CFA Institute Blog: “Hide-‘Til-Maturity” Accounting

The Silicon Valley Bank collapse recalls the tussle over the accounting for financial instruments after the global financial crisis [GFC] in 2009, particularly the debate about whether some financial instruments should be carried at amortized cost (held-to-maturity, HTM) rather than at fair value (available-for-sale, AFS), or what is referred to as the “mixed measurement model.”  — Sandy Peters, CPA, CFA To read the article on the CFA Institute Blog >> —– Related: 4 Very Good Reasons Why We Don’t Like Dividends of Banking Stocks Banks & Money Centers: AXP, BAC, BBT, BK, C, DFS, FITB, GS, HBC, JPM, KEY, MS, NTRS, PNC, RF, STI, TFC, USB, WFC Valuentum does not believe the long-term dividend health of any financial institution can be accurately … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending February 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 27. 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 Albemarle (ALB): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.275. Canadian Imperial Bank (CM): now C$1.06 per share quarterly dividend, was C$1.03. Chico’s FAS (CHS): now $0.0775 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.075. Chubb (CB): now $0.57 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.50. Cohen & Steers (CNS): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Comcast (CMCSA): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.225. Cubic Corp (CUB): … Read more

The Mortgage Refinancing Boom Could Be Ending

Early Wednesday morning, the Mortgage Banker’s Association (MBA) announced that refinancing activity declined 20% from one week earlier. Adjusted for the Labor Day weekend, total mortgage applications dropped 13.5% from the previous week. Consistent with the dramatic upward movement in interest rates, refinancing activity is down 71% since it peaked during the week of May 3, 2013. Why Do We Monitoring Refinancing Activity? When homeowners refinance, a couple outcomes can occur that pump more dollars into the economy. First, with a refinanced mortgage, owners may choose to take equity out of the home, allowing for large purchases like vehicles or even home remodeling. CoreLogic recently reported that 2.5 million more residential properties have returned to positive equity in the second quarter … Read more

Why We Don’t Like Dividends of Banking Firms: 4 Very Good Reasons

Untermyer: Is not commercial credit based primarily upon money or property? Morgan: No, sir. The first thing is character. Untermyer: Before money or property? Morgan: Before money or anything else. Money cannot buy it … a man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom. –Mr. JP Morgan’s testimony before the Pujo Committee (questioning from Samuel Untermyer), 1912-1913 Reason #1: A Bank Run Is Always Possible Though the history of banking dates back to as early as 2000 BC in Babylonia, the makings of the present-day banking system in the US really didn’t take hold until the beginning of the 20th century. Some financial historians may argue for a later date, but we … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending Apr 28

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending April 28. 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 AmeriGas Partners (APU): now $0.95 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.94. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (AMP): now $0.83 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.75. Ames National Corporation (ATLO): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21. Apollo Global Management (APO): now $0.49 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.45. Aspen Insurance Holdings (AHL): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Altra Holdings (AIMC): now $0.17 per … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending April 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending April 27. 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 abaxis (ABAX): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Alliance Holdings (AHGP): now $0.7475 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.7425. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP): now $0.515 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.51. Ames National Corporation (ATLO): now $0.23 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Amphenol (APH): now $0.23 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.19. Ameriprise Financial (AMP): now $0.90 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.83. … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending April 26

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending April 26. 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 ACNB (ACNB): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.23. AGCO (AGCO): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.57 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.555. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP): now $0.535 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.53. Ameriprise Financial (AMP): now $0.97 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.90. AmeriServ Financial (ASRV): now $0.025 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.02. ASML … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending February 28

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 28. 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 Albemarle (ALB): now $0.385 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.3675. Allison Transmission Holdings (ALSN): now $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Anheuser-Busch Inbev (BUD): now EUR 1.00 per share semi-annual dividend, was EUR 0.80. Assured Guaranty (AGO): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.18. Barings BDC (BBDC): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Best Buy (BBY): now $0.55 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week February 18

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 18. 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 Acadia Realty Trust (AKR): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Advance Auto Parts (AAP): now $1.50 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.00. AEGON (AEG): now EUR 0.09 per share semi-annual dividend, was EUR 0.08. AllianceBernstein (AB): now $1.29 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.89. Allstate (ALL): now $0.85 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.81. American Homes 4 Rent (AMH): now $0.18 per share quarterly … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of February 3

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 3. 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                AFLAC (AFL): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. ALLETE (ALE): now $0.6775 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.6500. American Financial (AFG): now $4.00 per share special dividend, was $0.63. Avista (AVA): now $0.46 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.44. Bank of Botetourt (BORT): now $0.1925 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1850. BCE (BCE): now CAD 0.9675 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.9200. … Read more