Member Articles

Johnson & Johnson Boosts Guidance Again, Posts Great Earnings Update

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Image Shown: Johnson & Johnson reported strong performance across its three core business operating segments in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. Image Source: Johnson & Johnson – Third Quarter of Fiscal 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan On October 19, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported third quarter earnings for fiscal 2021 (period ended around the end of September 2021) that missed consensus top-line estimates but beat consensus bottom-line estimates. The healthcare giant also raised its full-year guidance (again) for fiscal 2021 as its ‘Pharmaceutical’ segment is growing at a robust pace, its ‘Medical Device’ segment is steadily recovering from the worst of the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic, and its ‘Consumer Health’ segment is holding up well. We continue to … Read more

Quants and High-Frequency Trading the Real Cause of the GameStop Frenzy?

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  Image: The cause of the GameStop trading frenzy remains largely unclassified as it appears to us that quant and high-frequency trading played a much bigger role in the market disruption than what is being reported. By Brian Nelson, CFA Third-quarter 2021 earnings season has been thrust upon a marketplace that has been preoccupied with talk over supply chain disruptions, increasing inflation expectations, unfortunate distractions from trading activity by key officials at the Fed, and Chinese regulatory unease. We think these items had largely been the key reasons for the pullback in the markets in recent weeks. However, with news that President Biden seems to continue to support Jerome Powell as Fed Chief (we’ll know for sure in February) and … Read more

Dividend Growth Idea UnitedHealth Group Beats Estimates, Raises Guidance (Again)

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Image Shown: Shares of dividend growth idea UnitedHealth Group Inc moved higher in the wake of its latest earnings report and guidance boost. By Callum Turcan On October 14, the health insurance and health care services provider giant UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH) reported third-quarter 2021 earnings that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The company also raised its full-year earnings guidance (again) for 2021 in conjunction with its latest earnings report, boosting its EPS forecast to $17.70-$17.95 and its non-GAAP adjusted EPS forecast to $18.65-$18.90. Please note that UnitedHealth Group also increased its full-year earnings guidance during the first and second quarters of 2021. Back in December 2020, UnitedHealth Group expected to post $16.90-$17.40 in EPS and $17.75-$18.25 in … Read more

LVMH Posts Record Sales Performance

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Image Source: LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton – October 2021 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan The France-based luxury goods company LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMUY) provided an update on its sales performance during the first three quarters of 2021 on October 12. For housekeeping purposes, please note LVMH reports its financials in accordance with IFRS accounting standards, and that LVMH acquired luxury jeweler Tiffany in January 2021 through a ~$15.8 billion deal.  LVMH’s revenues grew by 46% year-over-year, reaching EUR44.2 billion (a record for the company), and organic sales were up 40% year-over-year during the first nine months of 2021. The company’s ‘Fashion & Leather Goods’ segment, responsible for a little under half of its total sales, saw its … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week October 15

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 15. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week A.O. Smith (AOS): now $0.28 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26. Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.227 per share monthly dividend, was $0.217. Alcoa (AA): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Avient (AVNT): now $0.2375 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2125. Cadence Bancorporation (CADE): now $1.25 per share special dividend, was $0.158. Codorus Valley (CVLY): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.13. Commercial Metals … Read more

Home Depot Teams Up with Walmart

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Image Source: Home Depot Inc – Fiscal 2020 Annual Report By Callum Turcan On October 6, Home Depot Inc (HD) announced a partnership with Walmart Inc (WMT), becoming the first retail giant to join Walmart’s GoLocal delivery program which was launched back in August 2021. The delivery program utilizes Walmart’s vast distribution and fulfillment network to provide same-day and next-day delivery services. Home Depot is improving its ability to capitalize on the ongoing proliferation of e-commerce, a trend that really picked up steam in the wake of the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic. In our view, this trend has incredibly long legs. Home Depot’s senior vice president of supply chain, Stephanie Smith, noted in the press release that “this partnership brings us … Read more

Fastenal’s Latest Earnings Update Indicates US Economic Recovery Continues

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Image Source: Fastenal Company – Third Quarter of 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan On October 12, Fastenal Company (FAST) reported third quarter 2021 earnings that beat top-line consensus estimates and matched bottom-line consensus estimates. The company’s latest earnings report reinforces our thesis that the US economy is continuing to recover from the worst of the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic. In 2020, Fastenal generated over 85% of its total sales in the US. Fastenal provides products and services in the decentralized maintenance, repair & operation (‘MRO’) industry, a space where the company attempts to gain an advantage over distribution by locating its operations as close as possible to the economic point of contract with its customers. Earnings Update Within its … Read more

High-Yield Idea CyrusOne Considers Selling Itself

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Image Shown: Shares of CyrusOne, an idea included in our High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio, are on a modest upward climb of late. The data center real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) is reportedly considering putting itself up for sale, though we like the REIT’s income generation upside regardless of whether a sale does materialize as its outlook continues to improve after posting stellar performance during the first half of 2021. By Callum Turcan Reportedly, CyrusOne (CONE) is actively exploring a potential sale according to Reuters. We include shares of CONE as an idea in the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio (more on that here). The data center real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) has experienced significant turnover in its top ranks … Read more

PepsiCo Flexes Its Pricing Power

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Image Shown: PepsiCo Inc is adeptly navigating various inflationary, labor, and logistical hurdles. Investors have started to warm back up to the name and its impressive pricing power over the past several months. By Callum Turcan On October 5, beverage and snack giant PepsiCo Inc (PEP) reported third-quarter earnings for fiscal 2021 (period ended September 4, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. PepsiCo also raised its full-year guidance for fiscal 2021 in conjunction with the report. Earnings Snapshot The firm’s GAAP revenues grew by 12% year-over-year and its GAAP operating income climbed higher 5% year-over-year in the fiscal third quarter. Strength at PepsiCo’s snacks and beverage business in the Americas, Africa, Middle East, and Asia was key, … Read more

Putting the Environmental in ESG

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Valuentum’s ESG newsletter helps identify which stocks have strong ESG scores, and which ones come up short. Subscribe to the monthly Valuentum ESG Newsletter today by selecting the ‘Subscribe’ button below (12 editions, $1,000/year).   —– By Valuentum Analysts There is no single definition for ESG investing beyond the words that make up the acronym – Environmental, Social, and Governance. Investors looking at ESG may be doing so for a variety of reasons with a variety of different needs. But for every investor, a focus on ESG allows for a fuller consideration of the company, as a whole, as well as how that company impacts the 21st century landscape, as it relates to rewarding social responsibility by investing in companies … Read more