If you are an income-focused investor, you’ve likely considered PIMCO’s popular big-yield bond funds (often yielding in excess of 10%, paid monthly). You may have also considered BlackRock funds (although many perceive them as second rate to PIMCO). In this report, we compare high-level data on 10 big-yield bond funds (from PIMCO and BlackRock), and then dive deeper into PIMCO’s 14% yielding Dynamic Income Fund (PDI), including a discussion of its risks (such as leverage, interest rates, insufficient distribution coverage, confounding interest rate swaps and the potential for delayed recognition of “Return of Capital” that was previously taxed as ordinary income). We conclude with our strong opinion on investing.
Quick Note: Nvidia Pipeline
Software Application Stocks: Interest Rates, Market Rotation and 3 Attractive Opportunities
So the latest reports of cooling inflation triggered some market rotation this week, and there could be more to come. One group that may be particularly well-positioned for gains is select software application stocks. For example, the group has been underperforming the market, but the fundamentals have remained strong. In this report, we briefly review changing interest rate expectations, sector rotation, and 3 top software application stocks, especially as the AI boom proliferates beyond just phase one hardware/semiconductors).
ADX: New 8.0% Distribution, Shrinking Discount to NAV (Tender Offer)
Quick Note: As we wrote about previously, this attractive CEF recently announced initiatives to shrink its discount to NAV (good for shareholders). The initiatives include a newly increased distribution, plus a public market tender offer to acquire up to 10% of the shares at 98% of NAV. And as you can see in the chart below, things are going well.
Experiential REIT: Despite Risks, 6.0% Yield Worth Considering
If you are an income-focused investor, Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) can be attractive. And one REIT that stands out for its growing dividend yield (and growing funds from operations) is VICI Properties (an “experiential” REIT best known for its Caesar’s Palace and MGM Grand properties on the Las Vegas strip). In this report, we review VICI’s business (including what makes it special), dividend safety, valuation and risks. We conclude with our opinion on investing.
Top 10 Growth Stocks (July Edition): Market Rotation Opportunities
Owning top businesses for the long-term doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to the risks and rewards of market rotation. While Main Street is just now hearing about Nvidia for the first time (it’s up nearly 3,000% over the last 5-years), most investors know chip stocks (like Nvidia) are notoriously cyclical and (despite powerful long-term megatrends, like AI) 50% pullbacks are not uncommon. In this report, we countdown our top 10 growth stocks (July edition) with a special focus on market cycle risks and outstanding opportunities with big long-term upside.
Enovix: Despite Risks, Big Upside
As smart phone energy demands grow (especially with the proliferation of AI apps), Enovix is working to scale its disruptive battery architecture to improve efficiency and capacity. And the company’s total addressable market (“TAM”) is enormous, expanding beyond just smart phones and into wide-ranging Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices and electric vehicles. In this report we review the Enovix solution, TAM, progress, valuation and risks. We conclude with our strong opinion on investing.
Nvidia: Despite Red Flags, It’s Going Much Higher
Nvidia is the dominant seminconductor leader powering explosive megatrend growth in the great cloud migration and now artificial intelligence. And these truly massive megatrends are not coming to an end anytime soon. However, there are multiple glaring “red flags” for Nvidia. In this report, we review the business, growth, market size, current valuation, moat and then four massive red flags investors need to consider. We conclude with our strong opinion on investing.
Top 10 Big-Yields: REITS, BDCs, CEFs (July Update)
Concentration can help you get rich, but diversification helps you stay rich. And if you own 25 different flavors of big-yield mortgage REITs—you’re still not exactly “well diversified.” In this report, we countdown our to 10 big-yield opportunities, with a special focus on diversifying your risks (across different investment types) while simultaneously keeping your income high.
50+ Big-Yield CEFs: These 2 Worth Considering
In this quick note, we’re sharing updated data on 50+ big-yield closed-end funds (“CEFs”) from across categories. You likely recognize many of these top names. We’re also highlighting two in particular that are attractive because of management’s new active initiatives to shrink the discount to NAV (a good thing).
Main Street Capital: 40 Big-Yield BDCs Compared
BDCs are often an income-investor favorite (thanks to their big growing dividends). And among BDCs, Main Street Capital (MAIN) has consistently been a top performer. However, investors frequently misunderstand Main Street’s fundamentals (i.e. they incorrectly believe price-to-book is too high and they forget to properly consider special dividends when considering the yield). In this report, we share data on 40+ big-yield BDCs, considering current price-to-book values (versus history), current market conditions (including how much credit spread risk is priced in) and the breakdown of historical returns (in terms of price gains versus dividend income). We conclude with out strong opinion about investing in BDCs in general and Main Street Capital in particular.
Muni Bond CEFs: 2 Big "Tax-Equivalent Yields," Attractive
If you manage a big-yield portfolio in a “taxable account,” this report is for you. Municipal bonds are often exempt fom paying federal income tax, which means you can earn a higher “tax equivalent yield.” What’s more, certain well-managed and prudently-leveraged munipal bond CEFs trade at discounts to NAV and offer particularly compelling yields as management is taking actions to reduce the discounts (a good thing if you own them). In this report, we review two attractive big-yield muni bond CEFs that are worth considering for your taxable account.
Quick Note: Top Growth Stocks Data
Top 10 "High Income NOW" Securities Tear Sheet (June Update)
Quick Note: The Top 10 “High Income NOW” Tear Sheet has been updated for July (and it can be accessed below). There were a few minor updates. For example, we added to a big-yield municipal bond CEF (as an honorable mention) because of management’s announced efforts to reduce the price discount), and we added to a top BDC that recently sold off (as it presents an attractive buying opportunity after a price decline). Disciplined, goal-focused, long-term investing continues to be a winning strategy.
Distribution Quality Scores: 10 Top Big-Yields, Ranked
One of the greatest concepts ever is retiring and simply living off the dividends. No work, no tasks, just big steady distributions rolling in like clockwork (for you to spend and live life however you please). The problem with this, of course, is that many investors end up chasing after the biggest yield opportunities without properly considering the quality of those yields. In this report, we introduce our “Big-Yield Quality Scores,” ranking 10 very popular big yields, including PDI, JEPI, SCHD, USA, ARCC, AGNC and more.
Nvidia: How Much to Hold, Sell
Nvidia is a once-in-a-generation stock (it’s up +24,000% in the last 10 years and +207,000% since going public). And if you’re like a lot of people, you’re sitting on massive gains and a relatively large position. If you own the shares in an IRA then capital gains tax is not an issue, but position size may be. In this quick note, we share some thoughts on how much Nvidia you should hold, how much you should sell, and why (i.e. growth opportunities, taxes and risks).
Big-Yield (8%+) Equity CEF: Big Discount to Narrow
One of the largest holdings in our “High Income NOW” Portfolio got some good news recently, and the share price is up. We expect this CEF’s price discount (versus NAV) to narrow though year end (a good thing), and the long-term performance to be significantly better than most other big-yield opportunities. In this report, we review the strategy (and its relative attractiveness versus other big-yielders), the good news (and why we expect the current discount to NAV to shrink) and finally our strong opinion on who might want to consider investing.
USA's 10.0% Yield: Nudging Novices in the Right Direction
A lot of income-focused investors would miss out on the power of diversified stocks if it weren’t for closed-end funds like the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (USA), currently yielding 10.0% (paid quarterly). However, a look under the hood reveals this popular fund is only an incremental improvement for many investors, and it omits many of the qualities that make many other CEFs so attractive. In this report, we review USA (including the strategy, distribution, expenses, leverage, holdings and price versus net asset value (NAV)). We conclude with our strong opinion about investing in USA.
Top 10 Growth Stocks: Big Long-Term Upside
The tech-heavy Nasdaq just closed at a new all-time high. And while this is encouraging to some investors, and discouraging to others, the best bet for long-term investors is to simply own geat businesses (and ignore everything else—it’s just noise). In this report, we countdown our top 10 growth stocks, starting with a few honorable mentions. If you are into day trading, options and crypto—ignore this report—it’s not for you. If you like massive long-term compound growth, continue reading for our top ideas.