Valuentum Strives To Be the Gold Standard in Equity Research

This article was originally published July 17, 2013. Valuentum’s Best Ideas portfolio and Dividend Growth portfolio continue to exceed their respective goals, but the firm’s research on the mortgage REIT industry has put it in a class by itself. In this article, please find a graphic portrayal of its call on the mREIT industry. Maxim, KBW, RBC, Edward Jones, Seeking Alpha, Wunderlich, Citi, Evercore, and JP Morgan were all behind the curve. Will still more research shops come around? 1)    September 13, 2012. 2)    May 6, 2013. 3)    May 6, 2013. http://blogs.barrons.com/focusonfunds/2013/05/06/mortgage-reit-funds-in-focus-jefferies-says-investors-underestimate-mreit-risks/ 4)    May 26, 2013. /20130526_1 5)    May 30, 2013. http://www.thestreet.com/story/11937184/1/mortgage-reit-sell-off-overdone-on-rate-fears-kbw-rbc.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO 6)    June 7, 2013. http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/agnc/currents/2 7)    June 24, 2013. http://seekingalpha.com/article/1515952-american-capital-agency-corp-book-value-resilience-in-the-face-of-rates-back-up 8)    July 8, 2013. http://www.analystratings.net/ratings/Downgrades/7-8-2013/ 9)    July 9, … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending June 24

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending June 24. 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 8point3 Energy Partners (CAFD): now $0.2325 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2246. Canadian Banc Corp. (CNDCF): now $0.08783 per share monthly dividend, was $0.08642. Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (CRT): now $0.060865 per share monthly dividend, was $0.047302. DTE Energy (DTE): now $0.77 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.73. Enduro Royalty Trust (NDRO): now $0.013353 per share monthly dividend, was $0.001016. Farmers Bankshares Inc. (FBVA): now $0.07 … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending March 25

Image shown: Raytheon’s 800XP Hawker; source: Eric Salard. Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 25. 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 8point3 Energy Partners (CAFD): now $0.2246 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.217. ALPS Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR): now $0.254616 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.0625. ALPS Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF (GRI): now $0.369625 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21087. ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (EDOG): now $0.11799 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.117604. … Read more

Are You Still Trying to Catch Lightning with American Capital Agency?

Investors familiar with the mortgage REIT space that have spent any time on our website know of our groundbreaking call on the industry. Please have a look here. American Capital Agency (AGNC), one of the most prominent operators in the mortgage REIT space, reported yet another disappointing quarter. It continues to be painful to write how much we don’t like the uncertainties regarding the broader mortgage REIT environment. Some of the more bullish research shops appear to finally be throwing in the towel. Though the yields on some of the mortgage REIT equities appear attractive, the risks of further dividend cuts continue to grow. Shares of American Capital currently yield ~13%, for example. In the third quarter, American Capital Agency … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending September 25

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending September 25. 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 Accenture (ACN): now $1.10 per share semi-annual dividend, was $1.02. AltaGas (ATGFF): now C$0.165 per share monthly dividend, was C$0.16. FNB Bancorp (FNBG): now $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.13. Hingham Institution for Savings (HIFS): now $0.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. Lockheed Martin (LMT): now $1.65 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.50. Masco (MAS): now $0.095 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. New … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Ending March 27

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending March 27. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports, please use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week Artesian Resources (ARTNA): now $0.2183 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.2151. City Holding (CHCO): now $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.40. Gazit-Globe (GZT): now $0.46 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.45. Oxford Industries (OXM): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.21. Silver Bay Realty (SBY): now $0.09 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. UDR (UDR): now $0.2775 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.26.   … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending September 26

Below we provide a list of firms that raised/lowered their dividends during the week ending September 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 CSB Bancorp (CSBB): now $0.19 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.18. Hersha Hospitality Trust (HT): now $0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.06. Hingham Institution for Savings (HIFS): now $0.28 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.27. International Bancshares (IBOC): now $0.27 per share semi-annual dividend, was $0.25. Lockheed Martin (LMT): now $1.50 per share quarter dividend, was $1.33. OGE Energy (OGE): now $0.25 per share quarterly … Read more

American Capital Agency Loses $2.37 Per Share in Second Quarter

As we have encouraged readers since the peak in September 2012, the mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) industry has myriad risks, and the marketing pitches indicating that their principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a US government sponsored entity (GSE) should not make investors feel safe. This dynamic has little bearing on the underlying trajectory of fundamentals and a mortgage REIT’s book value, the key valuation driver and the major impetus behind share price movements in the space. During the second quarter (results released Monday), American Capital Agency (AGNC) failed at its principal objective to preserve net asset value, as book value plunged to $25.51 per share from $28.93 per share in the previous sequential quarter (a $3.42 move). … Read more

Dividend Increases for the Week Included Realty Income and US Bancorp; Dividend Cuts Included a Number of Mortgage REITs

Below we provide a list of firms that increased or decreased their dividends for the week ending June 21. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports, please click here. Dividend Increases for the Week Ending June 21 CVB Financial (CVBF): now $0.10 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.085. Darden Restaurants (DRI): now $0.55 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.50. Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.11. First Internet Bancorp (INBK): now $0.06 per share, was $0.04 (post-split). Host Hotels & Resorts (HST): now $0.11 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. John Wiley & Sons (JW.A): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Mortgage REITs Are Still Hurting

With QE Infinity potentially ending in mid-2014 and American Capital Agency (AGNC) slashing its quarterly dividend today (now $1.05 per share, was $1.25), mortgage REITs are still hurting. Consistent with our thesis on the group, dividend payments at a variety of industry constituents are not sustainable. American Capital Mortgage (MTGE) also cut its dividend today, while Two Harbors (TWO) lowered its quarterly payout a couple weeks after our industry thesis hit the wires. Annaly (NLY), American Capital Agency, Armour Residential (ARR) and Western Asset Management (WMC) were all down more than 2% today. With Fed Chairmen Ben Bernanke announcing potential tapering in 2013 and a potential end to mortgage-backed security purchases in mid-2014, the 10-year Treasury yield has moved nearly … Read more