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Recent Articles
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Kinder Morgan’s Dividend Is Much Healthier These Days
Oct 17, 2024
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Image: Kinder Morgan’s shares have done quite well thanks to improved free cash flow performance.
Year-to-date Kinder Morgan's free cash flow, as measured by cash flow from operations less all capital spending, totaled $2.27 billion, higher than the $1.92 billion it paid in cash dividends during the same time period. Years ago, Kinder Morgan’s capital spending and cash dividends paid were significantly higher than cash flow from operations, necessitating a dividend cut. Things are much different these days, as Kinder Morgan’s free cash flow covered cash dividends paid by $353 million during the first nine months of the year. Though the firm retains a large net debt position, Kinder Morgan’s dividend is much healthier than it was years ago. Shares yield 4.6% at the time of this writing.
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Taiwan Semiconductor Benefiting from Strong Smartphone and AI Demand
Oct 17, 2024
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Image: Taiwan Semiconductor released better than expected results.
Taiwan Semiconductor ended the quarter with NT$2,167.6 billion in cash and marketable securities against long-term interest-bearing debt of NT$936.16, showcasing a nice net cash position. Free cash flow in the quarter advanced to NT$184.91 billion from NT$68.03 in the year-ago period. Looking to the fourth quarter of 2024, revenue is targeted in the range of US$26.1 billion and US$26.9 billion (consensus was at US$25.02 billion), while gross profit margin and operating profit margin, based on the exchange rate assumption of 1 US dollar to 32 NT dollars, are expected to be 57%-59% and 46.5-48.5%, respectively. We liked Taiwan Semiconductor’s results and outlook, and the company remains a key idea in the ESG Newsletter portfolio.
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ASML Holding Lowers 2025 Outlook
Oct 16, 2024
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Image: ASML Holding is falling from recent highs as its third quarter report and outlook disappointed investors.
ASML’s guidance for 2025 came in below what consensus had been looking for. 2025 net sales are now expected in the range of €30 billion and €35 billion, which compares to guidance of €30 billion to €40 billion previously and the consensus estimate of €35.94 billion. The company’s updated gross margin outlook for 2025 in the range of 51%-53% is below the 54%-56% it had previously forecast and below the consensus estimate of 53.9%. The bookings number in the third quarter coupled with lowered 2025 guidance is weighing on the stock. Though the news isn’t great, we continue to like ASML Holding as a long-term idea in the ESG Newsletter portfolio.
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Goldman Sachs Beats Third Quarter Estimates, Puts Up Strong Economic Returns
Oct 16, 2024
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Image: Goldman Sachs’ shares have done well the past couple years.
Goldman Sachs continues to generate value for shareholders. Annualized return on average common shareholder equity [ROE] was 10.4% for the third quarter of 2024 and 12.0% for the first nine months of 2024. We liked Goldman’s revenue growth in the quarter, and the company continues to put up double-digit economic returns. Shares trade at 1.6x book value, so we’re not viewing them as cheap at this time. Shares yield 2.3%.
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