Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Observations and Sample of Recent Trades: BIZD, FNB, ORIT, SUNS

Economy:

Personal Income and Outlays, September 2018 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA):




The core personal consumption price index remained stable at 2%. The personal savings rate was reported at 6.2%.   

US trade deficit widens for fourth straight month, hits $76 billion U.S. exports of feed, food, and beverages declined by 8.9% in September after falling 9.5% in August. The culprit was the GOP's tariff war. Table 1: Advance Economic Indicators Report - September 2018


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The stock market faces ‘unlimited downside risk,’ warns veteran trader - MarketWatch

Sharp decline in housing stocks on higher rates way overdone: AnalystITB Chart: iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (well into bear market territory); Sponsor's website: iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF | ITB


Nearly half of the S&P 500 is in a bear market 


US plans more China tariffs if Trump-Xi meeting fails, sources say


U.S. Plans More China Tariffs If Trump-Xi Meeting Fails, Sources Say - Bloomberg These tariffs would be in addition to the ones that have already been levied by the U.S. and would apply to China's remaining exports to the U.S. that are not currently subject to a tariff.  


The market rallied yesterday after Trump represented to investors that he expects a "great" trade deal with China. Trump says he expects 'great deal' with China, but more tariffs if not

There is no publicly available information that China and the U.S. are even negotiating. I view Trump's claim as more likely than not to be related to the upcoming election and a desire among republicans to stop the stock market free fall before next Tuesday.  

I certainly hope that Donald is successful since it would make my allocations easier and the trade arrangements with China are definitely in need of a major overhaul .

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Trump:

Trump has again attacked the free press as the enemy of the people:



The now numerous Trump's tweets attacking the free press as the "enemy of the people" encourages violence against journalists and news organizations. 

In TrumpWorld, the Fake News media includes only those outlets that report facts and challenges Donald's lies with facts. 

Like all demagogues with strong authoritarian tendencies, Trump does not want anyone pointing out his false public statements made at an average rate of 8+ per day.

Sean Hannity and Fox and Friends are the two main non-Fake News media outlets, but they are just media personalities that regurgitate the Trump's talking points and would never dare to challenge his reality creations.    
  
Donald's tweets about Fake News and the media being the "enemy of the people" are normal for an authoritarian demagogue who wants to silence criticism and to turn people away from any information sources that report accurate information that contradicts the demagogue's lies and false narratives. The sole purpose is to acquire power and wealth, to squash or minimize dissent, and to make challenges to those objectives far less effective.  

No current republican office holder would dare to challenge Trump's continuous barrage of Fake News. They are totally cowed by him. 


Republican politicians have already been reduced to Trump's sycophants and minions, showing him their abject submissiveness at every turn, and will enable and encourage rather than restrain Trump's demagoguery and strong authoritarian tendencies.   

Opinion | Trump’s Corruption: The Definitive List - The New York Times


Donald Trump erroneously claims NYSE re-opened after Sept. 11 attacks to justify holding campaign rally following synagogue shooting 


Repeatedly in his campaign rallies, Trump claims that a Vets Healthcare law passed during the Obama Administration is the "greatest idea" that he has ever had. Trump's 'Greatest Idea' for a 2014 Law- FactCheck.orgObama Passed Donald VA Program Trump Claims at Rallies | Fortune In Trump's America, consisting of  roughly 1/2 of the adult population, pointing out this fact is Fake News since it contradicts the false claim made by Trump.  


No One Wanted Trump’s Portrait So His Charity Had to Buy It, Lawyer Says

Here’s an estimate of how much Trump’s 10% tax cut would cost - MarketWatch My idea is to eliminate taxes altogether. Just borrow and spend and then declare bankruptcy.


Trump threatens funds unless California prevents more wildfires | Reuters California points the finger at global warming which is in Trump's words a hoax. In a strikingly ignorant tweet, Trump gets almost everything about California wildfires wrong

Republicans seek to alarm Trump's base in midterm campaign ads 


When Trump Phones Friends, the Chinese and the Russians Listen and Learn But what about "Crooked" Hillary's emails the Duck replies?


Text Messages Show Roger Stone Was Working to Get a Pardon for Julian Assange (the guy who released the emails stolen by the Russians)


Maureen Dowd wrote a column titled "Riling up the Crazies" that sums up the GOP's key and long standing election strategy. For as long as she can remember, republicans "have been trying to scare" her. "Sometimes, it has been about gays and transgender people and uppity women looming, but usually it has been about people with darker skin looming." Opinion | ‘Riling Up the Crazies’ - The New York Times FDR once said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself", referring to the Great Depression. The GOP has turned that phrase upside down, as it does everything else, and turned it into "Make voters fear fear itself". The purpose is to fan the flames of prejudice and to divide a diverse nation into "us" and "them" factions that is the MO of authoritarian movements throughout history.


Bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc, lost and angry, found his tribe with Trump


House majority leader deletes tweet saying Soros, Bloomberg, Steyer are trying to 'buy' election - CNN Kevin McCarthy is a high ranking member of the Demagogue Party and is running to replace the Ayn Rand reactionary Paul Ryan as House Speaker. 



In that tweet, McCarthy singled out two Jewish contributors, Bloomberg and Soros, to the Democrats. Steyer's father was Jewish. Soros and Steyer were sent pipe bombs by the Trumpster Cesar Sayoc.  

Shortly after the massacre at the Pittsburgh synagogue and the sending of the bomb to Steyer, Demagogue Don thought it was time to attack Steyer as "wacky", "crazed" and a "lunatic": 



It was only a day prior that Donald's handlers had him read a statement about being civil. Donald Trump calls for more civility in politics I am curious what Donald means by civil. 

Sheldon Adelson, who is also Jewish, has contributed $87+M to the republicans this year. Top Individual Contributors: All Federal Contributions | OpenSecrets16. Sheldon Adelson - 50 Most Influential Jews - Jerusalem Post In TrumpWorld, Adelson is not trying to buy an election since he is  contributing to the republicans.  


For an animal like Kevin McCarthy, there are the good Jews (republican contributors) and the bad Jews (democrat contributors) who he wants to demonize as do other republican politicians.  


GOP presses ahead in casting Soros as threat amid criticism that attacks are anti-Semitic


Demagogue Don frequently refers to the caravans as an invasion and claims that the caravans are filled with criminals and other undesirables including Jihadists. There is an abundance of republican campaign commercials making the same claim. 


I saw one that has been on speed dial from the Trumpette Marsha Blackburn who will likely become a Tennessee Senator next month. Tennessee Senate race poll: Marsha Blackburn leads Phil Bredesen 



Caravan | Marsha Blackburn for US Senate - YouTube

Lying works and lying a lot works even better in American politics. It is important for the deliberate effort to mislead to contain unfavorable images and last no longer than 30 seconds in order to have maximum effect. 

This is just the latest example demonizing the caravan from Demagogue Don: 



This is the message published by Robert Bowers a few minutes before he entered the Pittsburgh synagogue: 



Donald inspires so many people. 


Bianna Golodryga's personal connection to HIAS, group assailed by synagogue shooting suspect - CBS News


Republican Claims on Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions

Trump’s stunning hypocrisy on preexisting conditions - Vox


One common misrepresentation being promoted by republicans now is that they support insurance for pre-existing conditions, notwithstanding their votes to repeal and gut Obamacare which made that coverage possible at affordable rates. 


The republicans claim to have some kind of plan to require insurance companies to provide that insurance but are deliberately murky about the premium costs.  


If the GOP has their way, the end result will be unaffordable insurance for pre-existing conditions for those who are not covered by employer plans. 


There are voters who rely on Obamacare to cover pre-existing conditions who will vote for republicans that will terminate affordable health insurance for them. There is a decree of justice in that result. 


Those same republican voters do not realize that Trump is now attempting to end Obamacare' pre-existing coverage requirements through litigation. 


And, the republican bill, which allegedly provided coverage, contained a loophole that allowed insurance companies to exclude pre-existing conditions or to increase premiums based on any number of factors. Pre-existing conditions: Does any GOP proposal match the ACA? | PolitiFact


Trump says he backs pre-existing conditions coverage-his actions say no


The Republican rush to protect pre-existing conditions, hypothetically - POLITICO


Scott Walker says he would cover pre-existing conditions, but backs plans that would end protections | PolitiFact The general idea is to intentionally mislead those voters who view this issue to be important.  


The Democrats are hammering republicans on this issue, but their existing solution embodied in Obamacare is not fair to those who have to subsidize it. I rarely hear any politician being straight with the voters on this kind of issue.  


I was critical of Obamacare from the start for a variety of reasons. 


While it is true that insurance is about pooling risks, it was not fair to require younger and healthier individuals to subsidize those with pre-existing conditions who would normally not be a non-employer provided insurance plan. And the entire idea of forcing individuals to buy healthcare insurance or fining them was a bad one.  


Medicare for all is a solution, but is not one the nation can afford to pay for the foreseeable future. The existing Medicare program for seniors is going to be a major financial problem that will contribute to a major financial crisis within 15 years or so.   


There is a lack of political will to do what is necessary to control medical costs which has to be done. If politicians from one party tried to do it, they would be met with a barrage of effective negative campaign ads basically asserting that they were interfering in the doctor patient relationship, creating "death panels", etc. It is not possible to have a rational, fact based discussion due to tribalism.  


My tentative thoughts is that all employers with more than 50 employees need to be compelled to provide comprehensive health insurance or face an increase in their taxes or some other penalty that would cost them more. 


For those with pre-existing conditions who are not insured by an employer provided healthcare plan, they need to be segregated out into a separate nationwide health insurance pool supported by government funding and premiums charged based on the ability to pay rather than supported by higher premiums charged to the healthy and mostly younger individuals.   


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Republican Voter Suppression in Kansas


The Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R), who chaired Donald's fraudulent voter fraud panel until it was dissolved, is running for governor and is in a tight race that could go either way. RealClearPolitics - Election 2018 - Kansas Governor - Kobach vs. Kelly


As the Secretary of State, Kobach is in charge of voting. 


Over the past five years, Kansas has closed 100 polling places as the voting population increased by 46,000 and placed restrictions on exercising the right to vote designed to discourage those who vote the wrong way. 


One Kobach effort to restrict voting-proof of citizenship- was thrown out recently by a federal district court judge: Kobach-ruling.pdf 


How would I prove my citizenship? I would have to locate my birth certificate in the county records that would show that I was born in the U.S. Only the highly engaged would bother. 


Since the governor's race is too close to call, and republicans control the voting process, I would naturally expect  that efforts will be undertaken to make it difficult to vote in areas where Democrat voters live. 


A prime example of republican voter suppression can be found in Dodge City, Kansas which has a white republican county clerk. The voter suppression is taking many forms in that town which is now 60% hispanic. 


First, the clerk will open only one precinct for 13,000 registered voters. The average number of voters per precinct is 800. The general idea is to to discourage voting by making people who vote the wrong way to wait in long lines and spend an hour or so before being allowed to cast a vote. 


Second, after a very long period of the voting precinct being in the centrally located civic center, which is easily accessible by public transportation, the republican clerk changed the voting precinct to an location outside of the town that is literally across the railroad tracks with no bus route or sidewalk running from the city. 


Third, the clerk then sent out notices that the voting location was changed but the location noted in the notice was the old one rather than the new one. 


When the ACLU complained, the clerk sent an email to Kobach with the notation "LOL". Dodge City polling place move ignites voter access fears | The Wichita EagleTo Cast Their Ballots, These Voters Will Have to Get Out of Dodge - The New York Times


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1. REGIONAL BANK BASKET STRATEGY:

A. Bought 50 FNB at $12.2-Used Schwab Commission Free Trade:




Quote:  FNB Stock Quote


I am too early on this one again, but have been successful in the past trading FNB. I have a negative opinion about FNB's management and Board as I have discussed many times here.


I am somewhat surprised by the harsh negative reaction to the regional bank third quarter reports.


But, I was not expecting a meaningful increase in net interest margins or robust loan growth.


Anyone believing that NIM expansion was off to the races better familiarize themselves with the yield curve and the rising costs of bank funding through deposits. 


FNB Trading Profits to Date = $1,172.38


FNB Analyst Consensus Estimates (as of 10/12)

2019 E.P.S. = $1.18

Last DiscussionsItem # 1.A. Sold 50 FNB at $13.65-Used Commission Free Trade (9/5/18 Post)-Item 1.A. Bought Back 50 FNB at $13.08 and 50 at $12.6 (8/1/18 Post)


Of those two 50 share lots, I sold the highest cost lot bought at $13.08 and still own the lot bought at $12.6 which will likely be sold when and if the price goes into a $13 to $14 range. This is what I call small ball trading.


Current Position: 100 Shares


Maximum Position: 150 Shares


I will be on semi-automatic pilot to buy 50 shares at below $11.


Total Average Cost Per Share: $12.4


P/E At Average Cost Using 2019 Consensus Estimate: 10.51


Dividends: Quarterly at $.12


FNB's dividend history is a major negative as explained in prior posts.


Dividend Yield at Total Cost Per Share = 3.87%


Last Ex Dividend Date: 8/31/18


Dividend Reinvestment: Will Start and Keep Doing at less than $13


Last Earnings Report: Q/E 9/30/18


Excluding a one time gain of $4.1M after tax, E.P.S. was $.29 per share compared to $.24 in the 2017 quarter which excluded a $1.4M merger expense.


A major negative shown in the previous snapshots is the decline in the net interest margin Y-O-Y. (3.36% from 3,44% in the 2017 third quarter)


The efficiency ratio is good at 53.73.


Bad Loan Ratios: Good

Charge-Offs (annualized) to Total Loans: .27%.
Non-performing Loans to Total Loans: .47% (NPL ratio)
Non-performing Assets to Total Assets: .42% (NPA ratio)

Earnings are receiving a major lift in 2018 due to the lower federal corporate tax rates. The effective tax rate in the 2018 third quarter was 18.02%, down from 29.92% in the 2017 third quarter. Needless to say, that lift will not be meaningfully present next year.


F.N.B. Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2018 Earnings Per Share of $0.30


F.N.B. Corporation (FNB) CEO Vince Delie on Q3 2018 Results-Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha


B. Bought 10 ORIT at $15.10-Used Fidelity Commission Free Trade:


Quote: Oritani Financial Corp. (ORIT)


"The Bank currently operates its main office and 25 full service branches in the New Jersey Counties of Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Passaic." 


As previously discussed in several prior posts, I view ORIT to be a conservatively managed bank.  


ORIT Analyst Estimates (as of 10/12)

2019 Consensus E.P.S.  = $1.14

Annual Report F/Y Ending on 6/30/18


Current Position This Account: 92+ shares


Maximum Position: 100 Shares + Shares Purchased with Dividends


Average Cost Per Share = $15.47


Dividend: Quarterly at $.25 per share


Dividend Yield at Total Cost Per Share: 6.46%


Last Ex Dividend Date: 8/2/18


P/E at TC of $15.47 per share and 2019 Consensus E.P.S. = 13.57 (though only up from an estimated $1.13 this year; bank needs to do better than $1.14 next year if $1.13 is the final number for 2018)


Last DiscussedStocks, Bonds & Politics: Item # 1.B Bought 50 ORIT at $15.8 in a Roth IRA Account(10/7/18 Post)

Last Sell DiscussionItem 1.E. Sold 20 ORIT at $16.91(6/28/18 Post)


Last Earnings Report: Q/E 9/30/18

Oritani Financial Corp. Announces Dividend and Quarterly Results 


This report is for the first fiscal quarter and was released after my last purchase.


The company reported net income of $13.4M or $.30 per share, up from $.27 in the year ago quarter. 


This bank is based in New Jersey which has just adopted "a temporary surtax of 2.5% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019, and 1.5% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021." This state tax will offset some of the benefits from a lower federal income tax rate. This legislation required a revaluation of the bank's deferred tax balances that caused a $477K non-cash charge in this last quarter. 


ROA was reported at 1.29%, close to the industry average. 


Charge offs were non-existent in the first fiscal quarter. The NPL and NPA ratios remained excellent: 




The bank is not optimistic currently about NIM expansion: "The Company’s spread and margin have been under pressure due to several factors, including:  a flattening treasury yield curve, modifications of loans within the existing loan portfolio; prepayments of higher yielding loans and investments, and increased funding costs. The Company executed a previously disclosed balance sheet restructuring partially to counter a portion of the spread and margin compression resulting from these factors."  


Competitor banks are offering loans on terms that ORIT will not match:  "The CRE market has grown beyond highly competitive to a point where transactions are being completed by our competitors at ever thinner spreads as the yield curve have flattened.  We have seen numerous instances of higher loan to value ratios and extended interest only periods, which we choose not to match. We will continue to pursue well structured transactions within our conservative underwriting standards.”


CRE = Commercial Real Estate


There is a price to pay for conservative lending practices. The flip side is that ORIT remained profitable during the Near Depression period: 





Annual Report: Form 10-K

Investors did not care for this report. The reason is probably due to the decline in loans. Closing Price 10/31/18: ORIT 15.08 -$0.42 -2.71% 

2. Short Term Bond/CD Ladder Basket Strategy:

The recent turmoil and volatility in the stock market did not cause a meaningful decline in interest rates, which suggests that the dominant directional move continues to be up. 

The 10 year treasury closed at a 3.09% yield on 10/1 and at 3.12% yesterday. The stock market's decline did contribute to the yield falling from 3.23% earlier in the month to 3.08% on 10/29, but the yield early this morning is already back up to 3.15%. 

There are a number of reasons for having so many different short term fixed income investments. 

One reason is to quickly capture higher interest rates with redemption proceeds. The far less weighted longer term part of the fixed income portfolio deals with the possibility that interest rates may move down. 


Another reason is to generate a continuous stream of cash flow. 


I am also diffusing risk in my senior unsecured bond portfolio through diversity. 


Lastly, I can decide almost on a weekly basis whether the redemption proceeds can be redirected in part to other asset classes including stocks as opportunities develop.  


This does not take up much of my time.  


November Maturities:

SU = Senior Unsecured Bond ($1K par value per bond)
CD = Certificate of Deposit ($1K par value per CD)-FDIC Insured
MI = Monthly Interest Payments
Treasury: U.S. Treasury Debt ($1K par value per bill, note or bond)
IR: Investment Rate for Treasury Bill Auctions (no coupons, sold at a discount to par value)

7 Treasury 28 Day Bills 2.138% IR 11/1/18 (bought at auction)

2 Treasury 13 Week Bills 11/8 2.048% IR (bought at auction)  
2 American Express 1.55% CDs 11/8 (15 month CDs)
1 Goldman Sachs BK 1.5% CD 11/8 (11 month CD)
2 Live Oak 1.75% CDs MI 11/9 (9 month CDs)
2 Citizens Bank 1.95% CDs 11/9 (6 month CDs)
1 Shell 1.625% SU 11/10  (bought in January 2018)
2 Wells Fargo 1.45% CDs MI 11/13 (13 month CDs)
2 Enerbank 1.45% CDs MI 11/13 (11 month CDs)
5 Caterpillar 1.8% SU 11/13 (various purchase dates starting last December)
2 Pinnacle 1.95% CDs MI 11/13  (6 month CDs)
2 Monsanto 1.85% SU 11/15 (bought in December 2017)
2 Treasury 1.25% 11/15
2 Treasury 11/15 6 Month T Bill 2.085% IR (bought at auction)
2 MidAmerica 2% SU 11/15 (bought in March 2018)
2 LegacyTexas 2% CDs MI 11/15 (5 month CDs)
2 AstraZeneca  1.75% SU 11/15 (bought in December 2017)
5 Stanley Black Decker 1.622% SU 11/17 (various purchase dates-all 1 bond lots)
2 Lockheed Martin 1.85% SU 11/23 (bought in December 2017)
2 Wells Fargo 1.45% CDs MI 11/27 (13 month CDs)
2 American Express BK 1.6% CDS 11/29 (15 month CDs)
2 Treasury IR 2.12% 3 Month Treasury Bill 11/29 (bought at auction)
3 Merrick Bank 1.6% CDs MI 11/29 (1 Year CDs)
1 MBank 1.55% CD MI 11/30 (1 Year CD)
2 First Commercial 1.45% CDs MI 11/30 (15 month CDs)
3 Treasury 1% 11/30

$62K

2018 Daily Treasury Yield Curve Rates


U.S. 1 Month Treasury Bill


U.S. 3 Month Treasury Bill


U.S. 6 Month Treasury Bill


U.S. 1 Year Treasury Bill


U.S. 2 Year Treasury Note


Since I am using a ladder strategy, it will take some time to work my way out of lower yielding securities. The ladder strategy is one method used to address interest rate risk and the unknowables associated with that risk.


I include within my definition of "interest rate risk" the "risk of lost opportunity" that is inherent in using a ladder strategy when interest rates are rising.


Once money is tied up in a CD or bond, and rates rise thereafter, my choice is to sell the instrument at a loss or to keep it and lose the opportunity to lock in a higher rate using the proceeds.


While there is a secondary market for some CDs, they are illiquid prior to maturity as a practical matter anyway.


The way that I deal with this risk of lost opportunity is by (1) slicing and dicing the purchases into very tiny lots; (2) averaging down some with the bonds (particularly the treasuries); and (3) having a constant flow of proceeds as shown above that can then be reinvested at higher rates. Corporate bonds and treasuries bought in the secondary market are purchased below par value. 


For an investor who is not using a ladder strategy that goes far out in time, there is a danger that short term rates will start to go down, quickly reducing income as short term CDs and treasury bills mature.


A. Bought 1 Treasury 2.875% Coupon Maturing on 10/31/20 at Auction (2 year Treasury Note):

YTM = 2.88%



Two Year Treasury Note Auction Results:




B. Bought 1 Merrick BK 3.1% CD (monthly interest payments) Maturing on 10/30/21:




Treasury notes have coupons and pay interest semi-annually. This particular two year treasury note was sold at a slight discount to par value which increases it yield-to-maturity over the coupon rate. That discount is treated as interest and is normally classified in a 1099 as an original issue discount.


C. Bought 2 Three Month Treasury Bills at Auction Maturing on 1/31/19:

IR = 2.351% 



Auction Results: 



D.  Abbott 2% SU Maturing on 3/15/20 Redeemed Early by Issuer-In a Roth IRA Account




Profit Snapshot: +$11.09  



Item 4.D. Bought 2 ABT SU Bonds Maturing on 3/15/20-A Roth IRA Account (2/19/18 Post) I can not explain why the issuer redeemed this bond early. 

3. Small Ball-Income Generation from BDCs and MREITs:

A. Added 10 BIZD at $16.03 and 5 at $15.66-Commission Free for Vanguard Customers:






Quote: VanEck Vectors BDC Income ETF Overview


Sponsor's WebsiteVanEck Vectors BDC Income ETF


Last Substantive DiscussionItem 1.B.  (9/9/18 Post)


Last Purchase DiscussionItem # 1.C Bought 5 BIZD at $16.67 and 5 at $16.3  (10/10/18)


Current Position: 75+ shares


Average Cost Per share: $16.86


Maximum Position: 100 Shares + shares purchased with dividends


Purchase Restriction: Small Ball Rule


Dividends: Quarterly at a Variable Rate




Past 4 Quarters Dividend Per Share = $1.546


Last Ex Dividend: 10/1/18 (50 shares received that dividend)


Dividend Yield9.17% (difficult to calculate given the variable rate, dividend increases and decreases by the BDC components; using prior 4 quarters and a $ TC per share, the dividend yield with those assumptions and caveats is shown)


BDCs are heavily owned by individual investors who are easily spooked by market downturns. I would generally expect BDC market prices to have larger percentage declines than the S & P 500 during heightened volatility periods accompanied by meaningful stock market index declines. 


BDCs will fair particularly bad in a recession due to panic selling by individual investors as well as a material increase in loan defaults and loan work-outs on unfavorable terms to the BDC. 


B. Bought 20 SUNS at $16.3 and 10 at $15.81-Used Fidelity Commission Free Trades:





Quote: Solar Senior Capital Ltd. Stock Quote


Closing Price YesterdaySUNS $15.99 +0.09 +0.57% 

Position This Account: 60 Shares


Maximum Position in This Account: 100 shares


Average Cost Per Share: $16.4


Chart: Weak in October

A 52 week low was set intra-day at $15.71 on 10/26. 

Dividend: Monthly, currently at $.1175 per share ($1.41 per share annually)


Solar Senior Capital Ltd. Announces Monthly Distribution of $0.1175 Per Share for October 2018


Dividend Yield at TC Per Share = 8.6%


Last Ex Dividend Date: 10/23/18 (shortly after 20 share purchase and before 10 share purchase)


Dividend Reinvestment: Will start with next dividend payment and continue for as long as the reinvestment price is below the last reported net asset value per share (change from prior requirement of greater than 5% discount)


Last Substantive DiscussionItem # 1.A. Bought 30 SUNS at $16.62  (9/9/18 Post) I have nothing further to add to that discussion. 



DisclaimerI am not a financial advisor but simply an individual investor who has been managing my own money since I was a teenager. In this post, I am acting solely as a financial journalist focusing on my own investments. The information contained in this post is not intended to be a complete description or summary of all available data relevant to making an investment decision. Instead, I am merely expressing some of the reasons underlying the purchase or sell of securities. Nothing in this post is intended to constitute investment or legal advice or a recommendation to buy or to sell. All investors need to perform their own due diligence before making any financial decision which requires at a minimum reading original source material available at the SEC and elsewhere. A failure to perform due diligence only increases what I call "error creep". Stocks, Bonds & Politics: ERROR CREEP and the INVESTING PROCESS Each investor needs to assess a potential investment taking into account their personal risk tolerances, goals and situational risks. I can only make that kind of assessment for myself and family members.

20 comments:

  1. Excellent article on massive BBB corporate debt called "investment grade"
    https://tinyurl.com/y9zmt58x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Orkla ASA (ORKLY) $8.57 +$0.16 (+1.93%)
    As of 11:04AM EDT.
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ORKLY?p=ORKLY

    I own 140 shares and have an ongoing small ball buying program with the last lot bought at $8.15.

    The ordinary shares are priced in NOKs which has been weakening against the USD as of late:

    Norwegian Krone to US Dollar Chart
    https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=NOK&to=USD&view=1Y

    Investor sentiment about Orkla has improved somewhat since it reported third quarter earnings.

    http://hugin.info/111/R/2221972/870002.pdf

    U.S. packaged food companies are taking a hit today after Kellogg reported earnings earlier.

    Kellogg Co $66.49 -5.375 -7.48%
    Last Updated: Oct 31, 2018 at 11:43 a.m. EDT
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/k

    "The company now expects full-year adjusted earnings per share to rise about 7 percent to 8 percent, a downward revision from the prior outlook of a 11 percent to 13 percent rise."

    https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/31/reuters-america-update-3-kellogg-cuts-full-year-profit-outlook-shares-tumble.html

    I am substantially underweighted in consumer staples due to several material headwinds squeezing margins and earnings/revenue growth.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ares Capital Corp.
    $17.18 +$0.905 +5.56%
    Last Updated: Oct 31, 2018 at 12:53 p.m. EDT
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/arcc

    This is an unusually large gain in a BDC and is due to a better than expected earnings report released earlier today.

    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181031005218/en/

    Note that net asset value per share increased to $17.16 from $16.49 as of 9/30/17.

    The quarterly dividend was increased by 1 cent to 39 cents per share. NII was reported at $.45 per share. The consensus estimate was at $.4.

    https://seekingalpha.com/news/3403209-ares-capital-q3-net-investment-income-rises-21-percent

    In the past, I have stated that ARCC was probably the best externally managed BDC. I have bought and sold shares many times and currently own just 10 bought at $15.39.

    Item # 2.A.
    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2018/03/observations-and-sample-of-recent_25.html

    All BDC purchases now are subject to the small ball purchase rules.

    I last sold ARCC at $16.98 in a Roth IRA account:

    Item # 1.C.
    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2018/06/observations-and-sample-of-recent_18.html

    Given ARCC's market cap, it will be heavily weighted in BIZD, discussed in this post and several prior ones.

    VanEck Vectors BDC Income ETF
    $16.00 +$0.319 +2.03%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/fund/bizd

    As of 9/30/18, ARCC had a 19.96% weighting in this ETF:
    https://www.vaneck.com/etf/income/bizd/overview/

    A problem with BIZD is that it is a market cap weighted BDC ETF which means that some less than desirable BDCs like PSEC, CCT and FSIC also have significant weights. CCT and FSIC are about to merge.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Repeatedly in his campaign rallies, Trump claims that a Vets Healthcare [bill] passed during the Obama Administration is the "greatest idea" that he has ever had."

    A family member with whom I am still attempting to have meaningful dialog recently brought up Trump's claim regarding the VA healthcare legislation. In reply, I pointed out that my spouse, a veteran, has in his possession a "Veteran's Choice" healthcare card dated 2015, well before Trump was even a candidate. The discussion quickly veered to a different topic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cathie: This law, titled the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, was signed into law by President Obama on 8/7/2014 and passed with strong bi-partisan support (420-5 in the House; 91-3 in the Senate).

      Even when Donald's claim is demonstrably false without question, and easily proven to be so, he will repeat the lie over and over and over again and will be believed by tens of millions.

      Facts do not matter. Lying works. Lying over and over and over again proves that the statement is true. Sad! as the Duck would say.

      Sure, there are those, clearly in a shrinking minority, that prefer to be told the truth rather than false and misleading statements and and who so quaintly cringe at the huge volume of lies being told.

      Delete
    2. Republicans are trying to decimate what is left of the ACA, via the courts. They don't give a rat's ass about "pre-existing conditions" THEY ARE LIARS.

      Delete
    3. June 7, 2018 NY Times

      WASHINGTON — The Trump administration told a federal court on Thursday that it would no longer defend crucial provisions of the Affordable Care Act that protect consumers with pre-existing medical conditions.

      (It is a bald-faced LIE that any RepubliCON campaigns to the contrary)

      Delete
  5. TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. (TPVG)
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/tpvg

    TPVG reported third quarter results after the bell.

    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181031005753/en/

    I own close to 200 shares held in 3 accounts including 50 in a Roth IRA.

    " Net asset value increased by $0.14 per share to $13.59"

    "For the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded net investment income of $10.0 million, or $0.46 per share, as compared to $4.4 million, or $0.27 per share for the third quarter of 2017"

    "The Company’s board of directors declared a quarterly distribution of $0.36 per share for the fourth quarter of 2018 payable on December 14, 2018, to stockholders of record as of November 30, 2018."

    "Realized a 14.8% return on average equity in the third quarter of 2018"

    "During the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded $0.9 million, or $0.04 per share, of net realized gains"

    "TPVG portfolio company Farfetch Ltd. completed an $855 million initial public offering"

    I know nothing much about Farfetch:

    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ftch

    The IPO was price in late September at $20.

    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1740915/000119312518281206/d607688d424b4.htm

    TPVG owns 189,995 preferred shares which are probably convertible into common stock. I have not looked into it. Perhaps it will be discussed during the conference call. The 10-Q lists the cost of the preferred stock at $170K with a market value at $3.63M as of 9/30/18:

    Page 9 10-Q
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1580345/000156459018025879/tpvg-10q_20180930.htm

    I did not see a debt investment in that company but the print is so small that I have difficulty reading it.

    The investment category is shipping facilitator. TPVG owned 37,988 FTCH preferred shares as of 12/31/17 then valued at $270,000, page 13.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rolled-over $50K into 3-mo 2.2% CD, looks like CDs might be paying more than Treasury auction. I see NO reason to be in the manipulated stock market. The spikes overnight are short-covering. CNBC has been touting "earnings are expected to be up 22%", guess what? that is the reduction in corporate Federal income tax. The egregious IBM purchase of Redhat at most outrageous valuation NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT and not seen perhaps ever is the poster-child of malinvestment, that buyout marks the top of the market, confirmed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The 3 month treasury bill is higher and interest payments are free of state income taxes, which is relevant when owned in an IRA and CD interest payments are subject to a state income tax.

      https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/bond/tmubmusd03m?countrycode=bx

      I participated earlier this week in the 55 day auction and the 3 month auction.

      The 3 month T Bill was auctioned at an investment rate of
      2.351%. The investment rate is the equivalent coupon issue yield and the relevant one IMO when comparing to a CD. The IR is what the CD coupon would have to be in order to be equivalent. The reason has to do with the T Bill being sold at a discount so the investor in your case would not be investing $50K but $49,708 .67 based on the last 3 month's auction price:

      https://www.treasurydirect.gov/instit/annceresult/press/preanre/2018/R_20181029_2.pdf

      That also means that the difference between the T bill cost and $50K can be invested.

      I do not regard the IBM purchase of Red Hat as egregious. It is pricey. What I find to be important is that IBM is paying close to 1/3 rd of its market cap for Red Hat in order to gain share in its cloud business which is currently ranked at number 5. Given IBM's financial heft, it should have been early and invested heavily in this business so that it would not have to do the Red Hat acquisition and would be at number 1 or 2 without that company in the fold. This problem relates to a lack of vision and foresight that is frequently endemic to large and old U.S. corporations.

      Relatively new companies like Google, Amazon and Alibaba have greater shares. In other words, it is far better to develop and implement in house than to buy a business at a premium price.

      https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/25/alibaba-passes-ibm-in-public-cloud-market-share-synergy.html

      Delete
  7. Horizon Technology Finance Corp.
    $10.94 +$ 0.57 +5.50%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/hrzn

    I have an ongoing small ball buying program for this BDC but have not added to my original 30 share purchase at $10.03. The reason is that the price did not fall enough from that original price and consequently any additional purchase was barred by the small ball purchase restriction.

    Item # 1.B.
    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2018/05/observations-and-sample-of-recent_31.html

    The pop today was probably linked to the third quarter earnings report released after the close yesterday.

    https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/horizon-technology-finance-announces-third-quarter-2018-financial-results-300740740.html

    I did not see any reason to pop the champagne cork.

    NII was $.3 per share, barely covered the quarterly dividend of $.3 paid in $.1 per share monthly installments.

    Net asset value per share was reported at $11.66, down from $11.72 as of 12/31/17, but up from $11.6 as of 6/30/18.

    I am in a hold pattern and will consider adding at less than $9.6.
    The stock suffered a hit a few days ago when Keefe Bruyette & Woods downgraded the stock to underperform from market perform and lowered its price target to $10. I do not have access to that report.

    ReplyDelete
  8. There are a number of estimates on the percentage increase in Y-O-Y earnings is attributable to the federal income tax cut. I have seen no estimate that the percentage is anywhere close to 100%.

    Credit Suisse estimate that the federal income tax reduction has increased E.P.S. by 8%. In the second quarter, and stripping out that benefit, EPS grew 17.6%.

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-28/strip-out-trump-tax-cut-and-s-p-500-profits-are-still-surging

    The impacts can vary greatly from a tax increase due to closing some loopholes and a prior tax rate lower than 21%. The impact is larger than average for companies that were paying close to the statutory rate and have otherwise lackluster grow excluding that benefit. Regional bank stocks in general would fall into that category.

    The important points are that the savings are being used largely for purposes that will have no meaningful impact on the economy. Most households will receive at best modest benefits that will be offset by cost increases caused by the tariffs and other Trump policies. Many households will end up with tax increases, somewhere around 10%. The main benefits flow to the top 1% who will not spend the savings to any significant decree looking at the aggregate numbers. I know my spending has not increased this year. I have for the first time in my life donated to federal political campaigns using some of my tax savings.
    As the republican Max Boot wrote in a just published column, titled "Vote against all Republicans. Every single one", I am just fed up with republican lying, demagoguery, and efforts to undermine institutions necessary to a properly functioning democracy. The modern day GOP, recast in Trump's image, is the antithesis of conservative values IMO.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Donald has referred to the New York Times as failing whenever he mentions that paper in a tweet.

    Since I am a fact based investors and do not rely on the Duck's false and misleading claims, I have pointed out on several occasions here that the NYT was prospering based on its financial reports.

    In fact, Donald's election may be the best thing to happen to that company in decades since subscriptions are way up. As subscriptions rise, so does ad revenue.

    NYT reported earnings this morning.

    "Paid digital-only subscriptions totaled approximately 3,095,000 at the end of the third quarter of 2018, a net increase of 203,000 subscriptions compared with the end of the second quarter of 2018 and a 24.4 percent increase compared with the end of the third quarter of 2017."

    "Third-quarter digital advertising revenue increased 17.3 percent, while print advertising revenue decreased 0.7 percent. Digital advertising revenue was $57.8 million, or 47.5 percent of total Company advertising revenues, compared with $49.2 million, or 43.3 percent, in the third quarter of 2017"

    "As of September 30, 2018, the Company had cash and marketable securities of $794.5 million (excluding restricted cash of $18.2 million)"


    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005554/en/

    Quote:
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/nyt

    ReplyDelete
  10. South Gent,

    I took a small position in FNB this morning. It's relatively attractive at ttm PE of 11 and 4% dividend. Technical indicators (MACD and RSI) show some pessimism. This two week down trend from 10/10 to 10/24 could just be tax loss selling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Y: The entire regional bank sector has been shellacked over the past several weeks, but started to stabilize earlier this week. KRE set a new 52 week low at $51.04 last Thursday and is currently trading at $54.33. A high was hit at $66.04 on 6/7/18:

      https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/KRE/history?p=KRE

      While there is tax loss selling, the action is more like a stampede for the exits. The concerns are a failure to grow NIM and recent anemic loan growth numbers.

      FNB needs to quit its empire building which has not contributed to E.P.S. growth yet. Future branch growth needs to be organic within the existing geographic footprint. That change in course would lead to E.P.S. growth and would provide a cushion for a dividend increase while keeping the payout ratio below 50%.

      Since we are close to 2019, I would use the 2019 E.P.S. estimate of $1.17 which gives you a 10.17 P/E based on the current $11.9 price.

      https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/fnb/analystestimates

      Delete
  11. Pacific Biosciences of California Inc.
    AFTER HOURS $7.54 +$3.03 +67.18%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/pacb

    PACB is one of my Lotto tickets. I own 30 shares. The stock tanked on me after a development deal with Roche was cancelled about 2 years ago. I will end up with about a $30 loss.

    Illumina has agreed to acquire PACB for $8 in cash.

    https://www.marketwatch.com/story/illumina-to-acquire-pacific-biosciences-for-12-billion-in-cash-2018-11-01

    Apple's soft guidance for the 4th quarter is causing a meaningful decline in its stock during after hours trading:

    Apple Inc.
    AFTER HOURS $207.65 -14.57 -6.56%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/aapl

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-results/apple-warns-on-holiday-sales-sending-value-below-1-trillion-idUSKCN1N6629

    The stock market gained today after Trump and China's President expressed optimism about resolving trade issues.

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china/trump-xi-upbeat-on-u-s-china-trade-u-s-targets-more-chinese-firms-idUSKCN1N658F

    I thought the statements were murky with China's President saying only that he had agreed to talk with China at the G-20 summit and, adding that the "two countries’ trade teams should strengthen contact and conduct consultations on issues of concern to both sides, and promote a plan that both can accept to reach a consensus on the China-U.S. trade issue.” Trump said that the talks were "moving along nicely". Maybe something can be worked out. I certainly hope so.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The packaged food space is taking another hit today after Kraft Heinz reported earnings:

    The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC)
    $52.13 -$4.07 (-7.23%)
    As of 10:25AM EDT
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/KHC?p=KHC

    I am not tempted to buy KHC.

    OFS Capital Corporation (OFS)
    $11.35 +$0.43 (+3.90%)
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/OFS?p=OFS&.tsrc=fin-srch

    OFS released its third quarter report earlier today. Book value per share increased $.05 per share to $13.75 as of 9/30/18 compared to the prior quarter.

    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181102005147/en/

    An interesting question, one that I can not answer, is why PACB is trading $.49 per share below its $8 in cash acquisition price.

    Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (PACB)
    $7.51 +$2.99 (+66.41%)
    As of 10:35AM EDT.
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/PACB?ql=1&p=PACB

    One possible answer is that there is some concern that the acquisition will be challenged on antitrust grounds.



    The WP's new tally has Trump making an average of 30 false and misleading claims per day in the seven weeks leading up to the mid-term election. Overall, the WP has documented 6,420 false and misleading statements (some would just say lies) since his inauguration. Rest assured, as Donald said yesterday, he will tell the truth "when he can" which means almost never.

    ReplyDelete
  13. South Gent,

    Re. PACB I think it is not so appealing in an rising interest rate environment to chase a 6.5% return ($.49 / $7.51)for 8 months (now to mid 2019) relative to the merger risks.

    I might consider selling my PACB shares.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Y: PACB never recovered from the cancellation of its deal with ROCHE and the earnings report released today provides no comfort for PACB going it alone.

      That termination occurred a few months after my purchase as I recall.

      https://www.pacb.com/press_releases/pacbio-announces-termination-of-agreement-with-roche-diagnostics/

      I did not average down thereafter and put my 30 PACB shares on my forget that I own it list.

      As with all of my Lotto tickets, it does not matter what I do. I will just keep the 30 and hope to receive next year the $8 price.

      The market is signaling in the PACB price that there is a risk to the deal closing. If it was certain that $8 was going to be paid in cash within 8 months, the PACB price would be closer to $7.8 now rather than today's close at $7.56. The PACB closing price today does not indicate that the risk is major, only that there is a risk that the deal will not close or take a lot longer than now anticipated to close due to potential regulatory challenges. The price could easily fall back to $4 or even lower if the merger agreement was terminated and no other buyer emerged.

      Delete
  14. I have published a new post:

    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2018/11/observations-and-sample-of-recent.html

    ReplyDelete