Member Articles

What Really Is the “S” in ESG Investing

by

By Valuentum Analysts Back in October, we explored “Putting the Environmental in ESG” investing. In this article, let’s dig deep into the second consideration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing — “Social.” While there has been greater attention paid to the social impact of companies in recent years–from the industries they operate in to the ways they impact their communities–this concept is definitely not a new trend. Investors have always cared about the impact of the companies they invest in. In the past, this idea has been encapsulated in the phrase Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), which is essentially the practice of seeking out companies that have a positive social impact on society. Some even put the earliest origins of … Read more

High-Yielding Income Growth Idea Digital Realty Expects Business Will Continue Recovering

by

Image Shown: We are big fans of Digital Realty Trust Inc’s global footprint. Image Source: Digital Realty Trust Inc – Fourth Quarter of 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan On February 17, Digital Realty Trust Inc (DLR) reported fourth quarter 2021 earnings that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates, though its near term guidance came in a tad softer than expected. The data center real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) is facing headwinds from vintage leases rolling off and concerns about surging power costs around the world. On the plus side, Digital Realty is experiencing decent growth at the part of its business where re-leasing terms have been more favorable, and its contracts generally include provisions that allow the … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week March 4

by

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 4. 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      Acushnet (GOLF): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.17. American Financial (AFG): now $2.00 per share special dividend, was $0.56. Barclays (BCS): now GPB 0.04 per share dividend, was GPB 0.02. Best Buy (BBY): now $0.88 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.70. Black Diamond Group (BDIMF): now CAD 0.015 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.013. Blackhawk Bancorp (BHWB): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week May 13

by

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 13. 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      Alerus Financial Corporation (ALRS): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN): now $0.1808 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1706. Birchcliff Energy (BIREF): now CAD 0.02 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.01. Black Stone Minerals (BSM): now $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.27. Brookline Bancorp (BRKL): now $0.13 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.125. Bunge (BG): now $0.625 per … Read more

Demand Headwinds Refocus Materials Companies

by

Due to weak macroeconomic conditions, as well as tempered demand from China, we’ve seen several materials firms announce structural changes. BHP (click ticker for report: ) announced plans to focus on cost cutting rather than production increases in the wake of weaker iron ore prices and end markets. Rio Tinto (click ticker for report: ), one of our favorite miners due to its attractive cost position, also announced cost cuts in its Australian mining business due to a long-term decline in demand growth from China. The firm thinks economic growth in the country could slow to 5%-6% by 2020, and we think a policy shift in favor of consumption rather than production could occur in the nation. Another diversified miner, … Read more

Qurate Retail Faces Difficult Turnaround Process

by

Image Source: Qurate Retail Inc – First Quarter of 2022 IR Earnings Presentation Executive Summary: Qurate Retail Inc is home to several well-known retail brands including QVC and HSN that operate television networks and online marketplaces that sell curated products. The company is contending with several exogenous shocks such as inflationary pressures and supply chain hurdles, while customer engagement levels are on the decline after growing during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qurate Retail has a massive net debt load and sizable annual financing obligations, and its margins have deteriorated substantially of late. Due to its complex share structure and management organization, weak financial position, and lackluster outlook, we are not interested in Qurate Retail’s common or preferred … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of July 22

by

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending July 22. 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                1st Source (SRCE): now $0.32 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.31. Bank of America (BAC): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21. Bluegreen Vacations Holdings Corporation (BVHBB): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.0125. CenterPoint (CNP): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.17. Chesapeake Financial Shares (CPKF): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.14. Citizens Financial (CFG): now $0.42 per share … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of September 8

by

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending September 8. 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                          AIA Group (AAGIY): now HK 0.42 per share interim dividend. Air New Zealand (ANZLY): now NZD 0.013 per share final dividend. The Bank of East Asia, Limited (BKEAY): now $0.0459 per share semi-annual dividend, was $0.0191. bebe stores (BEBE): now $0.04 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.02. Brady (BRC): now $0.235 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.230. BW Offshore (BWOFY): now $0.07 per share … Read more

China Trouble: Plenty of Pain to Go Around

by

Global stock markets have struggled mightily over the past few weeks, mostly in conjunction with the Federal Reserve hinting at a possible change in monetary policy. There have also been signs that global economic expansion is starting to weaken (read the World Bank’s lowered global outlook for GDP growth here), particularly in China–something we had identified a number of weeks ago as cause for concern prompting us to add protection to our Best Ideas portfolio at that time. It’s clear from recent data that economic growth in China will no longer be in the 9-11% range that the market has grown accustomed to, and it is our view that expansion will never return to such a pace due simply to the size of the country (absent, of course, during a recovery in the event that a deep recession does occur). … Read more