Well, that was a bit of a weak reply. How about this. I spent...

Well, that was a bit of a weak reply. How about this.

I spent 2017 making a list of all the stable companies and funds that have reasonably predictable (timewise) dividends of 3%-6% and plotting their announcement date on a calendar. I sometimes use that to buy a stock before a div announcement and capitalise on the small spike that I expect in the period between divident announcement and div ex date. Not always reliable, but paired with the zeitgeist of how the economy is going in each sector and you can usually get it right.

I only hunt dividends that are from companies in a long term (1 yr/6mo) uptrend, so I don't get caught holding the bag of rotten fruit. But I sometimes do. What the heck, rotten fruit sometimes makes wine if you hold it long enough.

I usually have an eye on liquidity.