Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 14

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 14. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week Capstead (CMO): now $0.34 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.31. Colgate-Palmolive (CL): now $0.36 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.34. Douglas Dynamics (PLOW): now $0.2175 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2125. Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT (EARN): now $0.55 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.50. Equity Lifestyle Properties (ELS): now $0.325 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. General Mills (GIS): now $0.41 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.38. Gramercy (GPT): reinstates common stock dividend of $0.035 per share quarterly dividend. Hurco Companies (HURC): now $0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. JMP Group (JMP): now $0.045 per share … Read more

Realty Income Still One of Our Favorite Dividend-Focused REITs

On February 13, the real estate investment trust (REIT) that has a 45-year track record of providing dependable monthly income from real estate reported solid operating results for the fourth quarter of 2013. The ‘Monthly Dividend Company’ has paid an impressive 522 dividends and registered an enviable 74 total dividend increases since 1994. Though we note that the past is only as important as it informs the future, we think the future remains bright for Realty Income. Image Source: Realty Income  The Dividend Growth portfolio holding’s revenue and adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) were both impacted by acquisitive activity (its purchase of American Realty Capital Trust in January 2013), advancing significantly from the same period a year ago. We were … Read more

Valuentum Members Are Reminded of the mREITs

“I am the advisor you referenced in the July newsletter who sold AGNC. Your timely article made me re-look at all of the mReits we owned, and we sold off nearly all of them over the following month after your article. I just calculated where we sold (because of your article) compared to where the mReits are today. Your article, which influenced the selling saved our clients over $1.1 million in equity price drops. That translates into $11,000 per year of fee income to the firm. You can bet that we will be re-subscribing when the time comes. Thank you for your hard work, and bringing additional value that was not owed or expected.” — Tim A. (source: Valuentum testimonials), … Read more

American Capital Agency Disappoints Again; Armour Residential Follows

We’re still getting praises from our call on the mREIT industry that shocked the investment world and literally put our research firm on the map (click here for that). We outlined how other research firms were so wrong in this piece (link), and interestingly, we’re adding BAML today to the list of investment shops that led their advisor communities astray. Frankly, we’re honored to serve you, and we’re proud to have delivered on the correct research perspective. We’re not here to point out the pitfalls of others, but by pointing out this well-documented example, our goal is to continue to build your trust in us as a firm. Let’s take a look at the ongoing troubles the mREIT industry continues … Read more

American Capital Agency Loses $2.37 Per Share in Second Quarter

As we have encouraged readers since the peak in September 2012, the mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) industry has myriad risks, and the marketing pitches indicating that their principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a US government sponsored entity (GSE) should not make investors feel safe. This dynamic has little bearing on the underlying trajectory of fundamentals and a mortgage REIT’s book value, the key valuation driver and the major impetus behind share price movements in the space. During the second quarter (results released Monday), American Capital Agency (AGNC) failed at its principal objective to preserve net asset value, as book value plunged to $25.51 per share from $28.93 per share in the previous sequential quarter (a $3.42 move). … Read more

The Mortgage REIT Business Doesn’t Work…

Key Takeaways: ·         The good times are over for mortgage REITs. o       Mortgage market dynamics are inherently difficult to predict. o       A flatter yield curve has negatively impacted net interest rate spread income across the entire mortgage REIT universe. We’re already seeing deteriorating gross ROE’s from some of the largest industry constituents. o       The Fed has only caused a marginal tightening in mortgage spreads, and in our view, a marginal widening due to reduced Fed activity (if/when it happens) is perhaps the best-case scenario as it relates to spread income for the group. A continuation of spread tightening is likely the base-case scenario, which is negative for the group. o       Net interest rate spread income and gross ROE’s will only be materially enhanced … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 13

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 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 Aberdeen Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund (AEF): now $0.054 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.045. Acushnet Holdings (GOLF): now $0.155 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.140. AGNC INVT 1000 DR REP 1 SRS F PRF (AGNCP): now $0.27222 per share quarterly dividend. Altius Minerals (ATUSF): now CAD 0.05 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.04. American Tower (AMT): now $1.08 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.01. … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of March 17

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 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                          Alpha Metallurgical (AMR): now $0.44 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.42. Andlauer Healthcare Group (AND:CA): now $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.07. ANGC Investment Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (AGNCN): now $0.6213 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.5743. Applied Materials (AMAT): now $0.32 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26. Arcos Dorados (ARCO): now $0.19 per share annual dividend, was $0.15. … Read more

Top Research and Ideas You May Have Missed

Is Quant Value Giving Intrinsic Value Investors a Bad Name? Surely, you don’t believe Warren Buffett’s “style” is out of favor? By Brian Nelson, CFA I need to make sure that you’re aware of something very important. The media and perhaps many investment professionals define the concept of “value” as companies with low price-to-book (P/B) ratios, and the concept of “growth” as companies with high price-to-book ratios. This definition of “value” and “growth” and their corresponding returns have been magnified in writings throughout the media and across quantitative research, even in prestigious journals. Warren Buffett has been rallying against most quantitative applications and how “growth” and “value” are defined in popular media and quantitative research for decades.  Here’s one of the Oracle’s most … Read more

US Congress Is Getting Ready to Pass a Massive ~$2.2 Trillion Fiscal Stimulus Bill

Image Shown: US equities have started to recover some of their lost ground as the likelihood that the US Congress will pass a massive ~$2.2 trillion fiscal stimulus and emergency spending package, dubbed the CARES Act, has increased significantly over the past week as seen through the bounce in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY). President Trump has clearly indicated that he intends to sign such a bill into law as soon as possible, with the US House of Representatives expected to take up the legislation this upcoming Friday morning on March 27. By Callum Turcan On March 25, the US Senate worked late into the night to secure a bipartisan compromise on a massive ~$2.2 trillion fiscal stimulus … Read more