Sherwin-Williams (SHW) is a terrific company with all the growth and consistency characteristics that I prefer. Historically the company has grown at double-digit above-average rates. However, since coming out of the Great Recession the company’s earnings growth rate has accelerated significantly. Consequently, Sherwin-Williams has been trading at uncharacteristically higher valuations than normal since 2013. On …
long ideas
25 Examples: How High Valuation Can Hurt Investors, Let Me Count the Ways
How High Valuation Can Hurt Investors It almost every article I have ever published, I talk about valuation in one manner or another. So much so, that readers have dubbed me Mr. Valuation. The primary reason I am so obsessed about valuation is because I believe it is one of the most important and yet …
Have You Noticed That Many Dividend Stocks are Finally in a Bear Market? General Mills Inc.: Part 1
Introduction For quite some time I have been complaining that most best-of-breed dividend growth stocks were overvalued. Frankly, for the most part I continue to hold that opinion. On the other hand, I am also starting to see what I’ll call a stealth bear market for many dividend growth stocks. In some cases, this stealth …
Why We Sold Walmart-It’s Not Why You Think
Introduction Walmart’s stock price took a bath early last week, and there are a lot of opinions regarding where the stock price now sits. The catalyst was their 4th quarter and fiscal year-end 2018 annual report (note: Walmart has a January 31 fiscal year end). The following headlines courtesy of “Google Finance” illustrate the variance …
Aflac: A Valuation Conundrum? Fairly Valued Dividend Aristocrats: Part 1 of 7
Introduction Aflac (AFL) is a Dividend Aristocrat that has increased its dividend for 35 consecutive years. However, it is only one of seven Dividend Aristocrats that I consider attractively valued in light of the current bull market. Therefore, this will be the first in a series of seven articles where I will cover these seven …
Priceline: A Growth Powerhouse – Forecast Profits and/or Cash Flow Not Prices!
Introduction This is the second in a series of articles where I will cover popular and/or high profile stocks. The primary objective of this series will be to put a spotlight on the importance of forecasting future growth prior to making an investment decision. The central idea is to determine whether or not a reasonable …
This Is Not Your Grandfather’s AT&T
Introduction I have had several readers request that I do an article on AT&T (T). Since the company has just reported earnings, which have thus far received a strong and positive reaction from Wall Street, I thought now would be a good time. Following their earnings report, an article published on July 25, 2017 at …
I Purchased United Parcel Service Inc. to Meet These Specific Objectives
Introduction United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) currently offers a dividend yield in excess of 3%. Moreover, it is also available at a valuation that is slightly below historical norms. The company has provided a stable and growing dividend since it went public in 1999. However, the company did keep their dividend the same for fiscal …
Stocks 2014: Investing for Growth – The Power and Protection of High Compounding Earnings Growth – Part 2
As I become more mature (translate: gotten older), my investment philosophy has slowly evolved into a more conservative posture. When I was a younger investor I felt I had time on my side, and therefore, was willing to take on greater risk as long as I believed that greater rewards could follow. In other words, …