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95Today it clicked - the first dividend from $HTGC (+0.86%) has landed in my account. 🏦💥 And I'm telling you: no matter how small or large the amount - this feeling is priceless. 😏 It's not just "money", it's proof that your capital is working for you while you're chilling, drinking coffee or playing Nintendo. 🚀 (unfortunately no $7974 (-2.54%) Nintendo share in my portfolio)
The first dividend is like the first date - exciting, emotional and a foretaste of what's to come.
🔝🔛
Clean dividend payer with divi-reinvestment plan.
But I have to answer each corporate action individually with my broker and no standing order for reinvestment possible, unfortunately. But little work. 😃
Happy investing
GG
At the end of July, I made the decision to break up my portfolio. This is just a visual change, but it will take me back below 100,000 euros.
What did I do?
I decided to split my portfolio into three parts. Of course, as I said, this is only a visual change. But it allows me to make a somewhat more concrete evaluation.
But first, as usual, let's take a look at the S&P500:
For once, the S&P500 was up almost continuously in July. There was only a dip at the end of August. The main reason for the rise was the regulated tariffs.
In my opinion, the stock market reacts very quickly and very positively to any regulations, which, as we all know, can also be quickly discarded.
In the end, the S&P500 gained +3.97% (USD). In EUR terms, it is even up 6.1%.
Now let's move on to my new portfolio allocation. For the time being, nothing has changed in terms of positions. However, I have turned one portfolio into three or simply sorted things out.
On the one hand, of course, I have my share portfolio, which also serves as a review here.
Secondly, I have taken out my XEON. It's still running, of course, because that's the money that will be used to pay off the loan in five years' time. I don't need to keep that in retrospect.
I have also created a "pension portfolio". This contains my ETFs, which I save a total of €650 per month. This doesn't need to be included in the review either, as the savings plans are running there and there shouldn't be any changes until retirement.
What remains is my share portfolio, which contains the individual shares and gold.
As you can see, my performance is +1.45%.
The S&P500 has massively outperformed me here. At the same time, the MSCI World has also risen by 4.4%. Over the year as a whole, my portfolio is now down -1.7%, while the MSCI World is still down -2.7%. The S&P is even at -4.1%
Only the DAX is still outperforming everyone. Over the year, it is now up +17.7%.
My high and low performers in July were (top 3):
Tractor Supply ($TSCO (+0.38%) )+15,85%
British American Tobacco ($BATS (-1.42%) ) +15,59%
Ping An insurance ($2318 (-1.09%) ) +13,52%
Nestlé ($NESN (+0.4%) ) -9,32%
Nintendo ($7974 (-2.54%) ) -11,07%
United Health ($UNH (-1.98%) ) -16,29%
Dividends:
In July, I received €56.87 net from a total of 8 distributions.
Compared to July 2024 (€74.17), this was a reduction of 23.32%.
The difference is due to the fact that Ping An already paid in June this year.
Due to my new portfolio allocation, I have excluded the ETF dividends in each case and therefore the dividend is now of course also visually much lower. The dividends received in the bond portfolio flow 1:1 back into the ETFs.
Investments:
The bill for the car has finally arrived. It amounts to around €1200. Of course, that sets me back enormously. But the worst is yet to come.
The tax was due on 31.07. Well, I was already aware that I had to pay it. However, the sum amounts to €4,000 in arrears. But where does that come from? My old employer paid me a special payment from the old year (i.e. 2023), which was untaxed except for the pension contributions. I got away with it and of course I have to pay an enormous amount as a result. This is also deducted from my nest egg, which makes it worthwhile to have a nest egg.
This means I'm starting almost from scratch again with my nest egg. However, the inspection is due next month at the latest, including an oil change and possibly a brake change.
That would probably use up the nest egg completely. If the brakes don't need to be changed, I can also use the coffee money.
Let's see what August or September at the latest brings.
Buying and selling:
There were no sales in July either.
I added to Gladstone Invest ($GAIN (+0.17%) ) (150 shares) and Hercules Capital ($HTGC (+0.86%) ) (14.45 shares)
savings plans (125€ in total):
Goals 2025:
I have to change my targets slightly - together with the portfolio. Overall, the €130,000 at the end of the year will remain, but this target will of course be made smaller and the focus will only be on the dividend portfolio.
To be honest, I haven't thought about the target there yet.
Target achievement at the end of July 2025 (in relation to the €130,000): 58.33%
How was your July?
What else would be of interest or what could I do better in the review?
If you liked the report and would like to read more, feel free to follow me,
If you're not interested, you can keep scrolling or use the block function.
$HTGC (+0.86%)
Hercules Capital Q2 2025: Strong NII growth despite venture capital slump
Introduction and market context
Hercules Capital (NYSE: HTGC ), a leading business development company (BDC) specializing in venture capital, reported its second quarter 2025 financial results on July 31, 2025. Despite the ongoing challenges in the venture capital ecosystem, the company continues to maintain its position as a highly rated BDC focused on the innovation economy.
The shares closed at USD 18.91 on July 31, down 0.79%. However, it showed signs of recovery in after-hours trading, gaining 0.42 percent. With a 52-week range of USD 15.65 to USD 22.04, Hercules is trading at a significant premium to its net asset value, reflecting investor confidence in its business model and dividend yield.
Quarterly performance highlights
Hercules Capital reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025 with total investment income of $137.5 million, up 10% from $125.0 million in the second quarter of 2024. Net investment income (NII) reached $88.7 million ($0.50 per share), an increase of 8% year-over-year, but was slightly lower per share than the same period last year ($0.51).
Forward-looking statements
Despite signs of a slowdown in the venture capital ecosystem - venture capital investments in the second quarter of 2025 amounted to USD 26.6 billion and represent a moderate pace compared to the 2021 peak - Hercules remains optimistic about its pipeline and growth opportunities. Thanks to its selective lending approach and close relationships with venture capital firms, the company is well positioned to navigate the current environment.
In the Q1 2025 earnings conference call, CEO Scott Bluestein pointed out that Hercules tends to "perform much better in times of market and macro volatility," suggesting that the current environment could provide opportunities for the company to capitalize on its expertise and market position.
With available liquidity of $785.6 million and a strong balance sheet, Hercules has significant capacity to fund new investments while maintaining its dividend. The company's annualized base dividend yield of 8.8% (as of June 30, 2025) makes it an attractive option for income-oriented investors, especially given its track record of additional dividends.
Before the moment is over again, I would like to take a moment to celebrate my first small milestone: after almost a year of active trading, I have reached €10,000.
Most of the time I was still a student - with small savings rates, a lot of curiosity and learning by doing (and many mistakes). I've now been working as an engineer for a month and can invest properly for the first time. I'm excited to see where the journey will take me.
I am pursuing a long-term growth strategy, but I also like the charm of dividends as a motivator. With half of the bonuses, I will probably buy individual shares or burn a penny or two by gambling.
I know things aren't going perfectly, but I'm prepared to learn from mistakes and constantly question my strategy.
One small fly in the ointment: my Mercedes shares are currently still blocked.
I look forward to your feedback, experiences and tips - on the subject of crypto, I'm still torn as to whether I've missed the party.
Savings plans: 690€
200€ - $IWDA (+0.72%)
60€ - $EIMI (+0.04%)
40€ each - $JEGP (-0.01%)
$MAIN (+0.51%)
25€ each - $NOVO B (+6.8%)
$HTGC (+0.86%)
$GOOGL (+1.23%)
$WMT (-0.61%)
$CRWD (+10.14%)
$AMZN (+0.24%)
$MELI (+1.69%)
$META (+0.85%)
$NET (+4.49%)
$ALV (+0.78%)
$WM (+0.67%)
$ASML (+6.23%)
$SAP (+4.01%)
$PLTR (+5.5%)
AHEAD: Starting next month, my Instagram monthly recaps will only show the most important facts and figures on the slides of the Instagram post. The detailed text version will appear here on getquin. This makes it easier to absorb the information and makes the Instagram posts clearer.
I will divide the monthly review into a portfolio update and a review for private finances. I could also create a separate review for dividends and reinvestments. My aim is to motivate people to take responsibility for their own finances and to build up their wealth. The whole thing is based on my experience reports from my personal everyday financial life, tailored to the respective target group for each sub-post. Let's see how well I succeed.
Here is the last All-In-One post.
While many have continued to panic about Trump, I think I have understood that the whole tariff issue is only intended to depress the markets so that the USA can refinance itself at much lower interest rates when a good USD 7 trillion of the USD 36 trillion of national debt matures this year. That's why I preferred to keep on hiking, while the portfolio rewarded me with plenty of dividends for the month.
I present the following points for the past month of April 2025:
➡️ SHARES
➡️ ETFS
➡️ DISTRIBUTIONS
➡️ AFTER-PURCHASES
➡️ CASHBACK
➡️ P2P CREDITS
➡️ CRYPTO
➡️ AND OTHER?
➡️ OUTLOOK
➡️ Shares
So the second of April was the aforementioned day of liberation. And it was indeed one, the day of liberation from the excessive overvaluations in US equities. Unfortunately, there was also other collateral damage, but in the end there will be none, as it is all just book losses.
The trap in the US government budget that I would like to briefly point out is the national debt to GDP ratio of 123%, as of March 2025. In Germany, it is around 63%. This is stiflingly high and means that economic output is not enough to keep the national debt in check! Therefore new new "money" has to be printed for refinancing. And this money reaches us through asset price inflation. The illustration is, of course, highly simplified, but that is why we invest.
A look at my portfolio shows me that my individual shares $NFLX (-0.98%) my previous class leader $AVGO (-0.25%) has at least just caught up in terms of performance. Nevertheless, Broadcom remains the largest position in terms of volume. Who knows for how much longer?
Netflix's performance has recovered to +184%, Broadcom's is +182%. I'm watching the spectacle, but I'm letting the savings plans continue. Nothing more will be done here, as Beate Sander once said: the horses stay in the stable. Behind the two draught horses $WMT (-0.61%) 3rd place in terms of volume and $SAP (+4.01%) in 3rd place in terms of performance with +110%. In the last review, I reported that the waste disposal service provider $RSG (+0.42%) had risen steadily. It is now losing a few places again, but rising $V (-1.8%) and $MA (-0.61%) are rising together and both are already knocking on the door of the top 5 from the outside. The performance of both is similar and decent with +44%/+42%.
As always, the last places in the main stock portfolio are occupied by the same suspects. $NKE (-0.26%) , $TGT (+0.66%) and $HTGC (+0.86%) are the smallest positions. In terms of performance, Nike and Target are the worst performers at -40%.$DHR (+0.68%) as well. But that leaves me cold. In the current macro situation, this is hardly to be expected otherwise. The "neighbor indicator" fits, because most of the shoes on their doorstep (larger family) are Nike shoes. I'm thinking about adjusting my savings plans so that these values receive a higher proportion of my net salary.
➡️ ETFs
The impact of Trump's tariff policy was also clearly felt in the prices of my ETFs in April, leading to significant losses. It is important to remain calm in such volatile times and continue to invest strategically. Such phases are part and parcel of long-term asset accumulation.
➡️ Distributions
In April, I was pleased to receive 19 distributions on 8 payout days. This additional income stream is a valuable addition to my normal earned income, for which I am very grateful. I recommend everyone to build up this kind of additional income in order to become more financially independent from their traditional main job.
Traditionally, April is not a low-distribution month for me. This time, however, the distributions from my three large ETFs were not paid out at the end of March but in April, which distorted the distributions for both months. This effect made April the second-highest distribution month since I started investing. Otherwise, April is always slightly below the distributions of March.
➡️ Additional purchases
From the refunds below, I bought two one-off savings plans on the $GGRP (+0.47%) and $JEGP (-0.01%) executed. I would have liked to buy more, but I still don't want to touch the nest egg or reserves.
➡️ Cashback
In April, I received a cashback on my electricity bill and a travel allowance from my employer. Part of this was used to pre-finance future expenses and to top up sinking funds, while the other part was invested in an old portfolio via the aforementioned one-off savings plans.
➡️ P2P loans
With Mintos, there were no interest or redemption payments. I always withdraw incoming funds with availability. How are you doing with P2P? Are you also withdrawing from the investment?
➡️ Crypto
April was also a very volatile month for crypto investors. The unrest caused by Trump's tariff policy depressed crypto prices, similar to March. However, prices gradually recovered, indicating that the money supply is already increasing again. This is happening through new debt being purchased in the form of government bonds by the FED, which is essentially the equivalent of 'printing' money. Historically, the $BTC (-0.04%) usually follows this development with a delay of just over 10 weeks, as it is strongly correlated to the money supply at 90%.
I am following the whole thing with interest. My preferred theory of cryptocycles still fits in with the current trend. We are moving back towards 100K and I expect a bullish crossover in Bitcoin. The limit orders are still in the market, even if it will be a long time before they trigger. Of course, I hope that the "normal" bear market will then resume. In a few months' time, we will know whether we will have seen another clear double top in the current bull market.
Here are two key figures from my crypto wallets: monthly performance: +5.5%, performance since the beginning: +56%.
➡️ And what else?
I'm continuing to delve deeper into the use of LLMs and am currently working on my prompting technique. The posts on my Instagram channel that I have published since March have been created with the help of AI, I have used AI to give me ideas for image generation, to have them created naturally and many of the quotes are also AI-generated. I use several LLMs and see significant differences in the outputs. This makes it more diverse and even allows me to merge multiple results. The models are also learning my writing style better and better, with longer generated texts you can still clearly read the generic, but I myself understand better and better how I can use the new technology to improve my productivity instead of letting it replace me. This also applies to my job.
As in the previous month, I am also focusing much more intensively on the topic of nutrition. I avoid added sugar as much as possible. So there was no chocolate bunny for me at Easter and I'm not hungry for chocolate or other sweets. That's a real miracle.
I've also increased my weekly exercise routine once again and am paying close attention to how my body is coping. Instead of two weight training sessions at home, I now do three, instead of three running sessions a week I do a lot and every morning I do some general fitness/cardio and core exercises for my stomach to warm up. The clear aim is to continue building muscle and strengthening my heart health. And I enjoy it, even though the temperature in my apartment has already risen towards 25° Celsius on some days.
I've been hiking twice in Saxon Switzerland, once just under and once over 30 km. On hiking days, I like to leave at 4 a.m. on the first Saxonia Express train. In the fall and early spring, this is even the perfect time to enjoy the sunrise on the sandstone cliffs. For me personally, this is pure healing for the soul and a real quality of life. I can enjoy it without depressing thoughts in my head because I know that my finances are in order and running on autopilot.
➡️ Outlook
May will be a no-spend month for me, simply because I feel like taking on the next challenge. Later in the year, I want to start a Hartz IV/citizen's allowance experiment. I should be able to do this most of the time, as my expenses in March and April were both under €1,000. I'm already looking forward to the evaluation at the end of the challenge.
Links:
Social media links can be found in my profile, also feel free to check out the Instagram version of my review.
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