FERC Clarifies MLP Tax Changes

Image shown: The prices of MLPs have collapsed since mid-June 2015 as the stock market has surged.  The status quo for many MLPs looks to be restored, though that doesn’t mean MLPs are out of the woods. We continue to expect many to transition to corporates in coming years, and the idea of consolidation/buyouts may bring new investor capital to the space. By Brian Nelson, CFA The transitions away from the master limited partnership (AMLP) model won’t stop, as executive teams seek to find more transparent ways to operate their businesses. Frac sand distributor Hi-Crush Partners (HCLP) is the latest entity considering a transition to a C-corp in a long line of MLP transitions/roll-ups that began with Kinder Morgan’s (KMI) … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending July 13

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending July 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 Avangrid (AGR): now $0.44 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.432. Bassett Furniture (BSET): now $0.125 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT): now $1.4076 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.2748. Clough Global Allocation Fund (GLV): now $0.1138 per share monthly dividend, was $0.1135. Clough Global Equity Fund (GLQ): now $0.1278 per share monthly dividend, was $0.1234. Clough Global Opportunities Fund (GLO): … Read more

The Free Cash Flow Shortfall in the Master Limited Partnership Space

With the recent acceleration of master limited partnership simplification transactions, we find it appropriate to revisit the internally-generated cash flow shortfall present throughout much of the space. The table provides a breakdown of traditional free cash flow (cash from operating activities less all capital spending) relative to distributions paid, as well as a measure of the elevated financial leverage often found within the group. In case you missed it, “Nearly 60 Distribution Cuts Later, We Maintain Our View on the Hazards of the MLP Business Model.” By Kris Rosemann We think it is worth noting that the two entities at the top of this list in terms of traditional free cash flow coverage of distributions paid have significantly reduced their … Read more

Study: Valuentum’s Best Ideas Newsletter Portfolio

To read the study, please click on the image to download the pdf document (pdf).

Master Limited Partnership Simplifications on the Rise

  With the announcement of three separate master limited partnership simplification transactions on May 17 alone, we must revisit our thesis that the business structure may not be in it for the long haul. By Kris Rosemann At Valuentum, we continue to believe the master limited partnership (MLP) business model is at risk over the long haul, and recent news from the space only seems to support the notion that the MLP model we once knew may be fading more quickly than some had expected. If there is nothing inherently wrong with the structure of MLPs, then the rate at which simplification transactions are occurring would certainly be an alarming development, but we continue to point to factors such as … Read more

ICYMI: Valuentum’s Improved Stock and ETF Web Pages

Valuentum has rolled out improved stock and ETF web pages on its website valuentum.com/. Now, subscribers can access key proprietary information on the stock and ETF web pages in addition to the customary stock and ETF reports. Dear reader, We have some exciting news that we can’t wait to share with you! At valuentum.com/, we have rolled out new stock and ETF pages that conveniently include a variety of our proprietary metrics from the Dividend Cushion ratio to the Economic Castle rating and beyond! There’s even mouseover functionality so you can learn about how we define the key metrics across our stock-selection and dividend growth methodologies. You’ll still have access to the stock and dividend reports on the landing pages, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending April 13

Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week Aon (AON): now $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.36. Automatic Data Processing (ADP): now $0.69 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.63. Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Carnival (CCL): now $0.50 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.45. Clough Global Equity Fund (GLQ): now $0.1257 per share monthly dividend, was $0.1226. Clough Global Opportunities Fund (GLO): now $0.1031 per share monthly dividend, was $0.1013. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD): now $0.4275 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.425. First Republic Bank (FRC): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.17. Genesis Energy (GEL): now $0.52 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.51. Gladstone Investment (GAIN): now $0.067 per share monthly … Read more

Nearly 60 Distribution Cuts Later, We Maintain Our View on the Hazards of the MLP Business Model

Image Source: Brian Cantoni Valuentum has been highlighting the inherent risks associated with the master limited partnership (MLP) structure for some time now, but we are not alone in acknowledging the limited sustainability of such structures. Internal simplification transactions may only become more common moving forward as management teams seek to optimize the structure of their entities. Readers should continue to cast a skeptical eye on this business model. By Kris Rosemann and Brian Nelson, CFA Quite possibly, Valuentum made the “call of the century” when it outlined its warning on MLPs in June 2015, embedded in its Kinder Morgan (KMI) “call,” and more explicitly in September 2015, “Why the MLP Business Model May Be a Goner.” There was a … Read more

The “Luck” and “Randomness” of Index Funds

Please select the image below to download the document. Image shown, page 1 of 14. Tickerized for Valuentum’s coverage universe.

Boeing!

Image shown: Boeing’s shares have been rocketing higher of late!  We couldn’t be more pleased with how one of our best ideas for consideration has performed: Boeing! By Kris Rosemann Dividend Gowth Newsletter portfolio idea Boeing (BA) continues its tremendous share-price run of late, hitting all-time highs following its earnings report before market open January 31. The aerospace giant turned in 9% revenue growth on a year-over-year basis, while GAAP earnings per share doubled from the year-ago period to $5.18. Free cash flow remained robust in the full-year 2017, advancing to ~$11.6 billion from ~$7.9 billion in 2016. The company expects operating cash flow to climb to ~$15 billion in 2018 (up from $13.3 billion in 2017), and its revenue … Read more