How to Think About Corporate Tax Reform

If Yields Go Up, Are BDCs Done For?

Key Takeaways: ·         What are BDCs? Business development companies (BDCs) allow small investors access to a private equity-like investment that often sports a high yield. ·         How do BDCs make money? Like any capital source, BDCs make the spread between the yield on investments and cost of the debt. BDCs can also make money from well-performing assets that are sold. ·         What are the Risks of BDCs? Poor portfolio performance, mismanagement, and interest rate swings are among the main risks to BDCs. ·         Why is the Sector under Pressure? Record low SBIC debenture costs could come to an end if interest rates rise. BDC investments start to look less attractive on a relative basis when yields rise. ·         Which BDC … Read more

Why We Don’t Like Dividends of Banking Firms: 4 Very Good Reasons

Untermyer: Is not commercial credit based primarily upon money or property? Morgan: No, sir. The first thing is character. Untermyer: Before money or property? Morgan: Before money or anything else. Money cannot buy it … a man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom. –Mr. JP Morgan’s testimony before the Pujo Committee (questioning from Samuel Untermyer), 1912-1913 Reason #1: A Bank Run Is Always Possible Though the history of banking dates back to as early as 2000 BC in Babylonia, the makings of the present-day banking system in the US really didn’t take hold until the beginning of the 20th century. Some financial historians may argue for a later date, but we … Read more

4 Very Good Reasons Why We Don’t Like Dividends of Banking Stocks

Untermyer: Is not commercial credit based primarily upon money or property?Morgan: No, sir. The first thing is character.Untermyer: Before money or property?Morgan: Before money or anything else. Money cannot buy it … a man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom. –Mr. JP Morgan’s testimony before the Pujo Committee (questioning from Samuel Untermyer), 1912-1913   Image: Bank Run in Michigan, USA, February 1933. Source: Public Domain. By Brian Nelson, CFA It’s sometimes easy to lose sight of the fragility of a banking firm’s business model. Let’s examine the reasons why we don’t like banking firms’ dividends. Reason #1: A Bank Run Is Always Possible. Reason #2: Others Have Tried to Invest in Bank Dividends and Have Failed. Reason #3: … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending December 8

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending December 8. 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 Reality Corporation (ADC): now $0.52 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.50. Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE): now $0.90 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.86. Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (APYRF): now CAD 0.13 per share monthly dividend, was CAD 0.1275. Axis Capital Holdings (AXS): now $0.39 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.38. Bank of Montreal (BMO): now CAD 0.93 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending May 6

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending May 6. 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 Corporation (ADC): now $0.48 per share quarterly dividend, was$0.465. American Campus Communities (ACC): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group NV (AMVMF): now €0.11 per share semi-annual dividend, was €0.10. Ardmore Shipping (ASC): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.13. Artesian Resources Corporation (ARTNA): now $0.2249 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2216. Bank Mutual Corporation (BKMU): now $0.055 … Read more

There Is Milk At The Store

This article first appeared in the September edition of the High Yield Dividend Newsletter. For more information about this publication, please see here. “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” — Winston Churchill By Brian Nelson, CFA Very few of us could have imagined that we’d witness the bull market that began on that fateful day in March 2009 that might very well mark a generational low. In 2009, major investment banks around the globe were struggling to survive, and the fallout in the mortgage markets left the banks holding paper that nobody wanted to own, let alone buy. The global financial system … Read more