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

Cisco Rallies Big Time!

Image shown: Performance of the S&P 500 (SPY) since August 2017. As US equities continue their newly-found volatility, let’s take a look at some recent earnings reports and other developments around the markets. Cisco, the workhorse of both simulated newsletter portfolios, put up a fantastic report and upped its dividend. Berkshire continues to love Apple, and we maintain the view that the 10-year Treasury rate may be the greatest determinant of how well stocks perform in the coming decades. Airlines, garbage stocks, the “gas tax,” and more. By Kris Rosemann and Brian Nelson, CFA Do you know how happy it makes us to say that Cisco (CSCO) has been a staple of both the simulated Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio and … Read more

ICYMI — Video: Will Hasty Policy Facilitate the Next Leg Down, or Do We Have It Coming Anyway?

President of Investment Research and award-winning author of Value Trap: Theory of Universal Valuation Brian Nelson explains how US policymakers are stuck between a rock and a hard place, and how the market may be factoring in too high of a probability of a return to normalcy before 2021. This and more in the latest video report. Summary Make sure you review Value Trap on Amazon. Do so here. We think those that bought equities near the bottom of this swoon may be looking to take profits at present levels. The market is currently reflecting an 80%-85% probability of a return to normalcy before 2021, which we believe is too high at this time. Our main concern is that government … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week July 30

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending July 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 Alexander & Baldwin (ALEX): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.16. American States Water (AWR): now $0.365 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.335. Arbor Realty Trust (ABR): now $0.35 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.34. Arc Resources (AETUF): now CAD 0.066 per share annual dividend, was CAD 0.060. Ares Capital (ARCC): now $0.41 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. Apartment Income REIT (AIRC): now $0.44 … Read more

The Market Doesn’t Go Straight Up

Key Takeaways: ·     Though we fall short of prognosticating on the immediate moves of the stock market, we think the near-term risk-reward of the broader market is growing more and more negative. Why? o    Market volatility is back due to Fed speak and poor data and pricing action from Asia. Typically, market hiccups signal that a change in price direction is near (we’re no longer going straight up). o    The significant out-numbering of poor scores on our stock-selection methodology, the Valuentum Buying Index, relative to good scores suggests to us that a higher degree of caution may be in order. o    According to Factset, the forward price-to-earnings ratio on S&P 500 constituents registers a 14.4x reading (as of last Thursday), above … Read more

Update on Wuhan 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak: 31,000+ Infections, 630+ Deaths

Image Source: 2019-nCoV, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The number of infections and deaths related to the Wuhan 2019 Novel Coronavirus has surged since our last update, but we maintain our view that investors should keep a level head. We continue to wait to add protection to the newsletter portfolios as the market absorbs a massive liquidity injection from the PBOC. By Brian Nelson, CFA The week of trading ending February 7 was a very strange one. Last Sunday, one could have only expected that given the news related to the Wuhan 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak, the bad news related to airlines (JETS) and aerospace players–Boeing (BA), in particular–and the speculative frenzy associated with Tesla’s (TSLA) rise, that the … Read more

Industrial Bellwethers A Mixed Bag: GE, BA, CAT, DE, UNP

Image Source: Caterpillar Inc – May 2022 Caterpillar Investor Day Presentation By Callum Turcan In this article, we cover the industrial landscape by digging into the recent financial and operational performance of General Electric Company (GE), Boeing Co (BA), Caterpillar Inc (CAT), Deere & Company (DE), and Union Pacific Corporation (UNP). Common themes include robust demand for their offerings, healthy order backlogs, and meaningful pricing power, though headwinds include substantial inflationary pressures, supply chain hurdles, and in certain instances, geopolitical tensions. General Electric will soon separate into three different publicly traded companies, and on a consolidated basis the firm is doing much better than years past. In 2022 and on a non-GAAP basis, General Electric is guiding for a 150+ … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending July 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending July 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 Access National (ANCX): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP): now $0.52 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.515. Archrock (AROC): now $0.132 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.12. Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. Arrow Financial (AROW): now $0.26 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. BancorpSouth (BXS): now $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of August 5

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending August 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                1847 Holdings LLC (EFSH): now $0.1313 per share dividend (post one-for-four reverse split), was $0.05. AdvanSix (ASIX): now $0.145 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.125. Alpine Summit Energy Partners, Inc. (ASEPF): now $0.03 per share monthly dividend. Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (AY): now $0.445 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.440. Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.24. Blue Owl Capital … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending July 29

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending July 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 Agnico Eagle (AEM): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.08. Alon USA Partners (ALDW): now $0.14 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.08. AmeriServ Financial (ASRV): now $0.015 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.01. BancorpSouth (BXS): now $0.125 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. BB & T (BBT): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. Capital Power (CPXWF): now C$0.39 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more