The Dividend Payout Ratio
The dividend payout ratio is an important indicator when evaluating stocks for your long-term dividend portfolio. The ratio shows you how much of a company’s earnings are being paid out via dividends. As we discussed with MLPs, this ratio is very high. The typical corporations you research as potential stock plays, however, can be all over the map. A younger, growth company typically will have a very low dividend payout ratio (or maybe even a zero ratio) since they are typically using the Read more [...]
Remodeled McDonald’s Stores Drive More Sales
McDonald’s Corp (MCD) is working on redesigning, remodeling and even in some cases, rebuilding many of its US stores. US stores generate almost half of the company’s profit, so growing this division is key to continued profit growth. McDonald’s plans to remodel stores into better layouts that encourage consumers to stick around longer as well as double drive-thru lanes that encourage more traffic. As reported by WSJ, a trial batch of remodeled stores saw sales rise 6% to 7% faster than the Read more [...]
Walmart Experimenting With Selling Appliances In U.S. Stores
In an attempt to boost sales, Walmart is testing in some Texas stores selling appliances such as refrigerators. They will have units on the floor in a range of pricing points and have trained employees on the appliances. Walmart did experiment with appliance sales back in 2000, but cut the program short. This new program will put Walmart in competition with retailers like Home Depot, Lowes and Best Buy who have been selling appliances for some time. This is an effort to build US comp Read more [...]
How Much Walmart Stock Does Warren Buffett Own?
According to Berkshire Hathaway’s latest 13-F filling, which can be seen here, Buffett’s company owns just over 39 million shares of Walmart Stores, Inc. (WMT) as of March of 2011. This was unchanged I believe from his previous 13-F form. His WMT shares represent a value of roughly just over $2 billion. This holding represents approximately just under 4% of the total stock portfolio for Berkshire. His largest holdings are Coca-Cola (KO) at just under 25% of his portfolio, Wells Fargo Company Read more [...]
Market Update May 20, 2011
The broad markets continue to be somewhat range bound with medium advances in both the higher direction and the lower direction. Big headlines recently include the IPO of the first large social media company in Linked In (LNKD) which was a high flier upon its debut. Additionally, companies like Gap Stores (GPS) reported tough earnings and a weak outlook due to the stagflationary environment which equals lower consumer spending and higher input costs. No surprise here for those of us that have Read more [...]