Core Insights - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) has shown consistent positive performance, achieving a year-to-date return increase of 2.10% in September, continuing a trend of strong gains since May of this year [1]. Group 1 - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) has been posting strong positive gains month after month since May [1]. - In September, the Fund added 2.10% to its year-to-date return [1].

Results for the Six Months Ended 28 June 2024* 7 th August 2024 *Unaudited Forward looking statements 2 This document contains statements, estimates or projections that constitute "forward-looking statements" concerning the financial condition, performance, results, guidance and outlook, dividends, consequences of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and divestitures, including the joint venture with Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) and acquisition of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), strat ...

Market Performance - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) achieved a 2.34% return in August, marking its fourth consecutive monthly gain [2] - Vanguard's High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYM) outperformed SPY with a return of 2.44% [2] - A watchlist of selected stocks yielded a return of 5.45% in August, surpassing both SPY and VYM, with a year-to-date return of 21.82% [2][10] Watchlist Strategy - The watchlist aims to identify high-quality stocks with attractive valuations and a good starting dividend yield, targeting a long-term compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% [2][10] - The current CAGR of the watchlist stands at 18.64% after 46 months, exceeding the target [2][10] - The top 10 stocks on the watchlist for September 2024 collectively offer a dividend yield of 3.59%, more than double that of the S&P 500 [2] Stock Selection Criteria - The watchlist is created based on four main criteria: basic criteria, safety, quality, and stability [3][4] - Basic criteria include a dividend yield above 2.75% and a market capitalization of at least $10 billion [3] - Safety filters exclude companies with payout ratios above 100% and negative 5-year dividend growth rates [3] - Quality is assessed using Morningstar moat ratings and S&P quality ratings of B+ or higher [4] Recent Changes in Watchlist - The September 2024 watchlist includes three new stocks: Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG), PNC Financial Services (PNC), and Essential Utilities (WTRG) [7] - Previous stocks NextEra Energy (NEE), Starbucks (SBUX), and United Parcel Service (UPS) were removed from the watchlist [7] Expected Returns - The expected rate of return for the selected stocks is calculated by combining the current dividend yield with a return to fair value over the next five years [8] - The watchlist aims to provide better returns compared to 18 other high-yield stocks that passed initial filters but ranked lower in quality and valuation [9] Historical Performance - The watchlist has consistently outperformed benchmarks, with a total return of 92.55% since inception and an annualized return of 18.64% [10][12] - Individual stock performances in August 2024 varied, with Coca-Cola Europacific (CCEP) gaining 9.11% and Starbucks (SBUX) increasing by 22.05% [12]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying sustainable trends in short-term investing, highlighting that while price momentum can be profitable, it requires solid fundamentals to maintain that momentum [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Coca-Cola European (CCEP) has shown a solid price increase of 4.6% over the past 12 weeks, indicating investor confidence in its potential upside [4]. - The stock has also increased by 3.8% over the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - CCEP is currently trading at 97.2% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - CCEP holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6]. - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. - The Zacks Rank stock-rating system has a strong historical performance, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks averaging an annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for identifying stocks with sufficient fundamental strength to maintain their upward trends [3]. - In addition to CCEP, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, suggesting further investment opportunities [8]. - The article encourages investors to utilize various Zacks Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles to enhance stock-picking strategies [8].

Group 1: Company Performance - Coca-Cola European (CCEP) has returned 9.7% year-to-date, outperforming the Consumer Staples sector average return of 4.1% [4] - CCEP is part of the Beverages - Soft drinks industry, which has gained about 5.6% so far this year, indicating that CCEP is also performing better than its industry peers [6] - Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) has significantly outperformed the sector with a year-to-date return of 25.5% [5] Group 2: Rankings and Estimates - The Consumer Staples group, including CCEP, is currently ranked 14 within the Zacks Sector Rank, which evaluates 16 different sector groups [2] - CCEP holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reflecting a positive earnings outlook and improving analyst sentiment, as the consensus estimate for its full-year earnings has increased by 0.2% in the past quarter [3][4] - Chefs' Warehouse has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), with a 4.8% increase in its consensus EPS estimate over the past three months [5]

pcess609 Market Recap The SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) somehow managed to post a positive return in July, +1.21%, but things did look a bit murky for a while. Vanguard's High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF (VYM) posted a very strong gain of 4.83% last month, breaking its two-month underperformance relative to SPY. My watchlist fared better than both, posting a gain of 5.72%, and pushes itself very close to SPY on the year. Year-to-date through July, the watchlist is up 15.52%, beating VYM, 12.94%, but still ...

The trend often reverses before exiting the trade, leading to a short-term capital loss for investors. So, for a profitable trade, one should confirm factors such as sound fundamentals, positive earnings estimate revisions, etc. that could keep the momentum in the stock alive. However, it's not enough to look at the price change for around three months, as it doesn't reflect any trend reversal that might have happened in a shorter time frame. It's important for a potential winner to maintain the price trend ...

Market Performance - In May, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) gained 5.06%, recovering from a 4.03% loss in April, while Vanguard's High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF (VYM) returned 3.03%, not fully offsetting its April loss of 3.74% [1] - The watchlist outperformed both ETFs with a gain of 5.92% in May and a year-to-date return of 11.33%, compared to 11.30% for SPY and 8.09% for VYM [1][14] Watchlist Overview - The watchlist aims to identify high-quality stocks with attractive valuations and a good starting dividend yield, targeting a long-term compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% [2] - Currently, the watchlist has achieved a CAGR of 17.09% over 43 months, exceeding its target [2] Dividend Yield Portfolio - The focus of a high dividend yield portfolio is to generate a reliable passive income stream, with the top 10 stocks on the June 2024 watchlist offering a collective dividend yield of 3.88%, more than double that of the S&P 500 [3] - These stocks have historically increased their dividends at a rate of 9.43% per year over the last five years and are considered approximately 33% undervalued based on dividend yield theory [3] Investment Strategy - A buy-and-hold strategy is recommended for building a strong high-yield dividend portfolio, emphasizing the importance of selecting potentially undervalued stocks [4] - Diversifying the portfolio across 20 or more unique stocks can enhance the chances of acquiring shares at bargain prices, allowing investors to benefit from capital appreciation over time [4] Watchlist Criteria - The watchlist is created based on four main criteria: basic criteria (dividend yield above 2.75% and trading on NYSE/NASDAQ), safety (excluding companies with payout ratios above 100% and negative 5-year dividend growth), quality (using Morningstar moat and stewardship ratings), and stability (positive 5-year revenue and earnings growth) [5][6][7] June 2024 Watchlist Changes - The June 2024 watchlist includes new additions: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), Evergy (EVRG), Starbucks (SBUX), and Essential Utilities (WTRG), replacing Air Products and Chemicals (APD), NextEra Energy (NEE), Royal Bank of Canada (RY), and Texas Instruments (TXN) [10] Performance Metrics - The watchlist has consistently outperformed VYM and SPY over various time frames, including a year-to-date performance of 11.33% compared to 8.09% for VYM and 11.30% for SPY [14][17] - Since inception, the watchlist has achieved an annualized return of 17.09%, outperforming both VYM and SPY by 1.50% and 1.09%, respectively [14] Top Performing Stocks - The top-performing stocks since joining the watchlist include Broadcom (AVGO) with a total return of 215.51% over 37 months, followed by Progressive (PGR) at 149.57% and General Dynamics (GD) at 147.66% [18][21]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved solid top-line growth of 5.3%, with volume growth of 2% and revenue per case growth of 3.4% [74] - Revenue per unit case in Australia and Pacific (APS) was up 0.2%, reflecting headline price increases but offset by geographic mix [63] - Overall, the NARTD category grew in value terms over 6% in Europe and 18.5% in APS [62] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Europe, underlying volume was up approximately 4.1% on a 2-year basis versus 2022, despite a 1.4% decline year-over-year due to tough comparables [1][77] - The Coca-Cola trademark saw volume growth of 2.4%, with strong performance from Fanta and Monster, which drove overall energy volume up 7.5% [80] - Sparkling volume growth in Indonesia exceeded 10%, supported by the launch of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Sprite Zero [60] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Philippines delivered double-digit volume growth with solid share gains, benefiting from favorable comps [76] - In Europe, the away-from-home channel experienced slower growth, but retail volume held up well [117] - The company gained value share both in-store and online in NARTD, delivering over €2.6 billion of value growth over the last three years in Europe [111] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on strategic portfolio choices, including exiting lower-value brands to ensure long-term profitable growth [1] - There is an emphasis on affordability and premiumization, balancing offerings across various price points to cater to different consumer needs [109] - The company plans to leverage upcoming major events like the Euros and the Olympics to enhance brand visibility and consumer engagement [110] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the balance of the year, reaffirming guidance for full-year 2024 with anticipated revenue growth of around 4% and operating profit growth of around 7% [112] - The company noted that consumer spending has held up reasonably well, despite some pressures, and continues to focus on driving execution in both home and away-from-home channels [61] - Management acknowledged the dynamic environment, including cost-of-living pressures and macro-political challenges, but remains optimistic about market resilience [17] Other Important Information - The company is exploring opportunities in the ready-to-drink tea category as part of its long-term transformation journey [60] - There are ongoing discussions regarding potential new product additions, such as Body Armor, to enhance the portfolio [49] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the company performing in Southeast Asia? - The company noted strong growth in the Philippines and Indonesia, with the latter benefiting from an earlier Ramadan and favorable comps [67][76] Question: What is the outlook for the away-from-home channel? - Management expects the away-from-home channel to improve as the market opens up with the arrival of warmer weather and summer events [117][133] Question: How is the company managing promotional intensity? - The company has maintained promotional frequency and intensity, using data analytics to optimize promotional strategies [146] Question: What are the expectations for the Philippines acquisition? - Management expressed excitement about the brand strength in the Philippines and the potential for accretive growth in both top and bottom lines [99][102]

Lemon_tmQuality Stocks The SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) posted a 3.27% return in March, finishing Quarter 1 with a double digit gain. Vanguard's Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares (VIG) locked in a lower gain of 2.37% last month. My watchlist underperformed both, posting a very weak return of 0.50%. Frankly it's been struggling to get off the ground this year. After two strong months of outperformance to cap off 2023 the watchlist is experiencing a pullback in 2024. As we all know, some months ...