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

Roaring 20s? — Consumer Staples Valuations Stretched

Strong outlooks for Kimberly-Clark, United Technologies, Hexcel and Lockheed Martin point to an economy that is still gaining momentum. We caution investors of consumer staples stocks, however, with many equities holding large net debt positions, and the sector trading at almost 20 times forward earnings. Learn about the difference between the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio and the Exclusive publication and much more in this note. Image Source: Alan Levine — By Brian Nelson, CFA Welcome new members!    As you’re getting familiar with the website, please watch the Navigation Video. For those passionate about financial analysis and to see how deep our team goes with our research, please watch the Financial Analysis Video. Finally, don’t forget to flip through the , and read our … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week May 6

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 6. 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 $8.00 per share special dividend, was $0.56. Amerigo Resources (ARREF): now CAD 0.03 per share quarterly dividend. Arbor Realty Trust (ABR): now $0.38 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.37. Arc Resources (AETUF): Now CAD 0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.10. Barrick Gold (GOLD): now $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Baxter (BAX): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

US Congress Is Getting Ready to Pass a Massive ~$2.2 Trillion Fiscal Stimulus Bill

Image Shown: US equities have started to recover some of their lost ground as the likelihood that the US Congress will pass a massive ~$2.2 trillion fiscal stimulus and emergency spending package, dubbed the CARES Act, has increased significantly over the past week as seen through the bounce in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY). President Trump has clearly indicated that he intends to sign such a bill into law as soon as possible, with the US House of Representatives expected to take up the legislation this upcoming Friday morning on March 27. By Callum Turcan On March 25, the US Senate worked late into the night to secure a bipartisan compromise on a massive ~$2.2 trillion fiscal stimulus … 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 Ending May 4

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 4. 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 1st Source (SRCE): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Allied Motion Technologies (AMOT): now $0.03 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.025. American Campus Communities (ACC): now $0.46 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.44. Apple (AAPL): now $0.73 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.63. Arbor Realty Trust (ABR): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21. Artesian Resources (ARTNA): now $0.2387 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Earnings Roundup: DIS, GM, PEP, TWTR, UA

Image Shown: A look at the 2022 GM HUMMER EV pickup truck that is due to launch by the end of this year. Image Source: General Motors Company – Fourth Quarter of 2020 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan In alphabetical order by ticker: DIS, GM, PEP, TWTR, UA Earnings season is roaring along, and we cover the reports of five more companies across different sectors in this article. The coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic continues to loom large, though we are encouraged by reports from Moderna Inc (MRNA) that its existing COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use is at least somewhat effective at treating variants of the virus according to initial clinical trials (a lot more work needs to be done … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending May 5

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending May 5. 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 Campus Communities (ACC): now $0.44 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.42. Ameriprise Financial (AMP): now $0.83 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.75. Apple (AAPL): now $0.63 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.57. Arbor Realty Trust (ABR): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.17. Artesian Resources (ARTNA): now $0.2317 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2283. Barnes Group (B): now $0.14 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

The Best Years Are Ahead

By Brian Nelson, CFA — The wind is at our backs. — The Federal Reserve, Treasury, and regulatory bodies of the U.S. may have no choice but to keep U.S. markets moving higher. The likelihood of the S&P 500 reaching 2,000 ever again seems remote, and I would not be surprised to see 5,000 on the S&P 500 before we see 2,500-3,000, if the latter may be in the cards. The S&P 500 is trading at ~4,100 at the time of this writing. — The high end of our fair value range on the S&P 500 remains just shy of 4,000, but I foresee a massive shift in long-term capital out of traditional bonds into equities this decade (and markets … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of May 9

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 9. 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                          Annaly Capital Management, Inc. PFD SER G (NLY.PR.G): now $0.5518 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.5476. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. PFD STK I 6.75% (NLY.PR.I): now $0.6034 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.5987. Artesian Resources Corporation (ARTNB): now $0.3074 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.3014. Ashland (ASH): now $0.415 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.405. Azelis Group NV (AZLGF): now EUR 0.23 per share … Read more