Podcast: Why ETFs and Roasting the Banks

The Valuentum analyst team talks about why we don’t like the business models of banking entities, why they are currently destroying economic value, but also why the team includes exposure in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. What gives? Find out in this ~9 minute podcast. If you cannot view the video, please view the transcript that follows. Tickerized for holdings in the exchange traded funds, XLF and KBE, and for various financials-oriented ETFs.  Kris Rosemann: Hello and welcome to the Valuentum Securities podcast. My name is Kris Rosemann Associate Investment Analyst at Valuentum. With me is Chris Araos and Brian Nelson President of Equity Research and ETF Analysis at Valuentum. Today, we are going to have a quick discussion over … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending April 22

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending April 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 American Water Works (AWK): now $0.375 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.34. Aspen Insurance Holdings (AHL): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21. Canadian Pacific Railway (CP): now C$0.50 per share quarterly dividend, was C$0.35. Celanese (CE): now $0.36 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.30.           Charles Schwab (SCHW): now $0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. Citizens Financial (CFG): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending July 24

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending July 24. 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 BancorpSouth (BXS): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.075. Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB): now $0.255 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. Baylake Corp (BYLK): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.08. BBCN Bancorp (BBCN): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. B&G Foods (BGS): now $0.35 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.34. Chemical Financial (CHFC): now $0.26 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.24. … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending January 23

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending January 23. 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 AGCO (AGCO): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. Alaska Air (ALK): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.125. Alexanders (ALX): now $3.50 per share quarterly dividend, was $3.25. Allete (ALE): now $0.505 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.49. Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB): now $0.245 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.235. Cardinal Financial (CFNL): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Collectors Universe … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending July 25

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending July 25. 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 Alliance Bancorp (ALLB): now $0.06 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. Altera (ALTR): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. BancorpSouth (BXS): now $0.075 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. BankFinancial (BFIN): now $0.02 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.01. Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB): now $0.23 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.223. BBCN Bancorp (BBCN): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.075. BorgWarner (BWA): … 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

Firms Raising Their Dividend In the Week Ending July 26 Included Hershey and Republic Services

Below we provide a list of firms that increased/decreased their dividends for the week ending July 26. 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. Increases Atlas Energy (ATLS): now $0.44 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.31. Bar Harbor Bankshares(BHB): now $0.315 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.31. Barnes Group (B): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. BBCN Bancorp (BBCN): now $0.075 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. Celanese Corporation (CE): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Crane Co (CR): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. Fidelity Southern Corporation (LION): now $0.02 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.01. First … Read more

Nelson: The 16 Most Important Steps To Understand The Stock Market

A previous version of this article appeared on our website July 21, 2013. Refreshed and updated throughout, as of July 2018. By Brian Nelson, CFA After earning my MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and training stock and credit analysts from large organizations over the past decade or so, I have heard just about every question (though I admit I am still surprised by many things and remain a very humble student of the markets). I’ve also spent years perfecting the discounted cash flow process for large research organizations such as Morningstar and studied under one of the most famed aggressive growth investors of all time, Richard Driehaus. My knowledge runs the gamut from value through … 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 October 23

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 23. 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 $0.69 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.61. Alpine Income Property Trust (PINE): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Altra Industrial Motion (AIMC): now $0.06 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.04. America Movil (AMX): now $0.177 per share dividend, was Peso 0.19. American Electric Power (AEP): now $0.74 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.70. Amphenol (APH): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more