Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor
The Valuentum analyst team covers market moving information that is top of mind from consumer staples valuations, the political election cycle, utility valuations, energy resource pricing, biotech considerations, Brexit uncertainty and beyond. ~8 minutes. Tickerized for several consumer staples entities and ETFs, several companies in the energy sector, emerging market vehicles and more.
Image Source: Tony Webster By Brian Nelson, CFA Financial institutions (XLF, KBE) are unique entities. In good times, the growth of pre-tax pre-provision earnings and return on equity often have more influence over banking entities’ stock prices than anything else, but in bad times, the health of their loan/derivative books and the strength of their capital bases are the most important factors when it comes to buying and selling activity. Throw in outsize leverage, huge derivatives books, and market psychology, and you have, in my opinion, still one of the riskiest sectors out there. As followers know, we don’t like firm-specific exposure to the banking sector. We perform valuation exercises on banks in a rather straightforward way, using a residual … Read more
Image Source: Janet Ramsden UK property funds have frozen redemptions. What happens when they finally allow investors to flee the country? The US equity markets continue to set new highs, but many risks remain, not the least of which is the fallout to come from Brexit. In some respects, we’re surprised nobody is really talking about it much anymore, but UK property funds have suspended redemptions, even beyond the previous three we reported on, “The Next Banking Crisis? No… Well, Not Yet (July 2016).” This is a big deal because it is just the beginning of the capital-flight process. We think it is wise that such funds are limiting redemptions to avoid an all-out collapse in property prices across the … Read more
Image Source: Berit Watkin “Washington Mutual customers withdrew $16.7 billion in cash from the thrift in the past nine days, a huge outflow that led to the largest bank failure in U.S. history, the institution’s regulator said Friday.” — MarketWatch, September 26, 2008 By Brian Nelson, CFA Let’s get this out of the way. We’re not sensationalistic or bombastic. We’re realistic, and we love focusing on the risks of investing because an investor that knows his downside risks is a much better investor than the one that is only looking at sunshine in the rear-view mirror. I’m going to put it bluntly. We’re starting to hear of some rather serious developments in the UK following Brexit. If the UK pound hitting … Read more
Image Source: War History Online, June 22 Brexit may or may not be a big problem. Time will tell. But what matters and eventually becomes its own catalyst, however, is valuation. The forward price-to-earnings multiple on S&P 500 companies (SPY) is currently ~16.5 times, above its 5-year (14.6) and 10-year averages (14.3). This is the real story. Assuming a reversion to the 10-year average multiple, for example, the S&P 500 can be considered “fairly valued” at $1,811, a drop of another 10% from ~2,000 levels. You don’t need us to tell you that the markets have practically gone straight up the past seven years from the March 2009 panic bottom through today, with the S&P 500 effectively tripling since that … Read more
First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., where the first secession convention in the United States opened on Dec. 17, 1860. Source: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 24 Jun. 2016. Global markets are plunging, and the implosion may still be in the early innings. Market valuations remain stretched among stagnant global economic growth, and “Brexit” may be the catalyst for a correction. In the paraphrased words of the well-known The Day of the Jackal author, Frederick Forsyth: the peasants have spoken. On June 23, the UK (EWU) held a referendum, in which anyone of voting age could take part, to decide whether the country should leave the European Union. The turnout was incredible at nearly 72%, and … Read more
Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 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 Acushnet (GOLF): now $0.165 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.155. Alamos Gold (AGI): now $0.025 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.02. Albemarle (ALB): now $0.39 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.385. Allstate (ALL): now $0.81 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.54. Alumina (AWCMF): now $0.029 per share semi-annual dividend, was $0.028. American Homes 4 Rent (AMH): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. AMERISAFE (AMSF): … Read more
Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending August 6. 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 $0.91 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.81. Altabancorp (ALTA): now $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. APA (APA): now $1.50 per share special dividend, was $0.025. Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A. (BSBR): now $0.145 per share dividend, was $0.135. Barings BDC (BBDC): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Berry (BRY): now $0.06 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.04. BG Staffing (BGSF): … Read more
Image Shown: Shares of Credit Suisse Group AG have performed poorly in recent years as a revolving door of leaders combined with several major scandals have led to billions in losses and prompted Swiss regulators to launch investigations into the bank. The company has a plan in place to turn things around, though it will take years for these efforts to be fully reflected in its financial performance. Credit Suisse recently issued out lackluster guidance for 2022 that weakened investor confidence in its turnaround story. We think Credit Suisse is a good case study in poor corporate governance. By Callum Turcan A key part of the investment decision-making process involves evaluating a company’s leadership team, the process of which … Read more
Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending August 5. 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 1847 Holdings LLC (EFSH): now $0.1313 per share dividend (post one-for-four reverse split), was $0.05. AdvanSix (ASIX): now $0.145 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.125. Alpine Summit Energy Partners, Inc. (ASEPF): now $0.03 per share monthly dividend. Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (AY): now $0.445 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.440. Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.24. Blue Owl Capital … Read more