SCG

Paper: Value and Momentum Within Stocks, Too

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Please select the image below to download, “Value and Momentum Within Stocks, Too:” Abstract: This paper strives to advance the field of finance in four ways: 1) it extends the theory of the “The Arithmetic of Active Management” to the investor level; 2) it addresses certain data problems of factor-based methods, namely with respect to value and book-to-market ratios, while introducing price-to-fair-value ratios in a factor-based approach; 3) it may lay the foundation for academic literature regarding the Valuentum, the value-timing, and ultra-momentum factors; and 4) it walks through the potential relative outperformance that may be harvested at the intersection of relevant, unique and compensated factors within individual stocks. To download the full report, please click here (pdf). ———- Actual results … Read more

REITs Will Likely Continue To Underperform

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By Brian Nelson, CFA Stock prices and returns are in part a function of the cash-based sources of intrinsic value: net cash on the balance sheet and future expectations of free cash flow. Though there are many ways to slice and dice a company with respect to equity analysis, to arrive at an intrinsic value estimate of a firm, it generally comes down to these two important cash-based dynamics. Due to the nature of their business models, most REITs have lofty net debt positions, and many are investing in real estate at a pace that is faster than that which they are generating operating cash flow. One good example of the trouble brewing on many a REIT’s cash flow statement … Read more

Something New!

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Hi everyone: To stay true to our mission, you’ll find something new regarding our methodology. In the coming weeks, you’ll see this table in our work going forward. We just wanted to let you know. We appreciate your membership very much!   ——————————————— About Our Name 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 At Valuentum, we take Buffett’s thoughts one step further. We think the best opportunities arise from an understanding of … Read more

New Payment Option! Valuentum Research Update!

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Hi everyone: — We’re excited to say that we’re adding additional payment flexibility at Valuentum. — Many members have expressed interest in paying via other providers, and we have added Square to the mix. You can use credit or debit card or bank (ACH) to pay via invoice. — With all of the goings-on in the financial technology and payments space, we wanted to continue to provide members options to pay their memberships how they want and through who they want. You can always reach out to us at info@valuentum.com. — You’ll notice that we’ve also tightened our focus at Valuentum during the past 12-24 months in advance of what has certainly become a more difficult 2022 than even some … Read more

NextEra Energy Is a Great Income Growth Idea

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Image Shown: NextEra Energy Inc is a great income growth idea that complies with ESG investing standards as the company is investing heavily in renewable energy power generation assets and battery storage facilities. Image Source: NextEra Energy Inc – June 2022 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan The utility sector is home to companies with stable and highly visible cash flows, particularly as it concerns regulated utility operations, given the essential nature of the services these enterprises provide. Regulated utility operations refers to utilities that participate in rate cases with state-level public utilities commissions (‘PUCs’), with these rate cases largely setting the parameters of what the relevant utility can charge its customers. Generally speaking, PUCs and the rate case process allows … Read more

WEC Energy Is a Solid Utility with a Nice Yield

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Image Source: WEC Energy Group Inc – March 2022 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan WEC Energy Group Inc (WEC) is a holding company that owns electric and natural gas utilities in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois), a ~60% stake in American Transmission Company (its service area is in the Upper Midwest and overlaps with the operations of WEC Energy’s other utility assets), and the merchant power firm WEC Infrastructure. WEC Energy serves roughly 4.6 million customers across its service area. Some of its electric and natural gas utilities include Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation, Peoples Energy LLC, The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, North Shore Gas Company, W.E. … Read more

NextEra Energy’s Bright Outlook

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Image Shown: NextEra Energy Inc, one of our favorite utilities, owns the largest regulated electric utility in Florida and has exposure to the state’s promising population and economic growth trajectory. The utility is shifting its power generation base away from coal and towards renewable energy, leaning on natural gas and nuclear power plants to make the transition feasible. Image Source: NextEra Energy Inc – Fourth Quarter of 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan The U.S. utility sector (XLU) is home to some high-quality income generating opportunities, especially utilities with exposure to states that are experiencing strong population and economic growth. Rising interest rates down the road may be a concern, though geopolitical headwinds as a result of the Ukraine-Russia … Read more

Our Report on Stocks in the Utilities (Mid/Small) Industry

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Structure of the Utilities Industry Utilities provide an essential service, generally operate in a near-monopoly position, and benefit from significant barriers to entry due to the capital intensity of new projects and regulatory/environmental requirements. Regulatory frameworks differ across the grid, but most utilities benefit from an assured rate of return on capital investments through predetermined rate structures, where cost adjustments are made by authorities periodically. Most constituents benefit from stable operations and generally lower debt financing, though credit ratings should be monitored closely. We like the structure of the group. Please select here (pdf) to download the report on utilities in our coverage. —– Valuentum members have access to our 16-page stock reports, Valuentum Buying Index ratings, Dividend Cushion ratios, fair value … Read more

PPL Corp Updates Investors, Launches Share Buyback Program

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Image Source: PPL Corporation – Second Quarter of 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan On August 5, PPL Corporation (PPL) posted second quarter 2021 earnings, and shares of PPL initially moved higher after the report. Though the gas and electric utility, which has a major regulated utility presence in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, missed both top- and bottom-line estimates, what investors were likely focused on most was the announcement that PPL Corp had approved a $3.0 billion share buyback program. The firm expects to spend $0.5 billion buying back its shares in 2021, and we view this as a solid use of PPL Corp’s capital given our fair value estimate sits at $45 per share of PPL, well above where the … Read more

Utility PPL Is Pursuing a Major Transformation and Has a VBI Rating of 9

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Image Source: PPL Corporation – First Quarter of 2021 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan PPL Corporation (PPL) operates several utilities in the US and the UK, though the company is in the process of selling its UK utility business (Western Power Distribution) to National Grid plc (NGG). When including the assumption of approximately GBP£6.6 billion in debt, this deal has a transaction value of roughly GBP£14.4 billion and is expected to generate about USD$10.2 billion in net cash proceeds for PPL. Additionally, as part of this arrangement, PPL will acquire National Grid’s Rhode Island utility business in the US (Narragansett Electric Company). When including the assumption of approximately USD$1.5 billion in debt, this deal has a total transaction value … Read more