Saturday, October 31, 2020

AROW, CCNEP, DEA, DUK, ENB, FCVSX, HTFA, NMFC, PEG, PDM, PFG, QYLD, PDM, PEG, VNOPRM, VNQI

Economy

GDP soars by record 33.1% annual pace in third quarter, but coronavirus resurgence threatens U.S. economic recovery - MarketWatch This is the first estimate. Real GDP growth for 2020 is still negative. Note that the 33.1% increase is annualized as was the 31.4% decline in the second quarter. Obviously, neither of those two numbers will reflect at year end the real GDP growth rate for 2020. See also, The First Estimate for Q3 Real GDP Growth is 33.1% at an Annual Rate

Real Gross Domestic Product-St. Louis Fed

Gross Domestic Product, Third Quarter 2020 (Advance Estimate) | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

Trade war with China didn't boost U.S. manufacturing  or cause jobs to return to U.S.- MarketWatch

New Orders for Durable Goods Increased 1.9% in September

New U.S. jobless claims fall 40,000 to 751,000 in latest week - MarketWatch

The U.S. could be looking at 'severely' limited growth even after the pandemic, warns top hedge-fund exec - MarketWatch

New home sales dip slightly in September, but remain strong going into fall - MarketWatchNew Single-Family Home Sales Declined 3.5% in September

U.S. durable-goods orders climb 1.9% as manufacturers grow for fifth straight month - MarketWatch;

Aircraft orders slump to record low as COVID pandemic and quarantines hit travel - MarketWatch

Fed lowers minimum loan level for small business lending program

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Markets and Market Commentary

Through last Friday, the total return for the S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was 2.94%. 

With a negligible yield, the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) had a total YTD return of 9.9%. 

Close on 10/30/20S & P 500 3,269.96 -40.15 -1.21%, down 8.11% from the intraday high of 3,588.11 hit on 9/2/20. Historical 

VIX 38.02 +0.43 +1.14%: CBOE Volatility Index, intraday high of 41.09; Unstable VIX Pattern, possible surge higher similar to the early March 2020 pattern: VIX Recent Historical Daily Numbers 

There was a significant percentage surge in intermediate and longer term treasury yields during October:

The 10 year treasury yield closed at 1.88% on 1/2/20, so I would put the October uptick in that context. 2020 Daily Treasury Yield Curve Rates 

The stock market is overvalued, according to almost every measure dating to 1950 - MarketWatch (opinion piece by Mark Hulbert). I commented on this article here. 

See also: Is the Market Still Overvalued? - dshort - Advisor Perspectives

Donald Trump will win re-election, and a revolution is coming, billionaire investor Jeffrey Gundlach predicts - MarketWatch Gundlach did predict that Donald would win in 2016. If Donald does win, my survival may depend on being able to tune him out, focusing only on his actions and proposals that may directly impact my investments.  

Why COVID-19 whiplash won't last and the S&P 500 will be 13% higher by June, from UBS - MarketWatch

Druckenmiller says stock market 'right now,' is in 'an absolute raging mania' - MarketWatch

It's been years since investors have been this fearful of a stock market crash, Robert Shiller warns - MarketWatch, referencing this Shiller opinion article: People Fear a Market Crash More Than They Have in Years-The New York Times  

Looks like a ‘double top’ in the S&P 500, investor Mark Mobius warns

Big media companies reorganize for world of 50 million TV subscribers

Forget AT&T’s Lofty 7.8% Yield. Its Dividend Looks Safe. | Barron's (10/29/20, subscription publication)

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Portfolio Management

There continues to be a continuous stream of early corporate bond redemptions. 

Those early redemptions fall into two general categories. 

(1) Some issuers are redeeming in the short period just prior to maturity date when they are allowed to do so without having to pay a make whole payment. Usually that period is 1 month prior to maturity, but some issuers have sufficient bargaining power to extend the period to 2 or even 3 months. The bargaining power for a longer period in some instances may go beyond the credit quality issue and include the acceptance of a higher than normal coupon for the credit rating. 

A recent example is Lockheed Martin's redemption one month early of a 2.5% SU note: 

(2) The other category involves required make whole payments to exercise the optional redemption rights. 

A recent example is this 3.7% Corporate Office Properties note that would have matured on 6/15/21, where the issuer had to pay a 2.18% premium to the $1K par value: 

COPT Announces Expiration of Tender Offer for 3.700% Senior Notes due 2021 and Delivery of Notice of Redemption for Remaining 3.700% Senior Notes due 2021 | Corporate Office Properties Trust

Item # 3.A. Bought 2 OFC 3.7% SU Notes Maturing on 6/15/21 (5/10/18 Post) 

In both categories, the issuer has to pay accrued interest. I received a $25.29 interest payment with the principal payment of $2,043.61 for the two $1k par value bonds.  


The prospectus for the Corporate Office Properties note would have allowed an early redemption without a make whole payment within two months prior to maturity 
Pages S11-12 

Even though the time to maturity is short, only about 8 months, the make whole payment is juiced by the size of the coupon and the extremely low treasury rate + 25 basis points used to discount the remaining interest due and the principle amount to present value. The low discount rate in effect adds almost all of the remaining interest to the principal amount that has to be paid when exercising the early redemption right.  

I still own a Corporate Office Property L.P. 3.6% SU maturing on 5/15/23. FINRA Bond Detail (currently rated Baa3/BBB-); Item # 1.E. Bought 2 OFC 3.6% SU bonds maturing in 2023 at a TC of 98.264 (4/23/17 Post)(YTM then at 3.922%) For a new purchaser of that bond, and based on recent transactions, the YTM would be about 1.1%. 

The problem with the early redemptions is that they are lessening the usefulness of my bond ladder and providing me with even more proceeds that are landing in my broker sweep accounts paying .01% on top of regularly scheduled redemptions, interest and dividend payments. 

I have managed to stabilize over the past few weeks the cash allocations as percentage of each brokerage accounts total value. That is primarily due to net purchases, a rise in risk asset prices and a slowdown in the total value of bond redemptions from the levels experienced between January and August 2020.

Electric Utility Stocks:  

I  like most utility stocks less now than when I started to buy. Valuations are high and yields are relatively paltry. I have started to pare my small ball positions in EVRG, DUK, and PEG, as discussed below. 

I have not pared PPL which is owned in multiple accounts with unrealized profits in 2 ROTH IRA accounts and 2 taxable accounts and an unrealized loss in my largest position bought first.  

Part of the paring has to do with comparative dividend yields and partly to valuations after price spurts in EVRG, DUK and PEG. I am unable to generate any excitement in owning those stocks and will not be buying more shares at current prices.  

DUK is my second largest electric utility position. I am playing small ball with that one, selling near $90 or higher and buying near $80 or lower.  

I did recently start a position in NJR, a natural gas utility, which I will discuss in a few weeks. New Jersey Resources Corp. (NJR) The NJR yield was somewhat better than the EVRG or PEG. 

Currently Owned Electric Utility Stocks-All Small Ball

Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) 

Evergy Inc. (EVRG) 

Exelon Corp.  (EXC) 

PPL Corp. (PPL) 

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG) 

I currently have 1 share Placeholder positions in two electric utility stocks: 

Southern Company (SO)Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED)

American Electric Power Company (AEP). 

I sold out of Dominion Energy (D) after the company announced a substantial dividend slash. 

The consensus E.P.S. estimate for PEG is for $3.4 this year and in 2021. 

The consensus E.P.S. estimate for EVRG is for $3.2 this year and $3.25 next year. 

While I am not buying any $1K par value bonds traded in the bond market, I have been nibbling on a few exchange traded bonds and equity preferred stocks ($25 par values). 

I discuss the purchase of CCNEP, an equity preferred stock in Item # 2 below and adds to the exchange traded bond HTFA in Item # 4 below.  

More Emphasis on Dividend Income

Interest income is in a dive mode as fixed income securities mature or are redeemed early. 

Tennessee municipal bond interest payments have eclipsed corporate bond interest payments. 

The following snapshots are from my Fidelity account: 



 
Over the past several months, I have started to rely on new purchases of dividend paying stocks and CEFs for income generation.  

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Trump

I am slowly plowing through the audio version of Woodward's book "Rage", which is Donald's normal state of being. I can only tolerate a few minutes when Woodward is quoting from a tape of an interview. I just finished listening to the part where Donald said everyone involved in the Russian investigation was guilty of treason and needed to be sentenced to 50 years in prison so they would all die there. 

Donald Trump Wants 'Anonymous' Author Miles Taylor to Be Prosecuted

Hopefully, we will know when I publish my next post whether Donald will be given another 4 years as President. 

It is certainly possible that voters will give this lying, malevolent, ignorant, demagogic malignant narcissist with dominant authoritarian tendencies another 4 years as President. He is obviously unfit to be President.  

About 78% of white evangelical christians support Donald: 

White Christians still favor Trump over Biden, but support has slipped | Pew Research Center 

They admire his honesty and good character. Donald is the kind of decent christian man that their children can aspire to emulate as a role model. And, Donald keeps the bible on his nightstand and reads one of his favorite passages before tweeting. 

When pressed some will say they approve of the "conservative" justices that Trump has appointed, meaning justices that will overrule Roe v. Wade. That justification is no longer going to fly since the Supreme Court already has a relatively youthful reactionary majority, packed with 5 deeply reactionary Justices and one that floats back and forth from reactionary to conservative. Roe v. Wade is toast. 

If he loses, hopefully Demagogue Don will be totally ignored by a majority of Americans thereafter and  will be view as nothing more than a source of brain pollution. I will certainly ignore him but ignoring him will not remove the permanent stain on the U.S. that he has left. Sure, he will make frequent appearances on Fox "news" to spread fact free conspiracy theories and thousands of demonstrably false assertions, but his audience will be limited to those who like watching My Pillow commercials.    

Sarah Cooper has a special on Netflix where she mouths Trump's lines from the Access Hollywood tape with Helen Mirren doing Billy Bush lines. Watch Helen Mirren, Sarah Cooper recreate Trump Access Hollywood tape | EW.comSenator Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) says she is 'not familiar' with Access Hollywood tape 

Watch #Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump | Prime VideoUnfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump - Official Trailer - YouTube

Mattis told Coats Trump is 'dangerous,' 'unfit': Woodward book | TheHill;

President Trump's former national security advisers say he has 'no moral compass' in 'Rage' book

John Bolton says Trump ‘not fit for office’ Video - ABC News

The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President - Updated and Expanded with New Essays- Kindle edition 

Sean Hannity has reportedly privately admitted he thinks Trump is a 'bats shit crazy person'

Trump is averaging more than 50 false or misleading claims a day - The Washington Post (10/22/20) Trump is on track to make over 25,000 false and misleading claims starting with his inauguration through 11/3/20.  

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One out of 3 republicans believe that the QAnon conspiracy theories are mostly true. Civiqs | Report: Americans Pessimistic on Time Frame for Coronavirus Recovery (9/2/2020). I am anticipating that this number will increase and cross over 50% within a few years. Trump and many other republican politicians provide fertile ground for baseless conspiracy theories to go mainstream. 

Trump admin dismantles 'firewall' for editorial independence at U.S.-funded media outlets This is just another small step in an authoritarian's playbook. 

Michigan will allow the Trumpsters to carry their guns into polling places. Judge overturns ban on open carry of guns at Michigan polling places-Axios The Trumpsters had previously invaded Michigan's legislative chamber with their automatic weapons. Waving confederate flags is another political statement that they like to make.

Inside the far-right militias preparing for the election's aftermath - YouTube

Donald Trump's secret sauce for not paying his debts, referencing this NYT article: How Trump Maneuvered His Way Out of Trouble in Chicago - The New York Times (Just stiff your lenders after making bad investment decisions. Why anyone would loan money to Donald or buy part of a loan made to him is beyond my comprehension. You really have to be just plain stupid IMO given Donald's long history of business failures and stiffing bond owners and lenders. I am not surprised that Deutsche Bank continues to lend money to Trump)

Trump Stirs Rallies by Tarring Biden With Views That Aren’t His Donald knows that lying all of the time about almost everything works on tens of millions. It is just too difficult, and would be psychologically traumatizing as well for the Trumpsters to learn facts that contradict Demagogue Don's perpetual and constant stream of demonstrably false reality creations.   

Trump on the Stump - FactCheck.org (identifies 46 false and misleading claims that Donald has recently made at his Mass Infection Events)

Turkish Bank Case Showed Erdogan’s Influence With Trump - The New York Times This case shows how Barr and Trump interfered in a SDNY criminal investigation.  

Trump has signaled he won't accept an election loss. Many of his voters agree. Trump has done a great deal of damage to institutions necessary for a properly functioning democracy, which is what can be expected from a demagogic authoritarian with widespread support numbering in the tens of millions. Trump's GOP is not a conservative American party but the antithesis of one.  

Report: Donald Trump, Grifter Incarnate, Charges Taxpayers for Water He Drinks at Mar-a-Lago | Vanity Fair

The Economist Endorses Joe Biden, Says Donald Trump 'Must Be Soundly Rejected'

How a fake persona laid the groundwork for a Hunter Biden conspiracy deluge

The republican congressional candidates who have engaged with the QAnon conspiracy theory

The Minnesota voting ruling relies on an absurd conservative legal theory - The Washington Post I would not call the republican justices and judges who are interfering in state election rules, or attempting to do so, conservatives. They are instead implementing the republican authoritarian inspired policies aimed at not counting votes and making voting difficult.  

Republicans shift from challenging rules to preparing to challenge individual ballots - The Washington Post (e.g. "In Texas, Republican officeholders and candidates sued this week to have more than 100,000 votes invalidated in the Houston area because they were cast at drive-through voting centers the GOP has asked a judge to declare illegal.") The GOP is doing everything conceivable to steal the election for Trump. The only way to fight back is to cast your vote in person. 

Don the Authoritarian: “It would be very, very proper and very nice if a winner were declared on Nov. 3, instead of counting ballots for two weeks, which is totally inappropriate and I don’t believe that that’s by our laws.”  Trump has made it clear that it wants to toss mail-in votes. PolitiFact | Donald Trump wrong that a winner has to be announced Election Night (rated as Pants on Fire)

Jordan Klepper Hits One Last Trump Rally Before the Election | The Daily Social Distancing Show - YouTube

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Covid-19 Updates:  

As of 10/30/20  

Trumpsters have a constitutional right to infect and kill people with Covid-19. Wearing a mask is an unconstitutional restraint on their freedom to infect. Just ask them and they will tell you. 

Trump downplays pandemic on campaign trail as cases top 9 million - CBS News (video)(Michigan hospitalizations up 96% since 10/1 at 2 minute mark; Trumps mocks Laura Ingraham for wearing a mask at 2:35 mark; falsely claims Doctors get an extra $2,000 by classifying a death as caused by Covid); Birx warns of "broad surge" across the country, as Trump claims U.S. is "rounding the turn" - CBS News (10/30/20); Trump MOCKS Fox News' Laura Ingraham for Wearing Mask at Michigan Rally - YouTube There is no boundary on the false statements that Disgusting Don will make.  

Coronavirus: Trump campaign rallies led to 30,000 cases, Stanford researchers say

Donald Trump Jr. Says COVID-19 Deaths 'Almost Nothing' As 5,000 Reported in One WeekDonald Trump Jr. says Covid deaths are 'almost nothing' on a day reporting 90,000 infected, 1,000 deadExplaining Donald Trump Jr.’s embarrassing claim about the coronavirus death toll - The Washington Post, republished at MSN: Explaining Donald Trump Jr.’s embarrassing claim about the coronavirus death toll

U.S. counts more than 90,000 cases in a single day and The Lancet says Trump pandemic response is ‘disastrous’ - MarketWatch (10/30/20) The Lancet is probably the world's preeminent medical journal. 

The US election 2020 - The Lancet

Coronavirus update: U.S. counts almost 100,000 cases in new one-day record; The Lancet says Trump pandemic response is ‘disastrous’ - MarketWatch (10/31/20) My state hit a new daily record for deaths yesterday. 

REGN-COV2 Independent Data Monitoring Committee Recommends Holding Enrollment in Hospitalized Patients with High Oxygen Requirements and Continuing Enrollment in Patients with Low or No Oxygen Requirements This press release had a negligible impact on REGN's stock yesterday: REGN $543.56 -$12.23 -2.20% 

New rise in coronavirus cases in counties that held Trump rallies - CNN Video

Two test positive for coronavirus after Trump rally in NC | Charlotte Observer 

Trump falsely claims California requires people to wear 'special' and 'complex' mask at all times

As coronavirus surges, Trump rallies are among nation’s biggest events held in defiance of crowd restrictions - Chicago Tribune

Reporter Covering Donald Trump Rally Tests Positive For COVID-19 – Deadline

 23 COVID-19 cases linked to Trump rallies in Minnesota- ABC News

In TrumpWorld, the Fake News media is blowing the pandemic out of proportion as part of a radical left wing conspiracy with the socialist Democrats to deny him reelection. Trump downplays COVID-19 and attacks mail-in voting- CBS News (video)(Trump said his son Barron was a "case" and he sniffled once, blew his nose, threw away the kleenex and was fine.) 

Trump: “Did you ever notice, they don’t use the word death. They use the word cases, cases. Like Barron Trump is a case. He has sniffles. He was sniffling, one Kleenex, that’s all he needed… and he was better."  

Trump’s Closing Argument on Virus Clashes With Science, and Voters’ Lives - The New York Times (10/28/20); republished at MSN: Trump’s Closing Argument on Virus Clashes With Science, and Voters’ Lives Most attendees at Trump's Mass Infection events refuse to wear masks or to socially distance. 

Trump claims the worsening U.S. outbreak is a 'Fake News Media Conspiracy' even as hospitalizations rise

Hospitals Are Reeling Under a 46 Percent Spike in Covid-19 Patients - The New York Times

Herd immunity: Coronavirus antibodies fall after infection, study says

Eli Lilly COVID-19 antibody treatment comes up empty in NIAID study (NYSE:LLY) | Seeking Alpha That leaves Regeneron's antibody cocktail, the one given to Donald. 

Mike Pence will not quarantine after four aides test positive for Covid-19 At least 5 people in Pence's orbit, including chief of staff Marc Short, are positive for coronavirus One of the aides is Marc Short who is Pence's Chief-of-Staff who is in quarantine. Pence regards his continued campaigning as being necessary as an "essential" worker under CDC guidelines. 

Mark Meadows: "We're not going to control the pandemic". ‘We’re not going to control the pandemic’: White House chief’s comments undermine Trump’s message - POLITICO This is yet another of a long list of messages sent by Trump and other republicans that mask wearing does not control the pandemic. Meadows may me right that there is no control in states where republicans refuse to wear masks and attend congregate gatherings without socially distancing. 

In North Dakota, the republican governor Doug Burgam repurposed $16M of unused CAREs Act funds to the fracking industry, even though hospitals beds are already full in many areas with rural hospitals transferring patients out-of-state. Mask wearing has not been mandated by Burgam, even though infections are surging and hospitals are near capacity before the start of flu season. Wearing masks in that republican state is the exception. North Dakota officials look to shift $16M in federal coronavirus stimulus funds to fracking grants | Grand Forks HeraldNorth Dakota Covid Map and Case Count - The New York TimesFacility Beds Available: Updated 10-25-2020 1600 (most hospitals in ND had no available ICU beds left)

COVID-19 Patients Swamp Rural Hospitals | The Pew Charitable Trusts

Idaho county drops mask mandate despite warning of overwhelmed hospital - CBS News (After the third most populous county was overwhelmed with Covid cases, members of the regional health departments voted to end the mask mandate: Walt Kirby voting member: "I personally do not care whether anybody wears a mask or not. If they want to be dumb enough to walk around and expose themselves and others, that's fine with me. Nobody's wearing the damned mask anyway... I'm sitting back and watching them catch it and die. Hopefully I'll live through it." Allen Banks voting member: "Something's making these people sick, and I'm pretty sure that it's not coronavirus, so the question that you should be asking is, 'What's making them sick?" Idaho is controlled by republicans and will heavily vote to give Don the Authoritarian 4 more years as President. It really is not hard to understand why infections are surging in that state and the Dakotas.)

Pence absent from Covid-19 planning calls for more than a month - POLITICO Donald put Pence in charge of the Administration's pandemic response. 

Trump Baselessly Suggests COVID-19 Deaths Inflated for Profit - FactCheck.org

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1. Small Ball

A. Restarted DEA-Bought 10 at $22.66; 5 at $22.37; 5 at $21.9; 5 at $21.4; 5 at $20.5



Quote: Easterly Government Properties Inc.

As of 6/30/20, DEA "wholly owned 74 operating properties in the United States that were 100% leased, including 72 operating properties that were leased primarily to U.S. Government tenant agencies and two operating properties that were entirely leased to private tenants, encompassing approximately 6.9 million square feet in the aggregate." 10-Q for the Q/E 6/30/20 (property list starts at page 24)

Closing Price 10/30/20: DEA $20.90  +$0.21 +1.01% 

SEC Filings

Investment CategoryEquity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket Strategy/Bond Substitute 

Last EliminationItem # 1.A. Sold 21+ DEA at $28.81 (6/6/20 Post)(profit snapshot = $272.6)  

Last Substantive Buy DiscussionItem # 4.A. Bought 10 DEA at $17.4 and 10 at $15.74-Used Commission Free Trades (1/9/19 Post)

Average Cost Per Share this account: $21.92 (30 shares)

Dividend: $.26 per share ($1.04 annually)

Easterly Government Properties Announces Quarterly Dividend 

Dividend Yield at AC = 4.74%

Last Ex Dividend Date: 8/12/20

Next Ex Dividend Date: 11/10/20 

5 Year Historical GAAP

3 Year Historical FFO and Adjusted FFO:


FFO and Adjusted FFO are rising nicely but the relevant measure for a shareholder is the FFO and AFFO per share numbers. The preceding numbers do not reflect cash available for distribution (CAD) which IMO is the most relevant cash flow calculation. 

The CAD calculation subtracts certain actual cash expenses from the AFFO number (cash used for tenant improvements, routine capital expenditures; leasing related expenses and acquisition costs). Cash used to pay those expenses are not available for distribution to the shareholders.  

I have to calculate the CAD per share numbers by dividing the CAD dollar amount by the outstanding diluted shares using the date provided by DEA.  

CAD Per Diluted Share (rounded): 

2019   $1.035  DEA Earnings Report for the Q/E 12/31/19 

2018   $ .875

2017   $ .954   DEA Earnings Release for the Q/E 12/31/17 

2016   $1.02

AFFO Per Diluted Share: (sourced same documents)

2019  $1.18

2018  $1.03 

2017: $1.14  

2016  $1.17 

Comparing 2016 with 2019, there is almost no growth in the per share numbers. 

Annual numbers do fluctuate up and down depending on the dollar adjustments to the AFFO and CAD calculations. 

Last Earnings Report (6/30/20): SEC Filed Press Release 

The third quarter report is scheduled for release on 11/2/20. The following table includes three cash flow calculations: FFO, Adjusted FFO, and CAD.

Adjusted FFO did increase Y-O-Y from $.29 per share to $.31. 

CAD per share was report at $.27, up from $.2522 in the 2019 second quarter.  

The third quarter report is scheduled for release on 11/2/20. 

Other Sell DiscussionsItem # 3.A. Sold 10 DEA at $22.39 (11/20/19 Post)(profit snapshot = $47.24); Items 1.A. and 1.B. Sold 10 DEA at $19.81 and Eliminated DEA in Schwab Account at $19.81 (8/24/19 Post)(profit snapshots $74.38)Sold 10 DEA at $21.44-Used Commission Free Trade (5/17/18 Post)(profit snapshot = $22.59)Item 5. A. Sold 50 DEA at $21.59-Used Commission Free Trade (12/11/17 Post)(profit snapshot = $97.85)

DEA Realized Gains to Date $543.52

Purchase Restriction: Each subsequent purchase, other than through dividend reinvestment, must be at the lowest price in the chain. 

Maximum Position this Account: 100 shares

Goal: A total return in excess of the dividend payments.  So far, that goal has been achieved since I have a $543.52 realized gain on the shares when a one cent gain would be viewed as acceptable given my objectives. 

B. Started PFG-Bought 2 at $38.4

Quote: Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG) 

Closing price 10/30/20: PFG $39.22 +$0.10  +0.26% 

Classification: Currently at Placeholder Status 

Investment Categories: Contrarian Value/Bond Substitute 

PFG SEC Filings 

PFG Analyst Estimates 

Last Bond Offering in August 2020: Prospectus $100M of 2.125% SU Bonds Maturing in 2030FINRA Bond Detail  (rated Baa1/A-)

Dividend: Quarterly at $.56 per share ($2.24 annually), last raised from $.55 effective for the 2020 first quarter 

Principal Financial Group Inc- Dividends

Yield at $38.4:  5.83%

Last Ex Dividend: 8/31/20

Next Ex Dividend: 12/2/20

Dividend Reinvestment: No, will consider doing so when and if I reach a 20 share position and the reinvestment price will likely lower my average cost per share. 

5 Year Financials:  

5 Year Chart

Last Earnings Report (9/30/20): Principal® Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results This report was released after my purchase. The Stock Jocks reacted negatively to it. Discussed at Principal Financial Q3 trails estimate on actuarial assumption review, other variances-Seeking Alpha

There were a number of unexpected items that reduced operating E.P.S. to $.85 vs the consensus estimate of $1.40. Those included the following hits to operating E.P.S.:  $.41 from a boost to reserves resulting from an annual "actuarial" review, 14 cents to COVID; 4 cents from integration costs, and 3 cents due to issues in Latin America.    



Sourced from SEC Filed Press Release 

See also, Principal Financial Group (PFG) CEO Dan Houston on Q3 2020 Results - Earnings Call Transcript-Seeking Alpha (discussion of extraordinary items starts at page 4)

Broker Reports

Credit Suisse (10/26/20): Neutral with a $46 PT (viewed 3rd quarter as okay excluding the "noise", with non-GAAP E.P.S. which excludes the noise, at $1.51)

S & P: 3 stars with a $43 PT, cut $3 after 3rd quarter report    

Purchase Restriction: Each purchase must be at the lowest price in the chain. 

C. Added 5 QYLD at $21.46; 5 at $20.58 (Schwab Taxable Account)

History this Account: 

Quote: QYLD | Global X NASDAQ-100 Covered Call ETF Overview

Last DiscussedItem # 1.B. Bought 5 QYLD at $20.73  (7/11/20 Post) 

Sponsor's websiteNasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF

QYLD-Factsheet.pdf

Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD)-Morningstar (currently rated 5 stars)

Expense Ratio: .6% which include expense waivers of .06% that expire on 3/1/21

Dividends: Monthly at a variable rate. 

Average Cost per share this account: $20.96

Yield at $20.96 = 11.69%  (based on last 12 monthly payments of $2.45 per share rounded annual number)

Goal: Harvest dividends and then escape at whatever profit may be available. 

A covered call strategy for the Nasdaq 100 has resulted in lower total returns than investing in QQQ. The covered call strategy will generate higher dividends.

Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) Performance | Morningstar

Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD) Performance | Morningstar

In 2019, QQQ had a total return of 38.96% compared to 22.68% for QYLD. 

D. Added 5 QYLD at $21.45; 4 at $20.52 (Vanguard Taxable Account)


See Item B. above. 

15 QYLD shares are held in this account

E. Eliminated VNQI (Vanguard Taxable)-Sold 5 at $48.59: 


Quote: Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF Overview

Profit Snapshot: +$4.29 

Item # 1.H. Bought 5 VNQI at $47.74 (8/15/20 Post) 

I substituted 5 shares of QYLD in this account for VNQI. I discussed the reasons in a  9/28/20 comment. The basic rationale was that VNQI, which normally pays quarterly dividends, has not made a payment so far this year. No explanation has been given by the sponsor. QYLD makes monthly dividend payments 

F. Added to ENB (Vanguard Taxable Account)-Bought 5 at $29.51; 5 at $28.95; 5 at $27.4 :


Quote:  Enbridge Inc. (U.S.: NYSE)

Stock Information as of 10/30/20

Investment Categories: Contrarian Value/Bond Substitute

SEC Filings

Investment Center Dashboard - Enbridge Inc.

Last Buy DiscussionsItem # 1.C. Added 5 ENB at $30.65-Fidelity Taxable (8/15/20 Post)Item # 1.C. Added 1 ENB at $27.23; 1 at $26.21; 1 at $25.49; 1 at $24.29; 1 at $23.68  (4/18/20 Post)

Last Sell DiscussionsItem # 1.B. Sold 8 ENB at $42.36 (2/19/20 Post)(profitably sold shares bought with dividends in my Fidelity taxable account); Item # 3.B. Sold 17 ENB at $40.21 (1/18/20 Post)Item # 1.B. Sold 15 ENB at $37.61-Used Commission Free Trade (2/20/19 Post)Item # 3 Sold 50 ENB at $39.03 (12/21/17 Post)Sold 10 ENB at $40.14 (1/5/18 Post)

Average Cost Per Share Vanguard account$29.13 (20 shares)

Dividend:  Quarterly at C$.81 (C$3.24 annually)

Dividends and Common Shares - Enbridge Inc.

Yield Before Taxes at AC = 8.34%. The yield before taxes will depend on the CAD/USD conversion rate when each payment is converted into USDs. To make a rough calculation, I assumed that the CAD/USD exchange rate will remain constant, which will not happen of course, at .75 which gives me US$2.43 per share. 

If the CAD/USD exchange rate was at 1 for an entire year, the yield before taxes would increase to 11.12% with no change in the dividend rate.  

If the CAD/USD was at .65 for an entire year, the yield would decrease to 7.23% with no change in the dividend rate. 

Dividend Reinvestment: I am not reinvesting the dividend in this account. I am reinvesting the ENB position in my Fidelity account. 

5 Year Chart as of 10/30: Ugly

Last Earnings Report (6/30/20): Enbridge Reports Strong Second Quarter



see also, 10-Q for the Q/E 6/30/20 

The 3rd quarter report is scheduled for release on 11/6.

Broker Reports (available to Schwab customers): 

Morningstar (10/20/20): 5 stars with a $43 FV

Argus (8/4/20): Buy with a $38 PT

S & P (10/24/20): 4 stars with a $44 PT

Purchase Restriction this Account: Each purchase must be at the lowest price in the chain.  

H. Added to PDM (Schwab Taxable Account)-Bought 5 at $13.6; 5 at $13.3; 5 at $12.5; 5 at $12.3; 5 at $11.69; 5 at $11.4; 10 at $11.3 








Quote: Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc. Cl A  (PDM)

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc- Investor Relations

SEC Filings

Investment CategoriesEquity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket Strategy/Bond Substitute

Last DiscussedItem # 4.C. Started PDM-Bought 10 at $14.5 (6/27/20 Post) 

Dividend: Quarterly at $.21 per share ($.84 annually)

Dividend History | Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

The penny rate has not been increased since it was raised from $.20 effective for 2014 4th quarter payment. 

Average Cost Per Share this account: $ 12.65 (50+ shares)

Yield at AC = 6.64%

Last Ex Dividend: 8/27/20

Dividend Reinvestment: I am not reinvesting the dividend. I may use the cash to average down when the purchase price is at the lowest price in the chain or what I would call choosing the reinvestment price rather than accepting random ones.  

5 Year Chart: Like other office REITs, PDM has taken a beating due to the pandemic. 

Last Earnings Report (9/30/20): This report was released after my purchases.  SEC Filed Press Release 

"Core Funds From Operations of $0.48 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 as compared to $0.45 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019;

Executed leases for the quarter reflected cash rent roll ups of 6.5% and accrual rent increases of 9.1%; 

Collected approximately 99% of billed tenant receivables for the third quarter;

Completed inaugural "green" bond issuance - $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.15% Senior Notes due 2030 used to provide long-term financing for the acquisition of the LEED-certified Galleria Office Towers in Dallas, TX.

Sold a portfolio of the three remaining assets located in NJ: 600 Corporate Drive and 200 and 400 Bridgewater Crossing, for approximately $130 million, or $176 per square foot."

The preceding snapshot does not contain the CAD per share number but does provide the CAD (called AFFO by PDM) dollar amount of $37.606M and the diluted average shares at 126.385 which produces a CAD per share number of $.298 (rounded). That comfortably exceeds the quarterly payment of $.21 per share. 

2020 Guidance: May change of course

10-Q for the Q/E 9/30/20 (debt listed at page 17)

Purchase Restriction: Each subsequent purchase must be at the lowest price in the chain. 

Maximum Position this Account: 100 shares

I. Started PDM in Fidelity Taxable Account-Bought 10 at $11.67

See Item # 1.H. above

Yield at $11.67 = 7.2%

Maximum Position this Account: 50 shares

J. Started NMFC (Schwab Taxable Account)-Bought 10 at $9.61; 5 at $9

History This Account:

That snapshot reflects why long term holding periods for most BDCs can be unproductive on a total return basis. 

Quote: New Mountain Finance Corp. (NMFC)

Closing Price 10/30: NMFC $9.06 -$0.08 -0.82% 

Management: External

NMFC SEC Filings 

Company Website: New Mountain Finance Corporation

2019 Annual Report (risk factor summary starts at page 21 and ends at page 47)

Last Buy DiscussionItem #4.F. Restarted NMFC; Bought 10 at $11.45; 10 at $11.15; 10 at $11.15; 10 at $9.85; 5 at $8.3; 2 at $7.36; 3 at $5.96; 1 at $5.94; 2 T $4.95 (4/4/20 Post) Those purchases were made between 3/10/20 through 3/23/20 and the progression highlights the risk of BDC stocks. In this Fidelity account, I am reinvesting the dividends. I have changed the purchase restriction from lowest price in the chain to each purchase, other than through dividend reinvestment, must reduce my average cost per share. 

Dividend: Quarterly at $.30 per share ($1.20 annually), reduced from $.35 effective for the 2020 2nd quarter payment. Dividends & Tax | New Mountain Finance Corporation

Yield at $9.41 AC =  12.75%

Last Ex Dividend: 9/15/20

Dividend Reinvestment: No for this account 

5 Year Financials


Net Asset Value Per Share History

6/30/20:  $11.63 10-Q at page 3 

3/31/20:   $11.14  10-Q at page 4 

9/30/18:   $13.58 10-Q at page 3 

3/31/18:   $13.60 10-Q at page 3

6/30/18:   $13.57

12/31/17: $13.63
12/31/16 $13.46
9/30/15   $13.73
12/31/14 $13.83
9/30/14   $14.33
12/31/13 $14.38
6/30/13   $14.32
12/31/12 $14.06 Sourced from 10-Qs

IPO: $13.75 Prospectus (filed May 2011)

5 Year Chart

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/20): SEC Filed Press Release 

The next report is scheduled for release on 11/4. 

Sell DiscussionsItem # 2 Eliminated NMFC-Sold 102+ at $14.2 (1/25/20 Post)Item  # 2.A. Sold 50 NMFC at $13.95 (1/15/20 Post)Item # 1.B. Eliminated NMFC-Sold 60 at $13.96 and 50 at $13.94  (2/9/19 Post)Item # 1 Sold Remaining 50 Shares of NMFC at $14.63 (11/1/14 Post)Sold 100 of 150 NMFC at $14.4773 (10/23/14 Post)Item # 8 Sold Highest Cost NMFC Lot at $15.37 (9/14/2014 Post)

NMFC Trading Profits to date: $299.57

Goal: A total return in excess of the dividend payments. 

Purchase Restriction: I am not reinvesting the dividend in this account. Each subsequent purchase must be at the lowest price in the chain.  

K. Restarted AROW-Bought 5 at $24.9:

Quote: Arrow Financial Corp.

"Arrow Financial Corporation is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Glens Falls, New York, serving the financial needs of northeastern New York. The Company is the parent of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company. Other subsidiaries include Upstate Agency, LLC and North Country Investment Advisers, Inc."

The Glen Falls National bank has 10 branches located in Queensbury, Hudson Falls, Glen Falls, and Fort Edward New York. Locations The main office is located at 20 South Street, Glen Falls, NY. 

The Saratoga National Bank has 10 branches including the main office located at 171 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs New York. Locations The branches are located in Saratoga Springs, Wilton, Clifton Park, Albany, Corinth, Troy and  Schenectady New York.  

Stock Information as of 10/30/20

AROW SEC Filings 

2019 Annual Report 

AROW Analyst Estimates

Last EliminationItem # 1.A. Sold 52 AROW at $37.5 (7/2/2018 Post)(profit snapshot +$661.34

Dividend: Quarterly at $.26 per share ($1.04 annually)

Arrow increases the dividend by issuing 3% stock dividends once per year over the past 12 years: 

Yield at $24.9: 4.18%

Next Ex Dividend Date: 12/1/20

Properties: AROW's main office and 27 branches are owned: 

5 Year Chart

5 Year Financials:  

Last Earnings Report (9/30/20): Arrow Reports $11.0 million in Q3 Net Income as COVID-19 Response Continues

"While COVID-19 did not have a material adverse effect on our third quarter 2020 financial results, we are actively monitoring the impact of the pandemic on our business and results of operations and we can make no assurance as to the future negative impact on our operations or results."

"Total stockholders' equity was $325.7 million at September 30, 2020, up $33.4 million, or 11.4%, from September 30, 2019."

E.P.S. at $.71, up from $.65 in the 2019 3rd quarter 

NIM (tax equivalent, annualize): 2.93%, down from 3.12% in the 2019 3rd quarter

ROA: 1.23%

ROE: 13.35%

Return on Tangible Equity: 14.61%

NPL Ratio: .24% (non-performing loans to total loans)

NPA Ratio: .17% (non-performing assets to total assets) 

Charge Off Ratio: .02%

Coverage Ratio: 452.82% (allowance for credit losses as a percentage of non-performing loans)

The NPL, NPA, Charge Off, and Coverage ratios are excellent as of 9/30/20. 

ROE and ROA are far above average now since most banks have taken hits in both Return on Equity and Return on Assets due to the pandemic and recession. The ROE of 13.35% was higher than the average of 12.14% in the 2019 4th quarter, which plunged to 3.21% in the 2020 second quarter.   

Return on Average Assets for all U.S. Banks-St. Louis Fed

Return on Average Equity for all U.S. Banks-St. Louis Fed

Other Data: 

Efficiency and capital ratios are good IMO. 

L. Started AROW Schwab Account- Bought 5 at $27.33

See Item # 1.J above. 

M. Started FCVSX-Bought $100 at $36.8

Quote: Fidelity Convertible Securities Fund Overview 

Sponsor's website: FCVSX - Fidelity ® Convertible Securities Fund 

Expense Ratio: .51%

Dividend History: Quarterly at a variable rate

N. Pared DUK (Fidelity Taxable Account)-Sold 1 at $91.4

Quote: Duke Energy Corp. (DUK)

Closing Price 10/30/20: DUK $92.11 -$0.13 -0.14% 

DUK Analyst Estimates-MarketWatch

DUK SEC Filings

Investors - Our Company - Duke Energy

Investment Category: Bond Substitute

Profit Snapshot: $1.99 (10/2 sell only)


New Average Cost Per Share this account:  $83.4 (25+ shares)

Dividend: Quarterly at $.965 per share ($3.86 annually)

Dividend Yield at AC: 4.63%

Next Ex Dividend:  11/12/20

Last DiscussedItem # 1.A. Added 1 DUK at $81.69; 1 at $79.25 (9/19/20 Post)Item # 1.J. Pared DUK-Sold 2 at $91.81 and Bought 1 at $84.3; 1 at $82.78; 1 at $80.64;  1 at $79.63; 1 at $78.6 (7/3/2020 Post)Item # 1.H. Added 1 DUK at $65.7 (5/16/20 Post) 

Purchase Restriction: Each subsequent purchase, other than through dividend reinvestment, must lower my average cost per share. Consideration will be given to selling highest cost shares profitably. Purchases have occurred recently with a price decline below $82.

O. Pared Duke (Schwab Taxable): Sold 1 at $92; 1 at $89.97

Profit Snapshot:  +$14.73

New Average Cost Per Share: $80.49

Yield at AC = 4.8%

P. Pared PEG (Vanguard Taxable)-Sold 1 at $55.86 (highest cost lot):

Quote: Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG)

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc - Home

PEG Analyst Estimates

PEG SEC Filings

Profit Snapshot: +$.78

Last Substantive Buy Discussion (Vanguard taxable): Item # 1.B. (9/19/20 Post) 

Investment Category: Bond Substitute

Dividend: Quarterly at $.49 per share ($1.96 annually)

Last Ex Dividend Date: 9/8/20

New Average Cost Per Share = $52.8

Yield at AC = 3.71%

Last Earnings Report (9/30/20): This report was released yesterday. 

GAAP E.P.S. $1.14 ($574M) vs. $.79

Non-GAAP Operating E.P.S. $.96 ($488M) vs. $.98

PSEG Announces 2020 Third Quarter Results

Purchase Restriction: Each subsequent purchase must reduce my average cost per share. I am not reinvesting the dividend in this account. 

Q. Pared PEG (Fidelity Taxable)-Sold 2 at $56.25; 1 at $58.06; 3 at $60.28 (highest cost lots)

Profit Snapshot: $23.39


New Average Cost Per Share
this account: $51.37   


Yield at AC = 3.82%

Purchase Restriction: Each subsequent purchase, other than through dividend reinvestment, must be at the lowest price in the chain.  I am reinvesting the dividend in this account. 

R. Pared 2 PEG (Schwab Taxable Account)-Sold 2 at $55.77 (highest cost lots)

Profit Snapshot: $2.23

New Average Cost: $51.64

Yield at AC = 3.8%

Purchase Restriction: Each subsequent purchase, other than through dividend reinvestment, must reduce my average cost per year. I am reinvesting the dividend in this account. 

S. Pared EVRG (Schwab Taxable Account)- Sold 2 (highest cost lots)

Quote: Evergy Inc.  (EVRG)

Investor Overview | Evergy, Inc.

EVRG Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch

EVRG SEC Filings

Profit Snapshot: $1.6


Last Discussed
Item # 1.F. Added to EVRG-Bought 1 at $49.9; 1 at $49.7; 1 at $49.6; 1 at $48.9; and Sold 2 at $54.1-highest cost lot in Fidelity Taxable account (10/17/20 Post) 

Investment Category: Bond Substitute

New Average Cost This Account: $49.81

Yield at New Average Cost Per Share = 4.06%

Purchase Restriction this account: Each subsequent purchase, other than through dividend reinvestment, must be at the lowest price in the chain which is currently at $48.90. 

2. Non-Cumulative Equity Preferred Stocks

A. Started CCNEP (Fidelity Taxable)-Bought 5 at $25.3:


Quote: CNB Financial Corp. 7.125% Preferred Series A Stock 

Security: Non-cumulative equity preferred stock issued by the bank holding company CNB Financial Corp. (CCNE) 

Prospectus 

Current Yield at $25.3 = 7.04%

Par Value:$25 

Dividends: Paid quarterly, non-cumulative and qualified. 

Dividend Stopper Clause: Yes (see bottom of page S-8 and top of S-9) 

This clause enforces the preferred shareholder's superior claim to cash compared only to the common shareholder. An elimination of the preferred stock dividend can only occur when the company first eliminates its cash common share dividend and thereafter avoids using cash to buyback its common stock. For a non-cumulative preferred stock, the owners have no right to ever receive the omitted dividend payments. Once the common and preferred share cash dividends are eliminated, the preferred shareholders only right is to start receiving dividends again when and if the company restores any common stock cash dividend.

The norm is for bank holding companies to issue non-cumulative preferred stocks, while REITs (equity and MREITs) and many other companies issue cumulative preferred stock. 

Issuer Optional Redemption: At par value + accrued and unpaid dividends on or after 9/1/2025

Maturity: None 

CCNE SEC Filings 

B. Started CCNEP (Schwab Taxable)-Bought 5 at $25.28


See Item # 2.A. above. I also own this security in 1 Roth IRA account. 

3. REIT Cumulative Equity Preferred Stocks

A. Sold 10 VNOPRM at $25.34

Quote: Vornado Realty Trust 5.25% Cumulative Preferred Series M

Profit Snapshot: $72.21 (11 shares)

Issuer: Vornado Realty Trust (VNO)

Investment category: Advantages and Disadvantages of Equity REIT Cumulative Equity Preferred Stocks, a subcategory of Equity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket Strategy

VNO SEC Filings

SecurityProspectus

Par Value: $25
Dividends: Quarterly, cumulative and non-qualified as a pass through entity
Optional Call: On or after 12/13/2022 at par value plus accrued and unpaid dividends
Stopper Clause: Yes

Last Ex Dividend Date: 9/14/20  (owned as of )
Next Ex Dividend: 12/14/20


I still own 10 shares.Item # 3.C. Sold 5 VNOPRM at $24.99-Highest Cost lot bought at $19 (7/18/20 Post)(profit snapshot = $29.94), part of the lots discussed here: Item # 3. Bought 10 VNOPRM at $19; 5 at $16.5; 5 at $14.5 (5/2/20 Post)The average cost for the remaining 10 shares is $15.5, which produces an 8.47% yield at that cost per share number. I will consider averaging down but not up. 

VNOPRM Trading Profits = $158.54

4. Exchange Traded Bonds

A. Added 10 HTFA at $24.9; 5 at $24.75; 5 at $24.5



Quote: Horizon Technology Finance Corp. 6.25% Notes due 09/15/22 

Closing Price 10/30: HTFA $25.09 +$0.14  +0.56% 

I discussed this purchase in a 10/23/20 comment

Last Discussed here: Item # 4.A. Bought 10 HTFA at $24.14 (6/20/20 Post) 

Investment Category: Exchange Traded Baby Bonds, a subcategory of Exchange Traded Bonds

Security: Senior unsecured bond, junior in the capital structure to senior secured debt and senior to junior bonds and equity capital (common and preferred stocks)

Prospectus

Issuer: The BDC Horizon Technology Finance Corp. Overview

Par Value: $25

Average Cost per share this Account: $24.55  (30 shares)

Current Yield at AC =  6.36%

Next Ex Interest Date: 11/30/20

Maturity Date: 9/15/22

Issuer Optional Redemption: At par value + accrued and unpaid interest on or after 9/15/19 

I also own this security in 1 Roth IRA account (10 shares)

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. 

46 comments:

  1. I mentioned that two technical analysts claimed that the S & P 500 support level was at 3,200.

    I was going with 3,235 which is where the "index
    started to break out to new all time highs around 7/29/20", reaching an all time high in September at 3,588.11 (9/2/20), and then falling to 3234 intraday last Friday before rallying to close at 3,269.96.

    My comment at:
    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2020/10/aod-bdge-bhb-bpyup-brgpra-ediv-exg-fidi.html?showComment=1603918289821#c6588931617875743595

    An article in Barron's has the support level at 3237, a break below that level would confirm a double top:

    https://www.barrons.com/articles/worry-over-a-double-top-is-dragging-down-the-stock-market-51604086844

    The 200 day SMA line is much lower, however, at around 3,130 using a 1 year YF chart for SPX.

    If you pull up a 1 year YF chart and put the cursor on 9/23/20, when the close was at 3,236.92, a line is automatically drawn connecting that point to late July when the breakout move to new highs started.

    The rapidly escalating infection rates, the renewed European lockdowns, and the election will probably pressure the market early next week. If downside momentum accelerates after a convincing push below 3,235, that would suggest to me that others are looking at that number as an important support level.

    E-Mini S&P 500 Future Continuous Contract
    $3,250.75 -13.95 -0.43%
    Last Updated: Nov 1, 2020 at 7:05 p.m. CST
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/future/sp%20500%20futures

    ReplyDelete
  2. With two supports, it'll be hard to break below. So if it does, that will be taken as negative by the algo programmers.

    Shiller points to a lot of fear of a crash. I don't know if that's contrarian. But investors are not invested like they are that fearful. Shiller points out that's part of the setup.

    I've never considered AT&T. The telecom is so complicated with the competition. A safeish 7.8&. Hum, maybe a chance to get into one of these standard/core type stocks while it's down.

    The volunteering is taking from 7:30am till 8-9pmish. At least I'm not phone banking! So much more fun to move data around repetitively.

    Futures were down .50%. Now they're up. The market hasn't decided yet... With the new UK lockdowns, it's still hard to believe how high this market stays.

    I heard of the bus being blocked, and roads near NY. How is violence he tweets approval of, an argument that with Trump there will be less violence?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Land: IMO, there is only one support near the current SPX level and that is around 2,235, give or take 2 points. There was a successful test last Friday with the market bouncing off 2234.

      So far, the market has reversed losses from last night and is currently up broadly in pre-market trading. Asia started the rally, possibly in response to Markit's PMI manufacturing numbers for China. European stock markets picked up with the Markit manufacturing data for the Eurozone.

      I would emphasize that the Markit PMIs are surveys of purchasing managers and are not as reliable as aggregate actual data.

      And, the Eurozone data merely confirmed the flash estimate that had previously been provided by Markit. (final at 54.8 vs. previous flash estimate at 54.4).

      The October China manufacturing PMI was reported at 53.6, up from 53 in September. There was a sharp rise in new orders during October but new export sales started to soften due to the resurgence in Covid.

      I simply view the stock market as a bungee jumper, a characteristic of the Unstable Vix Pattern, that has basically gone nowhere this year from its starting level. Most of the total return from SPY so far has been from its paltry dividend yield.

      I have been cautiously adding to my stock allocation during the October dip since I have nowhere else to go with cash piling up in my brokerage accounts.

      I do not like AT & T's stock for the reasons generally summarized in my last post. I do own shares, recently crossing
      60+ shares when aggregating positions in all accounts.

      The largest position is in my Fidelity taxable account with 39+ shares. The last dividend was reinvested at $26.68, which the reinvestment showing up in that account today. Fidelity would have had to bought those shares in the open market last Friday. Almost all reinvestments are made by brokers through open market purchases, with a few exceptions at Fidelity where there is an indirect participation in a dividend reinvestment plan.

      +++
      I did read Trump's statements supporting the Trumpster attack on the Biden bus in Texas. That is to be expected. The video shows that a Trumpster deliberately collided with a staff member's car, crossing the line to do it. The democrats are claiming that Trump's supporters tried to drive the bus off the road.

      ++

      In a better world, all of the campaign cash would be spent on charities. Candidates would post online detailed proposals with supported truthful information. The voters would read those proposals and watch an informative debate where each side tells the truth. That world does not exist and never will.

      Delete
    2. I just totaled my AT & T position. I own small positions in 3 taxable and 2 Roth IRA accounts, with the aggregate total at 81+ shares with 13 of those owned in 2 Roth IRA accounts (10 and 3).

      Delete
    3. I thought the Fri bounce would be temporary. The PMI explains how it stuck so well. Probably with two days left, there's a little more certainty and less worry about a last minute mega shift from some surprise.

      Side note: Looks like that Rudy bungle was supposed to be the Oct surprise. Nothing says "failed admin" more that that degree of bungled political whatever that was.

      "a bungee jumper, a characteristic of the Unstable Vix Pattern"

      I'd been saying exuberance, but that's a great framing. I need to shift to that mind set.

      I'll check the AT&T concerns. There always seems to be something with the telecoms.

      Ii like that better world. Yep, it won't happen. I do think that in the same way that democracy was a huge shift in paradigm, there will be more in the future. Our style of democracy will become antiquated as new ideas arrive. But boy are they slow to arrive. One of mine recently is that the idea of a president is from assuming a single king-like figure head is needed in govt. Maybe executive branch as gotten so big that we need one person to control a variety of it's institutions (depts of), with another person in charge of commander in chief and a few depts. Independently voted in.

      There's new signups to add to the lists... so back to that. I wouldn't be doing much buying anyway waiting to see if this rally wears off during the day.

      Delete
  3. Easterly Government Properties Inc. (DEA)$
    $21.01 +0.11 +0.53%
    Last Updated: Nov 2, 2020 at 9:51 a.m. EST
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/dea

    I discussed this equity REIT in this post: Item # 1.A.

    DEA reported earnings this morning:

    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201102005117/en/

    Per Share
    FFO: $.31
    AFFO: $.30 (not a CAD number)
    CAD: $.25283 (using $22.868M CAD #)
    Dividend: $.26

    The CAD number was lower compared to the 2019 third quarter due to an unusually large maintenance expenditures ($2.361M) that is deducted from the AFFO cash flow number to arrive at CAD.

    "Issued 1,475,991 shares of the Company's common stock through the Company's December 2019 ATM Program at a net weighted average price of $22.72 per share, raising net proceeds to the Company of approximately $33.5 million. 951,197 of these shares were issued in settlement of certain forward sales transactions entered into in prior quarters"

    "Expects to receive, as of the date of this release, net proceeds of approximately $116.2 million from the sale of 4,595,873 shares of the Company’s common stock that have not yet been settled under its March 2019 and December 2019 ATM Programs, assuming these forward sales transactions are physically settled in full using a net weighted average initial forward sales price of $25.27 per share."

    ReplyDelete
  4. An added jolt was given after the open when ISM reported that its October manufacturing PMI index rose to 59.3 from 55.4. The new orders component surged to 67.9 from 60.2.

    https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-report-on-business/pmi/october/

    The median forecast was at 56.5%.

    +++

    There was a typo in the CAD $ amount for DEA. The correct number is $22.968M in CAD for the 2020 third quarter. The per share calculation is correct since I used the correct $ number.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Is that what it did it!

    Looks like the economy is improving and that would make the market's reaction accurate.

    Except that it's starting from high valuations.

    These recoveries are from this summer. Now that lockdowns are happening again, the #s will come down again. (But won't cause a poor reaction because then they'll be seen as temporary.)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Replies
    1. Land: There is a rotation into value but a sustained downtrend during a trading day in growth stocks will pressure the entire market.

      SPX is currently at 3,287.96 after hitting an intraday high at 3,330.14.

      The downtrend started with a persistent decline in the Nasdaq which is currently at 10,869.57 -42.72 with an intraday high at 11,071.08.

      Delete
  7. BlackRock TCP Capital (TCPC)
    $9.42 +0.17 1.84%
    DIVIDEND Quarterly at $.30
    Yield 12.74%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/tcpc

    This BDC reported after the close:
    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201102005978/en/

    "Net investment income for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was $20.1 million, or $0.35 per share on a diluted basis."

    "Net increase in net assets from operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was $46.5 million, or $0.81 per share."

    "Net asset value per share at September 30, 2020 was $12.71 compared to $12.21 at June 30, 2020."

    "As of September 30, 2020, loans on non-accrual status represented 0.6% of the portfolio at fair value and 1.2% at cost."

    This BDC has a significant amount of PIK interest income which can end up being pretend interest payments.

    PIK = Payment in Kind (interest is paid in more debt rather than in cash)

    TCPC PIK interest income for the Quarter:
    Companies less than 5% owned $2,275,382
    Companies 5% to 25% owned $913,580

    ReplyDelete
  8. AMC Networks Inc. Cl A (AMCX)
    $22.63 +$1.38 +6.49%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/AMCX

    This was in response to the 3rd quarter earnings report.

    https://seekingalpha.com/news/3629606-amc-networksplus-4_5-after-upside-q3-revenue-5_5m-streaming-subscriber-target?mod=mw_quote_news

    Press Release:
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1514991/000151499120000044/amcx-11220ex991.htm

    AMC just completed a major stock buyback.
    http://investors.amcnetworks.com/news-releases/news-release-details/amc-networks-announces-final-results-modified-dutch-auction

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "PIK = Payment in Kind (interest is paid in more debt rather than in cash)"

      Interesting.

      Market seems to think that's the end of this dip.

      I expect results to be known well enough by tomorrow night. Exit polling plus, some states in that mirror what other key states tend to do.

      My ballot was received and counted, says an email from the BOE. So I will not be in line tomorrow. There were some in person volunteer opportunities but I decided against since I have risk factors.

      Delete
    2. Land: I doubt that the winner will be known today.

      There are a few key states where mail-in ballots have been processed and tabulated and the results in those states may indicate how things are going.

      Those states are Arizona, Nevada and Florida. Florida will probably be too close to call today.

      North Carolina started processing mail-in ballots on 9/29 and will start tabulating today. Results, however, are not released until after polls close. Texas may also provide some clues today. Tabulation in counties with a population over 100K started on 10/31 and all others can start today.

      I will be in bed by 10 P.M. CST.

      Delete
  9. Some twitter folks are talking about needing to send supplies to middle of the country areas, including blue cities, as panic on basic supplies is setting in with the new rise in case.

    Hard to believe they can't find to buy online, but I guess this is cheaper.

    Zooms are hard to hear on. If there's an invention that helps with the uni-direction where you can't talk at the same time and if you do you can't hear each other.... that's worth investing in. It will get popular.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Today's crazy in volunteer world. So many people woke up and decided to phone bank...

    What's the rally today? Anything in particular? Or just the happy that it looks like Trump's not going to be able to create chaos (at least until after the election counts are started?) There's a shift in the feel - I think it will go calmly during the counts. No last min surprise I think is what caused the shift.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Land: A lot of people are tired of Donald's daily shit show. I don't think the market is rallying because the Stock Jocks anticipate 4 more years of the Chaos King. So maybe today is a relief rally that the nightmare will soon end.

      The WP claims that North Carolina will have about 80% of the votes tallied short after the polls close. Florida and Arizona will be close behind. If Donald loses those 3 states, all of which were won by him in 2016, it will be a glum night for the Trumpsters.

      I am not doing much. I did pare my regional bank position in 1 account. I bought a few shares of high yielding office REITs that are in the dumpster covered with manure.

      Delete
    2. That's what I've been thinking. This is a relief that it looks good for Biden, and end of chaos.

      NC at 80% shortly after closing & AZ and FL with enough to just by late night? That's good to know.

      I did nothing with stocks. Did a lot with data moving around. We had much higher counts of callers today than the before now.

      I've heard voting was light today rather than packed. That could be a good sign.

      Put on the news for 5 mins. Made me nervous while providing nothing useful. I can't believe the time is here. A few more hours and we may have some information. I want to go back to my not particularly political life... though Mary Trump's book is waiting for me. Will I want to read it after Nov 9 when it's ready? Now I'm hearing how hard it will be to undo the mess.

      Delete
    3. Land: I will quit listening to Bob Woodward's book, which is depressing, when and if Donald loses. I see no reason to learn more about that dangerous, lying demagogue.

      Delete
    4. I'll listen only as a study in sociopaths, hopefully.

      Delete
  11. Prudential Financial EPS beats by $0.54
    https://seekingalpha.com/news/3630766-prudential-financial-eps-beats-0_54

    Press Release:
    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201103005638/en/

    "Net income attributable to Prudential Financial, Inc. of $1.487 billion or $3.70 per Common share versus net income of $1.418 billion or $3.44 per share for the year-ago quarter."

    "Net income in the current quarter included $134 million of pre-tax losses related to market experience updates, $132 million of pre-tax net losses from divested and run-off businesses driven by a charge to adjust the carrying value of Prudential of Taiwan in anticipation of its sale, and $153 million of pre-tax net realized investment gains and related charges and adjustments, including $12 million from impairment and credit-related losses."

    Prudential Financial Inc.
    AFTER HOURS $68.65 +$0.87 +1.28%
    After Hours Volume: 316.4K
    Last Updated: Nov 3, 2020 at 5:48 p.m. EST

    Regular Trading Close: $67.78 +$1.85 +2.81%

    ReplyDelete
  12. Healthcare Trust of America (HTA) Q3 beats as it collects 102% of Q3 charges
    https://seekingalpha.com/news/3630741-healthcare-trust-of-america-q3-beats-collects-102-of-q3-charges

    Press Release:
    https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthcare-trust-of-america-inc-reports-record-third-quarter-2020-earnings-301165943.html

    Quote: Healthcare Trust of America Inc. (HTA)
    $26.00 +$1.11 +4.46%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/hta

    So far, there has been no price change in after hours trading.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Futures were .5% red not long ago when a Trump win looked very possible with FL gone and WI & Michigan looking red (media was doing a poor job of stating which counties were in.)

    Now that AZ looks probably blue, market's flipped to .5 (dia) to 3.5% (qqq) green.

    So the market wants a Biden win.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Land: Almost my bedtime. I do not see many surprises so far. Biden got creamed by the hispanic vote in Miami-Dade county in Florida.

      The rural areas generally report most of their results first, with the major metropolitan areas lagging. So Detroit (Wayne County) is still mostly outstanding according to the NYT (27% counted) Lansing is at 12%.

      So more will be known about PA, Michigan and Wisconsin tomorrow.

      It does look like Donald and McSally will lose in Arizona.

      I have noticed a few House seats flip back and forth. A couple of freshman democrats in Miami-Dade lost due to the hispanic tsunami for the republicans.

      Delete
  14. Hard to believe this wasn't a blowout.

    Still looks highly likely that Biden will make it. But the Senate may not or probably won't.

    The Market's assuming that I'm betting that covid will continue so Tech is the place to be, stimulus won't happen so small business will suffer.

    Doesn't look like a worried week is going to cause a pullback that's good to buy into. And I'll probably be a rally towards the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Land: My assessment so far is that there was no repudiation of Donald and no blue wave. It looks like the GOP will pick up a few House seats but the Democrats will remain in control.

      As for the Presidential race, the only state so far that has flipped from 2016 with certainty is Arizona.

      It is noteworthy that Donald is struggling in Georgia, though I expect him to win that state.

      The path for a democrat controlled senate is still open, but much narrower with losses in South Carolina, Montana and Iowa. The odds are that the GOP will maintain control over the Senate. If that holds up, there will likely be no corporate tax increases even if Biden manages to eke out a victory.

      The presidential race is too close to call. I would not even hazard a guess.

      The Bond Ghouls were worried about a blue wave, with major new spending programs and possible new inflationary pressures, which explains the drift up in interest rates over the past several weeks.

      The trend now is back down in yields.

      U.S. 10 Year Treasury Note
      0.765$ -0.132
      Last Updated: Nov 4, 2020 at 9:27 a.m. EST
      https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/bond/tmubmusd10y?countrycode=bx&mod=home-page

      Delete
    2. A few hours later. I think it's pretty settled. CNN's projected WI for Biden. He has 20k lead, with all but 300 votes counted. I'm unclear whether military mail ins are included, and are less than 20k. But presumably.

      Michigan has 46000 lead for Biden, with 100,000 more to count with 94% in, according to this article. That would require 73,000 of the 100k to go to Trump for him to win. That's 73% for Trump in a couple counties that have been leaning Dem in this race.

      https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/04/who-is-winning-election-michigan/6158399002/

      Again, no idea whether military can still come in.

      Nevada and Arizona's remaining votes are largely in Dem areas.

      So it looks good for Biden.

      Not as good for the Senate.

      The lack of repudiation is hard. I want to know if exit polling matches the vote results, or looks more like the pre-election polls.

      ++++

      I'm not buying since so much is up. I'm not selling either since tech is sky high but that doesn't seem to stop it & I don't want to time it.

      Delete
  15. SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE)
    $40.94 -$2.53 (-5.82%)
    Volume 3,483,762
    Avg. Volume 8,922,775
    As of 9:35AM EST. Market open.
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/KRE?p=KRE

    The sharp drop in interest rates is taking its toll on banks and other companies whose earnings on highly dependent on interest rates and net interest margins.

    If the GOP maintains control over the Senate, and corporate taxes are not increased, most regional banks will benefit from no change in the marginal rates.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My shares are from $40.30. So by low ball rules, it wouldn't be a buy in here. My gut was to wait at least a day anyway.

      I'd think Biden will be good for business by being good on covid and sanity, and with that rates will have more chance of "heating up to a cold" temperature. But a better economy is good for banks of all sizes.

      Delete
    2. Land: The banks and life insurance companies are reacting badly to lower interest rates, but neither the rise in the 10 year treasury to .85% from .75% and the decline today to .78% would have any meaningful impact on earnings. The key for the banks are a better economy and no increase in their marginal tax rates.

      Susan Collins (R) won in Maine. It is inconceivable that she might vote for a small hike in corporate tax rates provided she got something that she wanted for the middle class.

      The Georgia senate seat remains in play.

      Wisconsin has been declared for Biden. Trump will demand a recount and may mount a legal challenge, but those are unlikely to succeed. There was a 2016 recount in that state, demanded by Jill Stein, that gave Donald another 100 or so votes.

      It looks like Biden will win the popular vote by around 5M. He is up 3m now with a lot of votes still to be counted in California and NY and heavily democrat metropolitan areas.

      Delete
    3. Oh right, that popular vote will become the reputation.

      PA state puts their counts up:
      https://www.votespa.com/About-Elections/Pages/Counting-Dashboard.aspx

      Delete
    4. Land: Biden does not need PA if he holds onto Wisconsin, and wins in Arizona, Nevada and Michigan. I believe that gives him 270. He is ahead in those states with democrat strongholds still reporting.

      I am decided to tune out Don the Authoritarian after reading several comments that he has made since last night which are only consistent with a demagogic autocrat rather than the leader of a democracy.

      Georgia may flip in 2020, still an open question, which is a danger sign going forward for the GOP. Virginia was the first southern state to go blue since the realignment from the segregationist Democrats to the reactionary republicans that started in the 1960s with Nixon's Southern Strategy. North Carolina and Florida can flip at anytime time. And Texas will flip within 20 years.

      So the GOP may need to reconsider how to appeal to more than just overweight, high school educated (or less),angry about their station in life white folks who are gradually becoming less important though they still number into the tens of millions.

      Delete
    5. Yep, Biden seems to have Michigan going forward. And that puts him at 270. Since Wi's been projected, AZ & NV have dem areas left to report.

      So I can start doing other things today, and stop worrying, if I can convince myself to.

      The senate doesn't look good at all. And that's a problem.

      But still removing Trump is key!!

      The Lincoln project will counter the tea party and GOP going forward will be a battle.

      Meanwhile hopefully Biden/Harris will be able to bring DEM back to center moderate and push the far left back to the edge. I have mixed expectations on that.

      Delete
  16. I can start taking time to get off the endless email lists.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Horizon Technology Finance Corp. 6.25% Notes due 09/15/22
    $25.46 -$0.05 -0.18%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/htfa

    I discussed adding to this $25 par value SU bond in this post. Since I was willing to accept the yield at my purchase price, the only remaining issue is credit risk.

    Horizon's third quarter reported did not cause me to develop a concern about credit quality.

    Discussed at
    https://seekingalpha.com/news/3630809-horizon-technology-cites-predictive-pricing-strategy-for-strong-q3-nii?mod=mw_quote_news

    Press Release:

    https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/horizon-technology-finance-announces-third-quarter-2020-financial-results-301165904.html

    I also have a token position in the common shares.

    In a similar vein, I added 10 to SCA today at $24.68, a senior unsecured exchange traded bond issued by Stellus (SCM), a tiny BDC. That was an average up.

    Stellus Capital Investment Corp. 5.75% Notes due 9/15/2022
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/sca

    Stellus had a decent earnings report for the third quarter:

    https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stellus-capital-investment-corporation-reports-results-for-its-third-fiscal-quarter-ended-september-30-2020-301163556.html

    I own that one in 3 accounts, including one Roth IRA and I own the common in several accounts.

    My only discussions involved purchases in my Schwab account:

    Item #7.A. Bought 10 SCA at $19.1

    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2020/05/fieca-mfc-mnrprc-sca-scm-pba-pwcdf-scm.html

    Item # 4.B. Added to SCA at $23
    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2020/07/fhlc-fsphx-hta-idv-intf-irbo-min-sca.html

    My purchase today was an add in my Vanguard taxable account.

    Common share quote:
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/scm


    Both SCA and HTFA can be called at par ($25) now + accrued and unpaid interest.

    ReplyDelete
  18. New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC)

    I discussed this BDC in this post.

    NMFC reported third quarter net investment income of $.30 per share.

    Net asset value per share increased to $12.24 as of 9/30/20 from $11.63 at June 30, 2020.

    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201104005755/en/

    ReplyDelete
  19. Life insurance stocks took a hit today as interest rates declined meaningfully on a percentage basis.

    Prudential had a positive report but nonetheless fell $4.69 or 6.92%.

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

    MET reported after the close today and also beat the consensus estimate:

    Discussed at
    https://seekingalpha.com/pr/18071880-metlife-announces-third-quarter-2020-results

    Press Release at
    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201104005607/en/

    ReplyDelete
  20. Pfizer (PFE)is ex dividend today ($.38 per share).

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

    I have been unable to generate any enthusiasm for this stock since the late 1990s. I owned only 6 shares in my Fidelity taxable account and sold those today.

    Pfizer is about to combine its Upjohn business with Mylan to form a new company called Viatris Inc.

    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201105005309/en/

    Pfizer will then spin-off its stake in Viatris to its shareholders.

    I do not want to fool with this and will simply wait for the spin-off to finalize and then look for an opportunity to restart PFE without Upjohn at some later date.

    My 6 shares would probably have received cash since I would not have received 1 share in the spin-off.

    ReplyDelete
  21. ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ)
    $12.36 +1.07 +9.48%
    Last Updated: Nov 5, 2020 at 1:39 p.m. EST
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/fund/mj

    This is the USD price marijuana ETF. I bought 10 shares yesterday at $11.37 as a Lottery Ticket.

    I did not think about it or research the individual companies owned by this fund. I just read an article that several states voted to legalize recreational or medical use on 11/3 and that was enough to buy 10.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/04/recreational-weed-legal-arizona-new-jersey-south-dakota-montana/6160708002/

    The two marijuana ETFs went into a frenzy buying mode back in 2018 when the legalization move got going in Canada. MF had a double top formation during September and October 2018 near $43-$44.

    The bloom quickly faltered after these companies started reporting awful results.

    My initial foray as a trade was in the Canadian ETF HMMJ:CA, which I last eliminated in January 2019 and have not owned it since then.

    Item #4.B. Sold 50 HMMJ at C$18.3:

    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2019/01/observations-and-sample-of-recent_30.html

    That brought my realized gains in that ETF to C$889.5

    HMMJ Quote: C$7.02 +C$0.69 +10.90%
    Last Updated: Nov 5, 2020 at 1:33 p.m. EST

    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/fund/hmmj?countrycode=ca

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm useless today. I started to look at insurance stocks based on your comment that they were getting hit (and I want some & had a list started). But got too tired and went to sleep.

    Today woke up early, early and started checking before back to sleep. Can't concentrate. I thought it was a foregone conclusion. But it's not as certain, just very likely.

    At least from twitter, I know I'm not alone in my distraction... It's a theme over there. I should clean something. I can usually do that no matter what.

    It will be wonderful irony if Georgia does this for Biden, from the county of John Lewis.

    PFE's down over div, and just a why not?

    INTC was up yesterday, but is down today.

    I saw one article suggesting fade this rally. Another that the big excitement is it looks like Trump's out but Senate will be a check on him.

    I wouldn't mind a GOP Senate if it didn't include McConnell and Graham and all the other sycophants & that Qanon believer.

    I hope DNC doesn't wimp out on investigations.

    There's an option to cure votes in NC. That gets people to fix problems with their rejected ballots. I would but doesn't seem like NC senate is close enough to fix that.

    Even if both go to run off in Georgia, I can't see them choosing two DNC senators.

    I want to know if exit polls match the votes. Were polls wrong and this country has more support for an evil person than thought, or was there cheating beyond what we already know?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Land: Demagogue Don and his sidekick Showboat Rudi have done extremely well implementing Putin's playbook to undermine faith in American democracy and that will continue even when Donald is no longer President. As the former republican senator from Indiana, Dan Coates, told Bob Woodward, he could never shake the belief that Russia had something on Donald since he was doing everything they wanted from a U.S. president.
      https://www.axios.com/bob-woodward-book-trump-putin-russia-dan-coats-b3994f91-8791-4fdc-9adb-ad093141592b.html


      The main point about Georgia is that it is close. When FDR put together his democrat coalition that lasted 4 decades, it included economic progressives from the south (i.e. supporters of the New Deal, TVA, Social Security and Medicare) who were also segregationists with a few exceptions. FDR needed the southern states.

      The republicans started to peal off every southern state starting in the late 1960s, primarily through overt appeals to racism. Virginia was the first state to become blue after that transition to the republicans. Georgia, Florida and North Carolina are now in play. The GOP can not afford to lose any of those states and win a presidential election. Tennessee is hopeless.

      It was not that long ago that Georgia elected the segregationist Lester Maddox as Governor.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Maddox

      The runoff for the Georgia senate seats will be the most expensive senate election in U.S. history. Both sides will spend over $100M easily.

      The pollsters really messed up predictions about the senate races. The Harrison-Graham matchup in S.C. was not even close and McGrath was blown away in Kentucky. The polls also had Teresa Greenfield up in Iowa.

      The best thing to do now is to ignore the election hoopla.

      I do think the rally is connected to the democrats failure, so far, to regain control over the senate. Healthcare stocks rallied hard on the belief that Medicare for All and Biden's plan were both dead in the water. A lack of a majority, as I mentioned earlier, throws a wrench in Biden's plan to raise corporate taxes.

      Delete
    2. Interesting stuff.

      True even without Georgia, it being in the news for days as a possible flip, shakes shapes the mandate.

      I didn't notice that health care rally. Biden's said he wasn't going to do Medicare for All.

      I wonder if my sense of how emotions work will apply. That after announcement or transition, a relief will include that down feeling that happens for a while as one processes getting out of a mess (abusive situation).

      Delete
  23. TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. (TPVG)
    Close: $11.91 +$0.62 +5.49%
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/fund/tpvg

    This mini cap BDC has been a bungee jumper:
    52 WEEK RANGE $2.80 - $16.15

    I have frequently bought and sold small lots and currently have small positions in 5 of my accounts including 2 Roth IRAs which includes a restart in my Schwab account that I will not be discussing here.

    Last Sell Discussion:
    Item # 1.L.
    Pared TPVG-Vanguard Taxable Account-Sold 10 at $12.41 (highest cost lot):
    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2020/08/argopra-brkl-ciopra-des-esgv-fisi.html

    That post also contains profit snapshots of my prior round trip trades.

    Last Substantive Buy Discussion:
    Item # 3.B.
    Added 5 TPVG at $11.1; 5 at $10.7; 5 at $8.2; 5 at $6.92; 2 at $5.61;2 at $5.35; 2 at $4.45; 2 at $4; 2 at $3.5; 2 at $2.99; 5 at $4.96

    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2020/08/asb-avk-cswc-d-fidi-glq-ibm-kw-lmha-ofs.html

    TPVG reported what I view as satisfactory third quarter results after the close today.

    NII per share of $.40
    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201105006176/en/


    "Recorded $4.9 million from the realization of gains from the sale of CrowdStrike, Inc. shares, with 16,747 shares still held as of September 30, 2020" Crowdstrike was one of TPVG's pre-IPO investments as was Medallia:

    "Recorded $1.1 million from the realization of gains from the sale of Medallia, Inc. shares, with 18,616 shares still held as of September 30, 2020"

    Subsequent events:
    "Portfolio company exit and liquidity events subsequent to the third quarter include: Nestle USA announced that it acquired TPVG portfolio company, Freshly Inc.; TPVG portfolio company Hims, Inc. announced plans to go public through a merger with Oaktree Acquisition Corp.; and TPVG portfolio company Qubole, Inc. was acquired by Idera, Inc."

    "Net asset value of $409.4 million, or $13.28 per share, at September 30, 2020, an increase of 0.9% from prior quarter"

    "Achieved a 14.1% weighted average annualized portfolio yield on total debt investments"

    "Ended the quarter with a 0.63x leverage ratio"

    "Declared a fourth quarter distribution of $0.36 per share, payable on December 14, 2020"

    "Undistributed taxable earnings from net investment income of $10 million, or $0.33 per share, as of September 30, 2020."

    ReplyDelete
  24. OFS Capital Corporation (OFS)
    $4.44 +$0.4600 (+11.56%)
    Market Cap 59.495M
    As of 1:03PM EST.

    I was not planning to discuss some recent buys, where I was just passing the time of day or digging myself out of a small hole, but will mention some new ones in 1 taxable account tomorrow.

    The pop today is in response to the third quarter earnings report:


    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201106005066/en/

    "Net investment income of $2.71 million, or $0.20 per share.

    Net asset value ("NAV") per share increased to $11.18 at September 30, 2020 from $10.10 at June 30, 2020.. .

    On November 3, 2020, OFS Capital's Board of Directors declared a distribution of $0.18 per share for the fourth quarter of 2020, payable on December 31, 2020, to stockholders of record as of December 24, 2020."

    NAV per share is still down from the $12.46 reported on 12/31/19.

    The marks placed on the debt may be off of course, which is always the case with BDCs.

    ReplyDelete
  25. First Bancorp (North Carolina)(FBNC)
    $27.11 +$2.69 +11.02%
    Last Updated: Nov 6, 2020 at 2:18 p.m. EST
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/fbnc

    I recently started a "small ball buying program" and have now eliminated my position. The pop today is due to S & P adding this stock its Small Cap 600 Index effective on 11/13/20:

    https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-bancorp-added-to-the-sp-smallcap-600-index-301167971.html

    A general trading rule is to sell on non-fundamentally driven price increases based on including a stock in an index.

    I owned only 11+ shares and realized a share gain of $70.16.

    I still own a different First Bancorp located in Maine:
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/fnlc

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have published a new post:

    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2020/11/ajx-arow-bif-disca-ebgef-fraf-gdo-kmi.html

    ReplyDelete