Mortgage REITs Have Underperformed Significantly the Past Several Years

Image: An ETF that tracks the mortgage REIT industry has fallen more than 31% on a price-only basis, while an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 has advanced more than 160% on a price-only basis, as measured from May 2013. By Brian Nelson, CFA Mortgage REITs (REM) are popular vehicles because of their deceptively enticing dividend yields, but we’ve never been bullish on the group. We’re reiterating our take today that these instruments are not for the individual investor or even prudent financial advisor and are more complicated vehicles than many investors believe. In May 2013, we first starting warning about the group, and the performance, as shown in the image above, hasn’t been pretty. On a price-only basis, the … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week June 11

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending June 11. 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 ACRES Commercial Realty (ACR): now $0.5391 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2750. AFC Gamma (AFCG): now $0.38 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.36. ArcelorMittal (MT): now $0.30 per share annual dividend, was $0.20. Caterpillar (CAT): now $1.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.03. Chesapeake Utilities (CPK): now $0.48 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.44. China Yuchai (CYD): now $1.70 per share annual dividend, was $0.85. Community … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week March 12

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending March 12. 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 Americold Realty Trust (COLD): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): now $0.384 per share annual dividend, was $0.11. Applied Materials (AMAT): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Cango Inc. (CANG): now $1.00/ADS special dividend, was $0.25. Cervus Equipment (CSQPF): now CAD 0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.06. Citrix (CTXS): now $0.37 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.35. … Read more

ICYMI: Valuentum’s Brian Nelson on the Latest Howard Marks’ Memo: “Something of Value”

Valuentum’s President of Investment Research Brian Michael Nelson, CFA, explains why there are not really value and growth stocks, why most of the research in quantitative finance is spurious and needs to be redefined on a forward-looking basis, and why enterprise valuation (not the efficient markets hypothesis) should be the organizing principle of finance. Nelson explains his views about valuation, what it means to be a value investor, and investing in the context of Oaktree Capital Howard Marks’ latest memo, “Something of Value,” January 11, 2021. Please don’t forget to give the second edition of the book “Value Trap” a 5-star rating on Amazon here. Thank you for your membership! —– Tickerized for holdings in the IWM. Valuentum members have … Read more

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.

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week September 11

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending September 11. 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 A-Mark (AMRK): now $1.50 per share special dividend, was $0.08. Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.60 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.57. American Tower (AMT): now $1.14 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.10. B2Gold (BTG): now $0.04 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.02. Calvin B. Taylor Bankshares (TYCB): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26. Evertz Technologies (EVTZF): now CAD 0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Mortgage REITs Still Dangerous Income Vehicles

Image: Since late May 2013, mortgage REITs, as measured by the iShares Trust Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM), middle, have fallen more than 20%, while the master limited partnership space, as measured by the Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP), has fallen by nearly 45%, bottom. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (SPY) has rallied more than 75%, all on a price-basis, top.  By Brian Nelson, CFA There’s nothing “safe” about mortgage REITs (REM). The industry caught a lot of attention with the high-profile performance of some of the larger players, including AGNC Investment (AGNC) and Annaly Capital (NLY), in years past, but the hype has fizzled out. Not only has the mortgage REIT industry vastly underperformed a broad market benchmark such as the … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending May 25

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending May 25. 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 Tower (AMT): now $0.77 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.75. Apollo Tactical Income Fund (AIF): now $0.104 per share monthly dividend, was $0.10. B&G Foods (BGS): now $0.475 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.465. Bunge (BG): now $0.50 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.46. CoreSite Realty (COR): now $1.03 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.98. Cracker Barrel (CBRL): now $1.25 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Prepared Remarks From Nelson Exclusive Conference Call June 30

Read President of Investment Research Brian Nelson’s prepared remarks for the yearly roundup conference call, held for Nelson Exclusive members. If you would like to subscribe to the Nelson Exclusive publication, please learn more about the publication here. The Nelson Exclusive publication does not reflect real performance. Performance is hypothetical and does not represent actual trading. Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you very much for joining us on the first conference call for members of the Nelson Exclusive publication. The first year of the publication has surely been an exciting one for all involved. When I first wrote the introductory letter of the Nelson Exclusive on July 1, 2016, we were well-aware the market had laid down the gauntlet for this publication. … Read more

Podcast: The Hazards of Mortgage REITs

President of Investment Research Brian Nelson talks mortgage REITs and the concept of spread risk that may lead to steep book value declines and weakened dividend health across the industry. ~5 mins. If you cannot view the video below, please view the transcript that follows or select the link here. Kris Rosemann: Hi, I am Kris Rosemann for Valuentum Securities. Today on our podcast President of Investment Research Brian Nelson is going walk us through some of our thoughts on mortgage REITs (REM). Brian could you explain to us why we at Valuentum don’t like mortgage REITs and maybe go through some of the risks individual investors should be concerned with that are not as prevalent as a normal operating … Read more