Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

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Aug 11, 2022

Albemarle Raises Guidance Yet Again, Expects to Be FCF Positive in 2022
Image Shown: Albemarle Corporation’s lithium operations have posted stellar financial performance in recent quarters and underpin the firm’s bright long-term growth outlook. Image Source: Albemarle Corporation – Second Quarter of 2022 IR Earnings Presentation. We liked what we saw in Albemarle’s latest earnings report. Albemarle is betting the farm that the supply-demand dynamics will remain favorable for lithium producers. Volume growth and favorable pricing for lithium derivatives is a powerful combination that Albemarle has effectively capitalized on so far. Lithium is a major component in lithium-ion batteries which are used to power electric vehicles (‘EVs’), battery storage facilities, consumer electronics, and much more. Should EV sales continue to grow while utilities are increasingly turning to battery storage solutions to supplement their backup power options, demand for lithium should continue to grow at a robust pace as well. Albemarle is well-positioned to capitalize on this upside, aided by its stellar operational execution. Shares of ALB yield ~0.7% as of this writing and the top end of our fair value estimate range for Albemarle sits at $309 per share.

Aug 11, 2022

ASML Holding Retains Dominant Position in High-End Semiconductor Equipment Space
Image Shown: ASML Holding NV effectively has a monopoly on the high-end space of the semiconductor equipment industry as the Dutch company sells the only lithography systems that can produce the most advanced cutting edge “chips.” We are huge fans of the company’s business model. Image Source: ASML Holding NV – Second Quarter of Fiscal 2022 IR Earnings Presentation. ASML Holding is a tremendous enterprise with a bright growth outlook, a healthy balance sheet, and an impressive business model. The company’s management team is incredibly shareholder friendly. We view both ASML Holding’s dividend growth and capital appreciation upside quite favorably, and think the market is “getting it wrong” on this company considering shares of ASML have sold off heavily year-to-date, even though its longer term free cash flow growth trajectory is as strong as ever.

Aug 8, 2022

Exxon Mobil Surging Higher with Room for Upside
Image Shown: Exxon Mobil Corporation put up stellar results when reporting its second quarter earnings in late July 2022. Image Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation – Second Quarter of 2022 IR Earnings Presentation. Exxon Mobil Corp posted second quarter 2022 earnings that flew past consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The tailwind provided by elevated raw energy resources prices, rising oil & gas production volumes, ongoing cost structure improvement initiatives, and strong “crack spreads” (refining margins) more than offset headwinds arising from its decision to exit Russia in March 2022 and foreign currency headwinds due to a strong U.S. dollar. Exxon Mobil is one of our favorite energy ideas, and we include shares of XOM in several of the newsletter portfolios as it offers investors a nice combination of dividend growth and capital appreciation upside potential. Shares of XOM yield ~3.6% as of this writing, and our fair value estimate sits at $105 per share of Exxon Mobil.

Aug 6, 2022

Global Payments Buying EVO Payments as Fintech Industry Consolidates
Image Shown: Global Payments Inc is in the process of acquiring EVO Payments Inc. Image Source: Global Payments Inc – Second Quarter of 2022 IR Earnings Presentation. Global Payments announced it would acquire EVO Payments for $34 per share through an all-cash deal worth ~$4.0 billion by enterprise value. As its name would suggest, Global Payments provides payment technology and software solutions to customers in over 100 countries. By acquiring EVO Payments, which focuses on providing payment technology and services to small and medium-sized businesses in over 50 markets worldwide, Global Payments will extend its reach into new markets (including Chile, Germany, Greece, and Poland) while enhancing its presence in existing markets (including Canada, the US, Mexico, the UK, Ireland, and Spain).

Aug 5, 2022

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of August 5
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Aug 3, 2022

Shares of Best Idea Alphabet Remain Incredibly Undervalued
Image Shown: Alphabet Inc Class C shares are trading at bargain basement levels, in our view. Alphabet Inc reported second quarter 2022 earnings that missed consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. However, investors were clearly expecting the tech giant to perform much worse as shares of GOOG leapt higher following the report. We continue to like Alphabet Class C shares (ticker: GOOG) as a top-weighted idea in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. Our fair value estimate (adjusted for Alphabet’s recent 20:1 stock split) sits near $157 per share of GOOG, well above where shares are trading at as of this writing.

Jul 29, 2022

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of July 29
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Jul 27, 2022

High Yielding Philip Morris International’s Growth Runway Remains Intact
Image Shown: Shares of Philip Morris International moved higher in the wake of its second quarter earnings report. Philip Morris International reported second quarter 2022 earnings that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The company raised its full-year revenue and adjusted EPS guidance for 2022 on a pro forma basis (excluding its operations in Russia and Ukraine) versus previous estimates in conjunction with its latest earnings update. Now Philip Morris International expects to generate 6%-8% net revenue growth on an organic basis and 10%-12% diluted EPS growth in 2022 versus 2021 levels (these are non-GAAP metrics). We include Philip Morris International in the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio as we are big fans of its resilient business model and ample pricing power.

Jul 27, 2022

Lockheed Martin Facing Near Term Headwinds; Longer Term Outlook Remains Bright
Image Source: Lockheed Martin Corporation – Second Quarter of Fiscal 2022 IR Earnings Presentation. Lockheed Martin Corp reported earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 (period ended June 26, 2022) that missed consensus top- and bottom-line estimates, largely due to delays in securing another domestic F-35 contract and supply chain hurdles. In our view, these are near term headwinds that are resolvable. Reportedly, Lockheed Martin is nearing a deal worth ~$30 billion with the US Department of Defense (‘DoD’) covering orders for around 375 F-35 aircraft. As it concerns supply chain hurdles, the resumption of normal economic activities (as the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is put behind the world economy) should steadily allow industrial supplies and global logistics networks to catch up. These headwinds forced Lockheed Martin to reduce its guidance for fiscal 2022 in conjunction with its latest earnings update, specifically as it concerns its revenue and diluted EPS forecasts, though the defense contractor maintained its free cash flow and ‘segment operating profit’ guidance. We continue to like Lockheed Martin in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. The geopolitical backdrop (with an eye towards the Ukraine-Russia crisis, rising tensions between the US and China, and Western concerns with Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs) is conducive for increased national defense spending in the U.S. and Western aligned nations across the globe. Lockheed Martin is well-positioned to meet those needs. Shares of LMT yield ~2.8% as of this writing.

Jul 8, 2022

Industrial Bellwethers A Mixed Bag: GE, BA, CAT, DE, UNP
Image Source: Caterpillar Inc – May 2022 Caterpillar Investor Day Presentation. In this article, we cover the industrial landscape by digging into the recent financial and operational performance of General Electric Company, Boeing Co, Caterpillar Inc, Deere & Company, and Union Pacific Corporation. Common themes include robust demand for their offerings, healthy order backlogs, and meaningful pricing power, though headwinds include substantial inflationary pressures, supply chain hurdles, and in certain instances, geopolitical tensions. General Electric will soon separate into three different publicly traded companies, and on a consolidated basis the firm is doing much better than years past. In 2022 and on a non-GAAP basis, General Electric is guiding for a 150+ basis point expansion in its adjusted organic operating margin and high-single-digit organic revenue growth, along with $2.80-$3.50 in adjusted EPS and $5.5-$6.5 billion in free cash flow (as defined by the company). Boeing’s financials continue to be in bad shape, and its operations continue to be plagued by missteps. The aerospace giant exited March 2022 with a massive net debt load of ~$45.5 billion (inclusive of short-term debt) after generating negative free cash flows in each year from 2019-2021. The company also generated negative free cash flows during the first quarter of 2022. Large working capital builds due to its inability to deliver certain aircraft, a product of its lackluster operational execution and regulatory intervention, is largely why Boeing has had difficulties generating positive free cash flows in recent years. Caterpillar’s first-quarter 2022 results were plagued by margin issues. In the period, the earth moving equipment maker’s GAAP revenues grew 14% year-over-year, but its manufacturing segment only posted a 3% year-over-year increase in operating income as higher costs weighed negatively on its profitability, offsetting pricing increases and increasing economies of scale. Caterpillar’s GAAP operating margin fell by ~140 basis points year-over-year in the first quarter, declining to 13.9%. During the first half of fiscal 2022, Deere’s GAAP revenues grew by 8% though its GAAP operating profit declined by 4% year-over-year, but the company’s performance in the fiscal second quarter indicates recent pricing actions have started to have a positive impact on its bottom-line performance. Deere raised its full-year earnings guidance in conjunction with its fiscal second quarter earnings update and now expects it will post $7.0-$7.4 billion in earnings this fiscal year. Union Pacific noted that its business volumes are measured by total revenue carloads increased by 4% year-over-year in the first quarter with strong growth seen at its agricultural and industrial freight volumes. The railroad company’s ‘operating income’ rose 19% year-over-year as its business continued to benefit from ongoing optimization efforts in the first quarter of 2022. The railroad operator remains very shareholder friendly and intends to payout roughly 45% of its earnings to investors as dividends.