ICYMI: The Impact Rising Interest Rates Have on Equity REITs

Image: REITs have not performed as well as one might have thought. The Vanguard REIT ETF has underperformed the broader market considerably since 2015, while dividends per share have not grown much, if at all, since 2005. Source: Vanguard By Brian Nelson, CFA The question on most everyone’s minds: How will equity real estate investment trusts (REITs) fare in the current rising interest-rate environment? The topic has long been debated and studied, and there are myriad opinions on the subject. From where we stand, however, there are two main moving parts consisting of fundamental and investment dynamics that investors should be aware of. Let’s have a look. Fundamental Considerations In the discounted cash-flow (enterprise) valuation context, a rising nominal interest rate (real + inflation) … Read more

Earnings Roundup: DE, WMT, CSCO, HD, FL

By Brian Nelson, CFA Deere & Company (DE) is a tried-and-true industrial giant. The company’s dealer network offers it a strong competitive advantage, and while the company’s business ebbs and flows with the general economic environment, the firm has been able to drive impressive product pricing increases of late. During the firm’s first-quarter fiscal 2023 results (ending April 29, 2023), released May 19, Deere’s worldwide net sales advanced an impressive 30%, while net income per share leapt to $9.65 per share from $6.81 per share in the same period a year ago. Deere’s pricing power continues to be on display. In its ‘Production & Precision Agriculture’ division, sales jumped more than 50% in the quarter, while operating profit more than … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of April 14

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending April 14. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports, please use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week                          Aon (AON): now $0.615 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.560. Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.243 per share monthly dividend, was $0.240. Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CHP.UN:CA): now CAD 0.0625 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.0617. CSW Industrials (CSWI): now $0.19 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.17. Mexico Energy (MXC): now $0.10 per share special dividend. Proctor & Gamble (PG): now … Read more

Why Are the Dividends of REITs So Risky?

By Brian Nelson, CFA Not all REIT dividends are safe. Many REITs remain capital-market dependent, and some office REITs, retail REITs, and healthcare REITs may be difficult places to generate dependable long-term income in the coming decades, in our view. Office REIT SL Green (SLG) recently cut its payout 13% on December 5, 2022, while another office REIT Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) cut its dividend 29% on January 18, 2023. These are just two of the latest high-profile REIT dividend cuts, and there may be more to come. Contrary to popular opinion, the REIT sector has not been a great source of dependable, reliable income, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. Five REITs cut their dividends in 2019: Medalist Diversified REIT … Read more

REITs May Continue to Face Pressure

Image: The Dividend Cushion ratio is one of the most powerful financial tools an income or dividend growth investor can use in conjunction with qualitative dividend analysis. The ratio is one-of-a-kind in that it is both free-cash-flow based and forward looking. Since its creation in 2012, the Dividend Cushion ratio has forewarned readers of approximately 50 dividend cuts. We estimate its efficacy at ~90%. By Brian Nelson, CFA Times are tough for equity REITs (VNQ) and mortgage REITs (REM), with the VNQ and REM down 25% and 30%, respectively, so far in 2022. This is against a backdrop of Valuentum’s simulated Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio and High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio that are doing far better. The lesson in 2022, … Read more

Something New!

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

Announcing Valuentum’s Customer Appreciation Day Winners!

In no particular order — the five winners… As a Chief Investment Strategist that oversees a significant amount of assets, it is vital to have unbiased research that we can lean on for decision making. Brian and the Valuentum team help provide a disciplined and fundamental approach to stock analysis without the typical Wall Street bias or conflicts of interest. The value we get on a monthly basis for having this detailed thought analysis and wise long-term thinking greatly outweighs the cost. We are very happy to have them on our short list of management we trust.  – Stephen H. (October 2022) —– I’d like you to know what my takeaways are from your research: 1) Be wary of capital … Read more

New Payment Option! Valuentum Research Update!

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

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of October 14

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 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                A.O. Smith (AOS): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.24 per share monthly dividend, was $0.23. Albertsons Companies (ACI): now $6.85 per share special dividend, was $0.12. Avient (AVNT): now $0.2475 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2375. BioSyent (RX:CA): now CAD 0.04 per share quarterly dividend. Cardinal Energy Ltd. (CJ:CA): now CAD 0.06 per share monthly dividend, was CAD … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week April 15

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending April 15. 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      Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.234 per share monthly dividend, was $0.227. Aon (AON): now $0.56 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.51. Artesian Resources (ARTNA): now $0.2729 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2675. BrasilAgro – Brazilian Agricultural Real Estate (LND): now $0.404 per share dividend, was $0.2030. Costco (COST): now $0.90 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.79. Crestwood Equity (CEQP): now $0.655 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more