to say it's dead wrong?
Thankfully, Katie,... Read more