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

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 of January 24

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending January 24. 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                          Acuity Brands (AYI): now $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): now $1.79 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.77. Alliant Energy (LNT): now $0.5075 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.4800. Amalgamated Bank (AMAL): now $0.14 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.12. American Express (AXP): now $0.82 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.70. B&M European Value Retail S.A. (BMRRY): now … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending January 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending January 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 AGCO (AGCO): now $0.14 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.13. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): now $0.95 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.86. ALLETE (ALE): now $0.535 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.52. Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG): now $0.39 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.38. Bank First National (BFNC): now $0.16 per share quarterly … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending January 25

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending January 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 1st Source (SRCE): now $0.27 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): now $1.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.10. Alaska Air (ALK): now $0.35 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.32. Allergan (AGN): now $0.74 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.72. Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT): now $0.31 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.30. Berkshire Hills Bancorp (BHLB): now $0.23 per share quarterly … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week January 22

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending January 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 Alliant Energy (LNT): now $0.4025 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.38. BlackRock (BLK): now $4.13 per share quarterly dividend, was $3.63. Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust (CPZ): now $0.13 per share monthly dividend, was $0.12. Canadian Banc Corp (CNDCF): now CAD 0.0748 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.0733. Century Bancorp (CNBKA): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Century Bancorp, Inc. B … 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 of January 20

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending January 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                Albertsons Companies (ACI): now $6.85 per share special dividend, was $0.12. Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (AP.UN:CA): now CAD 0.15 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.1458. Banner (BANR): now $0.48 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.44. Birchcliff Energy (BIR:CA): now CAD 0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.02. Chesswood Group Limited (CHW:CA): now CAD 0.05 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.04. … 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