Are the Oil & Gas Markets Doomed?

Q: Are the oil and gas markets doomed? Valuentum’s Brian Nelson: In short, no. For one, if we thought the oil and gas space (XLE) were doomed, we would not be holding onto Chevron (CVX), Kinder Morgan (KMI), and Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) in the Dividend Growth portfolio. Instead, I think what we are witnessing in the oil and gas market is a flight to quality and balance-sheet strength. Our outlook for oil and gas equities has not changed before or after the recent fall in energy prices. Valuentum’s thesis accepts the fact that crude oil (USO) and natural gas prices will be extremely volatile, and that’s why we’ve gravitated toward firms such as Chevron, which has the strongest balance … Read more

$45 Oil Prices!?!? There Is Never a Sense of Urgency When One Is Prepared

Image Source: Macrotrends The bull market in energy (XLE) has lasted for the better part of a decade. Ever since the turn of the new century, energy perma-bulls have made the case that “black gold” (USO) should continue its ever-upward price advance thanks to ongoing demand from emerging and developing economies coupled with reduced inventories and areas of supply. We’re seeing this thesis challenged right at this moment. In deciding not to cut crude oil output in the face of oversupply and falling prices, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), for the lack of a better phrase, is now essentially engaged in a price war with producers in the US that are using breakthrough technology to produce oil … 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

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 7

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 7. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports, please click here (or use our ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header). Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.43 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.41. Altisource Residential Corp (RESI): now $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. Avago Technologies (AVGO): now $0.27 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. The Children’s Place (PLCE): now $0.1325 per share quarterly dividend (first ever). Devon Energy (DVN): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Family Dollar Stores (FDO): now … Read more

Bakken Production Is Booming and Continental Resources Is a Winner

 Key Takeaways: ·        Continental Resources is an oil and gas E&P with the largest shale position in the Bakken. ·        Production and proved reserves have significant room to grow. ·        A supermajor oil company like Exxon or Chevron could be interested in acquiring Continental. ·        We believe shares have 35% upside from current levels. Production of shale oil in the Bakken (1) continues to grow rapidly, and the long-term production fortunes in the region remain as positive as ever. Let’s take a look at Continental Resources (click ticker for report: ), a firm we believe has 35% upside from current levels and one that recently made our list of The 25 Cheapest Stocks on the Market. (1) The Bakken field … Read more

Firms Raising Their Dividends in the Week Ending March 8

The flurry of dividend increases continues. Below we provide a list of firms that upped their dividends for 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, please click here. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week Allied World (AWH): now $0.50 per share share quarterly dividend, was $0.375. Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.41 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. Amtrust Financial (AFSI): now $0.14 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Canadian Natural (CNQ): now C$0.125 per share quarterly dividend, was C$0.105. Colgate-Palmolive (CL): now $0.68 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.62. Covanta (CVA): now $0.165 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Devon … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending February 19

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending February 19. 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 Analog Devices (ADI): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. Anthem (ANTM): now $0.65 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.625. Argo Group (AGII): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Autoliv (ALV): now $0.58 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.56. B/E Aerospace (BEAV): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.19. Coca-Cola (KO): now $0.35 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.33. Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE): … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending February 22

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 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 Alamos Gold (AGI): now $0.01 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.005 (adjusted for semi-annual). Analog Devices (ADI): now $0.54 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.48. Apollo Global Management (APO): now $0.56 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.46. Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE): now $0.33 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.31. Argo Group International Holdings (ARGO): now $0.31 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.27. Armada Hoffler Properties … Read more

Big Energy Earnings Roundup

Image Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation – Third Quarter 2019 Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan In alphabetical order by ticker: COP, CVX, RDS, TOT, XOM ConocoPhillips On October 29, upstream super-independent ConocoPhillips (COP) reported third quarter earnings for 2019. Its adjusted underlying oil and gas output rose by 7% year-over-year to over 1.3 million BOE/d in the quarter. Conoco sold off most of its UK operations (through a deal announced in April 2019), which were primarily represented by mature offshore oil and gas fields and a stake in the Clair oilfield, raising approximately $2.2 billion in net cash proceeds when the deal was completed in the third quarter. That transaction will see Conoco’s upstream output move lower sequentially in the fourth … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of February 17

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 17. 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 $0.70 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.64. Allstate (ALL): now $0.89 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.85. Analog Devices (ADI): now $0.86 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.76. Annaly Capital Management 6.95% PFD SER F (NLY.PF): now $0.6076 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.5417. Auburn National (AUBN): now $0.27 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.265. Banc of California (BANC): now $0.10 … Read more