There Will Be Volatility

By Brian Nelson, CFA Last year, 2022, was a big test for equity investors, and the downside volatility that we witnessed during the year wasn’t comfortable, to say the least. Following the COVID-19 crash and rebound during 2020, and then the market surge in 2021, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say many investors’ heads are probably still spinning from all the volatility witnessed to start this decade. That said, part of what we’ve been warning about the past few years with respect to the equity market, especially in Value Trap, is that the proliferation of price-agnostic trading (e.g. quant, machine/algorithmic trading, etc.) will only lead to more and more market volatility, so while we were somewhat surprised by last … Read more

Walmart Warns: “Prices Are Still High and There Is Considerable Pressure on the Consumer”

  Image Source: Mike Mozart By Brian Nelson, CFA As we wrote in “The Fed ‘Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” in early January, the trade-down trends that we’re seeing in big box retail and with groceries, more generally, are interesting. Inflation started to accelerate with food-at-home prices moving aggressively higher in early 2022, and consumers have been trading down to better value. It probably wasn’t until egg prices soared, however — driven in part by a shortage of egg laying chickens (not just inflationary pressures) – that tipped everyday consumers to budget more cautiously, and the largest big box retailer in Walmart (WMT) is seeing this impact first-hand. Here’s what’s happening on the ground, per Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon on the … Read more

Disney’s Theme Parks and Resorts Benefiting from Pent-Up Demand

Image Shown: The Walt Disney Company posted a rock-solid earnings report for the period ended July 3 as its business benefited from pent up demand for its theme parks and resorts offerings. Image Source: The Walt Disney Company – Third Quarter of Fiscal 2022 Earnings Press Release By Callum Turcan On August 10, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) reported third quarter earnings for fiscal 2022 (period ended July 3, 2022) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line expectations. Its theme parks and reports business came roaring back from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic while its video streaming services continued to add millions of paid subscribers to their customer bases. Shares of DIS have surged higher in recent weeks, and … Read more

June Dividend Growth Newsletter & Intrinsic Value Investing

“But how, you will ask, does one decide what [stocks are] “attractive”? Most analysts feel they must choose between two approaches customarily thought to be in opposition: “value” and “growth,”…We view that as fuzzy thinking…Growth is always a component of value [and] the very term “value investing” is redundant.“  —                — Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway annual report, 1992 — By Brian Nelson, CFA — To add our new options commentary to your membership, please register here ($500/year). — Hi everyone!  — We remain unequivocally bullish on the markets and intrinsic value investing. We believe value today rests within companies that have strong net cash positions (all cash less short- and long-term debt) and solid expected future free cash flows … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 8

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 8. 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 Aecon (AEGXF): now CAD 0.145 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.125. Americold Realty Trust (COLD): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1875. American Tower (AMT): now $0.90 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.84. Applied Materials (AMAT): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Armanino Foods of Distinction (AMNF): now $0.025 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.0225. BWX Technologies (BWXT): now $0.17 per share … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 24

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 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 8point3 Energy Partners (CAFD): now $0.2565 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.249. Canadian Banc Corp (CNDCF): now CAD 0.10833 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.10458. Citizens Financial Services (CZFS): now $0.425 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.42. Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (CRT): now $0.089461 per share monthly dividend, was $0.061822. Enduro Royalty Trust (NDRO): now $0.040901 per share monthly dividend, was $0.017331. Fulton Financial (FULT): … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 11

Colgate-Palmolive continues to enjoy the benefits of being a Dividend Aristocrat as it garners an elevated multiple as one of the most well-known consumer staples entities. Image source: Fredrick Rubensson Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 11. 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 Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE): now $0.80 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.77. American Tower (AMT): now $0.51 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.49. Citizens Financial Services (CZFS): now $0.415 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.41. Colgate-Palmolive … Read more

Stock Market Outlook for 2021

By Valuentum Analysts February 8, 2021 2020 was one for the history books. We covered our thoughts and reflections on the past year in our “2020 Won’t Soon Be Forgotten” article (link here), and now we are looking towards the future. Global health authorities should be able to bring an end to the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic sooner than many had expected as several vaccines have already been improved for emergency use and several others appear increasingly likely to get approved. Global vaccine distribution activities are currently underway, and this should allow the world to slowly return to pre-pandemic activities. Before then, immense stimulus measures launched primarily in developed nations should support global economic activities until the public health crisis … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week September 24

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending September 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 Accenture (ACN): now $0.97 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.88. Aerocentury (ACY): now $0.6468 per share special dividend. Altabancorp (ALTA): now $0.46 per share special dividend, was $0.17. Alvopetro Energy (ALVOF): now $0.06 per share quarterly dividend. APA (APA): now $0.0625 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.0250. Ardagh Group (ARD): now $1.25 per share special dividend, was $0.15. Artesian Resources (ARTNA): now $0.2675 per share quarterly … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week March 18

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 18. 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      Alvopetro Energy (ALVOF): now $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. American Vanguard (AVD): now $0.025 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.020. Andlauer Healthcare (ANDHF): now CAD 0.06 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.05. Angel Oak Mortgage (AOMR): now $0.45 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.36. Arcos Dorados (ARCO): now $0.15 per share annual dividend, was $0.11. Badger Daylighting (BADFF): now CAD 0.165 per share … Read more