NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs are meeting this week at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949. It is expected that NATO will acknowledge space as NATO’s new operational sphere at these meetings.
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Dividend Aristocrats: Income Growth Over Time + Historical Outperformance
In this review, Durig examines the ways in which holding a diverse portfolio of dividend paying, high quality blue chip stocks can help to provide investors some much needed stability.
Performance Highlights
- Lifetime Return of 14.06%
- Average Dividend Yield of 3.34%
As trade tensions between the US and China continue to plague financial markets, investors are looking for high quality investments that can still deliver.
Durig has found the solution; blue chip dividend stocks.
What is the Future of NATO?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949. It was one of the first defense unions. The main reason for the creation of NATO was a need for a western unified alliance against the threat of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1991, NATO integrated some former communist block Eastern European nations into the alliance.
Income and Growth Strategies That Are Working in Today’s Market
In this special review, Durig benchmarks the performance of its three unique blue chip equity portfolios, the Dogs of the Dow, Dogs of the S&P 500, and the Dividend Aristocrats, all of which are designed to capture high quality blue chip dividends of some of the most reputable companies on wall street.
With interest rates continuing to fall and attractive yields becoming increasingly difficult to find, many investors are turning away from conventional fixed income investments such as US Treasuries.
Dividend Aristocrats: Income Stability and Growth Over Time
A review and performance recap of Durig’s highly successful Dividend Aristocrats Portfolio that also compares the portfolio to another aristocratic dividend portfolio. The Dividend Aristocrats Portfolio was also designed with income stability in mind, maintaining investment focus on only higher quality blue chip companies known as “Aristocrats.”
October Performance Highlights
- Average Dividend Yield of 3.51%
- Lifetime return of 9.44%
- Excess Return of 3.27% (vs. benchmark)*
- Alpha of 7.95 (vs. benchmark*)
- Beta of 0.18 (vs. benchmark*)
Chesapeake Energy Bonds, Short Term, High Yield, Fixed Income Investment, Yielding 9.5% YTM
This week, Durig looks at an energy company that is making the transition from its historical focus on natural gas to be more focused on oil production. Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK) has been making strides this year to transition towards a more oil focused production portfolio. Chesapeake has already increased oil in its production portfolio from 17% in 2018, to 24% as of the end of the second quarter. The company estimates it will exit 2019 with oil representing 26% of its production. Oil is a higher margin product, so Chesapeake is already seeing the fruit of its decision (see bullet points above).
Dogs of the Dow: Find Blue Chip Peace of Mind with Over 4% Income
A monthly performance review of Durig’s Dogs of the Dow Portfolio that explores several benefits that income producing investments such the Dogs of the Dow can help to provide.
Performance Highlights
- Lifetime Return of 12.87% (annualized)
- Year-to-Date Return of 8.30%
- Alpha of 4.89 (vs benchmark)*
- Beta of 0.77 (vs benchmark)*
- Average Current Yield of 4.18%
Income Aristocrats: High Income with Less Historical Volatility
Durig takes an in-depth look at it’s newest addition to its portfolio of investment solutions, the Income Aristocrats. An extremely diversified portfolio, the income aristocrats seamlessly blends the Fixed Income 2, Dogs of the S&P 500, and the Dividend Aristocrats strategies into an income generating machine.
California Resources Corporation Bonds, Short Term, High Yield, Fixed Income Investment, Yielding 33.5% YTM
This week, Durig Capital takes a look at a unique oil and gas producer. Reviewed several times in the past, most recently in May of 2019 following the company’s release of their Q1 Results, California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) produces oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) strictly within the state of California. And, it sells all of it oil production in the state of California, which, as a state, represents the 5th largest economy in the world. The company recently signed its third major joint venture agreement, which will allow the company to add production and revenue with no initial capital cost to CRC. In addition to this great news, CRC also posted some excellent results from its second quarter (see bullet points above).
CoreCivic Bonds, Short Term, High Yield, Fixed Income Investment, Yielding 6.7% YTM
This week, Durig Capital looks at a company that primarily provides private prison services for governmental agencies here in the United States. CoreCivic (NYSE:CXW) has also recently added two additional business segments to its portfolio – CoreCivic Community, which consists of residential reentry centers, and CoreCivic Properties, which is a portfolio of government-leased properties. The company recently posted a solid first quarter, registering increases in many of its financial metrics.
US Election Meddling in Afghanistan? Or Someone Else?
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai recently made striking accusations against the United States. Karzai is claiming the US is trying to meddle in the upcoming September 28, 2019 presidential elections. The former Afghan president is insinuating that Afghan citizens have no influence over who the US installs into the executive office. These allegations may cause a new round of tensions in Afghanistan, and at a time where international peace negotiators are trying to organize a treaty that will allow an exit for the US led peacekeeping coalition.
Geo Group Bonds, Short Term, High Yield, Fixed Income Investment, Yielding 8% YTM
This week, Durig Capital looks at a company providing private prison services for governmental agencies both domestically and abroad. Geo Group, Inc. (NYSE:GEO) is one of only a handful of private prison service companies. With the election of President Trump, private prison companies have gotten a boost due to more stringent prosecutions as directed by our new attorney general, as well as Trump’s zero tolerance policies on immigration. The company’s first quarter 2019 results reflect this new political climate (above).
Geo Group is awaiting decisions from the Federal Bureau of Prisons on two procurements (CAR 18 and CAR 19) that total close to 12,000 beds. If these decisions come back in favor of Geo Group, the company would likely again increase its current guidance (as it just did with the release of its first quarter results). Geo Group’s 2023 bonds, couponed at 5.125%, are currently trading at a discount, giving them an enticing yield-to-maturity of over 9%. With the most recent increase in guidance and the possibility of more on the way, these short-term maturity bonds (maturing in only 44 months) are an ideal addition to Durig Capital’s Fixed Income 2 (FX2) High Yield Managed Income Portfolio, the aggregated performance of which is shown below.
Are There New Details About the Saudis and 9/11?
This week, WSJ (Wall Street Journal) published an article, outlining a letter from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the US, offering to aide victims family’s lawsuit against Saudi Arabia, if he is spared the death penalty.
The federal lawsuit was filed in the State of New York by insurance companies in 2017. KSM is currently being held at Guantanamo Bay prison. He was convicted in absentia in 1996, by a New York Court, for participation in a terrorist act in the Philippines.
President Rouhani: Iran Will Negotiate If US Lifts Sanctions
President Hassan Rohani is ready for negotiations with the United States in order to stop efforts to punish his country economically. Amid tensions between Washington and Tehran, Germany, France and the United Kingdom called for responsible action. Iranian President Hassan Rohani said on Sunday his country is ready to resume talks with the United States if Washington removes heavy economic sanctions against the country and returns to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Turkey Risks US Sanctions After Buying Russian S-400 Missiles
The Turkish Defense Ministry said on Friday that they have received the first Russian air defense system S-400. The delivery was made earlier today with the equipment reaching an air base northwest of the capital Ankara, the ministry said. The purchase angered the United States, Turkey’s ally. The United States has warned Turkey that it may face sanctions because of the purchase, including denial of access to US F-35 fighter jets.
3 Model Portfolios, A New Way to Diversify
Durig Capital is excited to introduce three new model portfolio strategies composed of a variety of ETFs, Mutual Funds, and Index Funds. Model portfolios have been growing in popularity in recent years, with many large investing platforms now offering an increasingly wide variety of model portfolios.