Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

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Aug 10, 2022

Best Idea Berkshire Hathaway Continues to Impress
Image Shown: Berkshire Hathaway Inc is a stellar cash flow generator in almost any operating environment. Image Source: Berkshire Hathaway Inc – 10-Q SEC filing covering the Second Quarter of 2022. Berkshire Hathaway Inc reported second quarter 2022 earnings that saw its ‘operating earnings’ metric surge higher versus the year-ago level. This metric removes realized and unrealized gains/losses in its large equity portfolio from the picture to provide investors with a better understanding of the company’s underlying performance. Due to the downturn in equity markets seen during the first half of this year, Berkshire Hathaway’s GAAP net income swung to a large net loss last quarter. We include shares of Berkshire Hathaway Class B (ticker: BRK.B) in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio, and our fair value estimate sits at $320 per share with room for upside.

Jan 20, 2022

Dividend Growth Idea UnitedHealth’s Growth Story Expected to Continue
Image Shown: Shares of dividend growth idea UnitedHealth Group Inc have surged higher over the past year. The company put up solid performance in 2021 and its guidance for 2022 indicates that its growth trajectory is expected to continue. On January 19, UnitedHealth Group reported fourth-quarter 2021 earnings that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The company’s health insurance business is covered by its ‘UnitedHealthcare’ segment, and its health care provider business is covered by its ‘Optum’ segment. Virtually all of the firm’s revenues come from the U.S. It also reaffirmed its guidance for 2022 in its fourth-quarter earnings report. We continue to be impressed with UnitedHealth and include shares of UNH as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Shares of UNH yield ~1.3% as of this writing.

Nov 9, 2021

Best Idea Berkshire Hathaway Moving Higher!
Image Shown: Shares of Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B have been on a nice upward climb over the past year. On November 6, the industrial and insurance conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK.A) (BRK.B) reported third-quarter 2021 earnings. We liked what we saw in its latest earnings update as most of its business segments reported strong results, save for some of its insurance businesses which took a hit from major weather events and headwinds resulting from more drivers being on the road. Shares of Berkshire Hathaway Class B (ticker: BRK.B) are included as an idea in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio.

Oct 18, 2021

Dividend Growth Idea UnitedHealth Group Beats Estimates, Raises Guidance (Again)
Image Shown: Shares of dividend growth idea UnitedHealth Group Inc moved higher in the wake of its latest earnings report and guidance boost. On October 14, the health insurance and health care services provider giant UnitedHealth Group reported third-quarter 2021 earnings that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The company also raised its full-year earnings guidance (again) for 2021 in conjunction with its latest earnings report, boosting its EPS forecast to $17.70-$17.95 and its non-GAAP adjusted EPS forecast to $18.65-$18.90. Shares of UNH are included as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio as we are enormous fans of its fortress-like balance sheet and ability to generate free cash flows in almost any operating environment. As of this writing, shares of UNH yield ~1.4%.

Jul 16, 2021

Dividend Growth Idea UnitedHealth Group Surges Towards All-Time Highs After Stellar Earnings Update, Guidance Boost
Image Shown: Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc, an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio, are trading near their all-time highs as of this writing after the firm reported a stellar second quarter 2021 earnings report. In conjunction with its latest earnings report, UnitedHealth Group once again raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance for 2021. We continue to be huge fans of the name. We are enormous fans of UnitedHealth Group, and the healthcare giant has not disappointed since we added shares of UNH as an idea to the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio back on November 27, 2020. Shares of UNH are up 26% from November 27 to July 15, outperforming the 20% gain seen at the S&P 500 during this period before considering dividend considerations (which would not change this picture much). The company’s balance sheet is pristine, its free cash flow generating abilities are simply stellar, and its growth outlook is incredibly bright. Recent guidance increases highlight management’s confidence that UnitedHealth Group is steadily recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping in mind that the resumption of elective surgeries and other heath service activities during the second half of this year will create temporary headwinds for the firm. Heading into 2022, UnitedHealth Group sees its various businesses having ample momentum, and the company’s growth outlook over the long haul is incredibly promising. We like UnitedHealth Group as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio.

Jun 21, 2021

Dividend Growth Idea UnitedHealth Group Boosts Payout
Image Shown: We include UnitedHealth Group Inc as an idea in our Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. The health care giant recently boosted its quarterly payout by 16% on a sequential basis. Recently, the US-based health care insurance, services, and solutions provider UnitedHealth Group boosted its quarterly dividend by 16% to $1.45 per share or $5.80 on an annualized basis. On a forward-looking basis, shares of UNH yield ~1.5% as of this writing. We include UnitedHealth Group as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio as its forward-looking dividend coverage is rock-solid.

Apr 19, 2021

UnitedHealth Group Raises Guidance After Stellar Earnings Report
Image Shown: We added UnitedHealth Group Inc to the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio back on November 27, 2020. Since then, shares of UNH have surged higher, though we are primarily interested in the company’s immense dividend growth potential. We continue to be big fans of UnitedHealth Group and like the company as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Shares of UNH have surged towards the upper end of our fair value estimate range over the past couple of months. When we roll forward our enterprise cash flow model for the new year, we expect UnitedHealth Group’s fair value estimate to increase meaningfully on the back of its improving cash flow growth outlook. As of this writing, shares of UNH yield ~1.3% and its Dividend Cushion ratio stands north of 3.0, highlighting the tremendous strength of its forward-looking dividend coverage.

Mar 18, 2021

Cigna Is An Intriguing Health Care Idea
Image Source: Cigna Corporation –2021 Investor Day Presentation. Health care giant Cigna Corporation has a stellar cash flow profile, pristine balance sheet, promising growth outlook, and remains committed to rewarding shareholders. The company initiated a quarterly dividend at the start of 2021 and intends to continue buying back a sizable amount of its stock going forward. Management recently issued favorable guidance that indicates Cigna’s growth story is expected to continue this year as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Cigna’s telehealth ambitions are quite intriguing as well. Recent updates at Cigna have placed the health care company on our radar.

Feb 8, 2021

Stock Market Outlook for 2021
2020 was one from the history books and a year that will live on in infamy. That said, we are excited for the future as global health authorities are steadily putting an end to the public health crisis created by COVID-19, aided by the quick discovery of safe and viable vaccines. Tech, fintech, and payment processing firms were all big winners in 2020, and we expect that to continue being the case in 2021. Digital advertising, cloud-computing, and e-commerce activities are set to continue dominating their respective fields. Cybersecurity demand is moving higher and the constant threats posed by both governments (usually nations that are hostile to Western interests) and non-state actors highlights how crucial these services are. Retailers with omni-channel selling capabilities are well-positioned to ride the global economic recovery upwards. Green energy firms will continue to grow at a brisk pace in 2021, though the oil & gas industry appears ready for a comeback. The adoption of 5G wireless technologies and smartphones will create immense growth opportunities for smartphone makers, semiconductor players and telecommunications giants. Video streaming services have become ubiquitous over the past decade with room to continue growing as households “cut the cord” and instead opt for several video streaming packages. We’re not too big of fans of old industrial names given their capital-intensive nature relative to capital-light technology or fintech, but there are select names that have appeal. Cryptocurrencies have taken the market by storm as we turn the calendar into 2021, but the traditional banking system remains healthy enough to withstand another shock should it be on the horizon. Our fair value estimate of the S&P 500 remains $3,530-$3,920, but we may still be on a roller coaster ride for the year. Here’s to a great 2021!

Jan 21, 2021

UnitedHealth Group Is a Rock-Solid Dividend Growth Opportunity
Image Shown: Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc, which we added to our Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio back on November 27, continue to climb higher. The top end of our fair value estimate for UnitedHealth Group sits at $401 per share. On January 20, UnitedHealth Group issued fourth quarter and full-year results for 2020 that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The healthcare giant reported a 6% annual increase in its GAAP revenues in 2020, with its ‘Premiums,’ ‘Products’ and ‘Services’ sales all reporting meaningful increases. Its GAAP earnings from operations grew by 14% annually in 2020, though we caution there is some noise due to the deferral of certain medical procedures, a result of the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic. UnitedHealth Group is an exciting healthcare play with substantial dividend growth upside. As global health authorities continue to work toward getting the pandemic under control, a process aided by the ongoing distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the outlook for the healthcare sector and global economy at-large should continue to improve going forward. We like having exposure to UnitedHealth Group in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio.