Dividend Increases for the Week Ending March 13

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 13. 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 Children’s Place Retail Stores (PLCE): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1325. Discover Financial Services (DFS): now $0.28 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.24. Equity Lifestyle Properties (ELS): now $0.375 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.325. Equity Residential (EQR): now $0.5525 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.50. General Mills (GIS): now $0.44 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.41. Goldman Sachs (GS): now $0.65 per share … Read more

No Interest Rate Hikes Soon, As Expected

It wasn’t surprising to read in the FOMC minutes that the Federal Reserve is in no hurry to increase the federal funds rate. The prices of almost every commodity from crude oil and refined energy products to iron ore and copper have fallen sharply in recent months, and the strengthening of the US dollar has only accelerated the declines of dollar-denominated commodities for US-centric operators.  While we remain encouraged by the ongoing recovery in the construction and housing markets, pockets of weakness remain, and housing prices have yet to fully recover to pre-crisis levels in many parts of the country. Food prices are dropping, too – can you believe that 10 chicken nuggets at Burger King (QSR) cost a measly $1.49? There … Read more

A Meaningful Rate Hike? No Way

Inflation? What inflation? Crude oil prices have been cut in half, iron ore prices have absolutely been pummeled, copper has seen better days, and the last time I checked the value of my house, it is still not up to the price I bought at. What inflation, I say? For those that may not be familiar with the so-called dual mandate of the Fed, here it is: “The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Open Market Committee shall maintain long run growth of the monetary and credit aggregates commensurate with the economy’s long run potential to increase production, so as to promote effectively the goals of maximum employment, stable prices and moderate long-term interest rates.” … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending January 23

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending January 23. 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 AGCO (AGCO): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. Alaska Air (ALK): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.125. Alexanders (ALX): now $3.50 per share quarterly dividend, was $3.25. Allete (ALE): now $0.505 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.49. Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB): now $0.245 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.235. Cardinal Financial (CFNL): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Collectors Universe … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending December 19

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending December 19. 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 $1.025 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.855. AES (AES): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. Amgen (AMGN): now $0.79 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.61. Andersons (ANDE): now $0.14 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. Apollo Residential Mortgage (AMTG): now $0.45 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.44. AT&T (T): now $0.47 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.46. Balchem (BCPC): now $0.30 … Read more

Nothing Wrong at the Monthly Dividend Company

“Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.” — Warren Buffett One of the most important duties of our team is to keep bad ideas from creeping into your portfolio–bad ideas like American Realty Capital (ARCP). Accounting issues at American Realty Capital have recently cost its stockholders dearly, with the REIT’s shares down 30% from the announcement. Only after the fact did brokerage houses JP Morgan, BMO Capital and Capital One downgrade the REIT’s shares. Even some of the most-read REIT authors on blogs had bought into ARCP’s hype. Not us. Realty Income (O)—nicknamed the Monthly Dividend Company–remains our standout dividend growth REIT pick, and investors have flocked to its shares amid the chaos. Realty Income’s shares … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending September 12

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending September 12. 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 Armanino Foods (AMNF): now $0.018 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.016. Associated Estates Realty (AEC): $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.19. Brady (BRC): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.195. Frisch’s Restaurants (FRS): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.18. International Paper (IP): now $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.35. Philip Morris (PM): now $1.00 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.94. Realty Income … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending June 20

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending June 20. 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 $0.72 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.70. Apollo Residential Mortgage (AMTG): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40, First Bancorp (FNLC): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB): now $0.13  per quarterly dividend, was $0.12. Horizon Bancorp (HBNC): now $0.13 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. John Wiley & Sons (JW.A): now $0.29 per … Read more

Valuentum Economic Castleâ„¢ Rating Update

Read: Keeping the Horse Before the Cart: Valuentum’s Economic Castle™ Rating The Economic Castle Focuses on the Magnitude of Economic Value Creation The Valuentum Economic Castle™ rating is an enhancement of the competitive advantage framework (commonly known as economic moat analysis) that has become widespread and ubiquitous within the investing world. Whereas an economic moat framework evaluates a firm on the basis of the sustainability and durability of its competitive advantages, Valuentum’s Economic Castle™ rating evaluates a firm on the basis of the firm’s future economic profit spread (return on invested capital less its weighted average cost of capital). The companies with the strongest Valuentum Economic Castle™ ratings are poised to generate the most economic value for shareholders in the … Read more