Market Mayhem — Alerts for Members

During these extremely volatile times, it’s important to stay focused. On December 15, we informed all of our members to “Pay Attention.” Shortly thereafter, we notified members of the potential for a stock market technical breakdown. This morning, we offered a pre-market briefing about the importance of thinking about portfolio protection. For Best Ideas Newsletter and Dividend Growth Newsletter members: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?preview=true&m=1110817109903&ca=e2406cd6-c113-4344-8731-493f33fc44a4&id=preview For High Yield Dividend Newsletter members: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?preview=true&m=1110817109903&ca=b3ba530f-38b3-489a-ac96-2961dca89c6b&id=preview For Exclusive members: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?preview=true&m=1110817109903&ca=ba6d90c0-4433-48b2-9b8a-aac4ddf9006e&id=preview We’re here for any questions. Please just let us know how we can help! Kind regards, Brian Nelson, CFA  brian@valuentum.com

Midstream Energy Pounded, MLP Distribution Cut at Golar LNG Partners

Image shown: The midstream MLP space continues to suffer. Performance of the group since mid-June 2015. By Kris Rosemann and Brian Nelson, CFA There aren’t many calls that have been as large as Valuentum’s was in midstream energy in mid-June 2015. Midstream energy equities comprised some $500-$600 billion in market capitalization at their peak, and our work was prominently highlighted in Barron’s for all to see. Within the High Yield Dividend Newsletter, we’ve received great praise in continuing to highlight the risks of the space, but we can’t change that high yield, itself, is risky, as almost by definition, it means that companies will have poor Dividend Cushion ratios. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find opportunities … Read more

Earnings Roundup: Past, Present, and Potential Dividend Growth Ideas

Image Source: Mike Cohen Let’s take a look at the earnings reports of some past, present, and potential simulated Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio ideas, including that of Novartis, Procter & Gamble, Honeywell, and Kinder Morgan.   By Kris Rosemann Novartis Reports Solid Volume Growth But Pricing Pressure Simulated Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio idea Novartis (NVS) reported third quarter 2018 earnings October 18, and its top line was driven 3% higher as reported thanks to nine percentage points of volume growth, which was partially offset by negative pricing action, generic competition, and currency headwinds. Drivers of the volume growth include Cosentyx, Entresto, its oncology portfolio, and Alcon, but reported operating income faced material pressure as a result of the voluntary withdrawal of … Read more

Update on 5 Top Energy Stocks: KMI, ETP, EPD, MMP, XOM

We generally like the diversification provided in the Energy Select SPDR ETF (XLE) as one way to consider exposure to the energy resource arena, but let’s get the highlights on some of the most-viewed energy-related ideas on our website: Kinder Morgan, Energy Transfer Partners/Equity, Enterprise Product Partners, Magellan Midstream, and Exxon Mobil. By Kris Rosemann and Brian Nelson, CFA An estimate of intrinsic value is as important as a view that shares of a company are undervalued or overvalued, and we think an application of a fair value estimate range is most helpful. The question, “What is a company worth?”, remains paramount to any investment thesis. The fair value estimate is the outcome of any research and analysis. We’d view … Read more

Dividend Growth: Capital Preservation Remains Key

Image Shown: Since mid-June 2015, the performance of an ETF tracking the midstream MLP industry (AMLP) has collapsed while the performance of an ETF tracking the S&P 500 (SPY) industry has surged. By The Valuentum Team We think one of the things we do better than most is in our work supporting capital preservation. We have a knack for parsing out risk and explaining that risk clearly in advance to our members. A lot of investors tend to be buy-and-hold as they reinvest dividends and capture compounding over time, and this is wonderful. But it is okay to change your mind, too. It is okay to factor in new information and to be somewhat active in your equity portfolio construction, … Read more

ETF Analysis: Energy

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The Days of the MLP Model Are Numbered

By Brian Nelson, CFA On August 24, Enbridge (ENB) announced that it would enter into a definitive agreement under which the entity would buy Spectra Energy Partners (SEP) at an exchange ratio of 1.111 common shares of Enbridge for each common unit of SEP, a near-10% increase from the exchange ratio announced a few months ago. As we have outlined in the past, most recently with respect to the following discussion on the Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) and Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) tie up, “ETE-ETP Rollup and Implied Distribution Cut,” consolidations are slowly eliminating the MLP model via simplification efforts and many combinations are coming with implied distribution/dividend cuts, something that couldn’t have been imagined in years prior. The story … Read more

ETE-ETP Rollup and Implied Distribution Cut

We continue to believe that the MLP business model may be a goner, and the recent ETE-ETP rollup is the latest example. Though new capital may come into the space on expectations that there will be premiums in unit-for-unit rollup deals, most of the combinations are coming with implied distribution cuts. By Brian Nelson, CFA On August 1, Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) announced that it would roll up Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) in a unit-for-unit merger exchange. Energy Transfer Equity’s incentive distribution rights (IDRs) in Energy Transfer Partners will be eliminated, and the deal is scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of 2018. Energy Transfer Partners unitholders will receive 1.28 common units of Energy Transfer Equity for each common … Read more

Valuentum’s Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Distribution

The weighted average cost of capital is one of the most subjective measures in corporate finance, but it is also one of the most important ones. “The most important item over time in valuation is obviously interest rates…If interest rates are destined to be at low levels…It makes any stream of earnings from investments worth more money. The bogey is always what government bonds yield….Any investment is worth all the cash you’re going to get out between now and judgment day discounted back. The discounting back is affected by whether you choose interests rates like those of Japan or interest rates like those we had in 1982…When we had 15 percent short-term rates in 1982, it was silly to pay … Read more

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