Sold RSG, bought FPL and AAPL

I sold my remaining RSG stock at $26.17. I bought 1% FPL at $54.65 and 3.5% AAPL at $204.96.

I'm currently 33% in cash, but 20% is securing puts which expire between now and February 2010--so, about 10% investable cash. I have both covered calls and secured puts expiring next month, and I plan to increase my cash position.

RSG called away early

EDIT: RSG was called away a day earlier than I thought; the sale posted to my account on the 29th, but was executed on the 28th. Since the shares were called before the ex-dividend date, the dividend went with them.

In June, I sold 5 $25 October calls on my RSG stock; the stock is now trading at $26 and change, so imagine my surprise when the shares were called away yesterday on no news! They were called away on the ex-dividend date, so the buyer chose to call the shares on the very first day they wouldn't get the dividend. I'm baffled, but I'm happy to keep the dividend; it's a nice 2.87% yield at the current price of $26.50. I bought the shares at $19.11, so my yield is higher.

The dividend is $0.76 per share. The yield is the dividend divided by the current share price; this is the money you get in dividends for every dollar you spend.

$0.76/$26.50 = 2.87%

So for every hundred dollars I spend on RSG, I'll get $2.87 back this year.

However, I bought RSG at a lower price. My shares increased in value, but I'm paid the same dividend as all the other common shareholders.

My dividend yield is:

$0.76/$19.11 = 3.98%

For every hundred dollars of my original investment, I'm getting $3.98 per year.

This is why I like dividend bearing stocks, and why I keep a close eye on them.

Helpful links on dividends:
the SEC: http://www.sec.gov/answers/dividen.htm
Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/02/110802.asp

Covered calls

I've written covered calls on the following positions:

McKesson MCK: 2 August $45, paying $2.10 per share
Quest Diagnostics: DGX: 2 August $60, paying $0.65 per share
Republic Services: RSG: 5 October $25, paying $1.15 per share
Avery-Dennison: AVY: 4 October $30, paying $0.40 per share
Verizon: VZ: 4 August $31, paying $0.90 per share