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

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week October 29

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 29. 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 A10 Networks (ATEN): now $0.05 per share quarterly dividend. AbbVie (ABBV): now $1.41 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.30. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Amphenol (APH): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.14. Arbor Realty Trust (ABR): now $0.36 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.35. Armada Hoffler Properties (AHH): now $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. B. … Read more

Why We Don’t Like Dividends of Banking Firms: 4 Very Good Reasons

Untermyer: Is not commercial credit based primarily upon money or property? Morgan: No, sir. The first thing is character. Untermyer: Before money or property? Morgan: Before money or anything else. Money cannot buy it … a man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom. –Mr. JP Morgan’s testimony before the Pujo Committee (questioning from Samuel Untermyer), 1912-1913 Reason #1: A Bank Run Is Always Possible Though the history of banking dates back to as early as 2000 BC in Babylonia, the makings of the present-day banking system in the US really didn’t take hold until the beginning of the 20th century. Some financial historians may argue for a later date, but we … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week May 13

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 13. 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      Alerus Financial Corporation (ALRS): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN): now $0.1808 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1706. Birchcliff Energy (BIREF): now CAD 0.02 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.01. Black Stone Minerals (BSM): now $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.27. Brookline Bancorp (BRKL): now $0.13 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.125. Bunge (BG): now $0.625 per … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of October 28

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 28. 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                AbbVie (ABBV): now $1.48 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.41. ACNB (ACNB): now $0.28 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP): now $0.50 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. American Electric Power (AEP): now $0.83 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.78. Amphenol (APH): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Associated Banc-Corp (ASB): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. … Read more

4 Very Good Reasons Why We Don’t Like Dividends of Banking Stocks

Untermyer: Is not commercial credit based primarily upon money or property?Morgan: No, sir. The first thing is character.Untermyer: Before money or property?Morgan: Before money or anything else. Money cannot buy it … a man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom. –Mr. JP Morgan’s testimony before the Pujo Committee (questioning from Samuel Untermyer), 1912-1913   Image: Bank Run in Michigan, USA, February 1933. Source: Public Domain. By Brian Nelson, CFA It’s sometimes easy to lose sight of the fragility of a banking firm’s business model. Let’s examine the reasons why we don’t like banking firms’ dividends. Reason #1: A Bank Run Is Always Possible. Reason #2: Others Have Tried to Invest in Bank Dividends and Have Failed. Reason #3: … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending April 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending April 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 abaxis (ABAX): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Alliance Holdings (AHGP): now $0.7475 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.7425. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP): now $0.515 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.51. Ames National Corporation (ATLO): now $0.23 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Amphenol (APH): now $0.23 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.19. Ameriprise Financial (AMP): now $0.90 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.83. … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending May 11

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 11. 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 Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN): now $0.1282 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1165. Baker Hughes (BHGE): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.12. Baxter (BAX): now $0.19 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. BG Staffing (BGSF): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. Brookline Bancorp (BRKL): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Business First Bancshares (BFST): now $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending October 26

Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week Access National (ANCX): now $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP): now $0.525 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.52. American Electric Power (AEP): now $0.67 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.62. Apollo Senior Floating Rate Fund (AFT): now $0.10 per share monthly dividend, was $0.10. Bank of Hawaii (BOH): now $0.62 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.60. Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC): now $0.35 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.32. Brookline Bancorp (BRKL): now $0.105 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Cabot Oil & Gas (COG): now $0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. Cheniere Energy Partners (CQP): now $0.58 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.56. Coca-Cola European (CCE): now … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending April 26

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending April 26. 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 ACNB (ACNB): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.23. AGCO (AGCO): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.57 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.555. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP): now $0.535 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.53. Ameriprise Financial (AMP): now $0.97 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.90. AmeriServ Financial (ASRV): now $0.025 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.02. ASML … Read more