Member Articles

PayPal and Visa Expand Partnership

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Image Shown: Shares of Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio holding PayPal Holdings Inc have surged higher this year. We continue to be big fans of the company. By Callum Turcan The payment processing and payment solution space is incredibly attractive given the secular growth tailwinds supporting companies operating in the financial tech industry. As consumers are increasingly using cards and digitally-oriented payment services during the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic, demand for the various “cash-less” payment options offered by PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL) and Visa Inc (V) is on the rise. Please note that rising demand for payment processing, cross-border transactions, and similar services is increasing from both consumers and businesses alike. This is more than just a short-term adjustment to cope … Read more

GoodRx Has Potential Capital Appreciation Upside But Long-Term Threats Loom

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Image Source: GoodRx Holdings Inc – December 2020 IR Presentation Executive Summary: GoodRx Holdings Inc is a disrupter in the US pharmacy space, and the company went public in September 2020. The firm’s digitally-oriented prescription drug pricing platform generates strong normalized operating income and allows for an impressive cash flow profile. Supported by its pristine balance sheet, GoodRx has the financial firepower to expand into adjacent businesses to further extend its growth runway. While meaningful competitive threats are a concern, such as those posed by Amazon Inc entering the online pharmacy space, GoodRx has significant competitive advantages over its peers and benefits from the network effect. The company’s active monthly user base has grown at an impressive clip during the … Read more

Biofuel Producer Renewable Energy Group Is Worth a Look

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Image Shown: A geographical overview of Renewable Energy Group’s operational “biorefineries” in the US and Germany. Image Source: Renewable Energy Group Inc – October 2020 IR Presentation Executive Summary: Renewable Energy Group is an intriguing biofuel maker with operational “biorefineries” located across the US and in Europe (specifically Germany). The company’s operations are supported by an extensive distribution network that is primarily built upon supply agreements with third parties, though Renewable Energy Group opened its own branded fuel location in 2019 for the first time. Shares of REGI have been on an upward tear of late, likely due to growing investor optimism towards green energy firms, in our view, as the new Biden administration in the US has made it … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week March 5

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 5. 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 Aaron’s (AAN): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.04. BHP (BHP): now $2.02/ADS interim dividend, was $1.10/ADS final dividend. Big 5 Sporting Goods (BGFV): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): now CAD 0.47 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.42. Cargojet (CGJTF): now C$0.26 per share quarterly dividend, C$0.23. CMC Materials (CCMP): now $0.46 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week June 18

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending June 18. 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 AG Mortgage Investment Trust (MITT): now $0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. America First Multifamily Investors (ATAX): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Benchmark Electronics (BHE): now $0.165 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust (CPZ): now $0.14 per share monthly dividend, was $0.13. Canadian Banc Corp (CNDCF): now 0.1017 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.0942. … Read more

Raising Our Fair Value Estimate on Berkshire Hathaway, Our Thoughts on the Insurance Industry

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Image Source: AIG Competitive Structure of the Insurance Industry Constituents in the insurance industry earn revenues primarily from insurance premiums, policy fees from life insurance/investment products, and income from investments. Operating expenses consist of policyholder benefits and claims incurred, interest credited to policyholders, commissions and other costs of servicing products, as well as general business expenses. An insurer’s profitability is dependent on its ability to price and manage risk on insurance and annuity products, to manage its portfolio of investments effectively, and to control costs through expense discipline. The insurance industry is highly competitive, with rivals numbering in the thousands–including stock companies, specialty insurance organizations, life insurers, mutual companies, other underwriting firms, and banks. Though risk-acceptance criteria, product pricing, and … Read more

Update on High-Yielding AT&T

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Image Source: AT&T Inc – Second Quarter of 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan The communications and media giant AT&T Inc (T) is pivoting back to its roots, a strategy that we think will pay off handsomely in the long run, though there have been plenty of rough bumps along the way. Management has finally found a strategy that AT&T can stick with. We include AT&T as an idea in the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio and shares of T yield ~7.7% as of this writing (note that the company will rightsize its dividend in the coming quarters, resulting in a yield adjustment lower). Warner Bros. Discovery AT&T’s WarnerMedia segment is joining forces with Discovery Inc (DISCA) that will … Read more

ASML Holding Is a Tremendous Enterprise, Holds Fantastic Competitive Position

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Image Source: ASML Holding NV – 2021 Annual Report By Callum Turcan The Dutch firm ASML Holding NV (ASML) makes the photolithography systems used by semiconductor foundries to produce “chips” that power the modern economy. In part due to its immense technological lead over its competitors, ASML Holding effectively has a monopoly at the high end of its industry, meaning its photolithography systems are required to produce the most advanced semiconductor components. The company also offers semiconductor equipment services and stands to gain immensely from ongoing growth in its installed equipment base. We’re huge fans of the company. ASML Holding is a firm that we provide ongoing valuation coverage of in our periodic financial statements webinar. Be sure to sign … Read more

Newsletter Portfolio Idea Chevron Focused on Returning Cash to Shareholders

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Image Shown: Newsletter portfolio idea Chevron Corporation is very shareholder friendly. We view its capital allocation priorities quite favorably. Image Source: Chevron Corporation – May 2022 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan Our newsletter portfolios remain overweight energy names as these companies are well-positioned to ride out inflationary pressures and geopolitical turbulence while generating substantial free cash flows and returning “gobs” of cash to shareholders. We include Chevron Corporation (CVX) in our Best Ideas Newsletter, Dividend Growth Newsletter, and High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolios as the firm has placed a great emphasis on keeping its capital expenditures contained, improving its cost structure, and cutting down on its debt load while returning “gobs” of cash to shareholders. Financial Overview At the end … Read more

Alcoa Sets a Positive Tone for Earnings Season

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Monday afternoon marked the unofficial start of first-quarter earnings season, as industrial bellwort Alcoa (click ticker for report: ) reported its results. For the first quarter, revenue fell nearly 3% year-over-year and 1% sequentially to $5.8 billion, just shy of consensus estimates. Earnings per share, net of one-time special items, increased 22% year-over-year to $0.11, easily exceeding consensus expectations. Although Alcoa isn’t nearly as important to the US economy as it once was, the firm still provides a general overview of several important sectors. Aluminum prices were flat during the quarter, but the firm anticipates global growth of 7% with supply and demand remaining balanced. Image Source: Alcoa Analyst Presentation Q1 2013 Alcoa sees a positive outlook for several sectors … Read more