If you are an income-focused investor, there are many big-yield strategies to choose from. However, not all of them may be right for you. In this report, we share updated data on a wide variety of big-yield opportunities, including over 100 big-yield REITs, CEFs, BDCs and more. Then we highlight four names from the list that are particularly interesting and worth considering. Specifically, we highlight three tempting big-yield opportunities that we are currently avoiding, followed by one very attractive big-yielder that we currently own.
Ares Commercial Real Estate: It Can Still Get Much Worse for this 16.1% Yield
Members Mailbag: We received an inquiry from a member this week about ACRE (expected to announce earnings on Tues May 2nd). We believe that some investors view this particular mortgage REIT (ACRE) as an attractive contrarian opportunity, considering the shares are down big (-40% over the last year), the yield has mathematically grown to a tempting 16.1%, and it has a well known brand name attached to it (Ares). However, the commercial real estate market is terrible. We share comparative data points on over 100 big-dividend REITs (sorted by sub-industry), dig into some important details on ACRE, and then conclude with our opinion on investing.
US Bancorp: 5.7% Yield, Shares Down Big
Among S&P 100 stocks (see table below), US Bancorp (USB) has one of the biggest dividend yields, but some of the worst year-to-date performance. Like most banks, USB shares sold off hard when the recent Silicon Valley Bank failure was announced, but unlike most banks—shares of USB have NOT subsequently rebounded. In this quick note, we review USB’s recent earnings announcement and the recent USB short-seller report (from HoldCo Asset Management). We conclude with our opinion on whether it’s time to buy US Bank or if it’s time to sell.
Owl Rock: 40 Big-Yield BDCs, Compared
With BDC earnings season set to kick off this week (starting with Ares Capital on Tuesday pre-market), we’ll also be watching Owl Rock closely (set to announce two weeks later). One key metric to watch will be book value as the economy heads towards recession and write-downs could start to more significantly detract from the benefits of rising interest rates. This quick note shares data on 40 big-yield BDC, and digs into Owl Rock in more detail.
100 Hated Stocks: These 4 Worth Considering
If you like to purchase top businesses when their stocks are out of favor with the market, you may find this report interesting. We share data on 100 hated stocks divided into four very different groups: (1) Top Growth Stocks, Down Big; (2) Dividend Growth Stocks, On Sale; (3) Pandemic-Era IPOs, Now; (4) Big Yield CEFs, Discounted Prices. We then select (and review) one particularly attractive opportunity from each of the four groups. We conclude with a critically important takeaway for investors to keep in mind.
April Portfolio Updates: New Trades, Rebalancing
We’ve updated the holdings and “buy under” prices for all three of our top idea portfolios for April, and all the details can be accessed using the links below. We do NOT trade often (we’re long-term investors), but we do have a small handful of trades to update you on. We believe the changes position the portfolios for more long-term success.
Members Mailbag: Small & Micro Cap CEFs (RVT, RMT)
Hated 5.9% Yield Dividend-Growth Stock, Attractive
The stock we review in this report is hated. And it is hated for multiple reasons. However, the market is misinterpreting some of the data, and the fear is overdone. After reviewing the details of this impressive dividend aristocrat (including its business, dividend safety, valuation and risks) we conclude with our strong opinion on investing (hint: we currently own shares in our Income Equity portfolio).
Top 20 S&P 500 Stocks: YTD and Last 10 Years
Lithium: Limited Supply, Increasing Demand
As lithium demand grows (and supply remains limited), the basic materials stock we review in this report is attractive. The shares are down 35% from their 52-week high, but the business continues to strengthen (i.e. revenues are growing very rapidly, the market opportunity is huge and profit margins remain strong). In this quick note report, we consider the company’s latest strategic effort, its valuation and our opinion on investing (i.e. we own shares).
Bond CEFs: Prices, Premiums and Interest Rates
A quick note to share some updated data and commentary on a handful of popular big-yield bond CEFs from PIMCO and BlackRock. This note may be of particular interest to those following our High Income NOW portfolio. For starters, here is a look at the latest movement in premiums and discounts (versus NAV).
Two (2) New Buys: 1 Income Equity, 1 (More) Disciplined Growth
We do NOT buy or sell often, but this is just a quick update to let readers know we have made two more new purchases (the second and third new buys this week). One in our Income Equity Portfolio and now a second buy this week in our Disciplined Growth Portfolio. We’ll be completing our monthly portfolio tracker sheet updates shortly after April begins, but wanted to let readers know right away of these two additional new purchases.
New Buy: Top Growth Stock: Solar Energy Disruption
The industrial sector business we review in this report continues to grow rapidly as it benefits from the solar energy secular trend. Specifically, it provides electrical balance of system solutions (for solar, battery energy and EV charging applications) to mainly engineering and construction firms. And its valuation is increasingly attractive, especially considering the competitive advantages of this highly profitable $3B+ market cap company. We review all the details, and then conclude with our opinion on investing in this rapidly growing business.
Cell Tower REIT: Growing Dividend, Paying Down Debt
The specialty REIT we review in this report focuses mainly on cell towers. The dividend is well covered and has a steady history of increases. Further, the company is virtually guaranteed revenue growth from rent escalators, not to mention the growing secular trends of mobile data usage and the Internet of Things. Further still, the company is working to improve its balance sheet. We review all the details, and then conclude with our opinion on who might want to consider investing.
100 High-Growth Stocks: Contrarian Interest Rising
It’s no secret growth got slaughtered (as the pandemic bubble burst), and TONS of Fed balance sheet unwinding remains (see chart), but rate hikes are slowing (ending?), and valuation multiples much lower on high growth stocks. Here is data on 100 top growth stocks with at least 20% revenue growth (this year and next).
Big-Dividends Report: 100 BDCs, REITs, Down Big
The Fed hiked rates, the FDIC continued to bail out depositors and select big-yield opportunities became decidedly more interesting. Specifically, many big-dividend REITs and BDCs are down big this year; and some of them are actually attractive. In this report, we share updated data on over 100 big-yield REITs and BDCs, and then conclude with information about our top 27 favorite big yielders, ranked.
Update: 40 Big-Yield BDCs, Silicon Valley Bank Warning
As mentioned in our previous note, BDCs are like banks, only riskier. Not only are BDCs facing increasing stress due to slowing economic growth and increasing interest rates (i.e. the tradeoff between higher floating rate interest payments received and higher default risk on loans), but some BDCs (such as those focused on venture capital) are dramatically over-exposed to fallout from the Silicon Valley Bank mess. In this note, we share updated data on 40 BDCs, and then dive deeper into 4 specific venture-capital-focused BDCs—and how we expect them to fare in light of the SVB mess—buyer beware!
Adobe (ADBE) Earnings Note
This highly-profitable “creative” software company announced powerful revenue and operating income on Wednesday after the close (the shares are up significantly Thursday), and it’s well-positioned to keep driving profitable growth for the decade ahead. Its products benefit from strong moats (high switching costs), increasing subscription revenue and lots of cash flow to fund growth and buy back shares. This is a business that is positioned to weather the economic cycle well, and it trades at very reasonable valuation multiples, especially considering profit margins and revenue growth guidance both remain robust.
SOFI: Fear Creates Opportunity
SoFi Technologies (SOFI) is a financial services company, focused mainly on lending (see Income Statement operating segments below). And the shares are currently getting pummeled for one main reason: Fear. Specifically, fear of the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on student loan forgiveness and fear of banks defaulting (i.e. contagion to the financial system from the recent run on Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB)). In this note, we quickly review SOFI’s business and valuation, and then conclude with our strong opinion on investing (i.e. is the recent sell off an opportunity or a warning).
Ares: 40 Big-Yield BDCs, Silicon Valley Bank Warning
Business Development Companies (“BDCs”) are like banks, only riskier. And some BDCs are heavily concentrated in the venture capital (“VC”) space, just like Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB) that just shuttered its doors as the result of a VC-led bank run. In this report, we review Ares Capital (including its investment industry exposures and risks) and then compare it to 40 other BDCs, including four in particular that are heavily concentrated in the VC space. We conclude with our strong opinion about investing in BDCs, Ares Capital and VC-focused BDCs in particular.