Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending May 26

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending May 26. 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 Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS): now $0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. Agree Realty (ADC): now $0.505 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.495. Bank of Montreal (BMO): now CAD 0.90 per share quarterly dividend, was CAD 0.88. Bunge (BG): now $0.46 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.42. China Yuchai (CYD): now $0.90 per share annual dividend, was $0.85. Clipper Realty (CLPR): now $0.095 per share quarterly … Read more

Valuentum’s 3 Breakthroughs in the Field of Finance and More

Valuentum’s President Brian Nelson pauses for a picture before speaking at the CFA Society of Houston in March 2017. By Valuentum Editorial Staff Let’s cover Valuentum’s 3 major breakthroughs in the field of finance. The first one is big and may challenge you to rethink everything you think you know about investing. 1. On a logical framework, Valuentum has debunked John C. Bogle’s landmark syllogism that has paved the way for the concept of index investing. Index investing has been built on a logical shortcoming, whether supported by evidence or not. We think it is important that the investment community know of this. Read (pdf): The “Luck” and “Randomness” of Index Funds (2018), Brian Nelson, CFA See video documentation: /FALLACY_of_Index_Funds To … Read more

The Coming “Goldman Sachs Era”

Valuentum covers recent developments in the financials sector, including hopes for a relaxation of certain prohibitive Dodd-Frank rules that, if repealed, could pave the way for improved economic returns across the banking sector during the Trump administration. A look back at the month of September 2008, and how Goldman Sachs may very well shape the financial markets during the next few years are two other areas in the piece. Financials stocks have come roaring back since Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States. We’ve participated. By Brian Nelson, CFA It’s been more than 8 years now. The month of September 2008 shaped my view of the financials and banking sector more than any other month possibly could–The … Read more

Podcast: Why ETFs and Roasting the Banks

The Valuentum analyst team talks about why we don’t like the business models of banking entities, why they are currently destroying economic value, but also why the team includes exposure in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. What gives? Find out in this ~9 minute podcast. If you cannot view the video, please view the transcript that follows. Tickerized for holdings in the exchange traded funds, XLF and KBE, and for various financials-oriented ETFs.  Kris Rosemann: Hello and welcome to the Valuentum Securities podcast. My name is Kris Rosemann Associate Investment Analyst at Valuentum. With me is Chris Araos and Brian Nelson President of Equity Research and ETF Analysis at Valuentum. Today, we are going to have a quick discussion over … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending May 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending May 27. 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 Bank of Montreal (BMO): now C$0.86 per share quarterly dividend, was C$0.84. Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.15. Bunge (BG): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.38. Cabot (CBT): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.22. Canadian Imperial Bank (CM): now C$1.21 per share quarterly dividend, was C$1.18. Donaldson (DCI): now $0.175 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.17. … Read more

Part III: Nelson’s Evaluation of Berkshire’s 2015 Annual Report

<< Go back to Part I << Go back to Part II By Brian Nelson, CFA It’s always a wonder to open up on the Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) annual report for a large variety of different reasons, but every time I do I can’t help but ponder yesteryear through the table on page 2, “Berkshire’s Performance vs. the S&P 500.” I think I have a unique knack for imagining what might have been if today’s standards would have been applied to Berkshire in the 1970s, perhaps in some ways how many baseball fans may think about whether the legends of the past would have put up the type of numbers that they did if presented with today’s dynamics. For … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending July 18

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending July 18. 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 Bassett Furniture (BSET): now $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. CIT Group (CIT): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Education Realty Trust (EDR): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. Fidelity Southern (LION): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.08. Goodyear (GT): now $0.06 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. Greene County Bancorp (GCBC): now $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Valuentum Economic Castleâ„¢ Rating Update

Read: Keeping the Horse Before the Cart: Valuentum’s Economic Castle™ Rating The Economic Castle Focuses on the Magnitude of Economic Value Creation The Valuentum Economic Castle™ rating is an enhancement of the competitive advantage framework (commonly known as economic moat analysis) that has become widespread and ubiquitous within the investing world. Whereas an economic moat framework evaluates a firm on the basis of the sustainability and durability of its competitive advantages, Valuentum’s Economic Castle™ rating evaluates a firm on the basis of the firm’s future economic profit spread (return on invested capital less its weighted average cost of capital). The companies with the strongest Valuentum Economic Castle™ ratings are poised to generate the most economic value for shareholders in the … Read more

AIG Still Trades at a Meaningful Discount to Book Value

On October 31, AIG (AIG) reported third-quarter net income of $2.17 billion and diluted earnings per share of $1.46, compared to $1.9 billion and $1.13 per share in the same period a year ago. Pre-tax income in the firm’s insurance operations were solid during the quarter, with ‘AIG Property Casualty’ and ‘AIG Life and Retirement’ advancing 33% and 38%, respectively, from the same period a year ago. Third-quarter after-tax operating income attributable to AIG came in at $1.42 billion, or $0.96 per share, compared to $1.62 billion, or $0.99, in last year’s quarter. Net income exceeded after-tax operating income as a result of valuation allowance releases associated with deferred tax assets (a non-core boost). Image Source: AIG Though we would … Read more