Popular story links this week

Magic Formula Stock Review: Lender Processing Services (LPS)

(via www.magicdiligence.com)

Lender Processing Services is riding the historic wave of mortgage defaults, and with continuing high rates of late mortgages and a building backlog of foreclosures, business looks good for 2010 as well. But there are some real risks to consider before investing.

Carnival Corporation - Ghost Ship Investing?

(via waxink.blogspot.com)

While we may not be square knot experts, we do know the difference between walking up a gangway and walking off a plank.

9 Dividend Stocks Building Future Yield | Dividends Value

(via dividendsvalue.com)

Having narrowly missed the tech bubble bursting, I purchased my first dividend stock on December 11, 2003. I had heard dividend investments were supposed to be safer, but knew very little else about the strategy. I was fortunate enough to accidentally buy enough good dividend stocks to learn the “secret” of dividend investing.

Investor Questions Podcast #9: How Do You Calculate a Bank's Intrinsic Value?

(via www.investorquestionspodcast.com)

Geoff walks you through an intrinsic value estimate for Valley National (VLY). He focuses on deposits and the cost to gather them. Geoff says Valley is worth about $15 a share.

The right time to buy dividend stocks

(via www.dividendgrowthinvestor.com)

With the market getting overextended for several months now, and my unwillingness to chase many dividends stocks, it is time to reflect on whether I am doing the right thing or not. Some stocks such as Emerson Electric (EMR) and Realty Income (O) which I was going to add to either in March or in April are trading at valuations that seem richer than what I am willing to pay for at the time.

Increasing Dividend Yield Part III: Preferred Stock | Dividends Value

(via dividendsvalue.com)

This is the third installment in a multi-part series that looks at various options used by income investors to boost their yield while waiting for dividend growth to lift their portfolio’s overall yield-on-cost. Last week we looked at REITs. This week we are looking at Preferred Stock.

Revenue Spikes

(via www.barelkarsan.com)

However, investors should be careful not to assume that future growth is a fait accompli, or that revenues will even stabilize at current high levels. While we've often discussed how investors should interpret one-time losses, occasionally one-time gains can occur as well. Consider Alpha Pro Tech (APT), maker of a slew of protective products, from medical masks to roof underlay.

Bank Shareholders: Forget About Dividend Increases

(via www.dividendgrowthinvestor.com)

The most important dividend events of the past week included news that have regulators warned financial companies to restrict dividend increases and stock buybacks for the near future. According to Reuters, executives from Goldman Sachs (GS) and JP Morgan Chase (JPM) have had talks with regulators about returning more cash to shareholders.

Festival of Stocks - ETFs, Value Stocks, Virtual Stock Trading

(via www.stockpursuit.com)

Catch this week's edition of the Festival of Stocks.

Canadian Mortgage Concerns: Banks

(via www.nurseb911.com)

They were asked details about income but no verification on their part was completed prior to their approval. The other disturbing fact was that both of these events happened at the same Canadian bank at different branches.

The DIV-Net: Stock Analysis: Kimberly Clark Corp. (KMB)

(via www.thediv-net.com)

Kimberly Clark Corp. is a global consumer products company produces tissue, personal care and health care. Its brands include Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex, Depend, Kleenex, Scott and Kimberly-Clark. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

Miguel Barbosa: Interviews Bud Labitan, Author of "Price To Value"

(via www.simoleonsense.com)

Miguel Barbosa Interviews Bud Labitan, Author of Price To Value: Intelligent Speculation Using The Decision Filters of Munger and Buffett. Bud, thank you for joining us for this interview. We are here to talk about your new book –Price To Value: Intelligent Speculation Using The Decision Filters of Munger and Buffett. This book seems to focus on decision making and particularly decision framing.

VIX Doesn’t Work as Signal for Stocks, Birinyi Says

(via www.bloomberg.com)

"'The VIX is a coincidental indicator,' Birinyi wrote. 'It details, perhaps better than other measures, the volatility of the market today but not tomorrow or the day after.'"

Eaton Vance Wins Greek Bet Five Years After Buying Credit Swaps

(via www.bloomberg.com)

A mutual fund manager paid just 0.20% per year for five years in premiums to insure against Greece defaulting on its bonds sometime in the next 15 years. That bet has paid off big.

Liberty Media, Elliott Said to Drop From MGM Bidding

(via www.bloomberg.com)

John Malone's Liberty Media (LCAPA) drops out of bidding for MGM film studio. MGM, which has defaulted on loans and is in danger of filing for Chapter 11, has a library of more than 4,000 films. Other bidder include Lions Gate (LGF) and Time Warner (TWX).