Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

Symbol Keyword

Apr 17, 2024

ASML Reports First Quarter Results, Reiterates Guidance
Image: ASML Holding is one of our favorite semiconductor ideas. On April 17, ASML Holding reported decent first quarter 2024 results. First quarter net sales came in at €5.29 billion on a gross margin of 51.0%. Net income was €1.22 billion in the quarter. Net bookings in the first quarter of 2024 came in at €3.6 billion, down sequentially from the strong net bookings number delivered in the fourth quarter of 2023. The company continues to be shareholder friendly, paying dividends and buying back €400 million worth of stock during the first quarter. Though management expects 2024 total net sales to be similar to 2023, we like how ASML is positioned for the long run.

Apr 16, 2024

Johnson & Johnson Narrows 2024 Outlook, Raises Dividend
Image Source: J&J. Looking to 2024, J&J expects adjusted operational sales growth in the range of 5.5%-6%, the midpoint of which is up from the prior range of 5%-6%. Adjusted operational diluted earnings per share is targeted in the range of $10.60-$10.75 per share, the midpoint also up from the range of $10.55-$10.75 previously. Management also upped its dividend 4.2%, to a quarterly payout of $1.24 per share, implying a forward estimated dividend yield of 3.4%. We like J&J, but we won’t be adding it back to any newsletter portfolio anytime soon.

Apr 8, 2024

3 Dividend Growth Stocks for the Long Run
Image: Mike Mozart. There are many applications for the discounted cash-flow model. Not only does the tool help to derive a fair value estimate for a company, but the core drivers behind the intrinsic value calculation are also key drivers behind the health of a dividend payer. Stocks with a solid net cash position and also generate strong expected free cash flows more than their cash dividend obligations are in a much better position to grow their payouts in the future than stocks burdened by a net debt position and where their free cash flow comes up short. Apple, Microsoft and Dick’s Sporting Goods make the cut and are three of our favorite dividend growth stocks on the market today.

Apr 5, 2024

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

Apr 4, 2024

ConAgra’s ESG Initiatives Noble; Near-5% Dividend Yield Supported By Free Cash Flow
Image Source: ConAgra. ConAgra’s third-quarter fiscal 2024 results were decent, with the company showcasing strong free cash flow generation and further debt reduction. Year-to-date free cash flow at ConAgra totaled ~$1.2 billion versus $436 million during the same period a year ago. Cash dividends paid were $492 million over the same time, so ConAgra is doing a good job covering its dividend obligations with traditional free cash flow. We view this as a distinct positive for a company yielding ~4.8% at the time of this writing and think ConAgra is a consideration for investors seeking free-cash-flow covered yields and strong ESG initiatives.

Mar 29, 2024

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

Mar 28, 2024

Micron Issues Strong Outlook, Points to Multi-Year Opportunity in AI
Image Source: Micron. Micron operates in the ultra-cyclical semiconductor industry, and while the next few quarters may be robust, we’re cautious on the sustainability of the momentum and pricing health beyond the next few quarters, despite management’s optimism in fiscal 2025. Free cash flow has also been negative during the first six months of its fiscal year, and its net debt position precludes it from being a net-cash-rich, free-cash-flow generating powerhouse like so many other companies in the technology space. All things considered, we liked Micron’s quarterly report and outlook, but it’s not enough for us to pull the trigger on the idea for the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio.

Mar 22, 2024

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of March 22
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.

Mar 11, 2024

How Some Members Use Valuentum’s Investment Services
We serve a wide variety of investors, including dividend growth investors, value investors, and pure Valuentum investors, among others. Many different types of investors and professionals use our research and financial analysis in a whole host of applications from individual stock-selection to the evaluation of closed-end funds to an overlay in a money-management setting and beyond. The Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio seeks to find stocks that have good value and good momentum characteristics and typically targets capital appreciation potential over a longer-term horizon. The Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio seeks to find underpriced dividend growth gems that generate strong levels of free cash flow and have pristine, fortress balance sheets, translating into excellent Valuentum Dividend Cushion ratios. The High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio seeks to find some of the highest-yielding stocks supported by strong credit profiles and solid business models, but not always robust traditional free cash flow. Ideas in this newsletter offer higher-yielding opportunities, but also much higher capital and income risk. We also offer a full suite of products to financial advisers (gold level) that range from a more extensive Excel-based screening tool (the DataScreener) to 'Ideas' and 'Dividend' publications that are released on a quarterly basis. Our research product includes hundreds of stock reports, fair values, fair value ranges, associated commentary, as well as dividend reports with Valuentum Dividend Cushion ratios and expected dividend growth rates. Silver and gold-level members can add the Valuentum Exclusive or additional options commentary/ideas to their plans. The Exclusive publication is a part of the institutional (platinum) level membership.

Mar 8, 2024

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week of March 8
Let's take a look at firms raising/lowering their dividends this week.