Valuentum’s 3 Breakthroughs in the Field of Finance and More

Valuentum’s President Brian Nelson pauses for a picture before speaking at the CFA Society of Houston in March 2017. By Valuentum Editorial Staff Let’s cover Valuentum’s 3 major breakthroughs in the field of finance. The first one is big and may challenge you to rethink everything you think you know about investing. 1. On a logical framework, Valuentum has debunked John C. Bogle’s landmark syllogism that has paved the way for the concept of index investing. Index investing has been built on a logical shortcoming, whether supported by evidence or not. We think it is important that the investment community know of this. Read (pdf): The “Luck” and “Randomness” of Index Funds (2018), Brian Nelson, CFA See video documentation: /FALLACY_of_Index_Funds To … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending March 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 27. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports, please use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week Artesian Resources (ARTNA): now $0.2183 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2151. City Holding (CHCO): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. Gazit-Globe (GZT): now $0.46 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.45. Oxford Industries (OXM): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21. Silver Bay Realty (SBY): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. UDR (UDR): now $0.2775 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26.   … Read more

10 Bucks per Hour; What It Really Means

Source: US Department of Labor, Walmart Walmart (WMT) is quite savvy. The big box retailer announced February 19 it would raise the minimum wage for all of its US workers to $9 per hour in April of this year and at least $10 per hour by next February. The move comes amid ongoing public scrutiny of its labor practices, elevated worker turnover, and general malaise among the ranks on social media platforms. At face value, the news headlines show Walmart caving to public pressure, and a win for big labor, but in reality, the retailing giant is merely doing what good businesses do – pleasing customers (which are its workers, too) and widening its economic moat. Hiking wages accomplishes both. … 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

Nelson: The 16 Most Important Steps To Understand The Stock Market

A previous version of this article appeared on our website July 21, 2013. Refreshed and updated throughout, as of July 2018. By Brian Nelson, CFA After earning my MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and training stock and credit analysts from large organizations over the past decade or so, I have heard just about every question (though I admit I am still surprised by many things and remain a very humble student of the markets). I’ve also spent years perfecting the discounted cash flow process for large research organizations such as Morningstar and studied under one of the most famed aggressive growth investors of all time, Richard Driehaus. My knowledge runs the gamut from value through … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending April 20

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending April 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 American Water Works (AWK): now $0.455 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.415. AmeriServ Financial (ARSV): now $0.02 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.015. Antero Midstream GP (AMGP): now $0.108 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.075. Antero Midstream Partners (AM): now $0.39 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.365. Badger Daylighting (BADFF): now CAD 0.045 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.038. Banco Santander-Chile (BSAC): now $0.9563 per … Read more

Valuentum’s Comprehensive Report on Retail Brands

Key Takeaways ·        Valuentum sees four major brand segments o   Ultra-Luxury §  Richemont, Burberry, LVMH, Gucci (Kering), Chanel, Hermes §  Rich heritage brands, economically resilient consumer o   Luxury §  Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany §  Valuable brands, semi-strong barriers to entry o   Aspirational §  Michael Kors, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Coach, North Face §  Popular with younger consumers, strong brand loyalty o   Established §  Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, lululemon, PVH, Express §  Price competitive, exposed to fashion ·        Our favorite dividend idea: Coach ·        Fallen Stars: Guess, Bebe ·        Valuentum’s Take: Brand value is only part of the investment equation Branding has been a powerful force in both marketing and investing for the past century. Companies work hard … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 27. 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 AT&T Inc. 4.750% PFD SER C (T.PC): now $0.2408 per share quarterly dividend. AT&T Inc. 5 DEP RP PFD A (T.PA): now $0.3125 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.1701. Bancolombia (CIB): now $0.751 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.3000. Centerra Gold Inc. (CAGDF): declared CAD 0.04 per share interim dividend, was $0.0285. Future Fuel (FF): declared $3.00 per share special dividend, was $0.06. Healthcare Trust, Inc. … 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 June 18

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending June 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 AG Mortgage Investment Trust (MITT): now $0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. America First Multifamily Investors (ATAX): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Benchmark Electronics (BHE): now $0.165 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust (CPZ): now $0.14 per share monthly dividend, was $0.13. Canadian Banc Corp (CNDCF): now 0.1017 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.0942. … Read more