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ALERT: Adding Market Crash ‘Protection,’ Removing MSFT, BKNG

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Image source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  ALERT: Adding Market Crash ‘Protection,’ Removing MSFT, BKNG — Changes to newsletter portfolios — We’re adding out-of-the-money put options to both the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio and Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. — We’re removing Microsoft from the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. — We’re removing Booking Holdings from the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. — By Brian Nelson, CFA — We’re making some moves in the newsletter portfolios today.  — The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) is currently indicated down 900+ points in pre-market trading during the session Monday, February 24. We laid out a thesis where the US markets could experience a “crash,” and we encourage you to read that take here, “Is a … Read more

Is a Stock Market Crash Coming? — Coronavirus Update and P/E Ratios

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Image Source: World Health Organization, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Situation Report — 32 We don’t think this is the environment to put new capital to work, and we remain highly cautious of what COVID-19 means for global economic growth not just in the first quarter of 2020 but for the rest of this year (maybe longer). Right now, the US markets are not really factoring in anything related to COVID-19, and perhaps may be adjusting to China’s stimulus in artificially propping up the markets as if the outbreak is somehow a “positive thing.” With the S&P 500 trading at 19.0 forward earnings estimates–estimates that are likely too high given the evidence we are seeing with respect to a slowdown due … Read more

Cole Haan Files to Go Public

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By Callum Turcan Maker of footwear, handbags, sunglasses, and various other accessories Cole Haan Inc (TBD:CLHN) has filed to go public. One thing that makes this planned IPO particularly interesting is that Cole Haan was free cash flow positive in both fiscal 2018 (period ended June 2, 2018) to fiscal 2019 (period ended June 1,2019), generating $35 million and $38 million in free cash flows, respectively. The firm plans on trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, run by Nasdaq Inc (NDAQ), under the ticker CLHN. Additionally, please note that after the planned IPO, funds advised by British private-equity firms Apax Partners LLP and Apax Partners are expected to continue to own a “majority… of the shares eligible to vote … Read more

Resetting Your Mental Model

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Image Source: affen ajlfe A version of this article was originally published on our website October 6, 2013. Having the right mental model and using the right information can be the reason why you win or lose in investing. “What is the definition of timeliness? Many believe it is getting information to investors as quickly as possible after an event, or updating something every single day or week for immaterial information. I believe in a different definition of timeliness. I believe timeliness is using all information available in a mosaic approach to accurately predict the event before it even happens. Take Kinder Morgan as the latest example. We were the only ones predicting what was going to happen before it did. To investors, … Read more

Our Reports on Stocks in the Luxury Goods – Established Brands Industry

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Image Source: Kevin Wu Structure of the Luxury Goods Industry Luxury goods firms differentiate themselves based on brand name, perception, and quality in order to generate excess returns on invested capital through the economic cycle. Building a large, successful luxury brand is difficult, leaving those that possess them with intangible competitive advantages that are not easily overcome by new entrants. Growth in emerging middle classes and China will be the key demand drivers going forward, though the strongest brands will also grow successfully via market share gains. Though changes in consumer preferences should be watched closely, we like the structure of the group. For coverage of firms in the Luxury Goods – Established Brands – Industry, please click here.

Valuentum Exclusive Success Rates Trump Even the Best Quant Hedge Funds

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Image: President of Investment Research Brian Nelson, CFA By Brian Nelson, CFA A new book, “The Man Who Solved the Market,” hit bookshelves last year, and thus far it has been a hit. The text goes into the story of quant hedge fund Renaissance Technologies and its hedge fund, the Medallion Fund, which has put up mammoth returns since inception. Though the book focuses more on the life and times of founder Jim Simons and dedicated only a page or two to the fall of Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM), another quant fund that went belly-up during the late 1990s, it was nonetheless a thoroughly interesting and enjoyable read. But why I am bringing up one of the most successful quant … Read more

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

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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

Nike Posts a Solid Quarter and Issues Strong Guidance

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Image Shown: Shares of Nike popped on September 25 after reporting a strong first quarter for fiscal 2020 and issuing favorable guidance for the full fiscal year. By Callum Turcan Nike (NKE) reported earnings for the first quarter of its fiscal 2020 (ended August 31) on September 24 and investors clearly liked what they saw. The sportswear company’s GAAP revenues climbed 7% year-over-year to $10.7 billion, a growth rate that would have been 10% on a constant currency basis given ongoing strength in the US dollar. Sales in the Greater China region rose by 27% year-over-year on a constant-currency basis, complemented by strong growth in EMEA (up 12% on a constant currency basis) and the Asian Pacific region (up 13% … Read more

Trump “Tweet Storm” Reveals Increased Frustration with Fed, China

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— Markets are starting to look toppy. — By Brian Nelson, CFA — The markets are under heavy pressure Friday, August 23, as China escalated the trade war with new retaliatory tariffs on $75 billion worth of U.S. goods (soybeans and autos), including a 5% tariff on U.S. crude oil prices. Removing the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) from the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio and Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio August 14 looks to have been a savvy move. Following the much-anticipated speech from Fed Chairman Powell today, President Trump responded with a series of tweets that showed tremendous frustration with the current situation. Here is the Twitter thread, reproduced below: — As usual, the Fed did NOTHING! It is incredible that they can “speak” without knowing or … Read more

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

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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