ESI

Valuentum Economic Castleâ„¢ Rating Update

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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

Apollo’s 1Q 2014 Results Show Continued Enrollment Declines, Weakening Cash Flow

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Industry proxy for the ‘Education (For-Profit)’ group, Apollo (APOL) reported weak fiscal first-quarter 2014 results Wednesday. Net revenue declined to $856 million to $1.1 billion in the first fiscal quarter of last year. University of Phoenix Degreed Enrollment fell nearly 18% from the same period a year ago, while New Degreed Enrollment tumbled nearly 23%.   Image Source: Apollo Operating income dropped significantly ($169 million, was $231 million), and income from continuing operations, excluding special items, came in at $1.04 per share compared to $1.22 per share in last year’s quarter. The for-profit education provider’s cash balance shrunk to $917 million from $1.52 billion as it paid down debt. Net cash from operations fell to $129 million in the three … Read more

For-Profit Education Stocks Keep Falling: We’re Still Not Touching the Industry

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Key Takeaways: ·        Active enrollment levels continue to fall across the industry. ·        Some universities are at risk of losing accreditation. ·        The outlook for government-funded education isn’t great. ·        Evidence is mounting that a for-profit education may not be worth the cost. ·        Grand Canyon (LOPE) and Capella (CPLA) are proving to be worth the cost, explaining a great deal of outperformance. DeVry (DV) has some nice businesses, but its core remains challenged. ·        We do not like any firm in the industry. Please refer to our Best Ideas Newsletter for our favorite investment opportunities. List of industry constituents: American Public (APEI), Apollo Group (APOL), Bridgepoint Education (BPI), Career Education (CECO), ChinaEdu Corp (CEDU), Corinthians Colleges (COCO), Capella Education … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week November 13

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending November 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 Absolute Software (ABST): now CAD 0.08 per share quarterly dividend. Air Lease (AL): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Assurant (AIZ): now $0.66 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.63. Atmos Energy (ATO): now $0.625 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.575. Automatic Data Processing (ADP): now $0.93 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.91. Bancroft Fund (BCV): now $2.25 per share year-end dividend, was $0.29. Barings … Read more

Stock Market Outlook for 2021

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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 May 21

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 21. 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 Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Ashland (ASH): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.275. Benchmark Electronics (BHE): now $0.165 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. C&F Financial (CFFI): now $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.38. Canadian Banc Corp (CNDCF): now CAD 0.0942 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.0918. Camping World (CWH): now $0.10 per share quarterly … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week November 19

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending November 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 360 DigiTech (QFIN): now $0.14 per share quarterly dividend. AFLAC (AFL): now $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.33. Agilent Technologies (A): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.194. American National Bankshares (AMNB): now $0.28 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.27. Amkor Technology (AMKR): now $0.05 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.04. AMMO 8.75% PFD SER A (POWWP): now $1.0148 per share dividend, was $0.2412. … Read more