Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

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May 27, 2022

Broadcom Buying VMware as “Empire Building” Streak Continues
Image Shown: Broadcom Inc is acquiring VMware Inc and the deal will significantly increase its enterprise software business. Image Source: Broadcom Inc and VMware Inc - May 2022 IR Presentation. Continuing with its acquisitive streak, the semiconductor and enterprise software giant Broadcom Inc announced on May 26 that it would acquire hybrid cloud services provider VMware Inc through a cash-and-stock deal that values VMware at ~$61 billion. Additionally, Broadcom will assume ~$8 billion in net debt from VMware. This follows in the footsteps of Broadcom’s $18.9 billion deal to acquire CA Technologies in 2018 and its $10.7 billion deal to acquire the enterprise security business of then-Symantec, now NortonLifeLock Inc, in 2019. Under the leadership of Hock Tan, Broadcom’s CEO since 2006, the company has built itself into a tech powerhouse through a series of acquisitions. In 2018, Broadcom formally ended its attempt to acquire Qualcomm Inc in the face of antitrust concerns and adjusted its strategy accordingly. By growing its enterprise software business, namely through acquisitions, Broadcom was largely able to avoid antitrust concerns. However, it remains to be seen if regulators will give their blessing to this pending acquisition.

Mar 21, 2022

ASML Holding Is a Tremendous Enterprise, Holds Fantastic Competitive Position
Image Source: ASML Holding NV – 2021 Annual Report. The Dutch firm ASML Holding NV makes the photolithography systems used by semiconductor foundries to produce “chips” that power the modern economy. In part due to its immense technological lead over its competitors, ASML Holding effectively has a monopoly at the high end of its industry, meaning its photolithography systems are required to produce the most advanced semiconductor components. The company also offers semiconductor equipment services and stands to gain immensely from ongoing growth in its installed equipment base. We're huge fans of the company.

Dec 27, 2021

Net Cash Rich Micron Technology Beats Estimates and Issues Favorable Near Term Guidance
Image Shown: An overview of Micron Technology’s outlook for the industry and its own operations for 2022 and beyond. Image Source: Micron Technology – First Quarter of Fiscal 2022 IR Earnings Presentation. On December 20, Micron Technology reported first quarter earnings for fiscal 2022 (period ended December 2, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Underlying demand for Micron Technology’s DRAM, NAND, and NOR offerings (used as memory solutions in personal computers, automobiles, data centers, smartphones, and various electronics devices) remained robust last fiscal quarter. The company has done a great job navigating supply chain hurdles and semiconductor component and equipment shortages in the wake of the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic to continue meeting booming customer demand. Shares of Micron Technology surged higher after it published its latest earnings report December 20 (and they are now trading in the mid-$90s at the time of this writing). In our view, the big share price increase was largely due to the memory solutions provider issuing favorable near term guidance covering the current fiscal quarter, indicating that its strong performance of late is expected to continue in the near term. Though shares may appear cheap on a forward earnings basis, we caution members that the industry Micron Technology operates within is ultra-competitive and exposed to tremendous pricing competition and cyclical swings. Though technically (its chart) looks attractive at this time, long-term investors should be careful.

Nov 8, 2021

ASML Holding’s Bright Growth Outlook
Image Shown: Shares of ASML Holding NV are booming higher as demand for its photolithography systems, a crucial part of the semiconductor supply chain, continues to grow at a robust pace. ASML Holding is a tremendous way to play the ongoing boom in semiconductor demand. The firm’s medium-term growth targets are fantastic and supported by surging net bookings for its photolithography systems (clearly there is ample demand here for ASML Holding’s offerings). With a pristine balance sheet, shareholder friendly management team, stellar free cash flow generating abilities, and promising growth outlook, ASML Holding has a lot going for it. The company is a good fit for the ESG Newsletter portfolio, in our view, as ASML Holding scores well on our 1-100 (100 being the best) ESG rating system (94 out of 100).

Aug 12, 2021

Dividend Growth Idea Qualcomm Enters Bidding War to Bolster Automotive Growth Runway
Image Source: Qualcomm Inc – March 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Presentation. One of our favorite semiconductor plays is Qualcomm. For those just getting familiar with the name, the company is about much more than just supplying components used in smartphones. While the rollout of 5G-capable smartphones will provide Qualcomm’s medium-term financial performance a large boost due to its Snapdragon mobile platform offerings, another key aspect of Qualcomm’s promising growth story is its exposure to the automotive industry.

Jun 15, 2021

Dividend Growth Idea Qualcomm Proactively Managing Fallout from Global Chip Shortage
Image Shown: Qualcomm Inc, one of our favorite semiconductor firms, noted in March 2021 that the rollout of 5G wireless networks is accelerating which in turn supports its outlook. We include shares of QCOM as an idea in our Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Image Source: Qualcomm Inc – 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders IR Presentation. One of our favorite ways to gain exposure to the semiconductor industry is Qualcomm Inc, and we include shares of QCOM as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Qualcomm’s IP portfolio and the “chips” that it designs play an essential role in enabling 5G connectivity in smartphones, powering the digital capabilities of modern automobiles, and supporting wireless network operations (including 5G networks). Qualcomm’s business model remained resilient in the face of headwinds caused by the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic. The company’s asset-light business model (relatively modest capital expenditure requirements to maintain a certain level of revenues) enables Qualcomm is generate sizable free cash flows in almost any environment, and its promising growth outlook is underpinned by secular tailwinds.

Jun 1, 2021

ICYMI -- Video: Exclusive 2020 -- Furthering the Financial Discipline
In this 40+ minute video jam-packed with must-watch content, Valuentum's President Brian Nelson talks about the Theory of Universal Valuation and how his work is furthering the financial discipline. Learn the pitfalls of factor investing and modern portfolio theory and how the efficient markets hypothesis holds little substance in the wake of COVID-19. He'll talk about what companies Valuentum likes and why, and which areas he's avoiding. This and more in Valuentum's 2020 Exclusive conference call.

May 28, 2021

Nvidia Growing at a Brisk Pace Amid Chip Shortage
Image Source: Nvidia Corporation – GTC Spring 2021 Investor Day Presentation. On May 26, Nvidia Corp reported first quarter earnings for fiscal 2022 (period ended May 2, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Demand for Nvidia’s chips used in data center and gaming offerings remains robust. Looking ahead, Nvidia provided guidance for the fiscal second quarter during its latest earnings update that indicated its strong performance was expected to continue.

Apr 26, 2021

Competition Is Heating Up for Intel
Image Shown: Intel's shares have outpaced the S&P 500 SPDR (SPY) since we removed them October 2020.Intel has had a terrific run, but we think bad news may be on the horizon. The chip giant is juggling too many balls at the moment, and competition from the likes of AMD and Nvidia could result in some tough sledding in coming years. We don’t see much risk to the dividend payout, but the lower end of our fair value range may be a reasonable target for shares. We feel that a big miss is coming that may take the market by surprise later this year or in 2022. Execution will be key, and Intel has its work cut out for it. We expect to make some tweaks to our valuation model given the report, but we don’t expect a material fair value estimate change at this time. The company’s Dividend Cushion ratio stands at 1.4.

Dec 28, 2020

Qualcomm’s Growth Trajectory Is Impressive and Supported by Numerous Secular Trends
Image Source: Qualcomm Inc – 2019 Analyst Day Presentation. Qualcomm offers dividend growth investors a way to play the rollout of 5G technologies and other nascent technologies worldwide, along with technologies that do not exist yet but could be made viable by the ongoing rollout of 5G wireless networks. We like Qualcomm’s business model, and we view the company as well-positioned to capitalize on numerous secular growth tailwinds. Beyond the recent launch of several 5G-capable smartphones by various companies, its automotive business offers Qualcomm ample upside potential. Additionally, we are intrigued by the opportunities created by the IoT trend and the firm’s AI-related investments. Concerns over competitive threats to Qualcomm’s modem business are not to be viewed lightly, though the company has many technical competitive advantages (know-how) derived from years of development and remains a leader in its field. As long as Qualcomm continues to innovate, made possible through its meaningful R&D investments, its product offerings and expansive IP portfolio should continue to remain in high demand. The company’s dividend growth trajectory is supported by its stellar cash flow profile and relatively strong balance sheet. Shares of QCOM yield ~1.8% as of this writing.