Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

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Nov 1, 2024

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of November 1
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Oct 17, 2024

Kinder Morgan’s Dividend Is Much Healthier These Days
Image: Kinder Morgan’s shares have done quite well thanks to improved free cash flow performance. Year-to-date Kinder Morgan's free cash flow, as measured by cash flow from operations less all capital spending, totaled $2.27 billion, higher than the $1.92 billion it paid in cash dividends during the same time period. Years ago, Kinder Morgan’s capital spending and cash dividends paid were significantly higher than cash flow from operations, necessitating a dividend cut. Things are much different these days, as Kinder Morgan’s free cash flow covered cash dividends paid by $353 million during the first nine months of the year. Though the firm retains a large net debt position, Kinder Morgan’s dividend is much healthier than it was years ago. Shares yield 4.6% at the time of this writing.

Aug 2, 2024

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of August 2
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Feb 2, 2024

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of February 2
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Oct 27, 2023

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of October 27
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Oct 23, 2023

Kinder Morgan Now Covers Cash Dividends with Traditional Free Cash Flow
On October 18, Kinder Morgan reported third-quarter results that came in lower than expectations, but we’ve taken note of the company’s improved free cash flow generation that now runs in excess of its cash dividends paid, a huge change from a decade ago, where capital spending and cash dividends paid far outweighed its operating cash flow capacity. The company’s dividend stands at $1.13 per share on an annualized basis, and Kinder Morgan now has an forward estimated dividend yield of ~6.7%, which is quite attractive. Shares are trading meaningfully below our estimate of their intrinsic value, too, and we’re warming up to the company’s financials. Its net debt position likely precludes it from being added to any simulated newsletter portfolio at this time, however. Our $21 per-share fair value estimate remains unchanged.

Oct 3, 2023

We Like NextEra Energy’s ESG Focus But Capital Market Conditions Now Showing Cracks
Image Source: NextEra Energy. NextEra Energy operates a complex business structure, and the firm’s equity is facing pressure on news that its subsidiary NextEra Energy Partners is cutting its distribution per unit growth rate to the range of 5%-8% annually through 2026, which is materially below its prior expectations of growth in the 12%-15%. Since most partnerships are owned primarily for their distribution yields, the revision has sent units of NextEra Energy Partners tumbling, hurting its partner along the way. The news, while not tragic, wasn't very welcoming, and reading between the lines, it appears that we’re starting to see some cracks in the capital markets, as most partnerships are debt-heavy, relying on continuous, affordable access to the capital markets to fund and grow their operations (distributions), which isn’t guaranteed.

May 17, 2023

Magellan Midstream Soars on Takeout Deal
Image: Magellan Midstream Partners soars on a takeout offer from ONEOK, Inc. We’re as happy as we can be to see a midstream energy master limited partnership (MLP) takeout. On Sunday, May 14, it was publicly announced that Magellan Midstream would be bought by ONEOK, Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth ~$18.8 billion including assumed debt. According to the deal terms, the transaction would give $25 per share in cash and 0.667 common share of ONEOK for each MMP common unit. Though many are questioning the rationale behind the deal, energy infrastructure rollups continue to reduce the number of energy MLPs trading on public markets, as we predicted years ago.

Apr 28, 2023

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of April 28
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Mar 23, 2023

The Dividend Cushion Ratio: Unadjusted Is Less Subjective, Adjusted Is More Subjective
Image Source: Mike Lawrence. Question: I'm a subscriber. I'm looking at your Dividend Report for Enterprise Product Partners. It says your Valuentum Adjusted Dividend Cushion ratio for EPD is 1.8 (a ratio that includes future expected proceeds from capital raising endeavors in the coming years), but several lines below it says the Unadjusted Dividend Cushion ratio, which is your regular normal ratio (a ratio that does not include future expected proceeds from capital raising endeavors in the coming years), is 0.22. Please explain the difference between the two ratios, and what is considered a good ratio for the Unadjusted Dividend Cushion ratio, what is an excellent score, what is neutral and what is poor? Also, how much relative importance should I give to each ratio? Also, further down in the section on Unadjusted Dividend Cushion, the chart of EPD has a large negative number in the blue bar, and your text says: "Generally speaking, the greater the 'blue bar' to the right is in the positive, the more durable a company's dividend, and the greater the 'blue bar' to the right is in the negative, the less durable a company's dividend." So that means that EPD's dividend isn't durable, yet your report earlier says that EPD's Dividend Safety rating is GOOD. Can you elaborate?