There Is Milk At The Store

This article first appeared in the September edition of the High Yield Dividend Newsletter. For more information about this publication, please see here. “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” — Winston Churchill By Brian Nelson, CFA Very few of us could have imagined that we’d witness the bull market that began on that fateful day in March 2009 that might very well mark a generational low. In 2009, major investment banks around the globe were struggling to survive, and the fallout in the mortgage markets left the banks holding paper that nobody wanted to own, let alone buy. The global financial system … Read more

2,350-2,750 on the S&P? Could the Coronavirus Catalyze a Financial Crisis?

Image: We think a rather modest sell-off in the market to the target range of 2,350-2,750 on the S&P 500 is rather reasonable in the wake of one of the biggest economic shocks since the Global Financial Crisis. The chart above shows how far markets have advanced since 2011, and an adjustment lower to the target range of 2,350-2,750 is rather modest in such a context and would only bring markets to late 2018 levels (note red box as the target range). The range reflects ~16x S&P 500 12-month forward earnings estimates, as of February 14, adjusted down 10% due to COVID-19. When companies like Visa talk about a couple percentage points taken off of growth rates, one knows that … 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

Steel Dynamics Bets Big on North America’s Industrial Economy

Image Source: Steel Dynamics Inc – June 2020 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan Investor sentiment towards the steel industry is rebounding as the medium- and long-term outlook for global industrial activity has improved markedly since March 2020. The ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic has significantly hampered near-term industrial activity, though major fiscal stimulus packages (made feasible through major monetary stimulus programs) launched in various developed nations could provide some relief. Shares of Steel Dynamics Inc (STLD) have recovered meaningfully since their March 2020 lows and are trading a tad below our fair value estimate as of this writing. Shares of STLD yield ~3.6% on an annualized forward-looking basis as of this writing and we give the steel maker a Dividend Cushion … Read more

The Impact of the US Housing Recovery Cannot Be Underestimated

Valuentum reveals the far-reaching implications of a strengthening US housing market.

US Congress Is Getting Ready to Pass a Massive ~$2.2 Trillion Fiscal Stimulus Bill

Image Shown: US equities have started to recover some of their lost ground as the likelihood that the US Congress will pass a massive ~$2.2 trillion fiscal stimulus and emergency spending package, dubbed the CARES Act, has increased significantly over the past week as seen through the bounce in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY). President Trump has clearly indicated that he intends to sign such a bill into law as soon as possible, with the US House of Representatives expected to take up the legislation this upcoming Friday morning on March 27. By Callum Turcan On March 25, the US Senate worked late into the night to secure a bipartisan compromise on a massive ~$2.2 trillion fiscal stimulus … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of February 17

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 17. 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 $0.70 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.64. Allstate (ALL): now $0.89 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.85. Analog Devices (ADI): now $0.86 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.76. Annaly Capital Management 6.95% PFD SER F (NLY.PF): now $0.6076 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.5417. Auburn National (AUBN): now $0.27 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.265. Banc of California (BANC): now $0.10 … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of February 9

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 9. 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                          3M (MMM): now $1.51 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.50. Allegion (ALLE): now $0.48 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.45. AllianceBernstein (AB): now $0.77 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.65. Amdocs (DOX): now $0.479 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.435. Ameren (AEE): now $0.67 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.63. American Assets Trust (AAT): now $0.335 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.330. American Financial … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending February 15

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 15. 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 Acadian Timber (ACAZF): now CAD 0.29 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.2825. Activision Blizzard (ATVI): now $0.37 per share annual dividend, was $0.34. Agnico Eagle (AEM): now $0.125 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. ALPS Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR): now $0.2589 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1863. ALPS Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP): now $0.195 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1913. Ares Capital (ARCC): now … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of February 14

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 14. 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 $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.19. American Business Bank (AMBZ): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend. American Homes 4 Rent (AMH): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26. AstraZeneca (AZN): now $1.03 per share semi-annual dividend, was $0.50. Avista (AVA): now $0.49 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.47. Brookfield (BN): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more