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.

Resetting Your Mental Model

Image Source: affen ajlfe A version of this article was originally published on our website October 6, 2013. Having the right mental model and using the right information can be the reason why you win or lose in investing. “What is the definition of timeliness? Many believe it is getting information to investors as quickly as possible after an event, or updating something every single day or week for immaterial information. I believe in a different definition of timeliness. I believe timeliness is using all information available in a mosaic approach to accurately predict the event before it even happens. Take Kinder Morgan as the latest example. We were the only ones predicting what was going to happen before it did. To investors, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 29

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 29. 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 Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO): now $0.11 per share annual dividend, was $0.10. Bank of South Carolina (BKSC): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Banner (BANR): now $0.41 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.38. Columbus McKinnon (CMCO): now $0.06 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. ConnectOne Bancorp (CNOB): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.075. Dassault Systemes (DASTY): now EUR 0.65 per share annual … Read more

Our Reports on Stocks in the Retail–Apparel (Women’s, Men’s, Children’s) Industry

Structure of the Retail–Apparel Industry The retail clothing space is incredibly competitive, very fragmented, and heavily exposed to cyclical pressures and consumer spending patterns. Distribution and storefronts remain crucial, but online threats are becoming ever more apparent. Predicting the correct fashion styles during various seasons of the year continues to be the primary driver impacting the operating results of constituents, and brands can fall out of favor with consumers relatively quickly. Though some firms have developed a dedicated customer following that has helped mitigate abrupt market share shifts, we’re generally neutral on the industry. We no longer provide reports on stocks in the Retail–Apparel (Women’s, Men’s, Children’s) industry. We cover more apparel companies. Click here.

ICYMI: Valuentum’s Improved Stock and ETF Web Pages

Valuentum has rolled out improved stock and ETF web pages on its website valuentum.com/. Now, subscribers can access key proprietary information on the stock and ETF web pages in addition to the customary stock and ETF reports. Dear reader, We have some exciting news that we can’t wait to share with you! At valuentum.com/, we have rolled out new stock and ETF pages that conveniently include a variety of our proprietary metrics from the Dividend Cushion ratio to the Economic Castle rating and beyond! There’s even mouseover functionality so you can learn about how we define the key metrics across our stock-selection and dividend growth methodologies. You’ll still have access to the stock and dividend reports on the landing pages, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 30

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 30. 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 ACNB (ACNB): now $0.23 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Activision Blizzard (ATVI): now $0.34 per share annual dividend, was $0.30. Amdocs (DOX): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE): now $0.28 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.27. Banner (BANR): now $0.35 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. Columbus McKinnon (CMCO): now $0.05 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.04. First … Read more

Dropping Coverage of A Few Apparel Makers

Valuentum is dropping coverage of a few apparel makers to focus resources elsewhere. Structure of the Retail–Apparel Industry The retail clothing space is incredibly competitive, very fragmented, and heavily exposed to cyclical pressures and consumer spending patterns. Distribution and storefronts remain crucial, but online threats are becoming ever more apparent. Predicting the correct fashion styles during various seasons of the year continues to be the primary driver impacting the operating results of constituents, and brands can fall out of favor with consumers relatively quickly. Though some firms have developed a dedicated customer following that has helped mitigate abrupt market share shifts, we’re generally neutral on the industry. Ascena Retail (ASNA) Ascena Retail continues to face meaningful comparable sales declines, and … Read more

Video: Quants! You’re NOT Measuring VALUE and Nelson’s Theory of Universal Value

President of Investment Research Brian Nelson defines the concept of universal value and shows how quantitative statistical methods are inextricably linked to those of fundamental, financial, business-model related analysis. Value does not exist in respective process vacuums! Value is universal. Find out why. Running time: ~10 minutes.  Tickerized for Valuentum’s stock and ETF coverage universe. Transcript Hi this is Brian Nelson from Valuentum Securities, and this is the tenth edition of a series that I call “Off the Cuff,” where I get in front of the camera and I talk for ten minutes. This is what we have to talk about today. We have to talk about this concept: The Theory of Universal Value. Value does not exist in vacuums … Read more

Realty Income Has Avoided Much of the Trouble in Retail

Image Source: Realty Income Realty Income’s dividend track record largely speaks for itself, and the REIT may be one of the most attractive in its peer universe. With a focus on some of the strongest retail tenants, it has largely avoided most of the trouble in retail, too. The REIT recently declared its 566th consecutive common stock monthly dividend. By Brian Nelson, CFA Those that don’t know Realty Income (O) should get to know it. The real estate investment trust (REIT) isn’t called the ‘Monthly Dividend Company’ for no reason. Its dividend growth track record is simply a sight to see (1), and the company’s dividend yield is still relatively attractive at ~4.6%, better than the that of the average … Read more

Not Worried About Priceline, Boeing; Yes Worried About Fickle Retail

Image Source: Mike Mozart Priceline and Boeing have been here before. Fickle retail continues to succumb to the Amazon effect. By Brian Nelson, CFA The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) closed just shy of the 21,000 mark on May 11, while the S&P 500 (SPY) ended the session at ~2,395. We continue to ride the wave in the equity markets higher, even as we exercise caution almost across the board. First-quarter earnings season has actually been quite good, however, with the “blended earnings growth rate for S&P 500 companies north of 10% (it was 13.5% with more than 80% of S&P 500 companies reporting). FactSet noted in its May 5 report that this pace of growth is the highest since … Read more