Member Articles

Is There Value in DaVita?

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With healthcare the primary focus in Washington, let’s evaluate the investment case for DaVita. We discuss how potential changes can impact the economics of the dialysis market. By Alexander J Poulos The healthcare sector remains in focus with the renewed emphasis on repealing/replacing the Affordable Care Act. The uncertainty that has crept into the industry may offer an appealing entry into the industry for those currently on the sidelines. The write-up below discusses the prospects of DaVita Inc (DVA), one of the largest providers of dialysis care in the United States. The Inelastic Demand for Dialysis The dialysis market mirrors the use of insulin, the classic economics example of inelastic demand. The demand for dialysis remains unfazed irrespective of market … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 24

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 24. 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 8point3 Energy Partners (CAFD): now $0.2565 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.249. Canadian Banc Corp (CNDCF): now CAD 0.10833 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.10458. Citizens Financial Services (CZFS): now $0.425 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.42. Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (CRT): now $0.089461 per share monthly dividend, was $0.061822. Enduro Royalty Trust (NDRO): now $0.040901 per share monthly dividend, was $0.017331. Fulton Financial (FULT): … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 17

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 17. 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 AirBoss of America (ABSSF): now CAD 0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.065. Ashford Hospitality Prime (AHP): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.12. CareTrust REIT (CTRE): now $0.185 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.17. CECO Environmental (CECE): now $0.075 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.066. Dollar General (DG): now $0.26 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. Federal Agricultural Mortgage (AGM): now $0.36 per … Read more

The “Year of Evangeline Adams” Continues

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Brian Nelson, CFA March 15th marked the 106th consecutive trading session that neither the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) nor the S&P 500 (SPY) has declined 1% during any one day. The streak is now the seventh longest in stock market history for the Dow and the 10th longest for the S&P 500. The markets are now 49 days shy from tying the March 1, 1966, record for the Dow and 79 days shy from the November 21, 1963, record that ended the day before JFK was assassinated. What you see above is not a representation of the latest consecutive streak, but instead a visual of the upward trajectory of the S&P 500 since the March 2009 panic bottom, now more … Read more

Buffalo Wild Wings: It’s Time to Start Delivering?

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Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio holding Buffalo Wild Wings is battling a challenging operating environment. Management is searching for ways to shore up performance, but some shareholders are getting antsy. Is a BWLD-WING deal in the cards?  By Kris Rosemann It’s no secret that the restaurant industry has struggled of late, “Restaurant Traffic – What’s Going On?” “Examining Same-Store Sales in the Restaurant Industry.” Best Ideas Newsletter holding Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) was not spared the pain in 2016, as same-store sales fell more than 2% at both company-owned and franchised restaurants from 2015 levels, though management is optimistic for 2017 after a positive read on the measure through the first several weeks of the year, “Best Ideas Roundup: Visa, Facebook, … Read more

Intel Makes Strong Move into Autonomous Driving

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Image Source: Intel Newsletter portfolio holding Intel has agreed to acquire Mobileye, a leading provider for computer vision for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), for $15.3 billion in cash. “…we like what the deal brings for Intel. The company has effectively cut ties with its history as a PC chip behemoth, and is driving ahead full force into the broader connected devices market. The acquisition puts Intel at the forefront of the autonomous driving market, and its ownership of end-to-end solutions in the space not only gives it competitive advantages in the driverless car market, but also in the adjacent data center market.” — Kris Rosemann By Kris Rosemann Fresh off of a fourth quarter that its CEO called “a … Read more

Dow 21,000+; Forward P/E on S&P 500 ~18!!!

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By Brian Nelson, CFA To say that the broader equity market is “extended” is an understatement. After testing the 20,000 mark on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA), stocks have now plowed through 21,000 in such a fashion that can only be compared to the euphoric trading activity of 1999 when the index surged to 11,000 from 10,000 over roughly the same time frame. Who remembers the days of the dot-com bubble? The market is clearly off its rocker, but the market isn’t always on its rocker. Stock prices under and overshoot intrinsic value all of the time. It’s a part of the markets, as much as oxygen is necessary for human life. The markets overshot to the downside during … Read more

Valuentum’s Brian Nelson to Present at CFA Society of Houston

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Event Description: Mr. Nelson will walk through his experiences in valuation and financial statement analysis within the stock selection process to help portfolio managers learn how to optimize the strength and resilience of client portfolios–those either built for capital appreciation or income, or both. The centerpiece of the presentation will be a discussion on midstream corporate Kinder Morgan (KMI) and the master limited partnership (MLP) business model, in general, and how applying tried-and-true financial statement, valuation, and credit analysis (in the Valuentum approach) put portfolio managers far ahead the dividend/distribution cuts and the massive slide in share prices… To learn more >> To register >> This event is hosted by the CFA Society of Houston.

Recent Material Fair Value Estimate Changes

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By Kris Rosemann Let’s begin this edition of ‘Recent Material Fair Value Estimate Changes’ with a discussion of some of the highest-profile names that made the list. If you require background reading on why we make changes to our valuation models, please see: What Causes Fair Value Estimates to Change? We’ve raised our fair value estimates for two of the holdings in the newsletter portfolios, General Electric (GE) and Union Pacific (UNP). The sprawling and evolving industrial portfolio of General Electric is one of the more exciting portions of our portfolios, as the industrial giant boasts assets with authoritative positions in areas from the rapidly expanding Industrial Internet of Things to the rebounding energy services space. An increase in near-term … Read more

Average Check Increases Driving Results for Cracker Barrel

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Image Source: Mike Mozart Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio holding Cracker Barrel drove average check increases to combat weak traffic that continues to plague the restaurant space. By Kris Rosemann Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL) reported its eleventh consecutive quarter of positive comparable restaurant sales growth in the second quarter of its fiscal 2017 on February 21. We continue to be fans of its dividend growth profile–its Dividend Cushion ratio is a healthy 1.7–and shares are trading in the lower bound of our fair value range. The company’s unique concept is working wonders on its ability to raise prices and offset industry-wide traffic woes that have weighed on the majority of the US restaurant space. During the quarter, Cracker Barrel’s … Read more