Video: Quants! You’re NOT Measuring VALUE and Nelson’s Theory of Universal Value

President of Investment Research Brian Nelson defines the concept of universal value and shows how quantitative statistical methods are inextricably linked to those of fundamental, financial, business-model related analysis. Value does not exist in respective process vacuums! Value is universal. Find out why. Running time: ~10 minutes.  Tickerized for Valuentum’s stock and ETF coverage universe. Transcript Hi this is Brian Nelson from Valuentum Securities, and this is the tenth edition of a series that I call “Off the Cuff,” where I get in front of the camera and I talk for ten minutes. This is what we have to talk about today. We have to talk about this concept: The Theory of Universal Value. Value does not exist in vacuums … Read more

Omega Healthcare and Holly Energy Partners: Case Studies in REIT and MLP Income Evaluation

An assessment of a REIT’s or MLP’s dividend/distribution strength not only should reflect firm-specific fundamentals, but also external market conditions, which are paramount to the sustainability of most any REIT’s or MLP’s payout. Let’s remind readers of this important dynamic, which is captured via the two different Dividend Cushion ratios, and walk through what goes into the analysis we pursue when making a change with respect to our assessment of a company’s dividend health or safety. By Kris Rosemann and Brian Nelson, CFA Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and master limited partnerships (MLPs) are not your typical operating companies. These business structures have certain provisions that incentivize lofty and growing dividends/distributions, which sounds good, but because these business models tend … Read more

Realty Income Has Avoided Much of the Trouble in Retail

Image Source: Realty Income Realty Income’s dividend track record largely speaks for itself, and the REIT may be one of the most attractive in its peer universe. With a focus on some of the strongest retail tenants, it has largely avoided most of the trouble in retail, too. The REIT recently declared its 566th consecutive common stock monthly dividend. By Brian Nelson, CFA Those that don’t know Realty Income (O) should get to know it. The real estate investment trust (REIT) isn’t called the ‘Monthly Dividend Company’ for no reason. Its dividend growth track record is simply a sight to see (1), and the company’s dividend yield is still relatively attractive at ~4.6%, better than the that of the average … Read more

Valuentum’s 3 Breakthroughs in the Field of Finance and More

Valuentum’s President Brian Nelson pauses for a picture before speaking at the CFA Society of Houston in March 2017. By Valuentum Editorial Staff Let’s cover Valuentum’s 3 major breakthroughs in the field of finance. The first one is big and may challenge you to rethink everything you think you know about investing. 1. On a logical framework, Valuentum has debunked John C. Bogle’s landmark syllogism that has paved the way for the concept of index investing. Index investing has been built on a logical shortcoming, whether supported by evidence or not. We think it is important that the investment community know of this. Read (pdf): The “Luck” and “Randomness” of Index Funds (2018), Brian Nelson, CFA See video documentation: /FALLACY_of_Index_Funds To … Read more

Podcast: REITs, Interest Rates and Beyond!

The Valuentum analyst team talks REITs and the reasons why REIT investors should pay close attention to changes in Treasury rates. Various secular themes across the data center, healthcare, office, and mall REITs are discussed, and an explanation for the sector’s systematically poor raw, unadjusted Dividend Cushion ratios is covered. ~8 mins. Tickerized for various ETFs and the holdings in the VNQ. Brian Nelson, CFA: In September, REITs were officially broken out from the financial sector to their own sector of the S&P 500 — some 30 or so stocks with $600 billion in market capitalization, or about 3% of the S&P 500. Could this change have marked a peak in performance for equity and mortgage REIT stocks? Are investors … Read more

Dividend Growth Newsletter REITs

Realty Income’s (O) Dividend Track Record Pictured: Income investors in Realty Income have been handsomely rewarded through the years. Source: Realty Income HCP’s (HCP) Dividend Track Record Pictured: HCP has rewarded income investors in each of the past 30 years with consecutive annual dividend increases. Source: HCP Let’s Talk Interest Rates There’s a lot to think about these days with respect to REITs and rising interest rates. In the equity valuation context, for one, a rising nominal interest rate, by itself, is negative. Increased borrowing costs translate into a higher discount rate applied to a REIT’s future  projected net operating income (or a higher cap rate used in the valuation process), and by extension, results in a lower intrinsic value … 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

Realty Income: Portfolio Risks Are Exaggerated

Realty Income (O), the ‘Monthly Dividend Company’ is our top choice for income exposure to the real estate investment trust (REIT) industry. Though the REIT may not have the allure of healthcare REITs such as Health Care REIT (HCN) or Omega Healthcare (OHI), which are benefiting from aging-demographic tailwinds, or Digital Realty Trust (DLR), which is tied to data-center proliferation and boasts Facebook (FB) as a top-10 customer, we think many investors are growing more and more cautious on Realty Income’s retail exposure, and it is partly because of this reason that we think an opportunity in shares exists. Said differently, investors aren’t giving Realty Income a fair shake, and we think its retail portfolio risks are exaggerated. First, however, … Read more

How to Think About Corporate Tax Reform