Yet investors are scratching their heads. These buybacks are often seen in tandem with share prices hitting fresh multi-year lows. Gone are the days when companies would resort to buybacks only when their stock was deeply out of favor, far from its 52-week high.
Why are these companies "buying at highs"? In almost every instance, they appear to have little other use for their cash. They could go out and complete acquisitions that boost the top and bottom lines. Or they could seek to offer up very high dividends. Instead, they simply are managing their business with an eye toward maximizing cash flow, and using buybacks as a primary way to reward investors.
Here's a look at companies that have recently initiated or extended share buyback programs that could shrink the numbers of shares outstanding by more than 10%.
Top Warren Buffett Companies To Buy For 2015: Gas Natural Inc. (EGAS)
Gas Natural Inc. engages in the distribution and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Montana, Wyoming, North Carolina, and Maine. The company distributes approximately 30 billion cubic feet of natural gas to approximately 63,500 customers through regulated utilities operating in Montana, Wyoming, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It also markets approximately 1.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas to commercial and industrial customers in Montana and Wyoming, and manages midstream supply and production assets for transportation customers and utilities. In addition, the company owns a 48% working interest in 160 natural gas producing wells and gas gathering assets. Further, it owns the Shoshone interstate and the Glacier gathering natural gas pipelines located in Montana and Wyoming. The company was formerly known as Energy, Inc. and changed its name to Gas Natural Inc. in July 2010. Gas Natural Inc. was founded in 1909 an d is headquartered in Great Falls, Montana.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Dittman]
Gas Natural Inc (NYSE: EGAS) distributes and sells natural gas to approximately 73,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers through regulated utilities operating in Montana, Wyoming, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Carolina and Kentucky.
Top High Dividend Companies To Own For 2014: bebe stores inc.(BEBE)
bebe stores, inc. engages in the design, development, and production of women?s apparel and accessories. Its products include a range of separates, tops, dresses, active wear, and accessories in career, evening, casual, and active lifestyle categories. The company markets its products under the bebe, BEBE SPORT, bbsp, and 2b bebe brand names targeting 21 to 34-year-old woman. As of July 2, 2011, it operated 252 retail stores, and an online store at bebe.com in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Japan, and Canada, as well as 60 international licensee operated stores in south east Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, Mexico, and Turkey. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Brisbane, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
bebe stores, inc. (Nasdaq:BEBE) reported that its Board of Directors declared bebe�� quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share. The dividend is payable on December 4, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2012
- [By Rich Duprey]
Women's fashion leader bebe (NASDAQ: BEBE ) has a new face on its board of directors. The specialty retailer announced Monday it has named Narry Singh to join the board, noting his contributions in the world of digital entertainment.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Bebe Stores (BEBE) reported a loss of 14 cents a share, more than the 13 cent loss forecast by analysts, and said it would experience a loss in the low- to mid-teens during the current quarter.
- [By Eric Volkman]
bebe stores (NASDAQ: BEBE ) continues to outfit its shareholders in cash by maintaining its dividend policy. The company has declared a fresh quarterly distribution of $0.025 per share of its stock, payable on June 20 to shareholders of record as of June 6.��That amount matches the company's preceding disbursement, which was handed out in mid-March.
Top High Dividend Companies To Own For 2014: First Financial Corporation Indiana(THFF)
First Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial services. Its deposit products include interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing demand deposits, savings accounts, time deposits, and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; residential loans; and consumer loans. It also provides mortgage lending; lease financing; trust account and depositor services; and insurance services, such as property and casualty insurance, surety bonds, employee benefit plans, life insurance, and annuities. The company operates 54 branches in west-central Indiana and east-central Illinois. First Financial Corporation was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
What do Prospect Capital Corporation (NASDAQ:PSEC), Astec Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTE), and First Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:THFF) have in common? Not much, on the surface. In fact, were it not for something very specific to one particular person (me), they'd have nothing in common at all. This week though, THFF, ASTE, and PSEC all have at least one thing in common, and that's the fact that they're all going into my mental/hypothetical portfolio.
Top High Dividend Companies To Own For 2014: Nam Tai Electronics Inc.(NTE)
Nam Tai Electronics, Inc. provides electronics manufacturing and design services to the original equipment manufacturers of telecommunication and consumer electronic products. The company?s Consumer Electronic and Communication Products segment manufactures mobile phone accessories, such as headsets containing Bluetooth wireless technology, and phone cradles, as well as snap-on portable music speaker, FM radio adaptors, and GPS adaptors; entertainment devices, including USB Web cam for interactive games, USB microphone and converter box Karaoke, and buzzer devices for quiz games; educational products consisting of digital pens, calculators, and electronic dictionaries; and optical devices comprising CMOS imaging sensor modules for notebook computers, portable media players, and recording cameras for the automotive industry. Its Telecommunication Component Assembly segment offers subassemblies and components, such as color and monochrome LCD modules for PDA phones, smart p hones, mobile phones, and telephone systems; RF modules for integration into mobile phones; DAB modules for digital radio products, including home tuners, kitchen radios, in-car receivers, CD players, clock radios, boom boxes, midi-systems, and handheld portable devices; FPC subassemblies for LCD modules and electronic devices; FPC boards for mobile phones, PDAs, office automation, and laptop computers; front and back light panels for handheld video game devices; and high-frequency cordless telephones and home feature phones. The company?s LCD Products segment manufactures LCD panels for watches and medical instruments, white goods and industrial applications, automotive parts and appliances, car audio systems, hand held products, VoIP phones, and office automation applications. It sells its products to customers in Hong Kong, North America, Europe, Japan, the People?s Republic of China, and Korea. The company was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, the Peopl e?s Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Munarriz]
Nam Tai Electronics� (NYSE: NTE ) -- $6.78
Shares of Nam Tai took a hit three months ago after posting uninspiring quarterly results. - [By Roberto Pedone]
Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Nam Tai Electronics (NTE), which is an electronics manufacturing and design services provider to a select group of the world's leading OEMs of telecommunications and consumer electronic products. This stock has been destroyed by the sellers so far in 2013, with shares off sharply by 41%.
If you look at the chart for Nam Tai Electronics, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $6.05 to its recent high of $8.38 a share. During that uptrend, shares of NTE have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of NTE within range of triggering a big breakout trade.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in NTE if it manages to break out above some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.38 to $8.79 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 647,483 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then NTE will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from April that started near $11.50 a share. If this stock gets into that gap with volume, then the upside is tremendous and we could easily see NTE hit $11 to $12 a share.
Traders can look to buy NTE off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $7.42 a share, or below more key support at $7.22 a share. One can also buy NTE off strength once it takes out that breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Nam Tai Electronics (NYSE: NTE ) got crushed today by as much as 37% after the company reported earnings.
So what: Revenue in the first quarter more than doubled to $177.5 million, which translated into earnings per share of $0.11. Both figures handily topped consensus estimates, which were calling for $150 million in sales and $0.05 per share in profit. The real cause for concern was within Nam Tai's guidance.
Top High Dividend Companies To Own For 2014: Meredith Corp (MDP)
Meredith Corporation, incorporated on September 8, 1905, is a media and marketing company serving American women. The Company operates two business segments: national media and local media. The national media segment includes magazine publishing, brand licensing, digital and customer relationship marketing, digital and mobile media, database-related activities, and other related operations. The local media segment consists of the operations of network-affiliated television stations, related digital and mobile media, and video creation operations. In February 2014, Gannett Co Inc completes the sale of KMOV-TV in St. Louis, MO, to Meredith Corp.
National Media
The Company�� national media segment includes national consumer media brands delivered through multiple media platforms, brand licensing activities, and business-to-business marketing products and services. It focuses on the home and family market and is a publisher of magazines serving women. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 (fiscal 2013) the Company published in print twenty subscription magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Parents, FamilyFun, American Baby, EveryDay with Rachael Ray, and Fitness, and approximately 120 special interest publications under approximately 75 titles primarily under the Better Homes and Gardens brand. 20 if the Company�� brands are also available as digital editions on various platforms. The Company�� national media segment's extensive digital media presence consists of over 40 Websites, almost 30 mobile-optimized Websites, and about 30 applications (apps). Of those websites and apps, the Allrecipes' brand accounts for 18 websites, 18 mobile sites serving 23 countries in 12 languages, and 11 mobile apps. The national media segment also includes digital and customer relationship marketing, which provides specialized marketing products and services to some of America's companies; a large consumer database; brand licensing activities! , and other related operations. National media segment represented 74 % of the Company�� revenues in fiscal 2013. The Company�� magazines offer regional and demographic editions that contain similar editorial content but allow advertisers to customize messages to specific markets or audiences. The Company sells two primary types of magazine advertising: display and direct-response. Advertisements are either run-of-press (printed along with the editorial portions of the magazine) or inserts (preprinted pages).
The Company also possesses a marketing unit, Meredith 360掳, which provides clients and their agencies with access to a range of media products and services it has to offer, including many media platforms. Its subscription magazines, except American Baby, Ser Padres, and Successful Farming, are also sold by single copy. Single copies sold on newsstands are distributed primarily through magazine wholesalers, who have the right to receive credit from the Company for magazines returned to them by retailers. National media has 22 apps focused on food, parenthood, and health. National media's 30 websites and 10 mobile-optimized Websites provide ideas and inspiration. These branded websites focus on the topics that women care about most-food, home, entertaining, and meeting the needs of moms-and on delivering content geared toward lifestyle topics, such as health, beauty, style, and wellness.
Local Media
The Company�� local media segment consists of 12 network-affiliated television stations located across the United States. The television stations consist of six CBS affiliates, three FOX affiliates, two MyNetworkTV affiliates, and one NBC affiliate. Local media's digital presence includes 20 Websites and mobile Websites and 36 apps focused on news, sports, and weather-related information. Local media segment represented 26% of the Company�� revenues in fiscal 2013. The principal sources of the local media segment's revenues are local advertising focusing on ! the immed! iate geographic area of the stations, national advertising, retransmission of its television signal to satellite and cable systems, advertising on the stations' Websites and mobile Websites, station operation management fees, and payments by advertisers for other services, such as the production of advertising materials. The stations sell commercial time to both local/regional and national advertisers. The Company broadcasts local newscasts in high definition in six of its markets and in wide screen format in its other four markets. Meredith Video Studios (MVS) is its development, production, and multiplatform distribution company that produces video for use by the Company�� television stations and its local and national media Websites, and is producing custom video for clients as well.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tyler Laundon]
Publishing company Meredith Corporation (MDP), which yields 3.4%, is also among the top ten holdings. This company has a long history of dividend growth dating back to the mid-1990s and is a perfect fit for the DGRS.
- [By Dividends4Life]
Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Avg. High Yield Price 2. 20-Year DCF Price 3. Avg. P/E Price 4. Graham Number K is trading at a discount to only 3.) above. Since K's tangible book value is not meaningful, a Graham number can not be calculated. The stock is trading at a 130.9% premium to its calculated fair value of $28.13. K did not earn any Stars in this section.Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Free Cash Flow Payout 2. Debt To Total Capital 3. Key Metrics 4. Dividend Growth Rate 5. Years of Div. Growth 6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15% K earned no Stars in this section. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1923 and has increased its dividend payments for 10 consecutive years.Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA) or Treasury bond? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. NPV MMA Diff. 2. Years to > MMA The NPV MMA Diff. of the $37 is below the $2,500 target I look for in a stock that has increased dividends as long as K has. If K grows its dividend at 2.2% per year, it will take 8 years to equal a MMA yielding an estimated 20-year average rate of 3.31%.Memberships and Peers: K is a member of the S&P 500. The company�� peer group includes: Campbell Soup Company (CPB) with a 2.7% yield, General Mills, Inc. (GIS) with a 3.0% yield, and The Hershey Company (HSY) with a 1.9% yield.Conclusion: K did not earn any Stars in the Fair Value section, did not earn any Stars in the Divi
- [By Dividends4Life]
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Top High Dividend Companies To Own For 2014: Analytica Bio - Energy Corp (ABEC)
Analytica Bio-Energy Corp., formerly Uniwell Electronic Corporation, incorporated on January 12, 2004, is a company with water purification system. The Company was a shell company.
The Company focused on acquiring an active business. In September 2013, the Company changed its name to Analytica Bioenergy, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Burrows]
Most importantly, on days when this penny stock did see heavy volume, it tumbled — a classic red flag for the “dump” part of pump-and-dump schemes, which penny stocks are ripe for.
Top Penny Stocks: Analytica Bio-Energy Corp. (ABEC)YTD Performance: 29,300%
52-Week Range: $0.0017 – $0.50
Average Volume (3 months): 9,574
Market Cap: $10.6 million
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