Members Mailbag: We recently received an inquiry about big-yield small and micro-cap closed-end funds (CEFs) from Royce Investment Partners (specifically tickers RVT and RMT, which currently yield 9.4% and 10.7%, respectively). Here is the inquiry and our response:
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.
Update: PDI and PTY: Ugly ROC, Buyer Beware
UPDATE: Unbeknownst to many investors, PIMCO’s big-yield funds, PDI and PTY, are including a significant return of capital in their beloved big distributions (and it’s largely hidden through derivative swaps transactions). We reached out to PIMCO for comment, and found their replies (included in this report) concerning. These two big-yield PIMCO funds are simply not as good as many investors believe. Caveat emptor.
Small Cap Stock: To Benefit from IIoT, Attractive Valuation
The small cap stock we review in this report enables machines to communicate with each other and it is well positioned to benefit from vast and expanding new opportunities related to the Industrial Internet of Things (“IIoT”). It’s also being valued incorrectly because supply chain issues are being misunderstood (and they will clear up) and because it’s being valued like a traditional hardware company without proper recognition for its growing subscription revenue model (which warrants a higher multiple). In this report, we review the business, the expanding market opportunity, valuation and risks, and then conclude with our opinion on investing.
PDI and PTY: Ugly ROC, Buyer Beware
The PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (PDI) and PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity Fund (PTY) are absolute favorites among many income-focused investors. They both have long track records (one decade and two decades, respectively) of successfully delivering big monthly income payments (they currently yield 13.5% and 10.6%, respectively) and because they’ve sourced all that big income over the years without the return of capital (“ROC”) that plagues so many other high-income funds. However, a look under the hood reveals that these two PIMCO trophy funds have, in fact, been using ROC to fund their distributions (despite marketing materials that suggest otherwise). In this report, we review all the important details and then conclude with our strong opinion on investing—caveat emptor!
BDCs: Financially Strong, Despite Deteriorating Market
80 Big-Yield REITs: Residential Is Ugly, Office Is Worse
Top Growth Stocks - Still Hated
In this quick note, we share updated data on top growth stocks (those with at least 20% revenue growth expectations for this year and next). You’ll notice the names with positive net margins have performed relatively better over the last year (quite the opposite of when the pandemic bubble had full momentum behind it and revenue growth was all that seemed to matter). The table also shows recent performance, short interest, margins, various valuation metrics and more. It’s hard to take a contrarian view, but that’s often a profitable approach for selective long-term investors at lower points in the market cycle (i.e. right now).