Value Investing News

Before the 2008 financial meltdown, names like Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup, Inc. (C), U.S. Bancorp (USB) and Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) were held in many dividend growth portfolios. And why not? They paid a good yield and grew their dividend on a regular basis. Now their yields range between 0.5% and 1.7%. There is a lesson to be learned here...

When looking for value-priced stocks, the Price-To-Book (P/B) ratio is one that I like to focus on. P/B is calculated as share price divided by book value per share. Book value is most often calculated as Assets less Liabilities.

In the U.S. and Canada, most companies pay dividends quarterly. In other parts of the world, it is not uncommon for companies to pay an annual or a semi-annual dividend. That is not to say that North American companies sometimes choose not to pay quarterly dividends.

Harleysville Group Inc. underwrites a broad array of personal and commercial coverages. These insurance coverages are marketed primarily in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

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The Financial Services Sector includes insurance companies, banks, brokerages, mutual funds and other similar companies. Before the 2008-09 financial services meltdown, these stocks were the cornerstone on many income portfolios. The companies were flush with cash, the stocks provided relatively high yields, good dividend growth rates and carried very little perceived risk.

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This is the second installment in a multi-part series that looks at different sectors that have traditionally been very friendly to dividend investors. Each of these sectors have attributes that make the companies in them potentially desirable to long-term buy-and-hold dividend growth investors.

It’s human nature for new income investors to focus on yield. Many eventually learn that above average yields often carry an above average risk of a dividend cut, loss of invested capital or both. People involved in extreme sports/hobbies, such as base jumping, hang gliding and shark diving, do things to minimize risk and protect themselves.

Harleysville Group Inc. underwrites a broad array of personal and commercial coverages. These insurance coverages are marketed primarily in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

For many investors, there is no clear conviction as to how they should invest. Today’s investments are guided by what was read yesterday, and the popular media is constantly churning out new and different ideas. Granted, it makes for some “interesting” reads, but it certainty is no way to run a portfolio.

What a difference a year makes. This time last year we were looking at big-name dividend cuts and very few increases. Last week’s 16 increases set the stage for this week’s flood of companies, large and small, raising cash dividends paid to their shareholders.