There Will Be Volatility

By Brian Nelson, CFA Last year, 2022, was a big test for equity investors, and the downside volatility that we witnessed during the year wasn’t comfortable, to say the least. Following the COVID-19 crash and rebound during 2020, and then the market surge in 2021, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say many investors’ heads are probably still spinning from all the volatility witnessed to start this decade. That said, part of what we’ve been warning about the past few years with respect to the equity market, especially in Value Trap, is that the proliferation of price-agnostic trading (e.g. quant, machine/algorithmic trading, etc.) will only lead to more and more market volatility, so while we were somewhat surprised by last … Read more

Housing Is Back! Trends in Home Improvement

Housing prices are no longer in the dumps. What does this mean for the home improvement retailers, and how might other trends be helping to provide a positive industrywide backdrop? Both Home Depot and Lowes may be long-term winners, but valuation considerations shouldn’t be ignored. The Valuentum analyst team digs in. ~8 mins. If you cannot view the podcast below, please select the link here or view the transcript that follows. Chris Araos: Hello, this is Chris Araos at Valuentum Securities. With me are Kris Roseman and Brian Nelson. Today, we are going to focus on Home Depot (HD) and Lowes (LOW) and why they are doing so well. We have a strong housing market. New home sales have hit … Read more

Is the Time Right to Invest in Home Improvement?

The US housing market has been hot this summer. Both purchases of previously-owned homes and residential housing starts reached their highest monthly levels in the month of July since 2007. The improved demand has been driven by a resilient labor market, historically-low mortgage rates and “pent-up” demand from the Great Recession. Purchases of previously-owned homes advanced 2% sequentially in July to an annualized rate of 5.59 million houses, handily beating consensus estimates of 5.43 million. The increased levels of demand come despite limited support from first-time buyers, however. Millennials, now coming of age, are making their first “rent-versus-buy” decisions, and many, having witnessed the housing bubble burst late last decade, aren’t viewing ownership as the wise investment decision that their … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending October 25

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 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 Agnico Eagle (AEM): now $0.175 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.125. AllianceBernstein (AB): now $0.63 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.56. American Electric Power (AEP): now $0.70 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.67. Armstrong World (AWI): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.175. The Bank of Princeton (BPRN): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.03. BJ’s Restaurants (BJRI): now $0.13 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week October 23

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 23. 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 AllianceBernstein (AB): now $0.69 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.61. Alpine Income Property Trust (PINE): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Altra Industrial Motion (AIMC): now $0.06 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.04. America Movil (AMX): now $0.177 per share dividend, was Peso 0.19. American Electric Power (AEP): now $0.74 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.70. Amphenol (APH): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Stock Market Outlook for 2021

By Valuentum Analysts February 8, 2021 2020 was one for the history books. We covered our thoughts and reflections on the past year in our “2020 Won’t Soon Be Forgotten” article (link here), and now we are looking towards the future. Global health authorities should be able to bring an end to the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic sooner than many had expected as several vaccines have already been improved for emergency use and several others appear increasingly likely to get approved. Global vaccine distribution activities are currently underway, and this should allow the world to slowly return to pre-pandemic activities. Before then, immense stimulus measures launched primarily in developed nations should support global economic activities until the public health crisis … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week October 22

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 22. 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 1st Source (SRCE): now $0.31 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. ACNB (ACNB): now $0.26 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. Albertsons Companies (ACI): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. American Electric Power (AEP): now $0.78 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.74. Armstrong World (AWI): now $0.231 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.210. ASML Holding (ASML): now EURO 1.80 per share interim dividend, was … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of October 21

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 21. 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                1st Source (SRCE): now $0.32 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.31. Adecoagro (AGRO): now $0.1602 per share semi-annual dividend, was $0.1571. Apple Hospitality (APLE): now $0.08 per share monthly dividend, was $0.07. Armstrong World (AWI): now $0.254 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.231. Bank of the James Financial Group (BOTJ): now $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.07. Black Stone Minerals (BSM): now $0.45 per … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of October 20

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 20. 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                          1st Source (SRCE): now $0.34 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.32. ACNB (ACNB): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. Armstrong World (AWI): now $0.28 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25.      ASML Holding (ASML): now EUR 1.45 per share interim dividend, was EUR 1.37. Bank of America Corporation Deposit Shs Perp Pfd Shs … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of October 25

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 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                          AllianceBernstein (AB): now $0.77 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.71. American Electric Power (AEP): now $0.93 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.88. AMERISAFE (AMSF): now $3.00 per share special dividend, was $0.37. Archrock (AROC): now $0.175 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.165. Armstrong World (AWI): now $0.308 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.280. Atlantic Union Bank (AUB): now $0.34 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more