Public Storage’s Traditional Free Cash Flow Coverage of the Dividend Is Unique for a REIT

Image Source: Mike Mozart By Brian Nelson, CFA Public Storage (PSA) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2020 results February 24. For the period ending December 31, 2020, net income came in at $1.67 per common share, down from last year’s level but mainly because of a non-operating negative impact related to forex on Euro denominated debt ($35.1 million). On an operating basis, Public Storage’s self-storage net operating income advanced $16.5 million year-over-year in the quarter, which was only modestly offset by higher general and administrative expenses ($12.3 million). Underlying business performance at Public Storage remains very healthy, in our view. Core funds from operations (FFO) per share came in at $2.93 in the quarter, up 3.2% in the year-ago period (above the … Read more

ICYMI: Valuentum’s Brian Nelson on the Latest Howard Marks’ Memo: “Something of Value”

Valuentum’s President of Investment Research Brian Michael Nelson, CFA, explains why there are not really value and growth stocks, why most of the research in quantitative finance is spurious and needs to be redefined on a forward-looking basis, and why enterprise valuation (not the efficient markets hypothesis) should be the organizing principle of finance. Nelson explains his views about valuation, what it means to be a value investor, and investing in the context of Oaktree Capital Howard Marks’ latest memo, “Something of Value,” January 11, 2021. Please don’t forget to give the second edition of the book “Value Trap” a 5-star rating on Amazon here. Thank you for your membership! —– Tickerized for holdings in the IWM. Valuentum members have … Read more

Public Storage Receives Interest from Activist Investor

Image Shown: A look at Public Storage’s geographical footprint at the end of 2019, keeping in mind some of these properties are owned by its strategic partners. Image Source: Public Storage – 2019 Annual Report By Callum Turcan We are big fans of the self-storage industry and include Public Storage (PSA) in our High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio. One of the greatest things about Public Storage is the ability for this self-storage real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) to generate sizable positive free cash flows, a rarity in the REIT world. We have covered this dynamic in detail in the past (link here). Shares of PSA yield ~3.6% as of this writing and we see room for significant payout growth over … Read more

Value Is Not Static and the Qualitative Overlay Is Vital to Our Process

With prudence and care, the Valuentum Buying Index process and its components are carried out. Our analyst team spends most of its time thinking about the intrinsic value of companies within the context of a discounted cash-flow model and evaluating the risk profile of a company’s revenue model. We have checks and balances, too. First, we use a fair value range in our valuation approach as we embrace the very important concept that value is a range and not a point estimate. A relative value overlay as the second pillar helps to add conviction in the discounted cash-flow process, while a technical and momentum overlay seeks to provide confirmation in all of the valuation work. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes even before a VBI rating is published, but it will always be just one factor to consider. Within any process, of course, we value the human, qualitative overlay, which captures a wealth of experience and common sense. We strive to surface our best ideas for members.

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week August 21

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending August 21. 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 American Financial (AFG): now $2.00 per share annual dividend, was $1.80. APTIV PFD A 5.5% (APTV.PA): now $1.4208 per share quarterly dividend. Atrion (ATRI): now $1.75 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.55. Banco Santander, S.A. GTD PFD SECS 6 (SAN.PB): now $0.2639 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2556. Brighthouse Financial PFDs (BHFAO): now $0.5953/ADS quarterly dividend. Community Bank System (CBU): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending May 24

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 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 Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.08. American Tower (AMT): now $0.92 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.90. Ashland (ASH): now $0.275 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. AXA Equitable Holdings (EQH): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.13. Canadian Banc Corp (CNDCF): now CAD 0.0948 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.09. Cineplex (CPXGF): now CAD 0.15 per share … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending November 16

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending November 16. 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 $0.28 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.27. Acme United (ACU): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. Agilent (A): now $0.164 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.149. American Equity (AEL): now $0.28 per share annual dividend, was $0.26. Anadarko Petroleum (APC): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. Aramark (ARMK): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.105. Brown-Forman … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending May 25

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 25. 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 American Tower (AMT): now $0.77 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.75. Apollo Tactical Income Fund (AIF): now $0.104 per share monthly dividend, was $0.10. B&G Foods (BGS): now $0.475 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.465. Bunge (BG): now $0.50 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.46. CoreSite Realty (COR): now $1.03 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.98. Cracker Barrel (CBRL): now $1.25 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending November 10

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending November 10. 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 Aaron’s Inc. (AAN): now $0.03 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.0275. Acadia Realty Trust (AKR): now $0.27 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26. Assurant (AIZ): now $0.56 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.53. Atmos Energy (ATO): now $0.485 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.45. Automatic Data Processing (ADP): now $0.63 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.57. BorgWarner (BWA): now $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.14. … Read more

Prepared Remarks From Nelson Exclusive Conference Call June 30

Read President of Investment Research Brian Nelson’s prepared remarks for the yearly roundup conference call, held for Nelson Exclusive members. If you would like to subscribe to the Nelson Exclusive publication, please learn more about the publication here. The Nelson Exclusive publication does not reflect real performance. Performance is hypothetical and does not represent actual trading. Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you very much for joining us on the first conference call for members of the Nelson Exclusive publication. The first year of the publication has surely been an exciting one for all involved. When I first wrote the introductory letter of the Nelson Exclusive on July 1, 2016, we were well-aware the market had laid down the gauntlet for this publication. … Read more