Friday, September 10, 2021

ACWV, BMY, DUK, EAF, GSK, IIVI, MAC, MCBC, TLS, PLYM, PSFE, VMEO

Economy

Businesses are feeling stronger inflation and paying higher wages, Fed's 'Beige Book' says

ECB dials back support but signals no end to stimulus | Reuters The ECB will decrease slightly debt purchases that have averaged €80B per month. While inflation in the Euro Zone is at ten year highs, the ECB justifies continuing extraordinary monetary policies based on a belief that inflation will fall next year and languish below 2% starting in 2023 according to the ECB's current forecast.

Top 1% dodge $163 billion in annual taxes, Treasury estimates

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Markets and Market Commentary

The $1 trillion that has flowed to global stocks in 2021 is bigger than the last 20 years combined - MarketWatch

I am continuing to reduce my stock allocation which in part means selling many small ball and low yielding stock ETF positions and redirecting some proceeds into higher yielding individual stocks which I view as either fairly value or undervalued. I will increase my dividend income this year compared to 2020. 

So far, the Stock Jocks are ignoring the acceleration in U.S. Covid infections, hospitalizations and deaths as highly unlikely to meaningfully disrupt the ongoing economic recovery.  

CDC COVID Data TrackerCOVID Data Tracker Weekly Review | CDC

One benefit from the recent infection surge is that it convinced people on the fence to get vaccinated. 

Natural gas prices are rising and could be the most expensive in 13 years this winter  

Max Levchin explains how Affirm handled negotiations with Amazon

Affirm (AFRM) skyrockets after company reports 71% revenue growth, strong guidance

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Earnings Reports-Owned Stocks

In this section, I have grouped together most of my owed pipeline stocks (OKE, PBA, TRP, WMB) that will report GAAP net income and distributable cash flow ("DCF"). These companies have heavy non-cash depreciation expenses which reduce the GAAP net income number. Since I own them primarily for their dividends, I am most interested in the dividend coverage ratio using DCF rather than GAAP, similar to Equity REITs in that respect. 

Amcor (AMCR) reports record full year earnings and strong outlook for fiscal 2022 (AMCR provides information for the fiscal year ending 6/30/21; GAAP E.P.S. = $.602, up from $.382; adjusted E.P.S. at $.744; "adjusted Free Cash Flow of $1.1 billion, at upper end of guidance range"; Fiscal 2022 outlook: "Adjusted EPS growth of 7-11% on a comparable constant currency basis and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $1.1-$1.2 billion. Allocating approximately $400 million of cash towards share repurchases." The fiscal 4th quarter results are not broken out separately in the press release which is aggravating. By taking the adjusted E.P.S. total for the first 3 fiscal quarter, which was $.515, I calculated the 4th Quarter at $.229 with the consensus at $.22) 

American Finance Trust (AFIN) SEC Filed Press Release (FFO per share = $.23; AFFO per share = $.26; revenue grew 8.6% to $81.6M; quarterly dividend at $.21 per share; annual rent escalator at a weighted average 1.2%; collected approximately 100% of cash rent for the second quarter; 94.9% leased with a weighted average 8.5 years remaining lease term)

Cisco Reports Fourth Quarter And Fiscal Year 2021 Earnings (Non-GAAP E.P.S. at $.84 with the consensus at $.825; GAAP E.P.S = $.71; revenues up 8% to $13.1B; 2021 F/Y cash flow of $15.5B, flat with fiscal 2020; guides 2022 fiscal year non-GAAP E.P.S. to $3.38-$3.45 with revenues up 5 to 7% over fiscal 2021; guides fiscal 2022 first quarter non-GAAP E.P.S. to $.79 to $.81 with revenues increasing 7.5% to 9.5% Y-O-Y)

Clipper Realty Inc.  (CLPR) Announces Second Quarter 2021 Results (adjusted AFFO of $4.1M or $.10 per share, up from $3.1M in the prior quarter; properties are 94% leased; second quarter rent collection rate was 96%; declared a quarterly dividend of $0.095 per share)

Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO) Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results (Adjusted Net income of $68.8M or $.32 per share with the consensus at $.283 per Fidelity; GAAP E.P.S. at $.26; revenues = $1.017B, down .8%; increases guidance for fiscal 2021 to "diluted EPS in the range of approximately $1.17 to $1.22, an increase over prior guidance of $1.10 to $1.17. The effect of one fewer week in fiscal 2021 impacts EPS by approximately $0.02."; depreciation expenses are a major item; cash and cash equivalents at end of 2nd Q = $292.3M)

FS KKR Capital (FSK)(adjusted net investment income per share at $.74, up from $.63 in the 2021 first quarter; net asset value per share increased to $26.84 from $26.03 as of 3/31/21; increased quarterly dividend to $.65 from $.60; % of investments on nonaccrual = 3%) 

Gladstone Commercial (GOOD) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release (core FFO at $.37 per share; collected 100% of rents in the second quarter; square feet leased = 96.5%; quarterly dividend rate at $.37545 paid in monthly installments; raised $100.0 million with the issuance of our new 6.00% Series G Preferred Stock and used the majority of the proceeds to redeem our 7.00% Series D Preferred Stock, saving on dividend costs to lower our overall cost of capital.";  "issued 95,218 shares for net proceeds of $2.1 million" under ATM program)

II-VI (IIVI) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release (fiscal 4th quarter ending 6/30/21; Non-GAAP E.P.S. at $.88 with the consensus at $.764 per Fidelity; revenues at $808M, backlog at $1.3B; full fiscal year non-GAAP $3.73, up 31%; full year record free cash flow =$428M; "The outlook for the first fiscal 2022 quarter ending September 30, 2021 is revenue of $780 million to $830 million and earnings per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis of $0.75 to $0.90. . . This range includes the company’s expected investment of up to $20M in the quarter ended September 30, 2021 for compound semiconductor expansion, the majority of which is for SiC expansion. The non-GAAP earnings per share include the pre-tax amounts of $21 million in amortization, $22 million in share-based compensation, and $11-15 million in other costs, including costs to facilitate the integration of Coherent Inc.") 

Kellogg (K) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release (non-GAAP E.P.S. = $1.14 with consensus per Fidelity at $1.03; net revenues = $3.555B; predicts 2021 organic sales growth of 0-1%, a slight increase from flat growth in the previous guidance; anticipates currency neutral adjusted EPS growth of -1 to -2% Y-O-Y which equates to 4% annual growth with 2019 as the base year)

Oneok (OKE) SEC Filed Press Release (net income of $342.1M or $.77 per share; 50% increase in EBITDA to $801.5M; distributable cash flow = $570M; distributable cash flow in excess of dividend = $153.1M; dividend coverage ratio = 1.37)

Paymentus (PAY) SEC Filed Press Release (GAAP net income of E.P.S. $.6M; Non-GAAP net income of $2.6M or $.02 per share, in line; revenue = $93.5M, up 30.3% from the 2020 second quarter; "processed 64.2 million transactions, an increase of 39% from the second quarter of 2020"; cash and cash equivalents = $266.4M; "expects revenue for the full year 2021 to be between $378 million and $382 million or 25% to 27% growth. Contribution profit is anticipated to be between $152 million and $154 million or 26% and 28% growth. It expects adjusted EBITDA to be between $25 million and $28 million, which is a margin of 16.5% to 18.5%.")

Pembina Pipeline (PBA) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release (all amounts are in Canadian dollars; E.P.S. = $.39 per share; adjusted DCF per share at $.98 with unadjusted at $1.06; quarterly dividend at $.63 per share paid in monthly installments)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) SEC Filed Press Release (diluted E.P.S. at DKK5.26, up 16% Y-O-Y; consensus at DKK4.752; NVO only had a few days of revenues from its blockbuster weight loss drug, brand name Wegovy, that was approved by the FDA last June)

Organon (OGN) Reports Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2021 and Announces Inaugural Dividend (GAAP net income from continuing operations = $431M or $1.7 per share; non-GAAP E.P.S. = $1.72; consensus at $1.401 per Fidelity; revenues = $1.595B, up 5% from the 2020 second quarter; announced first quarterly dividend of $.28 per share) 

Plymouth Industrial REIT (PLYM) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release (Core FFO per share = $.41; AFFO per share = $.32; collected approximately 99.7% of second quarter rent;  "acquired 4 buildings totaling 780,000 square feet for $30.3 million, a weighted average price of $47 per square foot and a weighted average initial projected yield of 7.3%."; "issued approximately 2.6 million common shares through its ATM program at an average price of $18.86 per share, raising approximately $48.6 million in net proceeds.")

PPL (PPL) SEC Filed Press Release (adjusted E.P.S. of $.19; announced plans to repurchase approximately $500M in PPL common shares in 2021; completed sale of its U.K. business in June 2021 and is on track to acquire Narragansett Electric by March 2022; "With a view toward maximizing shareowner value, PPL continues to evaluate the best uses for the remaining proceeds from the U.K. sale, which resulted in net cash proceeds of $10.4 billion after taxes and fees. In addition to utilizing a portion of the proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet, the company plans to use an additional $3.8 billion to acquire Narragansett Electric. Potential uses for the remaining proceeds include investing incremental capital at PPL's utilities or in renewable energy, as well as repurchasing PPL shares. PPL’s Board of Directors recently authorized a new share repurchase program pursuant to which the company may purchase up to $3 billion in outstanding common shares at the discretion of management.") 

Reynolds Consumer Products (REYN) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release (E.P.S. = $.38; Adjusted E.P.S. = $.39 with the consensus at $.379 per Fidelity; revenues increased 6% to $873M; company lowered earnings estimate for 2021 based on cost pressures; now expects adjusted E.P.S. of $1.54 to $1.64; expects Adjusted E.P.S. for the 3rd quarter to range between $.30 to $.33)

Sanofi (SNY) Sales growth accelerated - Full-year guidance raised (Non-GAAP at €1.38; free cash flow = €1.428B; revenues up 6.5% to €8.744B; "; Dupixent  "(collaboration with Regeneron) sales increased 56.6% to €1,243 million."; USD ADR equivalent was $.83 beating the consensus of $.75 per Fidelity; 2 ADR shares = 1 ordinary share, so $1.38 per ordinary share would be €.69 per ADR share multiplied by the EUR/USD exchange rate, currently near 1.17)     

TC Energy (TRP) SEC Filing (all amounts are in Canadian Dollars; "comparable" net income of  C$1.045B or $1.07 per share with consensus at $.98 per Fidelity; comparable funds from operations = $1.754B; declared quarterly dividend of $.87 per share) 

Williams Companies (WMB) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release (net income of $304M or $.25 per share; adjusted E.P.S.  = $.27, up 8% compared to the 2020 second quarter; cash flow from operations = $1.057B; dividend coverage ratio = 1.85 AFFO basis) 

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Dying in the Name of Vaccine Freedom-YouTube


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1. Canadian Reset Equity Preferred Stocks

Over the past several months, I have been reducing my exposure to the Canadian reset equity preferred stocks based on a concern that many will reset their coupons at lower levels than the prior resets and to harvest profits in them. 

After the two sell transactions mentioned in this section, I am left with the following (snapshots intraday on 9/8/21; all amounts in Canadian Dollars): 

Unrealized Gain as shown  = C$10,028.5









The total realized profit, excluding the USD profit on EBGEF, is currently C$16,583. The snapshots can be found in Advantages and Disadvantages of Equity Preferred Floating Rate Securities

So far this niche income sector has been rewarding. 

As with U.S. equity preferred stocks, including the fixed-to-floating rate securities, the Canadian resets plummeted in price starting in March 2020 which provided excellent entry levels for new purchases. My last buy of BPOPRP, discussed below, was at C$7.95.  

A. Sold 200 BPOPRP at C$18.48



Quote: BPO-PP.TO

Issuer: Brookfield Office Properties, a REIT. 

Preferred Shares Link: Preferred Shares-Brookfield Office Properties

Profit Snapshot: +C$1,322.5



Buy DiscussionsItem # 5.B. Bought 50 BPOPRP at C$7.95 (3/28/20 Post)Item # 2.A. Bought 50 BPOPRP at C$13.86 (9/11/19 Post)Item # 1.A. Bought 50 BPOPRP at C$15.95 (7/27/19 Post)

Par Value: C$25

Coupon: 3% spread to the five year Canadian government bond with a five year reset. 

Last Reset: March 2017 at a 4.161% coupon. This coupon will last until the next reset. 

Next 5 Year Reset: March 2022 and that is the problem. 

The five year Canadian bond is currently trading near a .8% yield. Canada 5 Year Government Bond Overview | MarketWatch I currently view it as likely that this preferred stock will reset its coupon for 5 years at a lower rate than the current one. If that occurs and yields start to rise thereafter, this preferred stock will likely fall in price without any change in the credit risk. 

B. Sold 100 TAPRE at C$13.75



Quote: TA-PE.TO 

Preferred Share Information | TransAlta

Profit Snapshot: C$58

Coupon: 2.03% spread to the 3 month Canadian T Bill with resets every 3 months. 

Par Value: C$25

This one did not work out since the 3 month Canadian treasury bill did not continue to increase in yield and instead started to decline after the purchase and then collapsed in response to the pandemic. 

The optimal condition for a new purchase would be a severely depressed price reflecting a consensus opinion that meaningful increases in the 3 month bill will not occur for a long time, but that proves incorrect after purchase with a persistent rise in that yield. 

I view the 3 month resets to be better than the 5 year resets when short term interests rates start a persistent and long term rise due to the Bank of Canada continually increasing its benchmark rate in response to inflation concerns.  While there are inflation concerns now, central banks in developed countries are dismissing them as merely temporary and consequently continue their extraordinarily abnormal monetary policies. 

Canada 3 Month Government Bond Overview | MarketWatch

The yield is currently hovering near .15%. At that yield the coupon is 2.18% which translates into a 3.96% at a C$13.75 price. I bought at C$13.15. The commission rate at IB was C$1 for each trade. 

2. Small Ball

A. Restarted EAF-Bought 10 at $10.55

Quote: GrafTech International Ltd. 

Another 10 share lot was eliminated at $11.2: 

Profit $.79

Investment category: Lottery Ticket Basket, recently downgraded to that category based on chart history, recent financial reports, cyclical business, expiring fixed rate contracts, and dividend cut.  

A continued worldwide economic expansion is a predicate for this stock to work out.  

SEC Filings

Website: GrafTech International Ltd. - Home

EAF Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch

10-Q For the Q/E 6/30/21 Graftech is a leading manufacturer of high quality graphite electrode products essential to the production of electric arc furnace steel and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals. . . . (The) only reportable segment, Industrial Materials, is comprised of our two major product categories: graphite electrodes and petroleum needle coke products. Petroleum needle coke is a key raw material used in the production of graphite electrodes. The Company's vision is to provide highly engineered graphite electrode services, solutions and products to electric arc furnace operators." page 10) More information can be found in the  g2020 Annual Report starting at page 8.

Factbox: What are graphite electrodes and needle coke? | Reuters (takes about 6 pounds of graphite electrodes to make 1 ton of steel)

Investment Category: Lottery Ticket Basket Strategy

Last EliminationItem # 1.R. Eliminated EAF-Sold 53+ at $12.37 (2/13/21 Post)(profit snapshot = $110.97) 

Dividend: $.01 per share, cut from $.085 effective for the 2020 second quarter payment. 

I view this cut to be understandable under the circumstances. The company has been using free cash flow to reduce. debt.  For the first six months of 2021, the company reduced debt by $250M and expects debt repayments will be the primary use of cash for the remainder of 2021. As of 6/30/21, the company had approximately $1.2B in debt and $114M in cash or cash equivalents. 

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21): SEC Filed Press Release 

Adjusted E.P.S. = $.43 with the consensus at $.38 per Credit Suisse

Production Volume: 43kt vs. Credit Suisse estimate of 38kt (kt = kiloton, 1 kt = 1 thousand tons). Volume increased 22% compared to the 2021 first quarter and 33% compared to the 2020 second quarter. 

Of the 43kt in volume, 27kt was made under long term contracts at an average price of about $9,100 per MT. The average spot price during the quarter was approximately $4,100. The higher prices for long term contracts were negotiated at a favorable time for EAF and are expiring which is a main knock on the stock: 

 

 
Company noted that for graphite electrodes started to improve in the second quarter and expects that trend to continue into 2022. 

Broker Report (available to Schwab customers)

Credit Suisse (8/6/21): Outperform with at 12 month PT of $16. The main argument is that pricing will improve during 2022 when most of the remaining long term contracts will be renegotiated. With the expiration of long term contracts noted above, the stock's performance will be sensitive to graphic electrode pricing trends.  

Realized EAF Gains to Date: $341.21  

EAF Lotto Purchase Limit: $1,370.42. (general limit for Lottos is $1K but can be increased by net realized gains)

B. Added to TLS-Bought 2 at $26.21; 2 at $24.05


Quote: Telos Corp.

Closing Price 9/9/21: TLS $34.10  +$0.52 +1.55% 

Telos Corp Profile | Reuters

TLS Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch

TLS SEC Filings

TLS Historical Prices

Average Cost Per share:  $26.17 (7 shares)

Last DiscussedItem # 4.H. Started TLS-Bought 2 at $27.95; 1 at $26.75 (7/30/21 Post) 

Investment Category: Lottery Ticket Basket

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21): Telos Corporation Reports Strong Second Quarter Results

Adjusted E.P.S. = $.04

Consensus at $.019 per Fidelity

GAAP E.P.S. = ($.28)

The primary adjustment to arrive at GAAP is to add back $21.366M in stock based compensation. 

Revenues: $52.6M, up 8%

Cash Flow = $3.5M

Reaffirmed 2021 revenue guidance of $283M to $295 and Adjusted EBITDA of $33M to $36M which would amount to 190% to 216% growth 

C. Eliminated GSK-Sold 8 at $41.93


Quote: GlaxoSmithKline PLC ADR

Closing Price 9/9/21: GSK $39.78 -$0.74 -1.83% 

Last Buy DiscussionItem # 1.B. Started GSK in Schwab Account-Bought 5 at $36.36; 5 at $36.13 (1/16/21 Post)

SEC Filings (foreign issuer)

Investors | GSK

Products | GSK

Our pipeline | GSK

GSK | GlaxoSmithKline PLC ADR Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch

Closing Price on 9/9/21: 

Profit Snapshot: $50.2


Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21): GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release  

revenues ups 6% at £8.092B with the consensus at £7.6; 

adjusted earnings per share at 28.1p with the estimate at 19.6p;

reaffirms 2021 guidance: adjusted E.P.S. to decline mid-to-high single digits compared to 2020 

GSK will slash its dividend when it completes the spin off of its consumer product businesses.  GlaxoSmithKline to Spin Off Consumer Division, Cut Dividend - TheStreet The targeted dividend will go from 80 pence to 55 pence, split 44 pence for GSK and 11 pence for the new consumer product company. 

Last Sell DiscussionItems 3.I. and 3.J. (7/9/21 Post)

As previously discussed, GSK has been a poor long term investment.  GSK Chart Since 1984 The stock was near $64 in December 1998; $57 in June 2006; and $56 in December 2013. 

I am going back to ignoring this company. I no longer have a position. 

E. Eliminated PLYM in Schwab and Vanguard Taxable Accounts--Sold 20 shares at $22.75:  



Quote: Plymouth Industrial REIT Inc.

Closing price 9/9/21: PLYM $23.30 -$0.25 -1.06% 

Plymouth "is a real estate investment trust focused on the acquisition, ownership and management of single and multi-tenant industrial properties, including distribution centers, warehouses, light industrial and small bay industrial properties, located in primary and secondary markets within the main industrial, distribution and logistics corridors of the United States. As of June 30, 2021, the Company, through its subsidiaries, owned 113 industrial properties comprising 147 buildings with an aggregate of approximately 24.8 million square feet."

Investment Category: Equity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket Strategy

PLYM SEC Filings

Portfolio - Plymouth Industrial REIT

Website: Plymouth Industrial REIT - Boston

PLYM 2020 Annual Report (property list and summary descriptions start at page 27)

10-Q for the Q/E 6/30/21 

I am keeping for now the 20 shares owned in my Fidelity account with a $12.34 average cost per share. I previously sold the fractional share purchased with dividends. Item # 2.L (5/23/21 Post)(contains average cost per share snapshot) 

Last Buy DiscussionsItem # 1.Q. Started PLYM in Schwab Taxable-Bought 10 at $12  and Item 1.R. Started PLYM in Vanguard Taxable-Bought 10 at $11.92 (10/24/20 Post)Item #1.F. Started PLYM Fidelity Account-Bought 10 at $12.85; 5 at $12.1; 5 at $11.8 (8/1/2020 Post)

Profit Snapshots: +$216.98


Dividend: Quarterly at $.21 
Last Ex Dividend: 6/29/21 (owned as of) 

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21)


I also own Plymouth's equity preferred stock. Plymouth Industrial REIT Inc. 7.5% Cumulative Preferred Series A Stock Quote; last discussed here: Item # 2.A. (9/5/20 Post) 

F. Pared BMY in Fidelity Taxable-Sold 1.203 at $68.8

Quote: Bristol Myers Squibb Co.

Closing Price 9/9/21:  BMY $63.58 -$1.34 -2.06% 

BMY Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch

BMY SEC Filings

2020 Annual Report

Bristol Myers Squibb: Investor Relations

Products and Medicines 

Pharmaceutical Research & Development Pipeline BMY states that it has 50+ compounds in development which includes trials for new treatment indications for established drugs, particularly Opdivo/Yervoy.   

10- Q For the Q/E 6/30/21

I own shares in multiple accounts. 

Profit Snapshot: +$6.89

I sold the remaining fractional shares bought with dividends and 1 more. 

Last Buy DiscussionsItem # 1.M. Added to BMY-Bought 1 at $59.9; 3 at $59.7 (2/21/21 Post)Item # 3.A. Started BMY-Bought 5 at $63; 1 at $61.5; 1 at $61.24; 2 at $61 and 2 at $60.4 (12/19/20 Post)Item #3.M. Added to BMY- Bought 2 at $61.05 (1/1/21 Post)

Average Cost this account after pare: $60.85 (15 shares)

Dividend: Quarterly at $.49 ($1.96 annually), last raised from $.45 effective for the 2021 first quarter payment. 

Bristol Myers Squibb Announces Dividend 

Yield at $60.85 Total Cost = 3.22%

Last Ex Dividend: 7/1/21

Product Revenues: Revlimid, acquired as a result of BMY's acquisition of Celgene, would lose its U.S. patent production in 2022. For the first 6 months of 2021, Revlimid produced $6.146B out of $22.776B in total revenues.  


Revlimid is used to treat myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma, and mantle cell lymphoma.

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21): Bristol Myers (BMY) SEC Filed Earnings Press Release

adjusted net income of $4.3B or $1.93 per share with the consensus at $1.891 per Fidelity;

revenues reported at $11.7B, 16% higher compared to the 2020 second quarter driven by a 16% increase in Opdivo sales to $1.91B; 

maintains guidance of 2021 adjusted E.P.S. of $7.35 to $7.55; 

the most important near term issue remains Revlimid's loss of U.S. patent protection next year; 

Revlimid 2nd quarter sales at $3.202B up from $2.884B in the 2020 second quarter  

I noted that multiple companies launched generic Revlimid earlier this month in Canada.  

The U.S. patent protection loss for Revlimid will weigh heavily IMO on the stock price until pipeline success diminishes the impact and provides clarity on future earnings after Revlimid's profits and revenues start their decline. 

What is interesting is that the analyst consensus estimate for 2022 is currently at $8.13 and at $8.6 for 2023, as compared to $7.48 in 2021. So in spite of Revlimid's loss of patent protection, the analysts are forecasting a nice acceleration of earnings in 2022 and in 2023. The Stocks Jocks are not buying into those future estimates IMO. If BMY actually earned $8.6 in 2023, the P/E at yesterday's closing price of $63.58 would be 7.38 with an anticipated growth rate off $7.48 through 2023 at 15.37%. The PEG would be less than 1.  

5 year chart


Broker Reports (available to Schwab customers): 

Morningstar (7/28/21): 3 stars with a FV of $68 (hold recommendation based on patent expiration for Revlimid being "offset over time" by pipeline successes; expects over $1B in annual sales from recently launched drugs Reblozyl, Zeposia, Abecma and Breyanzi) 

Argus (8/6/21): Buy with a $83 PT. (notes that a recent favorable patent ruling extended protection for Eliquis through  "2026, and potentially through 2031")

S & P (7/28/21): 4 stars with a 12 month PT of $74 

G. Sold 1 AMCW at $106 and 1 at $105.68



Quote: iShares Edge MSCI Minimum Volatility Global ETF Overview

iShares MSCI Global Minimum Volatility Factor ETF

Sponsor's Website: iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF

Expense Ratio = .2%

Profit Snapshots: +$16.61



Last DiscussedItem # 2.C. Bought 1 ACWV at $97.48 (4/24/21 Post) 

H. Sold 2 DUK at $107.40; 1 at $106.18




Quote: Duke Energy Corp. (DUK)

Closing Price 9/9/21:  DUK $104.62 -$0.71 -0.67% 

DUK Analyst Estimates-MarketWatch

DUK SEC Filings

DUK 2020 Annual Report

Investment Category: Bond Substitute with historical annual dividend growth. 

Last Substantive Buy DiscussionsItem # 1.A. Added 1 DUK at $81.69; 1 at $79.25 (9/19/20 Post)Item # 1.H. Added 1 DUK at $65.7 (5/16/20 Post)

Profit Snapshot: +$65.11 (8/18/21 and 9/1/21 sales only)

I have sold all shares purchased with dividends and have turned off dividend reinvestment. 

The 2021 realized gain shown above represents a 17.3% return on the total dollar amount invested in the shares sold so far this year. The general goal for a stock classified as a Bond Substitute is the dividend payments + a greater than a 2% annual profit on the shares.      

Remaining shares this Account: 12

Average Cost per share for 12 shares = $78.77

Dividend: Quarterly at $.985 per share, raised 2 cents effective for the 2021 3rd quarter payment. Duke Energy announces dividend payments to shareholders 

Yield at new AC = 5%

Last Ex Dividend: 8/12/21

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21): Duke Energy (DUK) SEC Filed Earnings Release 

Non-GAAP E.P.S. of $1.15 with the consensus at $1.097 per Fidelity; 

GAAP E.P.S. at $.96; 

reaffirms 2021 non-GAAP E.P.S. guidance of $5 to $5.3 and long term E.P.S. growth of 5 to 7% through 2025; 

revenues = $5.758B, up from $5.421 in the 2020 second quarter"; 

"Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities – with goals of at least a 50% carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S. renewable energy provider, on track to operate or purchase 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The company also is investing in major electric grid upgrades and expanded battery storage, and exploring zero-emitting power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear."

Recent Sell DiscussionsItem # 2.D. Pared DUK-Sold 2 at 101.11; 1 at $104 (5/23/21 Post)(profit snapshot =  $44.36); Item # 1.I. Pared DUK-Sold 1.453 at $95.46; 1 at $97.14; 1.471 at $100.71(4/17/21 Post)(profit snapshot = $38.39);  Item # 2.M.-Sold 4 DUK at $95.50 (11/13/20 Post)(profit snapshot = $24.39); Item # 1.J. Pared DUK-Sold 2 at $91.81  (7/3/2020 Post)(profit snapshot = $4.82);  Item # 1.C. Sold 2 DUK at $97.05 (2/16/20 Post)(profit snapshot = $15.29)

Largest Gains Starting in 2007

2011 DUK 187+ shares +$638.28

2007 DUK 250 Shares $147.57 (doing a lot of selling that year)

I am far less adventuresome now. The largest purchase was a 400 share lot bought around 1978. I do not have a snapshot of the realized gain which probably occurred in the 1980s. 

Credit Ratings

Fixed-Income Investors Credit Ratings - Duke Energy

For several years, most of Duke Energy exposure has been in its senior unsecured debt and the first mortgage debt of its subsidiaries.  

I. Sold 10 MAC at $15.67

Quote: Macerich Co.- A Mall REIT

As of 6/30/21, the wholly owned operating partnership owned and had an interest "in 50 million square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”) consisting primarily of interests in 46 regional shopping centers and five community/power shopping centers".

Investment Categories: Equity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket Strategy; Lottery Ticket; Contrarian Value

MAC SEC Filings

2020 Annual Report

Profit Snapshot: +$38.47

I sold on the ex dividend date. 

Only Buy Discussion EverItem # 2. Bought 10 MAC at $11.83 (4/24/21 Post) 

Dividend: Quarterly at $.15, slashed to $.10 from $.71 effective for the 2020 second quarter and then raised to the current $.15 penny rate effective for the 2020 third quarter. 

Last Financial Report (Q/E 6/30/21): SEC Filed Press Release 


 J. Bought 1 VMEO 1 at $28.95


Quote: Vimeo Inc.

Closing Price 9/9/21: VMEO $39.29 +$0.47 +1.21% 

Investors | Vimeo.com, Inc.

Vimeo Inc. Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch

VMEO SEC Filings

10-Q for the Q/E 6/30/21 

Last Buy Discussions:  Item # 3. Started VMEO- Bought 1 at $45.2; 1 at 44.5; 1 at $43.8; $20 at $43.36; 1 at $41.77 (7/9/21 Post) 

The Stock Jocks reacted negatively to the last financial report released after those purchases that showed a decline in revenue growth rate. Revenues increased 43% Y-O-Y. The Y-O-Y rate of revenue growth continued to decline in July: 

Investment Strategy: Lottery Ticket Basket 

Last Loss Report (Q/E 6/30/21): SEC Filed Press Release 

K. Started MCBC-Bought 10 at $8.27; 5 at $8.07; 10 at $7.95

 



Quote: Macatawa Bank Corporation 

"Headquartered in Holland, Michigan, Macatawa Bank offers a full range of banking, retail and commercial lending, wealth management and ecommerce services to individuals, businesses and governmental entities from a network of 26 full-service branches located throughout communities in Kent, Ottawa and northern Allegan counties."  There were no Covid related loan modifications remaining as of 6/30/21. 

This is a new name for me. 

SEC Filings

MCBC Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch (estimate is that peak earnings of $.82 will be hit in 2021, followed by a decline to $.69 next year and then increasing to $.79 in 2022). Profits in 2020 and 2021 have been juiced by unusually strong mortgage banking revenues.   

Five Year Financials

2020 Annual Report at page 34 

Investment Category: Regional Bank Basket Strategy

Properties as of 12/31/20: Mostly owned

Average cost per share = $8.10 per share  (25 shares)

Dividend: Quarterly at 8 cents per share, last raised from 7 cents effective for the 2020 first quarter payment. The quarterly rate was 2 cents per share in 2014. The dividend coverage ratio over the trailing 12 months is 291.31%. 

Yield at AC = 3.95%

Last Ex Dividend: 8/10/21

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21): 

GAAP E.P.S. = $.23 in line, up from $.22 in the 2020 second quarter.  Earnings were, however, boosted by a negative provision of $750K for loan losses compared to a $1M provision expense in the 2020 second quarter.  

Tangible Book Value Per share  = $7.26

NIM decreased 55 basis points, compared to the 2020 second quarter, to 2.19%, "reflecting a significant increase in on-balance sheet liquidity and the continued low interest rate environment." That is most of the bad news. 

I suspect there was a lot of cash on the balance sheet as of 6/30/21 in anticipation of paying off high yielding bank debt: "On July 7, 2021, the Company redeemed its remaining $20.0 million of trust preferred securities.  The Company estimates that this will save nearly $600,000 of interest expense annually. . . " 

Good news items: 

NPL Ratio only .03%

NPA Ratio only .09%

Coverage Ratio = 3,881.29%

Total Capital Ratio = 19.66% (consolidate)

Charge Off Ratio: Net Recovery 

Okay news: 

Efficiency ratio = 56.81%

ROA  = 1.11%

ROE = 

Broker Reports: I do not have access to any broker reports. MCBC is a small bank holding company with a market capitalization of approximately $269M at yesterday's closing price. 

There is some small broker coverage. On 7/30/21, Hovde cut its PT to $8.5 from $10. On 7/29/21, KBW cuts its PT to $9.5 from $10. So there is a lack of enthusiasm. The earnings report was released on 7/22/21. 

I view the stock as a possible mid-to-high single digit total return over the next 12 months, assuming a continued economic recovery through September 2022, a continued above average profits from mortgage banking and probably more average downs at lower prices. At a $8.15 total cost, an 11% annual return could be achieved by receiving 4 dividend payments (assumes no dividend increases over that period) and then selling the stock at a greater than 7.05% gain or at greater than $8.73.

L. Added 1 IIVI at $59.34


Quote: II-VI Inc.

9/9/21 Closing Price: IIVI $62.27 +$1.54  +2.54% 

Website: II-VI Incorporated | Materials That Matter

II-VI, Inc. Profile | Reuters

IIVI Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch

IIVI SEC Filings

Current Position: 13 shares

Average Cost per share: $67.85

Maximum Position: 100 shares 

Last Discussed: Item # 3.A. (5/14/21 Post) 

Major Pending Acquisition: II-VI Incorporated to Acquire Coherent, Creating Global Leader in Photonic Solutions, Compound Semiconductors, and Laser Technology and Systems

5 year Chart: 


Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21):  This was the 4th fiscal quarter. SEC Filing

Non-GAAP E.P.S. at $.88, beat the consensus by 12 cents. 

revenues at $808M, backlog at $1.3B; 

full fiscal year non-GAAP $3.73, up 31%; 

full year record free cash flow =$428M; 

"The outlook for the first fiscal 2022 quarter ending September 30, 2021 is revenue of $780 million to $830 million and earnings per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis of $0.75 to $0.90. . . This range includes the company’s expected investment of up to $20M in the quarter ended September 30, 2021 for compound semiconductor expansion, the majority of which is for SiC expansion. The non-GAAP earnings per share include the pre-tax amounts of $21 million in amortization, $22 million in share-based compensation, and $11-15 million in other costs, including costs to facilitate the integration of Coherent Inc."



M. Bought 10 PSFE at $8.28; 5 at $7.87



Quote: Paysafe Ltd. 

Closing Price 9/9/21: PSFE $8.86 -$0.08 -0.89%  

Website: Home | Paysafe

Paysafe is a digital commerce company with users in 120 countries. Paysafe Ltd Profile | Reuters A company focus is on iGaming which includes the usual suspects of sports betting and casino games. iGaming | Paysafe

I only spent a few minutes looking at this company that recently went public in a series of complicated transactions. 

The price decline in response to the last earnings report and the assortment of digital commerce businesses interest me enough to start a $82.8 Lotto position. 

The reaction to the last earnings report was negative with the stock closing at $8.62 falling 15.49% on 8/16, down 15.49% from the prior close. Volume accelerated to 43,394,300 that day compared to the average volume of 2.884M. PSFE Price History 

Investment Category: Lottery Ticket Basket

Brokers cut their price targets in response: 

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 6/30/21):  SEC Filing

Total Payment volume at $32.3B, up 41%, but guided the current quarter revenue estimate to $360-$375M with the street then at $382M. 

Revenues  = $384.3M from $341M, topping the consensus estimate of $378.4M. 

North America iGaming revenue increased 48%. 

Still expects 2021 revenue between $1.53B to $1.55B

Broker Reports (available to Schwab customers): 

Credit Suisse (8/16/21): Outperform with a $12 price target reduced from $16. 

Other Recent NewsPaysafe Completes Acquisition of PagoEfectivoPaysafe to Acquire viafintechPaysafe to Acquire SafetyPay ($441M, expected to close in the 4th quarter)

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 sale 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 my family members.

28 comments:

  1. "decrease slightly debt purchases that has averaged €80 per month. While inflation in the Euro Zone is at ten year highs, the ECB justifies continuing extraordinary monetary policies based on a belief that inflation will fall next year and languish below 2% starting in 2023 according to the ECB's current forecast."

    Cognitive dissonance. It's become a post-truth world in more than politics.

    Still with my dad, and the holidays happening, so distracted, and working on his bank accounts. Attorney suggested he put us (child) on an account for easy access if he needs something but is somewhat incapacitated (before level for power of attorney.) But with internet it changes everything. I know his passwords better than him. I can just pay for things with account transfers.

    Started a little calculating. The big problem is needing 2% over inflation during retirement, which used to be super-easy, and is now a pipedream. And to keep up with inflation until then.

    To sell down, it's out of expectation that something has to give. Or at the least, it can't keep skyrocketing so preservation is the thing to do. But what about losing out on inflation? Only the market will keep up. And housing but I'm not buying into housing now.

    +++

    There was that one time back after the great depression with inflation but artificially low rates? Otherwise this is an unknown phenomenon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Land: So far the FED has proven that it can suppress yields below the inflation rate for an extended period measured in years. It was able to so from 1946-1951 previous and in more recent times.

      The question is not whether the FED, the ECB and other developed country central banks have that power.

      The issues are the long term repercussions and whether the FED, ECB and other CBs will allow inflation to become embedded in their respective economies since they are doing nothing to prevent that result.

      The inflation predictions made by the FED and ECB are used to justify their continued suppression of interest rates far below the inflation rate.

      What if they are proved wrong by later events showing that inflation has become both problematic and embedded to such an extent that only draconian monetary policies can effectively deal with it.

      Needless to say, central bankers have been wrong a lot in the past. I recall Ben Bernanke saying in May 2007 that subprime defaults were contained and would not seriously harm the economy.

      https://www.cnbc.com/id/18718555

      Investors have bought into the central bankers' argument that the recent spike in inflation is only temporary.

      The breakeven inflation rate for the 10 year TIP is still around 2.38%, notwithstanding the recently hot inflation numbers.

      https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/T10YIE

      If the 10 inflation forecast embedded in the ten year TIP's price proves accurate, then that is not a problem in and of itself for stocks. It would mean, however, that the purchasers of the non-inflation protected ten year treasury, currently around 1.33%, would produce a meaningful negative real rate of return averaging more than 1% annually.

      Delete
    2. Land: For the last 5 years of her life, my mother could not write checks because she could no longer even write her name. It was a major undertaking to complete the signing of the 1099 with the signature generally being scrawled over a 1 inch space with a severe downward movement below the line.

      I consequently had signature authority on her account. It was important to avoid becoming an owner of the account since that would be characterized as legally making a gift. Depending on the size, that could legally require the filing of a gift tax return. That probably happens a lot without the filing of that return which may or may not be discovered by the IRS. And, the joint account would be at risk to a child's creditor and would be owned by the child when the parent dies to the legal exclusion of other children.

      Delete
    3. Getting older with problems such as signing, is emotionally stressful for everyone. And what if you don't have someone like you to take care of her?

      That's an excellent important point about joint being a possible gift or taxable event. The fed limit is 15k.

      The attorney who set up their will and such has been theirs for 40 years through a bunch of business ventures. He was sad too, and didn't have the papers in front of him, and talking off the cuff. So his thoughts then may not be the best answer. At the least we'd need to ask the accountant.

      I think online access will be enough.

      For creditors, neither of us is in that position, and we'd both be made joint. But it can still be risk and complications.

      I haven't seen the will/trust papers yet in all of this. I want to see if the house is in the trust. I think so, so the lawyer's idea of issuing a new deed would be unnecessary. (There's no risk of estate taxes.)

      Meanwhile the ONE account that everything comes and in out of, is also the only one that freezes even with a joint spouse, if they're notified by Social Security and you haven't notified them. So Monday morning, I know what we're doing.

      My dad as a survivor tends to go to panic and stress mode way above the norm. So goal is to keep him from giving himself a heart attack, and us one too over the weekend.

      I wonder how often the IRS notices gifting via joint access? I can't imagine that loophole goes unnoticed. Especially with Medicaid lookback for nursing care.

      Delete
    4. ""The issues are the long term repercussions and whether the FED, ECB and other CBs will allow inflation to become embedded in their respective economies since they are doing nothing to prevent that result. ""


      Yes, that's the worry. Inflation while rates are suppressed. Inflation without suppression can be enough of a bear. Or maybe it's, cause a bear.

      As you point out, Fed's been way off before.

      And it's back to NO Place else (I can't remember the acronym and google searches are replying with word FAANG.)

      Supply chain is way out of whack. Twitter contact posted that a 6 week wait to install an underground pool has turned into 14 months in her region.

      I suspect some inflation to come down. But not all, at all.

      Delete
    5. On the same topic, this got my attention.

      "The $1 trillion that has flowed to global stocks in 2021 is bigger than the last 20 years combined."

      Even figuring what $ I used this year & last the helicopter money was enough to change my usual transfer of funds needed to my main account.

      Delete
    6. Oh and ... this market doesn't want to wait through the weekend!

      Delete
    7. Land: Many states also have a gift tax.

      At the Federal level, going over the $15K annual limit per person can still avoid a tax by applying the excess amount to the unified lifetime exemption.

      https://www.thebalance.com/lifetime-exemption-from-federal-gift-taxes-3505634

      Many people I suspect fail to file required gift tax returns. The failure is most likely to come up in an audit but an IRS may try to match interest income shown in a 1099 to both co-owners in their respective schedule Bs and find it missing.

      There can be issues even with the signature authority method when people in the family do not get along and want to fight. Suspicions and accusations about whether money is being spent on non-parent items may surface and even lead to lawsuits among family members. One of the first trials that I won was in 1977 and involved a situation where the child spent her dad's money on herself and ended up having to pay it all back to the estate with interest.


      As to potential liabilities, the issue is sometimes raised in major liability suits where a a damage award exceeds the maximum insurance coverage. That can happen in a major car accident where the child on the account is clearly 100% responsible. The example that I use is a brain surgeon with 4 young children being turned into a wheelchair bound person unable to practice their profession (or do much other than move their head and suck on a straw) and in need of 24/7 medical care. Just a draconian example to drive the point home. Kiss just about everything goodbye.

      As to the trust, it depends on what kind of trust it is. Title should have been transferred in a living trust example. There are testamentary trusts which do not come into existence until the creator dies and title then has to be transferred to retitle assets in the newly formed trust entity. That is something to discuss with the lawyer your family is using.

      Delete
    8. I never heard of the "unified lifetime exemption" and that's with reading the NOLO books. Seems useful. When I have these various tools gathered and understood, I need to take this all to an estate attorney. Meanwhile, I find such conversations go better if you're a little educated when you get there.

      Currently IRS is underfunded and staffed. So it's the time to make a mistake if ever. So I sleep better at night when I know everything is properly done.

      Interesting case. What a moment in time for a family to wind up in lawsuits. I forget how complicated law is, on figuring out all of these kinds of things. But that's why you hire lawyers to set things up.

      True too, that while both of us keep debt free, extraordinary circumstances can happen. I have no idea how much insurance my sister's family keeps. I keep 1M, but she doesn't go to the dentist every six months either. Money can turn your head. And my brother-in-law is involved.

      My dad finally found the trust so I need to go read it. He looked upstairs. Downstairs. In the bedroom closet. Turned out it was on the dining room table with all the other important papers, under our noses. The attorney said revocable living. All the bank accounts now are in only his name and now have us as beneficiaries. So only significant thing is house, is supposedly deeded to that trust and no big deal.

      The only item left that might need probate is an Israel bond for 4+% interest. I decided not to buy at the time. Sorry now of course! It's under 50K limit, and no urgency and they have an attorney to handle it.

      So we've gotten through the paperwork process pretty well. So far without probate or difficult tasks.

      I can not imagine emotionally trying to do this in a serious way with a complicated process, while grieving.

      Delete
    9. Land: I suspect that a number of individuals set up living trusts and then do nothing to retitle assets in the trust legal entity. Maybe it is unclear to them that this has to be done and the lawyer setting up the trust does not participate in the retitling process.

      The unified (estate and gift tax) exemption has been raised substantially over the years. The exemption per person was $600,000 when my father first consulted an estate lawyer. An inflation adjustment lifted the total to $11.7M per individual this year.

      https://www.thebalance.com/exemption-from-federal-estate-taxes-3505630

      For many, the $600K limit on the exemption would have been insufficient to cover the value of a home. Even with a bypass trust, which could have increased the limit back then, many middle and upper-middle class taxpayers would have been hit with a big estate tax bill. As it now stands, only the wealthiest have to pay and many of those people can avoid taking big hits through lifetime planning by a qualian estate tax attorney.

      ++

      My brain is still capable of being trained to learn new skills. It took about 3 hours for me to get the hang of an Xbox controller, at least sufficiently that I can progress in a game.

      ++

      I may shift my current approach to taking 1000 share positions in a few stocks that pay good dividends.

      This will require a mind reset that may be impossible to perform. Brain transplants, another option, are still in the distant future.

      An example would be to round my current WMB up to 1000. I did add 5 shares last Friday which is not the 800+ or so that I would need to reach 1000. The yield at last Friday's close was 6.75% with the ex dividend on 9/9/21. A 1000 share lot, with no increase in the quarterly dividend penny rate from $.41, would generate $410 annually.

      https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/wmb/dividend-history

      Delete
    10. Now I understand how teenagers fry their brains playing video games. I wrote my prior comment after an hour playing one of the Halo games. The correct annual dividend for 1000 WMB is $1,640, not $410 which is the quarterly payment rate.

      Delete
    11. The NOLO book emphasizes the need to re-deed into the trust. It is apparently critically often left out of the process.

      I thought I wrote about the gift exemption after reading that link. Then again, maybe that was my imagination.

      I hadn't heard of it the exception at all, even in the NOLO books. Could be useful!

      ---

      3 hours? Also practiced the skill of persistence.

      1600ish sounds a lot better than 400ish.

      The big obstacle to buying for divs is that there aren't that many solid quality stocks available. Diversity is still good. Stocks are the only place left, but it's still not a great place. WBM is good in some ways but 170% payout isn't ideal.

      Buying for divs has a difficulty that I'm not great at assessing stocks over time, so may need to use ETFs more.

      I've been trying to remember if interest in CDs and saving accounts used to be 2 or 4% above inflation. Or fixed returns was always a bit of a loss to inflation.

      We can't keep living in an economic world which is so distorted from reality. But why should the economy be different than anything else in the US on reality?

      Delete
    12. Land: In this post, I mention that the important dividend payout ratio for pipelines is not based on GAAP earnings but distributable cash flow (see "Earnings Reports-Owned Stocks" section) The reason has to do with the really large non-cash depreciation expense that reduces net income using the GAAP accounting standard. WMB covered its dividend by 1.8 times using the $919M available from operations rather than the GAAP net income of $304M.

      The same type of dividend coverage analysis is used for equity REITs who likewise have heavy non-cash depreciation expenses.

      Delete
    13. Oh, I didn't realize that. So it is solid. Hum, very interesting.

      ---

      Are a couple of my posts missing?

      Delete
    14. Land: I have published all of your posts.

      I will probably take my WMB up to 1000 shares but am in no hurry to do so. In my last discussion, I mentioned the maximum position, a risk control measure, was 300 shares. So I am loosening that restriction some.

      Item # 2. Added 95 WMB at $24.98; 5 at $23.80-Schwab Taxable:
      https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2021/08/bzh-cxp-d-dea-fncl-gis-hope-intf-iqlt.html

      Delete
    15. So it's part of my brain that's missing, not posts.

      Energy is back down...

      There's often been a Sept pullback. Maybe again.

      Manchin's stopping the 3.5T package. So that won't be flooding the economy right away.

      Delete
    16. Turns out it's a 10 year distribution on the package, so it won't have that much effect after all, even when passed.

      Delete
  2. I was not at HQ's trading desk when stocks dived into the close.

    I was traveling to Best Buy to pick up a second XBox controller for the new Series C console which I now own. I have the controller that came with the console linked to my only Windows PC and the one bought today to a television set in an upstairs room.

    My first observation is that, even on the easy level, the games are incredibly hard for an aged brain way past its prime. Maybe playing the games with rejuvenate my brain as some sort of brain exercise.

    Why mention this at all?

    It does have something to do with stocks. I decided that I will be spending far less time on stocks and was looking for something else to fill the time.

    I am not likely to increase my stock allocation until and unless there is a major bear market, something similar to March 2020, 1929-1932, 1974, 2000-2002, or 2008-March 2009. I missed the 1929 crash but was around for the others as an investor.

    I will still be posting here but I may slow that down some starting in November, as in 2 posts per month until I am actually doing something which is not the case now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, it will make for longer comment sections. Especially if interesting things happen.

      It's nice to spend time on other things. Though I did a double-read over x-box. Not a direction I expected. I know nothing at all about gaming stations on current computers. If I get food in my mouth, I consider my hand eye coordination accomplished. My nieces had me play some cellphone games, but I was decidedly underskilled. They were rolling in laughter though. So I accomplished something :>. I had a PT who was addicted to candy-crush which is an ap.

      It's been useful and fun to me to hear what's going on, with interpretation and especially to learn about stock subsectors I hadn't approached before. So I'll keep chugging along and reading when info's posted.

      For my portfolio, I've followed the market every day (except during this time). But found that inertia has been a friend, even as I made plans or smaller moves. And there's need to be aware and buy on dips, etc..

      But, but I'm not sure now... the market is so unusual and it has a more risky feel to it.

      But in any plan, I have been needing to increase div output, in reasonably safe stocks that I can hold through a crash if I'm not able to time well.

      If you have big x-box accomplishments, do post for the fun of it. I don't even know what the gaming stocks' names are.

      Delete
  3. Ever since FG mentioned the adage that stocks gain from Rosh Hashannah to Yom Kippur, I'd noted that they had every time. This year however, not so.

    I missed that IWM peek to sell. Knew it was the day but got distracted. So I need one more rally to start selling into.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Land: I am not concerned whether or not I managed to sell a position at a peak price.

      I am selling now to manage risk which seems rational to me given the rally since March 2020.

      At my age, I am not a long term owner of any stock.

      While I view the energy sector to still be in a long term bear market that started in 2014, energy stocks are responding positively to a rise in energy prices.

      Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE)
      $49.87 $1.42 +2.93%
      Last Updated: Sep 15, 2021 at 12:37 p.m. EDT
      https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/fund/xle?mod=over_search

      That ETF traded near $100 in mid-2014.

      Crude oil is up over $2 a barrel today.

      Pipeline stocks are up as well:

      e.g. Williams Cos. (WMB)
      $25.57 +$0.82 +3.29%
      https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/wmb?mod=over_search

      I mentioned that one in a recent comment.

      I doubt that the Democrats will have the votes to pass the $3.5T reconciliation bill unless and until they win more Senate seats currently held by republicans who will in unison vote against it.

      Biden is meeting today with Senators Manchin and Sinema. I doubt that he can move either Democrat senator to a yes vote.

      Delete
    2. Selling IWM the other won't be peek. But was on an upswing. True I usually fuss over these small amounts, and then there's big movement and they're tiny.

      That's true, energy is getting a bounce again... I was never at break even from the long term bear and when I bought in 2014.

      The question in my mind, is whether the 1T version will pass, which they'll be obstacles too as well. I haven't looked closely at the 3.5T version, but I assume there's some more stuff than I'd want passed, and consider simple safetynets. Maybe that Biden meeting is why the upswing today.

      +++++

      Just scheduled my booster for end of the month. Had Pfizer, but scheduled Moderna. Since there's reports of patients doing that combo with so-so results after the originals... but very good after the booster of >2500.

      Delete
  4. Long time follower of your blog since 2009.

    I became what used to be called a buy-and-hold investor after realizing I lacked the lacked the time and attention to really succeed as a trader. Your trading skills and accumulated knowledge based on decades of intelligent analysis set a bar most of us can only dream of attaining.

    I am mostly in cash at this point (savings and CDs), debt free and own my home. I watch from the sidelines and check in here occasionally to see what you're doing. My three remaining positions apart from cash are GDO (owned since 2010), ADX (since 2015) and FUTY (bought last year), all of which I learned about from reading your blog and have done well for me.

    Many thanks for all your work, dedication, and great writing!

    Cathie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cathie: Thanks for the kind words.

    GDO has been a decent income vehicle for me, particularly given the low interest rate environment. The fund is still scheduled to liquidate in December 2024 which is relevant on how long I will continue to own it.

    Morningstar has it rated 5 stars:
    https://www.morningstar.com/cefs/xnys/gdo/quote

    I have bought and sold it many times and currently own somewhere between 150 and 200 shares.

    I will probably sell my remaining shares before the fund liquidates, sooner rather than later if I become concerned about a persistent rise in interest rates that will lower bond prices. I am not there yet.

    The discount to net asset value per share is near a historical low, closing yesterday at a 1.07% discount. So I would not expect much upside on price without a significant rise in bond prices.

    With the fund's leverage near 24%, a meaningful rise in interest rates into the December 2024 liquidation date would result in a magnified decline in net asset value per share as assets purchased with borrowed money go down in price. I don't want to have the value of the monthly dividend devoured by a loss in the market price which is a roundabout way of staying that I am a total return investor rather than a yield hog.

    The spread between the cost of borrowed funds, which is low, and the yields on bonds bought with those borrowed funds does contribute to more income for shareholders compared to an unleveraged fund.

    And, the fund also had almost $40M in unrealized gains as of 4/30/21:

    Page 17 SEC Filed Shareholder Report:
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1472341/000119312521198573/d132370dncsrs.htm

    My most recent buy discussed in the blog was probably the 100 share lot bought at $16.72 on 11/5/20, which I still own. Net asset value per share was then at $18.08.

    Item # 1.A. Started GDO (Schwab Taxable)-Bought 100 at $16.72:
    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2020/11/ajx-arow-bif-disca-ebgef-fraf-gdo-kmi.html


    The CEF closed unchanged at $18.49 today.
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/fund/gdo

    With interest rates ticking up slightly today, I would expect the discount to narrow more when the fund reports its net asset value per share later today.

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  6. I've been planning to hold GDO until it liquidates in 2024, but will keep an eye on interest rates and get out sooner, if conditions change as you suggest. Good to know.

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    1. Cathie: I did not explain in my prior comment why I do not want to own GDO on the liquidation date.

      GDO owns 307 different bonds as of 7/31/21.

      The bond market is far less liquid than the stock market.

      I seriously doubt that the fund will be able to sell those holdings without discounting them some to whatever value is assigned to them prior to trying to sell them. That would result in a lower net asset value per share.

      If I was managing this fund, I would start the liquidation process at least 1 year prior to the liquidation date, selling bonds into strength. I would first eliminate the leverage with the bond proceeds. So I will not own this fund after
      December 2023 even if interest rates are near where they are now.

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    2. Thank you for expanding on your reasoning...it makes a lot of sense to me.

      Perhaps the fund managers will behave rationally (selling into strength, eliminating leverage pre-liquidation) but it is probably wise not to count on that.




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  7. I have published a new post:

    https://tennesseeindependent.blogspot.com/2021/09/amkby-bhb-bwg-cnq-gld-gnl-lrgf-nwhuf.html

    ReplyDelete