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

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 (EPD). 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 … Read more

ICYMI — Video: Will Hasty Policy Facilitate the Next Leg Down, or Do We Have It Coming Anyway?

President of Investment Research and award-winning author of Value Trap: Theory of Universal Valuation Brian Nelson explains how US policymakers are stuck between a rock and a hard place, and how the market may be factoring in too high of a probability of a return to normalcy before 2021. This and more in the latest video report. Summary Make sure you review Value Trap on Amazon. Do so here. We think those that bought equities near the bottom of this swoon may be looking to take profits at present levels. The market is currently reflecting an 80%-85% probability of a return to normalcy before 2021, which we believe is too high at this time. Our main concern is that government … Read more

Steel Dynamics Bets Big on North America’s Industrial Economy

Image Source: Steel Dynamics Inc – June 2020 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan Investor sentiment towards the steel industry is rebounding as the medium- and long-term outlook for global industrial activity has improved markedly since March 2020. The ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic has significantly hampered near-term industrial activity, though major fiscal stimulus packages (made feasible through major monetary stimulus programs) launched in various developed nations could provide some relief. Shares of Steel Dynamics Inc (STLD) have recovered meaningfully since their March 2020 lows and are trading a tad below our fair value estimate as of this writing. Shares of STLD yield ~3.6% on an annualized forward-looking basis as of this writing and we give the steel maker a Dividend Cushion … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week August 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending August 27. 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 Alpine Income Property Trust (PINE): now $0.255 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.250. Altria (MO): now $0.90 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.86. Atlanticus Holdings Corporation 7.625% PER PFD B (ATLCP): now $0.4977 per share quarterly dividend. Avnet (AVT): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Bank of Hawaii (BOH): now $0.70 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.67. bebe stores (BEBE): now $0.15 per share … Read more

Efficacy of the Dividend Cushion Ratio

A version of this article was originally published September 2019. The Dividend Cushion ratio is one of the most powerful financial tools an income or dividend growth investor can use in conjunction with qualitative dividend analysis. The ratio is one-of-a-kind in that it is both free-cash-flow based and forward looking. Since its creation in 2012, the Dividend Cushion ratio has forewarned readers of approximately 50 dividend cuts. We estimate its efficacy at ~90%. By Valuentum Analysts  Key Takeaways: The Dividend Cushion ratio is a helpful tool to use to cushion your dividend growth or income portfolio against potential dividend cuts. The ratio also helps to assess the growth potential of a company’s dividend, above and beyond current expectations of payout … Read more

South32 Is a Great Miner

Image Shown: An overview of South32’s global asset base. We are big fans of the Australian miner. Image Source: South32 – Fiscal 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan Back in 2015, the mining giant BHP Group Ltd (BHP) spun off South32 (SOUHY). Since then, South32 has seen some major changes to its asset base through a combination of acquisitions, divestments, and organic investments. We include shares of South32’s American depository receipts (‘ADRs’) as an idea in the new ESG Newsletter portfolio (more on that here). Each ADR represents five ordinary shares of South32. South32 is based in Perth, Australia, and we’re huge fans of its pristine balance sheet, stellar free cash flow generating abilities, top-notch asset base, and bright … Read more

Valuentum’s Comprehensive Outlook for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Prices

Let’s take a deep dive into the energy sector. The best dividend growth ideas, the most likely takeout candidates and more…

Nutrien Benefiting from the Strong Global Farm Economy, Shares Yield ~2.5%

Image Source: Nutrien Limited – 2020 Annual Report Executive Summary: Nutrien Limited is benefiting from the strong global farm economy. The company sells tens of millions of metric tons of potash, nitrogen, and phosphate products every year, which are key ingredients used in the production of fertilizer. With geopolitical tensions building in Eastern Europe, Nutrien is preparing to bring idle potash production capacity in Canada back online while steadily expanding its nitrogen production capabilities. Nutrien is a great free cash flow generator with a promising growth outlook, though its net debt load is rather large. The firm is focusing on deleveraging activities in the near term, which we appreciate. Shares of NTR yield ~2.5% as of this writing, and we think … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of March 8

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 8. 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                          Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Acushnet (GOLF): now $0.215 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.195. Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. PFD SER A (AQN.PR.A:CA): now CAD 0.4110 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.3226. American Express (AXP): now $0.70 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.60. Apollo Bancorp, Inc. (APLO): now $0.56 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more