Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

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May 15, 2021

The Investment Case for the 1989-1990 Hoops Michael Jordan #200 Basketball Card
Image Shown: 1989-1990 Hoops Michael Jordan #200. After I put together a video on the roaring basketball card market, I received a few questions on which basketball card I thought was the most undervalued in today’s market. The interest is understandable given news that a Lebron James rookie card recently sold for $5.2 million, a Luka Doncic card sold for $4.6 million, and a Kobe Bryant rookie refractor sold for $1.8 million. First of all, I am far from an expert in this field, but I thought it would be a useful exercise to apply my analytical and research skills to assess whether there might be undervalued opportunities. Importantly, it’s worth noting that basketball cards, even the coveted Lebron James rookie that just sold for $5.2 million, are assets that do not generate free cash flow to the owner, and therefore, are only worth what the next person will pay for it. They are “greater fool” assets, perhaps as much as fine art or fine wine, for example. With this risk clearly noted, I believe the most undervalued basketball card in today’s market is the 1989-1990 Hoops Michael Jordan #200.

May 14, 2021

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week May 14
Let's take a look at companies that raised/lowered their dividend this week.

May 13, 2021

Markets Back on Track – Seeking Net-Cash-Rich, Free Cash Flow Generators with Pricing Power!
Image Shown: The pricing action of ideas in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio May 13. Image Source: Seeking Alpha.  We remain intensely focused on the cash-based sources of intrinsic value—net cash on the balance sheet and future expected free cash flow—when it comes to identifying price-to-fair-value-estimate mis-pricings as well as in assessing long-term dividend health. We think it may be tempting to rotate into some names where fair value estimate revisions have occurred, but the margin of safety around many energy/commodity producers and banking entities may be too large even for conservative investors. We expect most energy/commodity producers to continue to endure boom-and-bust cycles, and banking entities to do the same, as the latter act more like utilities this day and age. Once implicitly nationalized during the Great Financial Crisis, and used as an extension of government programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 crisis, outsize economic profit spreads may remain limited for banks/financials given the punitive regulatory environment. Facebook, of course, remains our top idea for long-term capital appreciation potential. Newmont Mining remains our favorite dividend growth-oriented “inflation hedge” followed by garbage hauler Republic Services and its CPI-indexed contracts. AT&T remains our favorite high yield dividend idea, boasting a free-cash-flow covered ~6.5% dividend yield, and we prefer only diversified exposure to the energy and banking sectors through the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) and Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF). We’ll be looking to deploy the ~10%-20% cash “positions” in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio and Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio in the coming months. The High Yield Dividend Newsletter remains “fully invested,” and Exclusive idea generation remains robust. If you haven’t already, please be sure to have a look at the video in this article to see how we assess the cash flow statement and balance sheet to uncover stocks with strong net cash positions and solid future free cash flows that handily cover expected cash dividend payments. We apply this laser-focus on financial statement analysis across our idea-generation suite of publishing products.

May 7, 2021

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week May 7
Let's take a look at companies that raised/lowered their dividend this week.

May 6, 2021

3 Strong Dividend Payers to Consider Within Consumer Staples
Image: Kellogg has raised its dividend payout each year since 2005. Image Source: Kellogg. Kellogg, Colgate-Palmolive, and Clorox offer investors solid exposure to the consumer staples space, while showcasing impressive track records with respect to dividend growth. Each has a net debt position, but all three generate traditional free cash flow in excess of cash dividends paid, meaning growth in each of their payouts should be expected. Clorox has the highest Dividend Cushion ratio of 1.6 at this time (Kellogg’s is 0.1, while Colgate-Palmolive’s is 1.4), and as one might expect, Clorox’s dividend growth prospects are the strongest out of this bunch. For example, Clorox raised its annual payout more than 7% during fiscal 2020, while both Kellogg and Colgate-Palmolive have had more modest dividend increases in recent years. Evaluating the cash-based sources of intrinsic value helps one derive a fair value estimate range, as it helps rank dividend health and dividend growth, as shown in this group's respective Dividend Cushion ratios. All things considered, Kellogg, Colgate-Palmolive, and Clorox could be valuable additions to a diversified dividend growth portfolio.

Apr 30, 2021

Domino’s Pizza Well-Positioned for Long Run
Image Shown: Domino’s has the right business model for the long haul. Unit economics are fantastic for franchisees, while same-store sales continue to benefit from first-mover digital initiatives. Earnings per share growth has been stellar for the past decade. Image Source: April 2021 Presentation. Domino’s has the right business model for the digital economy, and we expect robust net unit growth and retail sales growth in the mid-to-high single-digit range over the next few years. This asset-light, free-cash-flow generating franchisor is stealing market share hand over fist, while it drives robust earnings expansion and buys back its own stock (it has a $1 billion repurchase authorization, as of February 2021). Everything seems in place for Domino’s to remain atop the global quick-service pizza industry, as operational simplicity is the name of the game. Investors need to pay attention to Domino’s net debt load, but we see little in the way of this fantastic growth story. The firm remains one of our favorite restaurant ideas and a holding in the simulated Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio.

Apr 30, 2021

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week April 30
Let's take a look at companies that raised/lowered their dividend this week.

Apr 29, 2021

Visa’s Business Is on the Rebound
Image Shown: Visa Inc remains a tremendous free cash flow generator, aided by its asset-light business model. We continue to be big fans of Visa and include the company as a top-weighted idea in our Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. Image Source: Visa Inc – Second Quarter of Fiscal 2021 IR Earnings Presentation. On April 27, Visa reported second quarter fiscal 2021 earnings (period ended March 31, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Visa’s GAAP revenues and GAAP operating income were down 2% and 9% year-over-year, respectively, last fiscal quarter as its cross-border business remains subdued. On the flip side, Visa’s total payment volumes and processed transaction were up 8% and 11% year-over-year, respectively, in constant currency terms. Coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) vaccine distribution efforts should help global health authorities eventually bring the pandemic to an end, though the return of international travel and related activities to pre-pandemic levels is likely a way off. During its latest earnings report, Visa’s business showcased serious signs that a recovery was already well underway, and we continue to be huge fans of the name. We include Visa as a top-weighted idea in the simulated Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio.

Apr 23, 2021

Lockheed Martin Boosts Guidance
Image Source: Lockheed Martin Corporation – First Quarter of Fiscal 2021 IR Earnings Presentation. Lockheed Martin Corp, maker of missile systems, space offerings, radar systems, jet fighters (including the F-35), and other advanced weaponry, will play a leading role in keeping Western armed forces (and the militaries of Western allies) ahead of rising geopolitical tensions. We include the defense contractor as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio, and shares of LMT yield ~2.7% as of this writing. Lockheed Martin’s dividend growth trajectory is impressive, its free cash flow generating abilities are stellar, and it has an enormous backlog which provides a high degree of visibility as it concerns its future cash flow generating abilities.

Apr 21, 2021

Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics Partnership Update
Image: Vertex Pharma is co-developing gene-based therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). CTX001 may offer a potential cure for people that have SCD and TDT.On April 20, Vertex Pharma and CRISPR Therapeutics issued a press release that noted “the companies have amended their collaboration agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize CTX001, an investigational CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing therapy that is being developed as a potentially curative therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT).” The development is a win-win for both Vertex Pharma and CRISPR Therapeutics and reinforces our positive view towards both company’s capital appreciation upside. We prefer Vertex Pharma as our speculative biotech play in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio given its more resilient financials and established commercial portfolio. Note that with early stage biotech companies such as CRISPR Therapeutics, investors are taking outsized risks and could lose all their capital should future endeavors not pan out as expected.