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Good News: Shutdown Over. Bad News: Everything Else

Well… the government finally reopened, but the economic data that trickled out this week basically said, “Surprise! Things still suck.” 

Between collapsing consumer sentiment, a labor market that’s flashing red like a cheap Vegas motel sign, and the longest shutdown ever (congrats, I guess?), this week gave us a whole new batch of “WTF is going on?” moments. 

The good news? There are still fantastic dividend plays on deck and we made some portfolio moves worth talking about. Let’s dive in.

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Economic News

1️⃣ Consumer Sentiment Is in the Toilet

The October consumer sentiment report fell 6.2% from September and a brutal 30% year-over-year. The trifecta of misery? Shutdown drama, inflation, and a general “the economy feels like hot garbage” vibe.

With no government data for weeks, surveys like this are all we’ve had — and while surveys aren’t perfect, they’re still telling us the same story: people are stressed, pissed, and not spending like they used to.

2️⃣ Layoffs: Worst October in 20 Years

October layoffs just clocked in as the worst in two decades.

Let’s stack the problems:

  • 1.1 million layoffs year-to-date
  • Hiring is the weakest since 2011
  • Seasonal hiring (Oct–Jan) is the worst since 2012

If you’re thinking, “Wow, that sounds like a deteriorating labor market,” you’d be right. Meanwhile, policymakers are arguing about healthcare and taxes like a bad sitcom while ignoring inflation and job losses. Classic “watch my left hand while my right hand screws you” political theater.

3️⃣ Shutdown Ends… For Now

Good news: the government reopened.

Bad news: the deal only funds things through January, so we might do all this bullshit again soon.

But at least we’ll start getting real economic data again — and given the recent reports, I’m not sure whether to look forward to it or hide under a blanket.

Top 10 IINvestments Going Ex-Dividend Next Week

This week’s list? Chef’s kiss. A clean mix of retirement-friendly dividend growers and juicy income plays.

A few notes before we dive in:

  • KRP is royalty-based → ignore the P/E; either it prints cash or it doesn’t.
  • LPG is a secret income gem → many sites say “0% yield,” but that’s because they pay a special dividend when they have the cash.
  • SRV is an MLP-focused CEF.
  • The rest is a well-balanced mix of gas, oil, semiconductors, freight, utilities, BDCs, and communication REITs.

This week’s lineup:

  • 1 CEF: SRV
  • 1 BDC: GLAD
  • 1 Propane: LPG
  • 1 Semiconductor: SWKS
  • 2 Upstream Oil: KRP & MNR
  • 1 Freight: UPS
  • 1 Utility: BKH
  • 1 Oil Transportation: TRMD
  • 1 Communication REIT: SPOK

We personally hold SRV, SWKS, LPG, KRP, UPS, BKH, and TRMD.

Basically half our damn portfolio decided to go ex-dividend this week — which is not a bad problem to have.

Portfolio Updates

Retirement Portfolio:

1️⃣ ABR Gets the Axe (Half of It, Anyway)

We cut our ABR position in half after a truly “straight caca” earnings report. The latest dividend was only possible because they sold assets — giant red flag. Time to trim.

2️⃣ ABR → DX Swap

With the ABR proceeds, we rotated into DX, another mREIT — but one that actually had solid earnings:

  • Growing revenue
  • Growing EPS
  • Growing net income
  • And it pays monthly ($0.17/share)

Financially, the swap is a win:

  • Lost from ABR: $58 a quarter
  • Gained from DX: $75 a quarter

Net gain: +$17 a quarter
Not to brag but… we bragging.

Vanning Portfolio:

3️⃣ ABR Also Gets Halved

Same story here — ABR’s earnings were dumpster juice, so we chopped the position in half.

4️⃣ ABR → WLKP Swap

We moved the freed-up capital into WLKP, a 10%-yield ethylene chemical company. Target price is $26, and while Q3 was meh, 2026–2027 look bright.

Income impact:

  • Lost from ABR: $60 a quarter
  • Gained from WLKP: $48 a quarter
  • Net difference: –$12 a quarter

NOT SO NICE!!! 

This isn’t ideal, but we’re buying a 2026–2027 opportunity, not a quick income fix.

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