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AT&T Disappoints Again

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Image: AT&T is back in the doghouse, as free cash flow generation came in worse than expected during its first-quarter 2023 results. Image Source: AT&T By Brian Nelson, CFA It’s unbelievable. As soon as we started to warm up to AT&T (T) in October of last year, noting that its free cash flow generation was looking a lot better, the company falls off the tracks again. During the first quarter of 2023, AT&T’s cash flow from operations dropped more than $950 million on a year-over-year basis, while capital spending and cash paid for vendor financing soared. Non-GAAP free cash flow came in at $1.0 billion (missing expectations), while the company shelled out $2 billion in dividends during the period. Excluding … Read more

Verizon’s Big Share-Price Drop Opens Opportunity for 6.8% Dividend Yield

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Image: Verizon’s shares have been punished, but this has opened an opportunity for a 6.8% dividend yield. Image Source: TradingView By Brian Nelson, CFA When Verizon (VZ) reported third-quarter results in late October, the company’s revenue advanced 4% on a year-over-year basis, exceeding the consensus estimate, while non-GAAP earnings per share came in at $1.32 per share, beating the consensus estimate by a few pennies, but down slightly on a year-over-year basis. Adjusted EBITDA fell 0.4% from the same period last year. Verizon is one of the leading communication service providers in the world, and its operations span data, video and voice services across its networks and platforms. The company’s two reportable segments, Verizon Consumer Group and Verizon Business Group, … Read more

Apple Remains a Free Cash Flow Generating Powerhouse

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Image Shown: Apple Inc remained a free cash flow generating powerhouse in fiscal 2021. Key line-items are underlined in red and blue. Image Source: Apple Inc – Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2021 Financial Supplement with additions from the author By Callum Turcan On October 28, Apple Inc (AAPL) reported fourth-quarter earnings for fiscal 2021 (period ended September 25, 2021) that missed consensus top-line estimates and matched consensus bottom-line estimates. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, noted during the firm’s latest earnings call that “we set a new September quarter record of $83.4 billion” though “supply constraints” weighed negatively on its performance and “had around a $6 billion revenue dollar impact” last fiscal quarter. Silicon shortages were cited as a key headwind, with … Read more

Cisco Systems Continues to Recover; Growth Outlook Quite Promising

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Image Source: Cisco Systems Inc – Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2021 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan On August 18, Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) reported fourth quarter earnings for fiscal 2021 (period ended July 31, 2021) that beat consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Cisco Systems also offered guidance for both the first quarter of fiscal 2022 along with full-year guidance for fiscal 2022, breaking with tradition (usually the company does not offer full fiscal year forecasts). Cisco Systems is included as an idea in both the Best Ideas Newsletter and Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolios. We continue to be huge fans of Cisco Systems, and shares of CSCO initially moved significantly higher during the morning trading hours on August 19. Pivot to … Read more

Dividend Growth Idea Qualcomm Enters Bidding War to Bolster Automotive Growth Runway

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Image Source: Qualcomm Inc – March 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Presentation By Callum Turcan One of our favorite semiconductor plays is Qualcomm Inc (QCOM). For those just getting familiar with the name, the company is about much more than just supplying components used in smartphones. While the rollout of 5G-capable smartphones will provide Qualcomm’s medium-term financial performance a large boost due to its Snapdragon mobile platform offerings, another key aspect of Qualcomm’s promising growth story is its exposure to the automotive industry. Background Information Historically, Qualcomm has focused on supplying components to the automotive industry in the realm of infotainment (such as enabling radio, TV, mapping, and navigation services), telematics (combining automotive technologies with telecommunications and other technologies), and … Read more

Dividend Growth Idea Qualcomm Proactively Managing Fallout from Global Chip Shortage

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Image Shown: Qualcomm Inc, one of our favorite semiconductor firms, noted in March 2021 that the rollout of 5G wireless networks is accelerating which in turn supports its outlook. We include shares of QCOM as an idea in our Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Image Source: Qualcomm Inc – 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders IR Presentation By Callum Turcan One of our favorite ways to gain exposure to the semiconductor industry is Qualcomm Inc (QCOM), and we include shares of QCOM as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Qualcomm’s IP portfolio and the “chips” that it designs play an essential role in enabling 5G connectivity in smartphones, powering the digital capabilities of modern automobiles, and supporting wireless network operations … Read more

Nvidia Growing at a Brisk Pace Amid Chip Shortage

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Image Source: Nvidia Corporation – GTC Spring 2021 Investor Day Presentation By Callum Turcan On May 26, Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) reported first quarter earnings for fiscal 2022 (period ended May 2, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Demand for Nvidia’s chips used in data center and gaming offerings remains robust. Looking ahead, Nvidia provided guidance for the fiscal second quarter during its latest earnings update that indicated its strong performance was expected to continue. Earnings Update Revenue from Nvidia’s ‘Gaming’ business operating segment was up 106% year-over-year and 11% sequentially last fiscal quarter as demand for laptops and desktops remained strong. The work-from-home trend became a big part of the weekly routine for many households in the … Read more

Cisco Systems’ Financials Remain Pristine, Growth Outlook Improving

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Image Shown: Shares of Cisco Systems Inc initially moved lower after the firm reported its latest earnings update and management provided near-term guidance that disappointed investors. However, shares of Cisco Systems quickly resumed their upward climb as the tech giant’s financials remain rock-solid. We continue to be huge fans of Cisco Systems. By Callum Turcan On May 19, networking hardware and enterprise software giant Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) reported third quarter fiscal 2021 earnings (period ended May 1, 2021) that beat consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The firm’s GAAP revenues grew by 7% year-over-year and its GAAP operating income moved higher by a little over 1% year-over-year, with its ‘Security’ offerings leading the way as that segment’s revenues grew by … Read more

Video: Apple’s Cash Based Sources of Intrinsic Value and Dividend Health

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Image Shown: Inside an Apple store. Source: Valuentum By Brian Nelson, CFA The core of stock valuation centers on two cash-based drivers: the net cash a company has on its balance sheet and the enterprise free cash flows that it will generate in the future, discounted back to today at a reasonable discount rate. After subtracting the value of other components of the capital structure such as preferred stock or debt from the sum of net cash and the present value of future enterprise free cash flows and dividing by total diluted shares outstanding, the result is called a fair value estimate. The fair value estimate is then compared to the stock price to determine if shares are undervalued or … Read more

Our $140 Fair Value Estimate of Apple Remains Unchanged

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Image Shown: Apple Inc maintained its enormous net cash position at the end of fiscal 2020. In the graphic up above, Apple’s cash-like items are underlined in red and its debt-like items are underlined in blue. Image Source: Apple Inc – 8-K SEC filing covering the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 with additions from the author. By Callum Turcan On October 29, Apple Inc (AAPL) reported fourth quarter and full-year earnings for fiscal 2020 (period ended September 26, 2020). Its fiscal 2020 GAAP revenues and GAAP operating income were up 6% and 4% year-over-year, respectively. Growth was driven by its Mac, iPad, ‘Wearables, Home and Accessories,’ and ‘Services’ offerings while its iPhone revenues dropped somewhat. Longer term, we are optimistic … Read more