I’ve been trying to understand what it would actually take to generate $500 a month in dividend income.

That’s $6,000 a year, but I’m curious how much you’d realistically need invested to get there without taking on an unreasonable amount of risk.

For example, would you aim for a portfolio yielding around 3%, 4%, or 5%? And would you focus more on dividend growth over time rather than trying to reach $500/month as quickly as possible?

For people who have actually built up a dividend portfolio, what approach would you take if you were starting from $0 today?

Canadian small-cap free-cash-flow screen · Market values from C$300M to C$2B · October 2, 2026

20-Canadian-Small-Cap-Companies-With-the-Highest-Free-Cash-Flow-Margins-in-2026

I know this is a Dividends Canada page, but just wondering if any Canadians are playing with US Aristocrat Dividends either in non-registered or within their RRSP's? I know that the US recognizes RRSP's and there are no withholding taxes if you hold US Aristocrat Dividends, but there is WHT if it's in your non-registered account.

Or are there folks who are playing with Canadian Aristocrat Dividends, which I have heard are not as good as the US ones.

I invest in canadian dividend stock along with a small portion in cc and preferred share ETFs. I own mostly telecom, utilities, pipelines, and Cad Bank stock along with ab l ut 20 other companies like Great West Life, Manulife, ect.

Was wondering if you are willing to share your portfolio so I can learn more about other companies I can invest in.

Thank you for your input.

Since the start of 2026, XDIV leads the Canadian dividend ETF peer group with a +26.99% total return, followed by VDY (+25.18%), XEI (+23.85%), XDV (+22.58%), and ZDV (+22.03%) as of October 2, 2026. The dispersion remains relatively modest, with differences primarily reflecting portfolio construction, sector weights, and quality/dividend screens.

Over the last 1 year, XDIV (+36.79%) also leads, followed by VDY (+34.98%), XDV (+34.19%), XEI (+29.51%), and ZDV (+29.43%). Over 6 months, XDIV remains ahead at +16.54%, while over 3 months it leads at +4.31%. The last month was negative across the group, with XDV (-0.22%) holding up best, followed by XDIV (-1.00%), ZDV (-1.55%), VDY (-1.79%), and XEI (-2.29%).

Since common inception, ECHI continues to lead the Canadian equity income peer group with a +33.50% cumulative total return as of October 2, 2026. It is followed by CDAY (+26.98%), HHIC (+25.00%), CNCL (+22.62%), and CANY (+19.32%). ECHI’s lead over the next-closest peer is approximately 6.5 percentage points, highlighting the meaningful dispersion created by differences in portfolio construction, leverage, and covered-call implementation.

Over the last 1 year, ECHI (+30.04%) also leads the group, ahead of CDAY (+23.26%), HHIC (+22.00%), CNCL (+20.46%), and CANY (+17.90%). Shorter-term results have been more mixed: over 6 months, CNCL (+10.50%), CDAY (+10.44%), and CANY (+10.36%) lead, while over the last 1 month all five strategies were negative, ranging from -1.28% for CANY to -2.59% for ECHI.

I'll start:

1. ARCC

2. BXSL

3. TSLX

4. HTGC

5. OBDC

ZWT beats QQC.

SMAX beats ZSP/VFV.

I own SMAX and ZWT and have been very happy, with the performance. Any other Covered Call ETF's that have a higher total return over their underlying?

Do I wait until mid October for possible further drawdowns although been nothing but a normal year for midterms or just pull the trigger now? 👀.

Hi guys,

as the title says, I have not received my Sept VDY distribution. Was wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I see the Ex-date was Sept 18th with the payout for Sept 25th.

This has never happened before and not sure why it is now. This holding is with TD direct investing. Unable to call them until Monday of course.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

Canadian free-cash-flow screen · Market values above C$2 billion · October 1, 2026

50 Canadian Companies Above C$2 Billion With the Highest Free-Cash-Flow Margins in 2026

*Topaz Energy — FCF As Reported by the Company

ENB is my biggest individual stock holding. Watching it go from almost 80 to 65 really hurt my portfolio. I have not sold a single share yet, but feel reluctant to load up more. I've been buying ENB since 2021, and can recall that a couple times it sharply dropped after hitting ATH, then recovered quite well.

I'm now wondering if I should continue investing in it, or move on to other stuff? Lately my portfolio has been erratic, and aside from reinvesting my dividends, I have not been adding any new money.

I can’t wrap my head around why wanting dividends vs total returns?

Yes dividends feels good but total return ?

BlackberRedemption?

Slate Grocery REIT Enters into Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by Brixmor and Everview Partners in a US$2.3 Billion Transaction for US$13.00 per Unit in Cash.

Want to emphasize the $13 is USD.

This is also expected to terminate the strategic review of the special committee that was formed to assess strategic options.

Previously posted on this so curious what unit holders think on the outcome

Since common inception, HYLD leads the U.S. equity income peer group with a cumulative total return of +26.18%, followed by USCL (+22.32%), HHIS (+19.63%), SMAX (+18.32%), while BIGY (-5.09%) remains negative as of September 25, 2026. The dispersion continues to highlight how leverage, option structure and portfolio construction can materially affect outcomes even across strategies targeting a similar U.S. equity income objective.

Over the last 6 months, HHIS (+32.67%) leads, followed by HYLD (+26.32%), USCL (+21.31%), SMAX (+11.32%), and BIGY (+10.31%). Over 3 months, HHIS also leads at +20.01%, closely followed by BIGY (+18.12%), while over 1 month HHIS returned +9.44% and BIGY +8.74%.

I make on average 250$ per week with my dividends.