Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

Symbol Keyword

Oct 18, 2024

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of October 18
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Oct 17, 2024

Taiwan Semiconductor Benefiting from Strong Smartphone and AI Demand
Image: Taiwan Semiconductor released better than expected results. Taiwan Semiconductor ended the quarter with NT$2,167.6 billion in cash and marketable securities against long-term interest-bearing debt of NT$936.16, showcasing a nice net cash position. Free cash flow in the quarter advanced to NT$184.91 billion from NT$68.03 in the year-ago period. Looking to the fourth quarter of 2024, revenue is targeted in the range of US$26.1 billion and US$26.9 billion (consensus was at US$25.02 billion), while gross profit margin and operating profit margin, based on the exchange rate assumption of 1 US dollar to 32 NT dollars, are expected to be 57%-59% and 46.5-48.5%, respectively. We liked Taiwan Semiconductor’s results and outlook, and the company remains a key idea in the ESG Newsletter portfolio.

Oct 16, 2024

ASML Holding Lowers 2025 Outlook
Image: ASML Holding is falling from recent highs as its third quarter report and outlook disappointed investors. ASML’s guidance for 2025 came in below what consensus had been looking for. 2025 net sales are now expected in the range of €30 billion and €35 billion, which compares to guidance of €30 billion to €40 billion previously and the consensus estimate of €35.94 billion. The company’s updated gross margin outlook for 2025 in the range of 51%-53% is below the 54%-56% it had previously forecast and below the consensus estimate of 53.9%. The bookings number in the third quarter coupled with lowered 2025 guidance is weighing on the stock. Though the news isn’t great, we continue to like ASML Holding as a long-term idea in the ESG Newsletter portfolio.

Sep 19, 2024

Brain Teaser - Reflexive versus Reflective
Image: Amy Leonard. Valuation multiples tend to trigger the reflexive side of our brain, and we process the multiples through anchoring. On the other hand, enterprise valuation, or the process required to answer the questions (in this article) correctly, shows that our reflexive process can be quite incorrect at times. In fact, cognitive biases such as anchoring can completely trip us up into missing out on truly undervalued companies that may have high P/E ratios while baiting us into value traps with low P/E ratios.

Jul 17, 2024

ASML Holding Reports Strong Bookings in Second Quarter
Image: ASML Holding has been a strong stock performer since the beginning of 2023. Though performance in the second quarter could have been better, ASML reiterated its outlook for 2024, which it describes as a “transition year.” Total net sales in 2024 are expected to be similar to 2023. The company ended the quarter with €4.6 billion in long-term debt and €5.0 billion in cash and short-term investments. Second quarter results were disappointing, but we continue to like ASML as one of the most prolific innovators in the semiconductor industry.

Apr 26, 2024

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of April 26
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Apr 17, 2024

ASML Reports First Quarter Results, Reiterates Guidance
Image: ASML Holding is one of our favorite semiconductor ideas. On April 17, ASML Holding reported decent first quarter 2024 results. First quarter net sales came in at €5.29 billion on a gross margin of 51.0%. Net income was €1.22 billion in the quarter. Net bookings in the first quarter of 2024 came in at €3.6 billion, down sequentially from the strong net bookings number delivered in the fourth quarter of 2023. The company continues to be shareholder friendly, paying dividends and buying back €400 million worth of stock during the first quarter. Though management expects 2024 total net sales to be similar to 2023, we like how ASML is positioned for the long run.

Mar 28, 2024

Micron Issues Strong Outlook, Points to Multi-Year Opportunity in AI
Image Source: Micron. Micron operates in the ultra-cyclical semiconductor industry, and while the next few quarters may be robust, we’re cautious on the sustainability of the momentum and pricing health beyond the next few quarters, despite management’s optimism in fiscal 2025. Free cash flow has also been negative during the first six months of its fiscal year, and its net debt position precludes it from being a net-cash-rich, free-cash-flow generating powerhouse like so many other companies in the technology space. All things considered, we liked Micron’s quarterly report and outlook, but it’s not enough for us to pull the trigger on the idea for the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio.

Feb 6, 2024

Palantir’s Fourth-Quarter Results Showcase Strong Trends in Artificial Intelligence
Image: Palantir’s revenue continues to march higher, and the company’s performance continues to showcase the growing strength in artificial intelligence. Source: Palantir. We liked Palantir’s quarterly results, but we wanted to bring to members’ attention the commentary surrounding artificial intelligence [AI]: "Our results reflect both the strength of our software and the surging demand that we are seeing across industries and sectors for artificial intelligence platforms, including large language models, that are capable of integrating with the tangle of existing technical infrastructure that organizations have been constructing for years...The demand for large language models from commercial institutions in the United States continues to be unrelenting. Every part of our organization is focused on the rollout of our Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), which has gone from a prototype to a product in months. And our momentum with AIP is now significantly contributing to new revenue and new customers."

Jan 24, 2024

Earnings Roundup: NFLX, ASML, T, ABT
Image: Netflix’s substantially improved free cash flow has made it a clear winner in the streaming wars. Image Source: Netflix. Netflix has won the streaming wars and continues to throw off material free cash flow as it lands incremental deals, the latest for WWE Raw. ASML is one of the most prolific innovators in the semiconductor industry, and its quarterly net bookings in the fourth quarter reveal an exciting future, even as revenue is forecast to be flat in 2024. AT&T's earnings outlook for 2024 disappointed, and rising capital spending will pressure free cash flow in 2024. Dividend King Abbott Labs continues to drive strong organic growth rates, exclusive of COVID-19 related weakness, and we expect years of future dividend growth at the company.