Dividend Increases for the Week Ending October 31

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 31. 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 Access Midstream Partners (ACMP): now $0.615 per share quarterly distribution, was $0.5950. AFLAC (AFL): now $0.39 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.37. Allison Transmission (ALSN): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.12. Associated Banc (ASBC): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Atlas Energy (ATLS): now $0.52 per share quarterly distribution, was $0.49. Atlas Pipeline (APL): now $0.64 per share quarterly distribution, was $0.63. … Read more

Valuentum Economic Castleâ„¢ Rating Update

Read: Keeping the Horse Before the Cart: Valuentum’s Economic Castle™ Rating The Economic Castle Focuses on the Magnitude of Economic Value Creation The Valuentum Economic Castle™ rating is an enhancement of the competitive advantage framework (commonly known as economic moat analysis) that has become widespread and ubiquitous within the investing world. Whereas an economic moat framework evaluates a firm on the basis of the sustainability and durability of its competitive advantages, Valuentum’s Economic Castle™ rating evaluates a firm on the basis of the firm’s future economic profit spread (return on invested capital less its weighted average cost of capital). The companies with the strongest Valuentum Economic Castle™ ratings are poised to generate the most economic value for shareholders in the … Read more

I’d rather lose half of my clients than lose half of my clients’ money.

“I’d rather lose half of my clients than lose half of my clients’ money.” – Jean-Marie Eveillard (First Eagle Global) Josh Brown, who runs the blog The Reformed Broker, wrote an excellent piece today on how irrational clients and customers can bring down even the best of money managers. We think it’s a very informative read. Pasted below is an excerpt from the intro, accompanied by the list of the top 25 most overvalued stocks on the market today on the basis of our research. There is a link to continue reading the piece from Josh at the bottom of the table, too.  Something tells me there are some serious blow-ups on the horizon for professional managers. I feel this … Read more

Throw December Auto Sales Numbers Away; December Ice Storms and a Late Thanksgiving Holiday to Blame

The excuses for the subpar selling performance at automakers in December (up just 0.3%) were many: the frigid ice and snow storms that scared customers away; a late Thanksgiving holiday that stole sales from the month; and a shortened holiday shopping season that left consumers scrambling to buy holiday gifts for family and friends, as opposed to spending time car shopping. Though the impact of each contributing factor is difficult to measure, we think the combination of these items was the main culprit for disappointing December auto sales, not that the consumer has decided to forgo car purchases and that the upswing in auto sales has come to an abrupt halt. Some caution is starting to creep into the market—see … Read more

Ford Shines Bright in November; Potential Channel Stuffing By GM; Toyota Suggests Industry Sales at Fastest Pace Since 2007; Nissan Sets November Record; Honda’s Second-Best November Performance

On Tuesday, Best Ideas portfolio holding Ford (F) put up its best November US auto sales performance in almost a decade. US sales at the automaker advanced 7% in the month, exceeding the mid-5% consensus forecast, while retail sales were up 9% for the period. The F-Series topped 60,000 sales for the seventh consecutive month (it sold 65,501 F-Series trucks in the month, up 16% on a year-over-year basis), and passenger car strength was led by Fusion and Fiesta sales, which jumped 51% and 26%, respectively. Total passenger car sales achieved the best sales result since 2002. November was a month to remember for Ford!  The automaker announced that it would build 770,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2014 … Read more

Firms Raising Their Dividends In The Week Ending April 19

Quite a few firms raised their dividends during the week ending April 19. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week: Allison Transmission Holdings (ALSN): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. A.O. Smith (AOS): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Cardinal Financial (CFNL): now $0.06 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. CSX (CSX): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.14. Discover Financial Services (DFS): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.14. Donegal Group (DGICA): now $0.1275 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1225. El Paso Pipeline Partners (EPB): now $0.62 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.61. First Republic Bank (FRC): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Kinder Morgan (KMI): now $0.38 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week February 25

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 25. 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 $0.1125 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1000.           Agnico Eagle (AEM): now $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.35. Albemarle (ALB): now $0.395 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.390. Alexander & Baldwin (ALEX): now $0.19 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.18. Allison Transmission Holdings (ALSN): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.19. AMERISAFE (AMSF): now $0.31 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.29. Apple … Read more

Nelson: The 16 Most Important Steps To Understand The Stock Market

A previous version of this article appeared on our website July 21, 2013. Refreshed and updated throughout, as of July 2018. By Brian Nelson, CFA After earning my MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and training stock and credit analysts from large organizations over the past decade or so, I have heard just about every question (though I admit I am still surprised by many things and remain a very humble student of the markets). I’ve also spent years perfecting the discounted cash flow process for large research organizations such as Morningstar and studied under one of the most famed aggressive growth investors of all time, Richard Driehaus. My knowledge runs the gamut from value through … Read more

GM and Ford Tune Up Operations for the Future of Automaking

Image source: GM first-quarter earnings report The US auto behemoths continue to place a greater importance on efficient operations and the health of their bottom lines as the industry may be reaching a relative peak in terms of light vehicle production for this economic cycle and as the future of the auto landscape remains uncertain. By Kris Rosemann Key Takeaways Both GM and Ford are keeping a keen eye on the future of the evolving auto and personal transportation markets. We continue to like shares of GM relative to Ford, even as we say we like the direction in which Ford appears to be heading. GM’s shares are trading at an ultra-low earnings multiple, and it pays a very strong … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of March 3

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 3. 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 $0.125 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.113. Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.07. Acushnet (GOLF): now $0.195 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.180. Allison Transmission Holdings (ALSN): now $0.23 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21.   American Eagle Outfitters (AEO): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.18. Best Buy (BBY): now $0.92 per share … Read more