What Is Gold Really Worth?

“What motivates most gold purchasers is their belief that the ranks of the fearful will grow. During the past decade that belief has proved correct. Beyond that, the rising price has on its own generated additional buying enthusiasm, attracting purchasers who see the rise as validating an investment thesis. As ‘bandwagon’ investors join any party, they create their own truth – for a while.” — Warren Buffett (2011 annual letter to shareholders) Image: Gold prices have surged since 2020, and they recently hit an all-time high. Image Source: TradingView By Brian Nelson, CFA Stocks have quite a few variables that can affect their intrinsic value estimate, but what about gold’s intrinsic value? Does gold even have value? And if so, how … Read more

Caterpillar’s Pricing Power Remains Phenomenal

Image: Price realization remains a key driver behind Caterpillar’s strong performance. On October 31, Caterpillar (CAT) reported better-than-expected third-quarter results, with revenue advancing 12% and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share handily beating the consensus forecast. Caterpillar continues to benefit from significant pricing power, but the firm is also experiencing volume increases. The firm’s adjusted operating profit margin expanded to 20.8% in the third quarter compared to 16.5% for the third quarter of 2022. Caterpillar ended the third quarter with $6.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents, short-term borrowings of ~$4.2 billion, and long-term debt of ~$1 billion and ~$7.6 billion in its ‘Machinery, Energy & Transportation’ and ‘Financial Products’ divisions, respectively. Its balance sheet, while not showcasing a net cash … Read more

How the Payment of a Dividend Impacts Intrinsic Value Estimation

  “Dividends are a transfer of cash to the shareholders that the shareholders already owned.” By Brian Nelson, CFA Many investors use the strategy of dividend growth investing as a means to generate increasing income in their retirement portfolios to stay ahead of inflation, or as a means to grow an income stream in the decades before retirement. Though we think such a strategy has tremendous merit, we think it’s important for readers to understand the mechanics of how a cash dividend payment impacts the valuation (intrinsic worth) of a company. How the Payment of a Dividend Impacts Valuation (Intrinsic Worth) In this article, let’s walk through the valuation adjustments we perform when a company pays a dividend to hammer … Read more

Raising Our Fair Value Estimate of Dividend Aristocrat Caterpillar

Image: Caterpillar’s financial momentum is impressive. Image Source: Caterpillar By Brian Nelson, CFA We’ve raised our fair value estimate of Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) to $238 per share from $192 previously. As witnessed in Deere & Company’s (DE) fiscal fourth-quarter results, too, Caterpillar is driving considerable pricing expansion across its portfolio, and the impact on its financials has been quite impressive. Though not an idea in any newsletter portfolio, Caterpillar’s shares yield ~2% at the time of this writing, slightly better than the average S&P 500 company. The company is proud to be a Dividend Aristocrat. When Caterpillar reported third-quarter 2022 results back in October, the company recorded a 21% increase in revenue while adjusted profit per share leapt to $3.95 … Read more

June Dividend Growth Newsletter & Intrinsic Value Investing

“But how, you will ask, does one decide what [stocks are] “attractive”? Most analysts feel they must choose between two approaches customarily thought to be in opposition: “value” and “growth,”…We view that as fuzzy thinking…Growth is always a component of value [and] the very term “value investing” is redundant.“  —                — Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway annual report, 1992 — By Brian Nelson, CFA — To add our new options commentary to your membership, please register here ($500/year). — Hi everyone!  — We remain unequivocally bullish on the markets and intrinsic value investing. We believe value today rests within companies that have strong net cash positions (all cash less short- and long-term debt) and solid expected future free cash flows … 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 November 13

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending November 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 Aaron’s (AAN): now $0.025 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.023. Acadia Realty Trust (AKR): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.24. Automatic Data Processing (ADP): now $0.53 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.49. ClearOne (CLRO): now $0.05 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.035. D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI): now $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.0625. DCT Industrial Trust (DCT): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending November 14

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending November 14. 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 Automatic Data Processing (ADP): now $0.49 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.48. CBL & Associates Properties (CBL): now $0.265 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.245. Dow Chemical (DOW): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.37. General Growth Properties (GGP): now $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. Griffon (GFF): now $0.04 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.03. Group 1 Automotive (GPI): now $0.19 per share quarterly … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of November 17

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending November 17. 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                          AECOM (ACM): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.18. Agilent Technologies (A): now $0.236 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.225. Alibaba (BABA): now $1.00/ADS annual dividend. Amkor Technology (AMKR): now $0.07875 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.0750. Artisan Partners Asset Management (APAM): Now $0.65 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.61. BankFirst Capital (BFCC): now $0.90 per share dividend, was $0.85. Berry Global Group … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of February 16

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending February 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                          Advanced Info Service Public Ltd. ADR (AVIFY): now $0.102 per share semi-annual dividend, was $0.090. Ardmore Shipping (ASC): now $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. British American Tobacco (BTI): now $0.7431 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.7006. Brookfield Reinsurance (BNRE): Now $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.07. Brunswick (BC): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. Cisco (CSCO): now $0.40 per … Read more