I usually end my ‘Recent Buys’ posts with the caveat that Mr. Market can always spring up some new opportunities not outlined in my monthly considerations posts. Generally speaking my considerations posts offer a pretty solid road map for potential purchases I’d like to make in the upcoming month, and since I have started blogging I have stuck to my own recommendations almost all the time, February being no exception.

I started the month looking at my usual consumer oriented stocks as many have been trading at much better levels in recent weeks when compared to just last summer. You already know the names, Unilever PLC (UL), The Coca-Cola Company (KO), Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB), The Procter & Gamble Company (PG), General Mills, Inc. (GIS), Diageo plc (DEO) and V.F. Corporation (VFC). Of course, some of these names have run up from their recent lows and are looking less attractive today. KMB and DEO come to mind. Besides for the consumer names I also considered adding to my health REITs, HCP, Inc. (HCP), Welltower Inc. (HCN), Care Capital Properties, Inc. (CCP) and a potential new pick from my watch list, LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC). I still think there is some good long term value in this sector as it has been beaten down pretty handily for several months now. We all know a rising interest rate environment is not friendly to REITs in general but I still like the sector (health REIT) longer term. So where did I invest my fresh capital for the month of February? Let’s take a look below.

I have added to my taxable account 16.3973 shares at $48.67 for a total investment of $798.06 in The Southern Company (SO). With this recent purchase my taxable account holdings in SO now totals 62.3448 shares for a market value of $3,058.01.

I have added to my taxable account 11.1084 shares at $71.84 for a total investment of $798.03 in Dominion Resources, Inc. (D). With this recent purchase my taxable account holdings in D now totals 45.2169 shares for a value of $3,317.56.

I have added to my ROTH account 16.3704 shares at $48.75 for a total investment of $798.06 in V.F. Corporation (VFC). With this recent purchase my ROTH account holdings in VFC now totals 40.6954 shares for a value of $2,047.79. I also hold 55.2184 shares in my taxable account with a market value of $2,778.59.

It’s been a while since I bought into the utilities. It’s not really a large portion of my overall portfolio (around 7% of my taxable account and much less when looking at my total portfolio value including, taxable, ROTH and IRA) but still offers some good current yield especially when compared to levels seen last summer and I think it’s a sector that belongs in any long term dividend growth portfolio.

What do you think about my latest buys? Are any of the names mentioned on your watch list for February or are you looking elsewhere? As always, Mr. Market has the last say and new opportunities for investment may come up out of left field. Please let me know your thoughts below.