Member Articles

Nike Doubles Down on Its Digital Strategy

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Image Shown: Shares of Nike sold off moderately on June 26 after reporting its full-year earnings for fiscal 2020 (period ended May 31, 2020), though please note shares of NKE have rebounded sharply from their March 2020 lows. Over the past year shares of Nike are still up ~15% as of this writing, outpacing the 4% gain seen at the S&P 500 (SPY) before taking dividend considerations into account. By Callum Turcan Retailers of consumer discretionary products that invested heavily in their digital presence and direct-to-consumer sales/distribution systems before the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic put themselves in a much better position to ride out the storm. Nike Inc (NKE) reported that its digital sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 … Read more

Covering One of Newmont’s Lowest Cost Gold Mining Operations

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We covered Newmont’s first quarter 2020 earnings back in early-May and continue to like the gold miner in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Newmont’s Dividend Cushion ratio stands at 2.2 which provides for a “GOOD” Dividend Safety rating and we like the firm’s payout growth trajectory which earns the firm a “GOOD” Dividend Growth rating as well. Please note our Dividend Cushion ratio and Dividend Safety rating incorporates our expectations that Newmont will push through modest dividend increases over the coming years. By Callum Turcan Newmont Corporation (NEM) is our favorite gold miner and we added shares of NEM to our Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio back on January 13, 2020 (link here). Shares of NEM are trading in the upper … Read more

Darden Restaurants Adapts to Survive

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Image Source: Darden Restaurants Inc – Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2020 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan On June 25, the owner of the Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen restaurant chain brands Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI) reported fourth quarter fiscal 2020 earnings (period ended May 31, 2020) that matched consensus top-lines estimates and beat consensus bottom-line estimates. Please note the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 included an extra week versus the same period the previous fiscal year. Darden Restaurants saw its GAAP revenues drop by 43% year-over-year which led to the firm generating a large GAAP net loss of $0.5 billion last fiscal quarter as the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) took its toll on the company’s operations. Background As … Read more

Update on Dell Technologies and VMware

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Image Source: VMware Inc – First Quarter Fiscal 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan Dell Technologies Inc (DELL) and VMware Inc (VMW) are back in the news as the WSJ recently reported the former is considering spinning off its enormous equity stake in the latter. Back in September 2016, Dell completed its ~$67 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of EMC which gave Dell a controlling equity stake in VMware (and a mountain of net debt in the process). As of January 31, 2020, Dell owned approximately 80.9% of VMware’s outstanding equity. Dell can spin off its equity stake in VMware tax-free after a five-year waiting period, though Dell would need to wait until September 2021 before that could occur (given when … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending June 26

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending June 26. 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 Andlauer Healthcare Group Inc. (ANDHF): now $0.05 per share quarterly dividend. ARMOUR Residential REIT (ARR): now $0.10 per share monthly dividend, was $0.09. AT&T 4.750% PFD SER C (T.PC): now $0.2969 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2408. Delmar Bancorp (DBCP): now $0.025 per share dividend. Deswell Industries (DSWL): now $0.09 per share semi-annual dividend, was $0.08. Dynex Capital, Inc. 6.9% Series C PFD (DX.PC): now $0.4313 … Read more

Broadcom’s Financials Are Stabilizing

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Image Source: Broadcom Inc – June 2020 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan On June 4, Broadcom Inc (AVGO) posted second quarter earnings for fiscal 2020 (period ended May 3, 2020). Shares of AVGO are trading in the upper bound of our fair value estimate range and appear reasonably priced as of this writing considering the relatively favorable forward-guidance management offered for the fiscal third quarter. Though the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic is negatively impacting Broadcom’s operations with an eye towards “challenges” at the firm’s supply chain, the company’s growing ‘Infrastructure software’ segment appears to be helping stabilize its financial performance. We give Broadcom a Dividend Cushion ratio of 1.0, earning the firm a “GOOD” Dividend Safety rating (these metrics factor … Read more

Kroger Fighting for Market Share in the Online US Grocery Business

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Image Source: The Kroger Company – Fiscal 2019 Annual Report By Callum Turcan On June 18, The Kroger Company (KR) released its first quarter fiscal 2020 earnings (period ended May 23, 2020) that beat both top- and bottom-line estimates. Comparable store sales (excluding fuel) grew by 19% year-over-year as consumers flocked to its various grocery stores and supermarkets (under brands such as Fred Meyer, Fry’s Marketplace, Pick ‘n Save, and others) to stock up on consumer staples products as the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) spread across North America. Kroger’s digital sales surged 92% year-over-year last fiscal quarter as curbside and home delivery options have become increasingly popular during the pandemic. Shares of KR yield ~2.0% and are trading in the upper bound … Read more

Gap Buys Itself Some Time

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Image Shown: An overview of Gap Inc’s net sales by brand. Image Source: Gap Inc – First Quarter Fiscal 2020 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan On June 4, Gap Inc (GPS) reported first quarter fiscal 2020 earnings (period ended May 2, 2020) that missed both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Shares of GPS have gotten crushed due to the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic as consumers (particularly those in the US) have spent far less on discretionary goods (like apparel) over the past several months. Combined with the negative impact of physical store closures and the lack of a meaningful online presence, Gap shares sank as its outlook turned dire. Though Gap operates stores in over 40 countries, please note … Read more

Warren: Four Ways to Play the Market at This Juncture

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Image Source: Daniel Lobo In this piece, we examine where the economy and stock markets have been recently, where we are now, and where we are going next. We also highlight four key ways to play this volatile market. We think this is a helpful way to think about overall portfolio construction, especially so that one does not overly expose themselves to a particular set of risks that could come to fruition—like an extended downturn in the economy or a rapid discovery of a vaccine for Covid-19 on the other hand. By Matthew Warren Macro Matters When you turn on the television to the stock channel, there is a tremendous amount of discussion about where we are now and where … Read more

Recent Events Concerning Johnson & Johnson

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Image Source: Johnson & Johnson – First Quarter of 2020 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan We include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) as a top-weighted holding in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio and as a medium-weighted holding in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. The firm’s Dividend Cushion ratio sits at a solid 2.1, and please note that this forward-looking dividend coverage ratio factors in our expectations that Johnson & Johnson will grow its per share dividend by mid-single-digits annually over the coming years. Johnson & Johnson earns a “GOOD” Dividend Safety rating and an “EXCELLENT” Dividend Growth rating, with shares of JNJ yielding ~2.8% as of this writing. In our view, Johnson & Johnson’s strong balance sheet and high quality … Read more