Valuentum Exclusive Analysis for the Discerning Investor

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Nov 17, 2020

Growing Competitive Pressures, Leverage Drive Our Reduced Fair Value Estimate of CVS Health (Walgreens, Too)
The rivalries in the pharmacy space continue to intensify. Just this week, on November 17, CNBC reported that Amazon was launching Amazon Pharmacy in the US, which reportedly will include free delivery for Amazon Prime members. Shares of CVS Health sold off sharply after the news broke, as did shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Here, we would like to highlight how recognizing competitive threats (both existing and future) represents one of the qualitative overlays we use during the enterprise cash flow analysis process to model expected future financial performance of the company. These competitive dynamics had a large influence in our decision to reduce CVS Health’s fair value estimate. Note, we also reduced our fair value estimate of peer Walgreens Boots Alliance to $43 per share from $60 per share on November 9, too.

Nov 5, 2020

Amazon’s Fair Value $4,000+ at the High End of the Range
Image: Amazon. If we were not already very tech/consumer/e-commerce heavy in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio with Facebook and Alphabet, etc., we’d seek to include Amazon in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio, too. We love Amazon’s strong and growing free cash flow generation and its robust net cash position on the balance sheet. Its competitive position and ties to future growth in key areas of AWS and e-commerce make it among the most attractively-positioned companies out there. We value shares of Amazon at over $4,000 each at the high end of the range, and we would not be surprised to see them trading there in the not-too-distant future. CEO Jeff Bezos expects that 2020 "is going to be an unprecedented holiday season."

Nov 3, 2020

We’re Reiterating Our $200 Fair Value Estimate for PayPal
Image Shown: Short-term headwinds aside, PayPal’s latest earnings report reinforced our optimistic view on its long-term growth outlook which in turn is why we are maintaining our fair value estimate of $200 per share. We continue to be big fans of PayPal. The company has a pristine balance sheet, high quality cash flow profile, impressive growth outlook, and is trading well below its fair value estimate as of this writing. Though investors initially sold off shares of PYPL following its third-quarter report November 2 due to its expected growth trajectory slowing down in the near term, we're reiterating our fair value estimate of $200 per share as PayPal continues to deliver impressive fundamental performance. PayPal’s medium- and long-term growth outlooks remain stellar. Venmo could be a source of significant upside in the medium-term, and we are monitoring events closely.

Oct 23, 2020

Our Thoughts on Philip Morris International’s Latest Earnings Report
Image Shown: Philip Morris International Inc has been able to maintain its global market share in the tobacco industry while pushing through price increases as indicated by its relatively strong ‘Combustible Tobacco Pricing’ performance seen through the first nine months of 2020. Image Source: Philip Morris International Inc – Third Quarter of 2020 IR Earnings Presentation. Tobacco giant Philip Morris reported third quarter 2020 earnings on October 20 which saw the company beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Philip Morris International also raised its full-year guidance for 2020 in part due to industry volumes holding up better than expected in Indonesia, which raised the minimum selling price for cigarettes while also increasing cigarette taxes at the start of 2020. For the full-year, the company now expects to generate $5.03 - $5.08 in GAAP diluted EPS (up from $4.84 - $4.99 previously) and $5.37 - $5.42 in non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS (up from $5.23 - $5.38 previously). Philip Morris International continued to maintain its ~28-29% market share (excluding China and the US) of the global tobacco industry in the third quarter. Additionally, the firm has been able to also push through price increases versus year-ago levels. We continue to like shares of Philip Morris International as a holding in our High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio. Shares of PM yield ~6.4% as of this writing on a forward-looking basis after the firm raised its quarterly dividend by roughly 3% in September.

Oct 19, 2020

PepsiCo Earnings Update
Image Shown: PepsiCo Inc’s expansive snacks and beverage portfolio is home to 23 brands that generated $1+ billion in annual retail sales in 2019. We are big fans of PepsiCo’s business model but caution that the firm’s net debt load needs to be closely monitored going forward, especially given management’s generous approach to dividends and share repurchases. Image Source: PepsiCo Inc – CAGNY 2020 IR Presentation. PepsiCo reported third-quarter fiscal 2020 earnings (period ended September 5, 2020) that beat both top- and bottom-line consensus estimates. PepsiCo’s organic revenue growth, a non-GAAP metric, stood out. During the fiscal third quarter and the first three quarters of fiscal 2020, PepsiCo’s organic revenue growth clocked in at 4.2% and 3.6%, respectively, on a year-over-year basis. For the full fiscal year, management is guiding for ~4% annual organic sales growth at PepsiCo. In May 2020, PepsiCo increased its quarterly dividend, and the firm was happy to announce that this marked its 48th consecutive year of annual dividend increases. PepsiCo has paid out quarterly dividends since 1965 and remains very committed to rewarding its shareholders. Organic sales growth will provide a tremendous amount of support to PepsiCo’s cash flows going forward.

Oct 15, 2020

Johnson & Johnson Once Again Raises Guidance
Image Shown: An overview of Johnson & Johnson’s financial performance during the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Image Source: Johnson & Johnson – Third Quarter of Fiscal 2020 IR Earnings Presentation. On October 13, Johnson & Johnson reported third quarter fiscal 2020 earnings (period ended September 27, 2020) that beat consensus non-GAAP EPS estimates and consensus GAAP revenue estimates, though its GAAP EPS fell short of consensus estimates likely due to turbulence created by the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic. Johnson & Johnson’s GAAP revenues were up 2% year-over-year last fiscal quarter while its GAAP gross margin stayed broadly flat at 66.9%. A sharp reduction in other expenses resulted in Johnson & Johnson’s GAAP net income more than doubling year-over-year in the fiscal third quarter. The company once again raised its full-year guidance for fiscal 2020 (boosting both its top- and bottom-line forecasts) during its latest earnings report, just as it did back during its fiscal second quarter earnings report. Stronger than expected performance at Johnson & Johnson’s ‘Medical Devices’ business operating segment was largely responsible for the guidance increase according to management commentary during the firm’s latest earnings call. We continue to include shares of Johnson & Johnson in both our Best Ideas Newsletter and Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolios.

Oct 12, 2020

Dollar General’s Promising Growth Outlook
Image Source: Dollar General Corporation – Fiscal 2019 Annual Report. We are big fans of Dollar General Corp and continue to like shares of DG as a holding in our Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. After updating our discounted cash flow model, we increased the fair value estimate and the top end of our fair value estimate range for Dollar General. Under our “bull” case scenario, Dollar General now has a fair value estimate of $223 per share. Even if Dollar General surpasses the top end of our fair value estimate range, we prefer to let our winners run until their technicals turn against them. The latest 16-Page Stock Report covering Dollar General can be accessed here.

Sep 27, 2020

Costco Closes Out Fiscal 2020
Image Shown: Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation have been on an upswing over the past five years. The ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic has upended daily activities and encouraged households worldwide to stockpile consumer staples products. When Costco Wholesale Corp reported its fourth quarter fiscal 2020 earnings (16-week period ended August 31, 2020) on September 24, management noted that Costco’s worldwide foot traffic was down ~1% year-over-year last fiscal quarter though its average basket size was up ~13% year-over-year during this period. Households are apparently making the most out of every shopping trip in order to socially distance. Costco’s ancillary businesses, like its in-store opticians and food courts operations, were hurt by temporary closures last fiscal quarter, though its core business held up very well. Costco’s gas business took a hit from reduced travel demand, though its membership renewal rates were broadly flat versus the same period a year ago last fiscal quarter.

Sep 26, 2020

Update on Johnson & Johnson
Image Shown: An overview of Johnson & Johnson’s expectations for fiscal 2021 provided during its second quarter of fiscal 2020 earnings report. We continue to like shares of Johnson & Johnson as a top-weighted holding in our Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Image Source: Johnson & Johnson – Second Quarter of Fiscal 2020 Earnings IR Presentation. Johnson & Johnson is a top-weighted holding in our Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio, and we continue to be big fans of the healthcare and consumer staples giant. The company recently published some key updates that we wanted to draw our members’ attention towards. Before we begin, please note that Johnson & Johnson is near the front of the pack when it comes to developing a potential coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) vaccine. Should Johnson & Johnson prove successful, global health authorities would be better able to combat the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sep 25, 2020

PayPal and Visa Expand Partnership
Image Shown: Shares of Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio holding PayPal Holdings Inc have surged higher this year. We continue to be big fans of the company.The payment processing and payment solution space is incredibly attractive given the secular growth tailwinds supporting companies operating in the financial tech industry. As consumers are increasingly using cards and digitally-oriented payment services during the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic, demand for the various “cash-less” payment options offered by PayPal Holdings and Visa is on the rise. Please note that rising demand for payment processing, cross-border transactions, and similar services is increasing from both consumers and businesses alike. This is more than just a short-term adjustment to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic; the transition towards a “cash-less society” has been underway for some time. We continue to like shares of both PayPal and Visa as top-weighted holdings in our Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio.