US Dividends Aristocrats thread

[Mr. Wood]

Apple Hospitality REIT Reports Results of Operations for Second Quarter 2020
08/06/2020

With sequential improvement since April, we estimate July cash flow will be slightly positive for the Company. While we have many unknowns and unprecedented challenges ahead of us, the current operating environment has confirmed the strength and resiliency of our portfolio and underlying strategy, and I am confident we are well positioned to weather the current challenges and outperform as travel recovers.”

Reduced property-level expenses: Beginning in March 2020, the Company, its brands and its third-party management companies implemented cost elimination and efficiency initiatives at each of the Company’s hotels by reducing labor costs, reducing or eliminating certain services and amenities, and reducing rates under various service contracts. Hotel operating expenses were reduced by 67% during the second quarter of 2020 as compared to the same period last year.

Sustained hotel operations: As of June 30, 2020, all of the Company’s hotels were open and receiving reservations with enhanced health and sanitation measures in place, and the Company intentionally consolidated operations at 18 hotels, down from 38 hotels as of May 2020, in market clusters to maximize operational efficiencies. The cost structure of the Company’s primarily rooms-focused hotels allows them to operate cost effectively even at very low occupancy levels.

 

[Mr. Wood]

FLOWERS FOODS, INC. REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2020 RESULTS
August 06, 2020

Second Quarter Summary:
Compared to the prior year second quarter where applicable

Sales increased 5.1% to $1.026 billion, reflecting the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diluted EPS increased by $0.02 to $0.27.
Adjusted diluted EPS increased by $0.08 to $0.33.

Looking to the second half of 2020, we are balancing the higher demand and positive mix shift with the increased costs and uncertainty caused by this new environment. We remain committed to our portfolio and supply chain optimization initiatives and our expectation to deliver approximately $10 million to $20 million of savings this year. As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline operations, and to ensure we have the right resources in place to sustain long-term growth, we announced an organizational restructuring in July to further reduce the complexity of our business, improve margins, and ultimately unleash the full potential of our brands and innovation efforts. By continuing to strengthen our powerful brands, we expect to expand their market leading share positions and better-utilize our supply chain network with the goal of driving strong shareholder returns over the long-term

 

[Mr. Wood]

Barrick Declares Dividend
AUGUST 10, 2020

declared a dividend for the second quarter of 2020 of US $0.08 per share, a 14% increase on the previous quarter’s dividend, payable on September 15, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 31, 2020.

gold can pay dividends. thru a business.

 

[Mr. Wood]

Judge Agrees to End Paramount Consent Decrees
AUGUST 07, 2020

"Given this changing marketplace, the Court finds that it is unlikely that the remaining Defendants would collude to once again limit their film distribution to a select group of theaters in the absence of the Decrees and, finds, therefore, that termination is in the public interest," she writes in a 17-page opinion.

She accepts that certain conduct once deemed per se illegal may now be pro-competitive as theaters fight to remain relevant in the tech age while lingering anticompetitive behavior would be better scrutinized through new legal actions absent of strict rules.

As for the possibility that terminating the ban on vertical integration would allow major movie studios to merge with large national theater circuits, the judge notes that such restrictions have never applied to certain studios like Disney and adds that "the Court finds that changes to antitrust administration, in particular, the HSR Act, provide federal antitrust agencies with notice and the opportunity to evaluate the competitive significance of any major transaction between a movie distributor and a theater circuit, which suggests a low likelihood of potential future violation."

 

[Mr. Wood]

Foot Locker, Inc. Provides Business Update For Second Quarter 2020
August 10, 2020

"Despite gross margin pressure from channel mix shift and a highly promotional environment, we were able to return to positive earnings per share due to the meaningful lift in top-line sales and disciplined expense management,"

 

[Mr. Wood]

ITW Board of Directors Approves Dividend Rate Increase
Aug. 07, 2020

an increase to the quarterly cash dividend to shareholders of $0.07 per share – or $0.28 per share annually.

declared a dividend on the company's common stock of $1.14 per share for the third quarter of 2020

 

[Mr. Wood]

Risk Mitigation & The US Election

Topic
Risk Mitigation & The US Election
Description
We need to talk about the election.

For the past four months, news cycles have been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is easy to forget that, for investors, the November US election was to be the defining issue of 2020. The winner will potentially impact the direction of travel of investments, regulation, corporate earnings and balance sheets for at least the next four years.

Key takeaways:
• Learn how to protect your assets against the risks posed by the US election
• Understand how Chief Investment Officers are adapting to the United States’ political landscape to gain a competitive edge
• Identify investment opportunities in this uncertain time

We will be joined by:
• Shannon Saccocia, Chief Investment Officer, Boston Private
• Stephanie Link, Chief Investment Strategist, Hightower Advisors

If you can’t make it, sign up and I will send you the recordings.

Disclaimer: Registering for this webinar will automatically enroll you with a Free Pass to the Investment Summit.
Time
Aug 12, 2020 05:00 PM in London

Speakers
photo of Stephanie Link
Stephanie Link
Chief Investment Strategist @Hightower Advisors
photo of Shannon Saccocia
Shannon Saccocia
Chief Investment Officer @Boston Private Group

 

[Mr. Wood]

Nutrien Demonstrates Strength & Stability: Ag Solutions EBITDA Up 20 Percent & Excellent Operational Results
August 10, 2020

We now expect to reach $1 billion in online orders by the end of the year and are introducing new data-driven offerings to help farmers make quicker and more informed decisions for their business,”

Highlights:

Nutrien generated $1.6 billion in free cash flow, including improvement to our non-cash operating working capital in the second quarter. The Board of Directors approved the quarterly dividend at $0.45 per share, maintaining our annualized payout at $1.80 per share which is well within our targeted range.

Retail Ag Solutions delivered record EBITDA in the second quarter and the first half of 2020. First-half EBITDA was up 20 percent year-over-year as a result of double-digit growth in revenue and gross margin, and EBITDA margins surpassing 10 percent. We continue to expand in the market, backed by our organic growth strategy which includes growing our proprietary product sales, as well as through accretive investments made over the past year.

Total sales through our leading digital retail platform exceeded $700 million in the first half of 2020, surpassing our annual goal of $500 million in just the first six months of the year. Second quarter online sales accounted for 45 percent of North American sales of products that were available for purchase online.

Potash EBITDA was down 39 percent in the second quarter and first half of 2020 compared to the same periods last year as strong sales volumes and lower cost of goods sold per tonne were more than offset by lower net realized selling prices. Potash cash cost of product manufactured was a record low $52 per tonne in the second quarter of 2020.

Nitrogen EBITDA was 16 percent lower in the first half and 17 percent lower in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same periods last year due to lower net realized selling prices. However, we achieved higher sales volumes and lower cost of goods sold per tonne compared to the first half of last year and our ammonia utilization reached a record high of 97 percent in the second quarter of 2020.

Nutrien issued an aggregate of $1.5 billion in senior notes in the quarter with average coupon rates below 3 percent.

Nutrien acquired Tec Agro Group, a leading Ag retailer in Goiás, Brazil. Our Brazil operations now include 30 retail locations, two large-scale fertilizer blenders, a premier soybean seed business and specialty nutrition and plant health production facilities. With the addition of Tec Agro Group, our Brazilian operations are expected to generate over half a billion dollars in revenue on a normalized annual run-rate basis.

Nutrien released its 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report in April and has since achieved significantly higher ratings by third party ESG organizations.

Nutrien's full-year 2020 adjusted net earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA guidance is $1.50 to $1.90 per share and $3.5 billion to $3.8 billion, respectively. The top end of the guidance range was lowered due to lower ammonia and UAN prices.

 

[Mr. Wood]

Qualcomm Win in Antitrust Suit Restores Lucrative Licensing
August 12, 2020

“The court’s ruling is disappointing and we will be considering our options,” FTC Bureau of Competition Director Ian Conner said in a statement.

 

[Mr. Wood]

ROPER TECHNOLOGIES TO ACQUIRE VERTAFORE, LEADING PROVIDER OF SAAS SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE INDUSTRY
Aug. 13, 2020

“Vertafore is a fantastic business characterized by clear leadership in its niche market, a strong management team, high customer retention, and a long track record of consistent revenue and cash flow growth,” said Neil Hunn, Roper’s President and CEO. “The acquisition of Vertafore is a great example of our disciplined capital deployment strategy which focuses on durable, long-term cash flow compounding. We look forward to welcoming Vertafore to the Roper family.”

The Vertafore management team, led by CEO Amy Zupon, will continue to lead the business from its Denver, Colorado headquarters. Vertafore’s name, brands, and office locations will not change as a result of the transaction

 

[Mr. Wood]

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VE5K96YoGHlv44wbiq7ZsSZmJFW67qq9/view
Updated August 10th, 2020

Berkshire Hathaway has an exceptional collection of businesses. We believe the current valuation looks interesting when you look at the assets collectively, netting out to the expectation of a 9.3% total return driven by 5% growth and a moderate valuation tailwind. The security earns a buy rating.

 

[Mr. Wood]

Sanofi to acquire Principia Biopharma
August 17 2020

Sanofi will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Principia for $100 per share in cash, which represents an aggregate equity value of approximately $3.68 billion (on a fully diluted basis). The Sanofi and Principia Boards of Directors unanimously approved the transaction.

 

[Mr. Wood]

Contracts For Aug. 14, 2020

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $62,000,000,000 ten-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ), fixed-price-incentive contract for new production of F-16 Foreign Military Sale (FMS) aircraft. The total value for the initial delivery order is $4,941,105,246 and will be awarded on the same date.

 

[Mr. Wood]

Mall owner Simon, Authentic Brands to acquire denim retailer Lucky out of bankruptcy for $140.1 million
3 days ago

Sparc said it will negotiate with landlords to keep Lucky's "key stores" open in North America

Looking more like WB to acquire distress businesses

 

[Mr. Wood]

Day Traders In Brazil Study Would’ve Done Better With 9-to-5 Job
Aug 15, 2020

Academics from Brazil looked at people doing short-term trades in iBovespa contracts and found that of 1,551 retail traders, just 1.1% posted higher average net returns than the Brazilian minimum wage in a bit more than a year. About 0.5% of the traders, who were tracked for 300 sessions, earned more than the average Brazilian bank teller.

Do-it-yourself investing has boomed amid the coronavirus pandemic and, to be sure, many newly minted traders have fared remarkably well -- so far. A Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS). portfolio of stocks popular among individuals has soared 78% since March 23’s lows, dusting the S&P 500’s 51% climb. But while gains have come easy in one of the swiftest stock market recoveries on record, Chague says the paper, which tracked traders active in the years from 2013 to 2017, offers reason for skepticism.

“You can get lucky and perform well enough in a few days, but over time it becomes increasingly difficult,” he said. “Most of them, they lost money.”

 

[Mr. Wood]

Square’s Cash App tests new feature allowing users to borrow up to $200
August 13, 2020

Cash App is starting out by offering loans for any amount between $20 and $200. You’ll be expected to pay the loan back in four weeks, along with a flat fee of 5%. (Multiplied over a year, that turns into a 60% APR — which sounds high, but at least it’s significantly lower than the average payday loan.)

If you don’t pay off the loan after four weeks, you’ll get an additional one-week grace period, then Square and Cash App will start adding 1.25% (non-compounding) interest each week. You also won’t be able to take out an additional loan if you’ve previously defaulted.

legal ah loong. good business model.

 

[Mr. Wood]

An Update on Digital Currencies
August 13, 2020

he Federal Reserve is active in conducting research and experimentation related to distributed ledger technologies and the potential use cases for digital currencies. Given the dollar's important role, it is essential that the Federal Reserve remain on the frontier of research and policy development regarding CBDCs. As part of this research, central banks are exploring the potential of innovative technologies to offer a digital equivalent of cash. Like other central banks, we are continuing to assess the opportunities and challenges of, as well as the use cases for, a CBDC, as a complement to cash and other payments options. There continues to be strong demand for U.S. currency, and we remain committed to ensuring the public has access to a range of payments options.

watch out for blockchain technology companies

 

[Mr. Wood]

Pacific Bio prices equity offering at $4.47
Aug. 12, 2020

 

[Mr. Wood]

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2020 RESULTS
08/18/2020

Delivered Net Sales of $2.5 billion, Comparable Store Sales Increased by 7.5%

Operating Income Margin Increased 319 basis points; Adjusted Operating Income Margin Increased 274 basis points

Diluted EPS Increased 58.4% to $2.74; Adjusted Diluted EPS Increased 46.0% to $2.92

Third Quarter Observations to Date

Through the first five weeks of the third quarter, the Company continues to see strong growth in DIY Omnichannel and positive comparable store sales in Professional
While uncertainties remain around the continued impact of COVID-19 during the balance of the year, the Company believes it is well positioned to meet the demands of the business

 

[Mr. Wood]

THE HOME DEPOT ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER RESULTS; DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $1.50 PER SHARE
Aug 18, 2020

The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported sales of $38.1 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2020, a 23.4 percent increase from the second quarter of fiscal 2019. Comparable sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 were positive 23.4 percent, and comparable sales in the U.S. were positive 25.0 percent.

"We remain focused on continuing the momentum of our One Home Depot investment strategy that we believe will position us for continued growth over the long-term, while at the same time maintaining flexibility to navigate the demands of the current environment. Through it all, we will continue to lead with our values by doing the right thing and taking care of our people."

In the second quarter, the Company invested approximately $480 million in additional benefits for associates, including weekly bonuses for hourly associates in stores and distribution centers. Year-to-date, the Company has spent approximately $1.3 billion on enhanced pay and benefits in response to COVID-19. Additionally, the Company's first half performance resulted in a record payout for Success Sharing, the Company's profit-sharing program for hourly associates.

Dividend Declaration

The Company today announced that its board of directors declared a second quarter cash dividend of $1.50 per share. The dividend is payable on September 17, 2020, to shareholders of record on the close of business on September 3, 2020. This is the 134th consecutive quarter the Company has paid a cash dividend.