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Recent Articles
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Brief Take: Altria’s 10% Dividend Yield Is Too Hard to Pass Up
Oct 26, 2023
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Altria Group’s forward estimated 10% dividend yield is too hard to pass up as it is comfortably covered by traditional free cash flow. The tobacco giant reported third-quarter 2023 results on October 26 that showcased how its asset-light business model continues to throw off tons of cash. Traditional free cash flow generation came in at ~$5.9 billion during the first nine months of 2023, while cash dividends paid came in at ~$5 billion, resulting in a very nice free cash flow cushion on a ~10%-yielding stock. Though revenue growth at Altria remains under pressure, gross profit continues to move in the right direction. Altria has raised its dividend 58 times during the past 54 years, and the firm continues to target mid-single-digit dividend growth annually. For income investors that aren’t worried about ESG-related criteria, Altria could make for a great diversifier in a high-yield dividend income portfolio. Our fair value estimate stands north of $60 per share (shares are trading under $40 at the time of this writing).
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Albemarle and ASML Holding Remain Key ESG-Focused Ideas
Oct 26, 2023
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Two of the companies included in the simulated ESG Newsletter portfolio are Albemarle and ASML Holding. Recently, concerns over the supply/demand dynamics for lithium have hurt Albemarle’s stock, but we’re being patient with this ESG-focused idea. On October 18, ASML Holding reported decent third-quarter results. We think ASML is one of the most competitively advantaged players in the semiconductor space, and we won’t be removing it from the ESG Newsletter portfolio anytime soon.
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Alphabet and Meta Are Net-Cash-Rich, Free-Cash-Flow Generating, Secular-Growth Powerhouses
Oct 25, 2023
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Image: Free cash flow growth at Alphabet has been phenomenal during the first nine months of 2023.
Both Alphabet and Meta are net-cash-rich, free-cash-flow generating, secular-growth powerhouses. Though cloud revenue growth and the pace of expense expansion at Alphabet are concerns, and while Meta may experience some softness in advertising revenue during the current quarter, both entities’ quarterly performances during the calendar third quarter showcased why they have been market darlings during 2023.
Note: We’ve corrected our updated report on Alphabet. We had previously uploaded an incorrect version, but this version (pdf) has now been corrected. There is no change to the updated fair value estimate of $133 per share.
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We Will Be Removing CubeSmart and Adding Altria to the High Yield Dividend Newsletter Portfolio
Oct 25, 2023
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Image: Entities with large net cash positions and substantial free cash flow generation have outperformed not only the broader stock market, but also key high yield areas, including REITs, mortgage REITs and master limited partnerships during the past 10 years.
We’re going to continue to lessen our exposure to the equity REIT space, removing CubeSmart from the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio on November 1 and replacing it with Altria. We’re going to keep CUBE-rival Public Storage in the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio for now, but the self-storage space has come under some pressure as consumers may be balking at storage prices as they reassess their spending habits amid higher inflation. Altria doesn’t have a great balance sheet, but the firm does comfortably cover cash dividends paid with free cash flow generation, and the firm does have sizable stakes in Anheuser-Busch-Inbev and Cronos that offer it considerable financial flexibility. Shares of Altria look cheap, too. The swap out of CubeSmart and swap in of Altria within the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio will be effective upon the release of the November edition of the High Yield Dividend Newsletter on November 1.
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