Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

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Sep 8, 2021

Dividend Aristocrat Albemarle Bets Big on Lithium
Image Source: Albemarle Corporation – May 2021 IR Presentation. Dividend Aristocrat Albemarle Corp is a specialty chemicals company with three core business operating segments; ‘Lithium’ (primarily used for battery storage solutions), ‘Catalysts’ (primarily used in the oil refining industry), and ‘Bromine Specialties’ (primarily used as flame retardants). The company is focused on aggressively growing its lithium derivatives operations going forward, Albemarle’s largest in terms of revenues and most profitable in terms of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA performance. Albemarle offers investors a way to play both the ongoing EV boom and the recovery in global refined petroleum product demand (via its Catalysts business operating segment) as the world slowly emerges from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Let's learn more about this fascinating idea.

Jan 13, 2021

Surveying the Clean Energy Landscape for Ideas
Image Source: American Electric Power Company Inc (AEP) – January 2021 IR Presentation.  There’s a lot of interest in clean energy these days! Though our favorite ideas within a portfolio context are always the ideas within the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio, the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio, the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio, and the Exclusive publication, we also highlight interesting ideas via our articles that we publish on our website. In this article, let’s dig deep into the clean energy space. We’ll talk more about 1) Ameresco (AMRC), one of the green energy ideas we highlighted in the past that has performed incredibly well, 2) NextEra (NEE), a large utility “family” to keep an eye on (a utility firm and a merchant power spinoff), 3) First Solar (FSLR), a US-based manufacturer of solar panels, and 4) various alternative fuel and power storage companies, including Clean Energy Fuels Corp (CLNE) and Gevo Inc (GEVO). The recently-passed omnibus spending package in the US included significant funds to support various alternative and renewable energy activities. For example, the production tax credit for wind farms was extended for one year while the investment tax credit for solar plants was extended by two years. This is a major benefit for both manufacturers of solar modules and wind turbines along with the utility firms (XLU) that would own/operate such assets. Looking ahead, we expect that the US federal government will be very accommodative toward the green energy space as President-elect Biden and the incoming US Congress (which will be controlled by the Democratic Party) will likely step up federal investments in the space (such as subsidies, low or no interest loans, favorable procurement contracts, and other considerations). The share prices of various solar companies are on the rise as witnessed through the performance of funds such as Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) surging higher of late, while the impressive price performance of iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) showcases the widespread nature of investor excitement toward almost all green energy oriented firms. Other securities in this realm include ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) and SPDR S&P Kensho Clean Power ETF (CNRG).

Nov 9, 2018

Our Reports on Stocks in the Solar Industry
We have dropped coverage of stocks in the Solar industry.

Jun 4, 2018

Solar Not So Hot
Image Source: zak zak. Though First Solar stands alone as one of the stronger players in the solar space, we think the industry backdrop is among the weakest in our coverage universe. We’re huge fans of clean renewable energy but separating what we want to be a good industry like solar from an industry that actually has strong structural characteristics is a key component of being a good investor. Oftentimes, it is better to own an average company in a great industry than a good company in one of the worst industries out there.

Feb 7, 2018

Hasbro, Boeing Pop as Market Bounces Back
Image Source: US Missile Defense Agency. June 22, 2014 - The Missile Defense Agency's Flight Test 06b Ground-Based Interceptor launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. on June 22, 2014. The markets have finally been getting the volatility that we’ve all been waiting for, and we don’t like the idea that the market is now trading more like a cryptocurrency. Granted, it’s important to stay focused over a long-term time horizon, which irons out the ups and downs, but there’s just something about 1,000+ daily swings on the Dow Jones Industrial Average that really doesn’t sit well with us, regardless of what that implies with respect to the percentage change. Can you imagine -- All of this over just a couple basis point increase in the 10-year and one very, very small ETF losing most of its value? What if something truly material happens? This market is fragile.

Jan 23, 2018

Bioverativ’s Takeout, Visa’s Surge, and General Electric’s Pain
From Bioverativ’s takeout to Visa’s stock price surge to General Electric’s continued pain, there’s a lot going on in the stock market. Let’s cover some ground.

Feb 23, 2017

Is Clean Energy Just Burning Cash?
Image Source: Chuck Coker. Clean or renewable energy sources will undoubtedly be a part of how we generate power in the future, but how investible is the space? The answer is largely dependent on your risk tolerance.

Nov 10, 2016

Assessing Reactions to Trump’s Victory
Image Source: Gage Skidmore. Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States of America. Let’s dig into some of the reactions across the market. We’re keeping our cool.

Nov 29, 2014

$45 Oil Prices!?!? There Is Never a Sense of Urgency When One Is Prepared
Friday brought mass selling across the energy sector. In our view, crude oil prices could hit $45 per barrel in the next few years before recovering.

Oct 6, 2014

The Correction: Markets Continue to Breathe Sigh of Relief Monday
The market shrugs off GT Advanced bankruptcy.