Our Reports on Stocks in the Retail–Apparel (Teen-30yrs, Off-Price, Outdoor) Industry

Structure of the Retail–Apparel Industry The specialty apparel industry is highly competitive. Firms compete with various individual and chain specialty stores, as well as casual apparel sections of department stores and discount retailers. Identifying and responding to fashion trends remains key, and business fluctuates with changes in the economy and customer preferences. Fashion missteps can result in lower sales, excess inventories, and higher markdowns, which can severely impact profits. Improving productivity, managing new store growth and developing new brand concepts are critical for long-term success. We’re neutral on the group. We’ve dropped coverage of stocks in the Retail–Apparel (Teen-30yrs, Off-Price, Outdoor) industry.

ICYMI: Interview with Valuentum’s President Brian M. Nelson, CFA

Catch up with Valuentum’s President Brian M. Nelson, CFA in a recent interview with dividend growth investor Arne Magnus Lorentzen Ulland of the blog stockles. By Brian Nelson, CFA Recently, I was interviewed by Arne Magnus Lorentzen Ulland of the blog stockles. Arne is a dividend growth investor like many of you, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the interview he put together. I’m very grateful for his interest. His questions were fantastic. We discuss why and how I incorporate independence and integrity into the service at Valuentum. We go into detail regarding why Valuentum views stocks the way it does, and how Valuentum combines enterprise valuation and the information contained in prices in its stock-selection process. I discuss the pitfalls … Read more

Macy’s Cuts Guidance, Dividend Cut Could Be on the Horizon

Image Source: Macy’s Inc – IR Presentation By Callum Turcan Retailers (XRT, RTH) have been struggling as the e-commerce shift has stressed margins and hurt foot traffic at stores and malls all across America. Macy’s Inc (M) had fared better than most, but that’s beginning to change. The company reported second quarter FY2019 earnings on August 14 which came with a guidance cut that saw shares of Macy’s plummet below their late-2017 lows. While Macy’s recovered throughout the trading day, the market is clearly signaling that investors are expecting more pain is ahead. As of this writing, shares of Macy’s yield ~9.0%, a major red flag. Guidance Cut Management cut earnings guidance for the full fiscal year while keeping estimates … Read more

Subscribe — Limited # Remaining for Exclusive, Retail Reports as Expected

The Exclusive publication is limited to only 1,000 members. Make sure that you reserve your spot. You receive one income idea, one capital appreciation idea, and one short-idea consideration in each monthly edition.  Through March 2019, for capital appreciation ideas highlighted in the Exclusive publication, the success rate is nearly 82% (81.8%). For short-idea considerations highlighted in the Exclusive publication, the success rate is nearly 79% (78.8%). Adjusted for currency, not one income idea has cut its payout. That’s after 33 monthly editions!!! —  The Valuentum Exclusive highlights one income idea, one capital appreciation idea, and one short-idea consideration each month. The success rates have been absolutely fantastic since its inception. Each idea is highlighted in thesis form, and our … Read more

Markets Swooning, Expect Extreme Volatility, Finger on Put-Option Trigger

Image shown: We notified members December 26 that we had  moved  the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio and Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio to a “fully invested” position, from a 30% and 20% cash “weighting” at the high end of the range, respectively.  — No change to simulated newsletter portfolios…at this time.  — Hi everyone, — Hope you’re navigating these tumultuous markets well.   — If you recall, during the holiday season last year, we had moved the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio and Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio to “fully invested.” See image above (point of the arrow). Because many members were traveling and out of the office, not all were able to read the notification until a week or two after. They were … Read more

Latest Channel Checks at Malls…Scary

We know malls come and go, and location is everything, but our latest visit to a few malls in the Chicagoland area leave us scratching our heads in a big way. One was eerily empty. By Brian Nelson, CFA A small sample set is never one to extrapolate, but our latest checks of malls in the northwest Chicagoland area came up a little surprising. We’re not sounding the alarm bells just yet, but we think some caution is in order for the largest mall REITs, including Tanger Factory (SKT), Macerich (MAC), Simon Property (SPG) and Taubman (TCO). Something just wasn’t quite right on our latest visit, and we attribute it primarily to failing anchor department stores, namely Carson Pirie Scott … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending April 5

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending April 5. 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 ABB (ABB): now CHF 0.80 per share annual dividend, was CHF 0.78. Aon (AON): now $0.44 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. Artesian Resources (ARTNA): now $0.2459 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2423. Bank OZK (OZK): now $0.23 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Constellation Brands (STZ): now $0.75 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.74. Constellation Brands (STZ.B): now $0.68 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.67. … Read more

Facebook’s Huge New Opportunity in Instagram Checkout, Reiterating Fair Value Estimate ~$230

Image Source: Facebook’s Instagram We continue to like Facebook, and we’re huge fans of Instagram Checkout. Many may not know it yet, but Instagram Checkout may mark the beginning of retailers’ websites becoming obsolete. The sell-off last summer in Facebook was a big gift for those that stuck with our thesis. Brian Nelson, CFA I think one of the things that financial advisors and financial planners do extremely well is explain the concept of patience to their clients. Can you imagine if a client cashed out upon every 15%-20% decline? That’d be a recipe for continuous disaster. On the path to the market setting broader market highs in 2018, there have been many disappointments along the way. There have been … Read more

ATTN: Advisors and Planners — Disruption Is Looming

“With the commoditization of investment advice and intense competition from robos and other more cost-efficient solutions, growth-minded advisors want to create bespoke experiences for clients.” — WealthManagement.com By Brian Nelson, CFA Hi Valuentum members, colleagues and friends, Valuentum has a large subscriber base and is one of the most successful paid subscription financial information websites launched this decade. Over the past eight years or so, individuals, financial advisors and money managers from all over the world have subscribed to our services. We pride ourselves on independence and transparency, and we’re a champion of the investor. Today, I’d like to talk directly to our financial advisor, financial planner, and professional money-manager members. You probably already heard the news yesterday: Charles Schwab, which handles … Read more

DG Newsletter Alert, Markets on a Roll! New Highs Coming?

Image shown: We notified members December 26 that we had moved the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio and Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio to a “fully invested” position, from a 30% and 20% cash “weighting” at the high end of the range, respectively. It doesn’t look like the timing could have been much better.  Changes to Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio Removing Novartis (NVS) -3.5%-5.5% Adding Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) +3.5%-5.5% By Brian Nelson, CFA The back half of 2018 was among the most exciting in Valuentum’s history. For one, we might have made one of our best “market-direction” calls since inception in practically calling the near-term bottom December 26. In hindsight, it’s clear the market had overreacted, but at the time, going to “fully … Read more