3 Unique Qualities of Valuentum Members
April 7, 2015
Subscribing to a financial information and analytics service on the Internet is a giant leap for any investor. But there are a few qualities that we think make Valuentum’s service one the most valuable ones out there. Let’s walk through 3 unique qualities of members, and why they value us. I. They Understand That It Is Not Our Job to Agree With Them “There are two requirements for success in Wall Street. One you have to think correctly; and secondly you have to think independently.” – Benjamin Graham People tend to be attracted to others that think in many of the same ways as they do, and this is only a natural phenomenon. People like to form groups to serve
Dividend Growth Portfolio Transaction Alert
April 1, 2015
As previously outlined, we are adding a 3% position in the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) in the Dividend Growth portfolio to replace the recently-removed position in Chevron (CVX). The 20-page ETF report on the XLE and its peers can be downloaded . In the report, we outline our thoughts on the outlook for crude oil and natural gas prices and explain why the XLE tops our list of energy sector ETF ideas. As it relates to Chevron, we very much like the oil and gas giant, but we think the XLE will still position us to capture a potential recovery in crude oil prices but without exposing us to the individual capital budget decisions of any one major
Why Intel Wants Altera
March 30, 2015
In its biggest potential acquisition in history, newsletter portfolio holding Intel (INTC) is reportedly in talks to acquire Altera (ALTR), though deal terms have yet to be disclosed. We think Intel could pay up to ~$40 per share for the company on the basis of the high end of our fair value estimate range for Altera and still generate value for shareholders, though we wouldn’t expect Altera’s $2 billion revenue stream to be much of a needle-mover against Intel’s $50+ billion revenue base, at least initially. However, there are a few reasons why this would be a strategic win for Intel. Altera is one of the top standard cell ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) suppliers in terms of revenue. Due to
Dividend Increases for the Week Ending March 27
March 30, 2015
Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 27. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports, please use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week Artesian Resources (ARTNA): now $0.2183 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2151. City Holding (CHCO): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. Gazit-Globe (GZT): now $0.46 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.45. Oxford Industries (OXM): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21. Silver Bay Realty (SBY): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. UDR (UDR): now $0.2775 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26.
Part IV: Nelson’s Notes on Berkshire Hathaway’s 2014 Newsletter
March 28, 2015
Notes from Valuentum’s Brian Nelson on Berkshire Hathaway’s newsletter. Part IV.
Part III: Nelson’s Notes on Berkshire Hathaway’s 2014 Newsletter
March 27, 2015
Notes from Valuentum’s Brian Nelson on Berkshire Hathaway’s newsletter. Part III.
Part II: Nelson’s Notes on Berkshire Hathaway’s 2014 Newsletter
March 27, 2015
Notes from Valuentum’s Brian Nelson on Berkshire Hathaway’s newsletter. Part II.
Part I: Nelson’s Notes on Berkshire Hathaway’s 2014 Newsletter
March 27, 2015
Hi all, It has taken me a few weeks to get a chance to read the annual newsletter of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B), and this year’s installment was not a disappointment. For me personally, there’s not a lot of incremental insights that are gleaned, but I like reviewing the newsletter because the annual installment is invaluable for new investors, especially those looking to learn about the markets and how to think about them. What I’ll do below and in future parts is pull out a sentence or paragraph from the annual report and add to it or comment on it in order to provide further perspective. It should make for some great conversation. I’m not sure how many
15 Stocks That Have Boatloads of Net Cash Relative to Their Market Cap
March 24, 2015
They say that value is in the eye of the beholder. This is certainly true, but when it comes to stock valuation, value rests on the balance sheet and cash flow statement. The build-up of net cash on the balance sheet that results from the net performance of cash flow from operations less both capital expenditures and dividend payments is the primary reason how the intrinsic value of a firm increases over time. Think of a company’s balance sheet like your personal savings account. The more money you put into your personal savings relative to your liabilities and what you spend on personal dividends like vacation, for example, the wealthier you are. Similarly, the more cash a company saves on
Hooray! Biogen’s Breakthrough Alzheimer’s Drug?
March 20, 2015
We’re disappointed that we missed highlighting Biogen (BIIB) to our membership many moons ago. Biogen’s stock has more than quadrupled since we launched coverage of the company in late 2011, and frankly, its stock has done nothing but rocket higher. To be fair, Biogen is a top-10 holding in the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV), a position in the Best Ideas portfolio, so we do have some exposure to the blossoming biotech, but we could have done a better job pounding the table. The once- 9-rated on the Valuentum Buying Index, Health Care Select Sector SPDR has approximately doubled since it was added to the Best Ideas portfolio, but we know that may not be good enough. The news
