4Q 2025 Investment Strategy Update

2025 is really not the year for the faint hearted. We have a USA president that is weaponizing tariffs to change world order to prevent the rise of China and forcing company to shift manufacturing back to USA. Whether it is effective or not still remains to be seen, but cost is rising in USA as these tariffs are pass on to customers. We also have 3 regional military conflicts happening within a single year, from "Thailand - Cambodia conflict" to "Israel - Gaza Hamas war" to "Russia - Ukraine war" which is still on-going after 3 years, it is really beyond words that stock market can continue to rise and break their respective top records. In USA this year, we have the AI related industry leading the way, while back in Singapore, we have our 3 top banks to thank for as investor flock to these safe heaven equity.

DJI ended at 48063, an increase of 1666 points (+3.59%) compared to 3Q 2025. For Singapore, STI ended at 4646, an increase of 346 points (+8.04%) compared to last quarter. Banks in Singapore (50.5% STI weightage) continues to drive the STI direction and for once, STI has outperform DJI significantly.

With 2024 drawing to a close, it is time for the annual review against my 3 year plan (Next 3 years (2023 - 2025) Investment Plan) set back in Nov 2022. Below are my result:

Original 2023-2025 plan:

1. 50% Equity, 50% Reits/Trusts
2. Portfolio Dividend Yield to be 3.80% in 2023, 4.30% in 2024, 4.80% in 2025.

End 2025 result:

1. 49.56% Equity, 50.44% Reits/Trusts
2. 78.29% SG Equity, 21.71% USA Equity

Portfolio Yield at 3.73% in 2025 (+0.27% from 2024, and miss 2025 4.80% target)

Verdict: Miss Target

Note: In 2025, Prime US Reit only gave out dividend at a reduced rate (50%). Keppel Pacific Oak US Reit elected to suspend dividend until 2H2025.

Below is my end 2025 portfolio snapshot:

Total dividend received in 2025: $7,758.09 (~$646.50/month)

In this quarter, I did a few buy-ins for REITS that I felt is currently undervalued, so as to position myself for the recovery in the next 2 years.

Transaction 1: Bought 1 batch Prime US REIT shares in December.

The USA real estate has began to recover as tenants started expanding for more office space to accommodate more employees returning back to office. All these will be positive for USA REITs as their occupancy rate rises. Not to mention, Prime has started to increase the dividend rate from 10% to 50%

Transaction 2: Bought 1 batch DBS shares in December.

Our darling for the year as a series of strong results cause the share price to rise from $43+ in January to $56+ (+30%) in December. Who knows if this continues on, we may see a $100 DBS in the next 3 years.

Transaction 3: Bought 1 batch IREIT Global shares in December.

Berlin Campus is currently in the process to change from a single-let property to a multi-let, mixed-used property. Target to finish in 2027, it should directly result in a dividend increase. Time to buy in first for positioning while the price is low.

Transaction 4: Sold 1 batch Marriott shares in December.

I just think it is time to cash in while the price is high and use the proceed to buy in Visa as it is a more stable equity whose price will rise with time due to their share buy-back program.

Transaction 5: Bought 1 batch Visa shares in December.

For stability in slow price appreciation due to their share buyback program and improvement in business year after year.

That is all for now. See you all in Q1 2026 update and thank you for reading thus far.

Next 3 years (2026 - 2028) Investment Plan

I believe "Chaos" is an appropriate term to define 2025. With Trump tariffs re-ordering world's trade, regional wars erupting in parts of the world (See Thailand - Cambodia conflict; Israel - Gaza Hamas war; Russia - Ukraine war which is still on-going after 3 years), it is really amazing that stock market can still rise and break their respective top records.

Looking back the last 3 years, I am glad that my passive income dividend portfolio is still going strong. This year, I am expecting the dividend yield should be around 3.6% to 3.8% range, pending the finalization of some small tweaks I have done the last few days. The dividend yield could be higher, if my current USA reits have started giving their dividend, which they are planning to in 2026. 

For the next 3 year, my target will be similar as the current (2023 - 2025) Plan cycle, with a slight tweak to aim for higher dividend yield:

1. 50% Equity, 50% Reits/Trusts
2. Portfolio Dividend Yield to be 4.00% in 2026, 4.50% in 2027, 4.80% in 2028.

I will likely to continue load up on US Reits listed on SGX as they are still undervalued at the moment, together with our brightest star (DBS). Who knows, we may see a $100 DBS within the next 3 years.

Japan Day 20 - Shiroi Koibito Park & JR Tower Observatory T38

15 Nov - Time flies and tomorrow will marked the end of our 3 weeks in Japan. For today, only plan was to go visit the Shiroi Koibito Park and catch the sunset at JR Tower Observatory T38. I must say that the breakfast venue of our JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo is simply fantastic. They have the highest breakfast dining location where you literally have an unobstructed view of the sunrise (provided you rise early to queue and get the best seat). 

Watching sunrise while having breakfast

After breakfast, we took a train to JR Hassamu Station and walk to Shiroi Koibito Park.

Passing by Hassamu Nishi Park

Shiroi Koibito Park is a theme park by Ishiya, consisting of a free area with a shop, cafe and restaurant and a paid area with various chocolate-related exhibits and, most interestingly, viewing windows through which visitors can observe their signature Shiroi Koibito cookie production process. There are also paid workshop classes available to create your own cookies if you are interested.

Shiroi Koibito Park entrance

Within the park, it also has an hourly Mechanical Clock Tower show where it consists of a parade of jolly singing and dancing mechanical dolls.

Bus theme seats for a cafe

Catching the sun setting at JR Tower Observatory T38

As the day closes, it is time to pack our luggage to head home tomorrow. We will be transiting Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Hopefully, we will have some time to spare for their signature bubble milk tea!

Japan Day 19 - 四季彩の丘, Biei Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls & Farm Tomita

14 Nov - Today is a day trip out to the Furano area. At current time of the year, it is already the off peak season and flowers are past their blooming time, we are expecting much lesser crowd. However, the sky seems to have its own idea and started snowing the moment we entered the mountains. The weather really caught us off guard this year as we are not expecting Japan to have a very short autumn.

At the very least, we experienced our first ever snowfall overseas! And it is a heavy one.

四季彩の丘

When in season, the background will have flowers in full bloom

We are expecting to see an azure pond, but......

the snow has covered the Biei Pond.

Entrance to Shirahige Falls

Shirahige Falls

Shirahige Falls with background bridge

Farm Tomita is also the same situation. All the fields are emptied of flowers during this off season, with the exception of its green house, where you can still catch some lavender in bloom. Its cafe is still open and they serve really good Hokkaido Danshaku Potato Croquette.

Farm Tomita

Lavender in green house

Japan Day 18 - Sapporo Clock Tower and TV Tower

13 Nov - After fond memories of Hakodate last night, we bid goodbye to the city in the morning and took a train to our final destination for this trip - Sapporo. Arriving in the late afternoon, we quickly checked into our hotel (JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo) and left to explore the surrounding before retiring for the night. Not too bad, we managed to have our dinner in between and covered the Sapporo Clock Tower and TV Tower. 

For the Sapporo TV Tower, it is a re-visit after 13 years. Same place, different company, different vibes. 

Sapporo Clock Tower

The Sapporo Clock Tower is a wooden structure of American design developed in the 1870s with assistance from the American government. It is known by many as the symbol of the city and is a main feature of almost all domestic and international tours of Sapporo. The clock after which it is named continues to run and keep time, and the chimes can be heard every hour.

Final touch-ups for the "The Sapporo White Illumination" which runs from Nov 2025 to Mar 2026

Sapporo TV Tower

The Sapporo TV Tower, built in 1957, is a 147.2-metre-high TV tower with an observation deck at a height of 90.38 metres. Remembering that Hokkaido is well known for their milk ice-cream, we went around searching for the ice-cream shop that we patronized 13 years ago, but unfortunately, it was no longer there. As time is limited, we took some photos and return to our hotel to rest in preparation for the full day road trip tomorrow.

Sapporo TV Tower up close

Japan Day 17 - Goryōkaku & Mount Hakodate (Million-Dollar View)

12 Nov - Having scouted Hakodate surrounding the previous night, we focused on the main agenda today, which is visiting Goryōkaku in the morning & Mount Hakodate in the evening. After a full breakfast in our hotel, we set off for a train ride to Goryōkaku Station using our JR Pass.

Front of JR Hakodate Station

JR Goryōkaku Station

Manhole with Goryōkaku design

Goryōkaku is originally a star fortress completed in 1866, serving as the main headquarters of the short-lived Republic of Ezo. Most recently, it was featured in Detective Conan Movie 27: The Million-Dollar Pentagram which was released in theaters on April 12, 2024. This attraction was already an Instagram spot for tourist to begin with, so it is a must visit spot when we are in Hakodate! 

Base of Goryōkaku Park

View of Goryōkaku Fort from the tower

To catch the Million-Dollar view from Mount Hakodate, we need to reach the top before sunset and before the horde of tourists arrival. Sparing no time, we left Goryōkaku after we took our share of photos and took a taxi to the Hakodate Ropeway. Mount Hakodate offers one of the world's best night views, earning it the nickname "Million-Dollar Nightscape" and a Michelin three-star rating, known for its unique fan-shaped city lights framed by the sea on both sides, best seen at dusk after sunset to witness the transition from day to night.

Top of Mount Hakodate

Waiting for the transition from day to night Million-Dollar View

To escape squeezing with the crowds and the cold, we decided to comfortably have our dinner at Restaurant Genova. To get the best seats, you need to start queuing 30mins before the restaurant opens at 4pm. Though the food is a bit pricey, I assure you it is well worth the money spent.

Last shot of the scene while waiting for the crowd to disperse 90mins after sunset. We still need to queue another 30mins to take the ropeway down.

Japan Day 16 - Hakodate (Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse & Hachiman-Zaka Slope)

11 Nov - As we bid goodbye to Sendai, we took the Shinkansen to Hakodate and arrived at the destination around 3pm. Noticeably colder and more windy than Sendai, we quickly head to our hotel to check-in. As daylight is shorter coming to winter (Sunset around 4.40pm during this period), we headed out again to explore our surrounding before night falls.

JR Hakodate Station

Our hotel for the next 2 days - Premier Hotel Cabin President

They got lots of cute bears in the lobby

Exploring Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse

Hachiman-Zaka Slope

Dinner at Lucky Pierrot, which is recommended by my colleague

Ordered Oyakodon and burgers

Unique building covered with red plants