Long Live Apple and Large Cap Growth!

Image: Since the release of the book Value Trap in December 2018, an ETF that tracks large cap growth (SCHG) has outperformed not only the S&P 500 (SPY), but also the areas of dividend growth (SDY) and small cap value (IWN) by sizable margins. By Brian Nelson, CFA We explained in part why we don’t like the dividends of banking firms in this note here, and we’re starting to see dividend cuts in the regional banking space, with PacWest Bancorp (PACW) as the latest banking entity to slash its quarterly payout. Right now, executives in the regional bank arena seem to be like deer caught in headlights, and we’re even seeing banking deals fall apart. The proposed deal between Toronto-Dominion … Read more

Quick Take: Fed Raises 25 Basis Points; This Banking Crisis Is Far from Over

Image: FOMC Chairman Powell answers a reporter’s question at the March 20, 2019 press conference. By Brian Nelson, CFA On March 22, 2023, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate 25 basis points, to the range of 4.75%-5%, a move that we think reflects a government agency that is now more or less a deer caught in headlights–given the nascent regional banking crisis in the United States. The bottom line is that the U.S. banking system does not have enough cash on hand to redeem all deposits (it never has), and with respect to U.S. banks, deposit insurance is only up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. The U.S. public has grown concerned, and that may … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of November 22

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending November 22. 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                          2020 Bulkers Ltd. (TTBKF): now $0.15 per share monthly dividend, was $0.01. AECOM (ACM): now $0.26 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Agilent Technologies (A): now $0.248 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.236. Assurant (AIZ): now $0.80 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.72. Atea ASA (ATEAY): now $0.1591 per share semi-annual dividend, was $0.1401. Banca Mediolanum S.p.A. (BNCDY): now $0.7858 per share semi-annual dividend, … Read more