Investment Update: $1,727.73 Biweekly Purchases (November 28, 2025)

While I maintain regular investment activity through dividend reinvestment, the majority of my investment capital is deployed directly following my biweekly payday, which typically lands on a Friday.

My core liquidity strategy involves maintaining a minimum threshold in my High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA) to cover routine bill payments and maximize monthly interest accrual. Any funds accumulated above this operational buffer are then evaluated for compelling investment opportunities. If market conditions do not present attractive entry points, the capital is allowed to grow in the HYSA, capitalizing on the elevated interest rates until an opportunity arises.

The Trades

This Friday, I executed trades totaling $1,727.73, funded by a $1,700 deposit from my paycheck combined with residual cash from dividend payments in my portfolio. The primary motivation for this deployment was to buy back shares of an ETF I had strategically sold earlier in the month to free up liquidity for what I perceived to be more immediate investment opportunities.

1. Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB) – Liquidity and Dividend Capture

My largest transaction this payday was the acquisition of 25 shares of the Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB).

Rationale for the Purchase:

Earlier this month, I liquidated 100 shares of VWOB to secure cash for several purchases, primarily in PayPal (PYPL) and other individual stocks where I identified favorable entry points. The decision to replenish my VWOB position today was based on a few key factors:

1. PYPL Goal Nearly Met: My position in PayPal (PYPL) has grown aggressively over the last month, reaching over 90 shares. The share price has stabilized and begun to rebound, as I’ve approached my established 100-share goal. Had the decline persisted, I would have allocated more capital to PYPL, but the stabilization shifted my focus. 2. Dividend Capture: The ex-dividend date for VWOB is December 1, 2025. Given the upcoming weekend, today was the final trading day to secure the payment. Historically, VWOB has paid two dividends in December—one early and one late—often followed by no payment in January. By purchasing these 25 shares, I successfully secured the first dividend payment of the month.

Forward Strategy:

My plan for December is to utilize the incoming dividends and potentially additional deposits to purchase more stocks and ETFs, but I do not anticipate further purchases of VWOB this year. I expect to receive a potential five-figure CVS stock payout from my CVS Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) in January 2026. Assuming the CVS stock price holds steady, I plan to sell those shares mid-January and use the proceeds to buy back the remaining 75 VWOB shares that were sold off this month, fully restoring my original position. The remaining funds of that ESPP sale will be deployed to other opportunities that may present themselves at that time.

2. PayPal (PYPL) – Value and Free Cash Flow Power

My secondary, smaller investment today involved purchasing 0.49 shares of PayPal (PYPL). This small acquisition was funded by residual cash accumulated from dividend payments received in my accounts on Friday.

PayPal has been the most aggressive allocation in my portfolio over the past month. My current position is now over 90 shares, and I anticipate surpassing my 100-share count goal in December purely through dividend reinvestment. Depending on if the share price falls in the future, I may consider growing my position further.