Accessible version >> Employed by a non-US affiliate of BofAS and is not registered/qualified as a research analyst China Resources Beverage under the FINRA rules. Signs of bottoming-out, but competition & channel spending temper profit outlook Refer to "Other Important Disclosures" for information on certain BofA Securities entities that take responsibility for the information herein in particular jurisdictions. Reiterate Rating: NEUTRAL | PO: 11.00 HKD | Price: 10.24 HKD Inventory stabilizing, yet margin ...

Cove Soda has named Bryan Crowley as its new CEO as part of changes to the Canadian soft-drinks company's top team as it targets expansion in North America. The move follows Cove Soda’s $15m Series A funding round in November, with proceeds earmarked to support its growth and strengthen the company’s leadership team. In a statement issued yesterday (15 January), the probiotic soda maker said Crowley has more than 25 years of leadership experience in food, beverage and consumer brands. He most recently ...

Core Insights - Dalston's, a soft drinks producer, has raised £850,000 ($1.1 million) to support its expansion in the UK [1] - The funding will be used to enhance brand presence and marketing activities, as well as to appoint a new managing director [3][5] Group 1: Investment and Growth Strategy - The latest funding round was led by private equity firm Sorven Capital, which acquired a minority stake in Dalston's [2] - The capital will focus on building brand presence, scaling marketing activities, and enhancing retail performance [3][4] - The company aims to strengthen its domestic growth before considering international opportunities [4][5] Group 2: Leadership Changes - Dalston's has appointed Sally Rose as the new managing director, who previously held roles in commercial strategy and marketing at GrowUp Farms [6] - The investment will also be used to increase headcount within the company [5]

Amazon - Operating cash generation remained strong, with cash from operations increasing by 36.8% year-over-year to $35.53 billion, and the company ended the quarter with $66.9 billion in cash and equivalents, with no short-term debt [1] - In Q3 2025, Amazon reported net sales of $180.2 billion, a 13% increase from the previous year, and earnings per share rose by 36.4% to $1.95, surpassing the consensus forecast of $1.57 [2] - Over the past decade, Amazon has achieved compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of 21.26% in revenue and 72.49% in earnings [3] Alphabet - Alphabet's Q3 2025 results showed total revenue of $102.3 billion, a 16% increase from the same period last year, with Google Services revenue at $87.1 billion (up 14%) and Cloud segment revenue growing by 34% to $15.2 billion [10] - Earnings per share for Alphabet jumped by 35.4% to $2.87, exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.26 [10] - The company has seen a stock price increase of 65% over the past year, with a current market cap of $3.8 trillion, and has achieved CAGRs of 18.31% in revenue and 23.43% in earnings over the last decade [9] Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola reported Q3 2025 net revenues of $12.46 billion, a 5% increase from the previous year, and earnings grew by 6.5% to $0.82 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $0.78 [16] - The company has a market cap of $297.3 billion and has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past year, with a stock increase of 9.5% compared to the index's 17% rise [15] - Coca-Cola has a dividend yield of 2.95% and is recognized as a "Dividend King," having increased dividends for 63 consecutive years [15]

Industry Insights - Venezuela will continue supplying oil to the U.S. indefinitely, but U.S. companies are seeking guarantees on their investments [2] - The American Beverage Association criticized new dietary guidelines that dismiss no-sugar options, impacting companies reliant on processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages [5] - Shares of Hormel, Conagra Brands, Kraft Heinz, and Mondelez traded defensively following the announcement of the new dietary guidelines [5] Company Developments - Warner Bros. has rejected Paramount's proposals again and is committed to a deal with Netflix [6] - Alphabet's market valuation has surpassed that of Apple, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [7] - Ford plans to introduce eyes-off driving technology starting with a $30,000 electric vehicle in 2028 [8] - Chevron is in discussions with the U.S. government for an expanded oil license in Venezuela [10] - Netflix's performance is overshadowed by its impact on IMAX, despite IMAX having a record box office year [11]

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF is highlighted as a strong investment option for income- and value-seeking investors, especially in a potentially volatile stock market environment in 2026 [12][19]. Market Overview - The stock market has shown significant gains year-to-date, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite increasing by 13%, 14%, and 18% respectively as of December 17 [1]. - The current stock market is considered the second priciest in history, with concerns about sustainability as it approaches 2026 [2]. Valuation Metrics - The S&P 500's Shiller P/E Ratio, a key valuation metric, is currently at 39.59, which is 129% above its 155-year average of 17.32 [8]. - Historically, when the Shiller P/E has exceeded 30, it has been followed by significant declines in major indices [9][10]. ETF Performance and Strategy - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF aims to mirror the total returns of the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index and includes 103 established companies [14]. - The ETF offers a yield of approximately 3.8%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.12% [17]. - The average trailing 12-month P/E ratio for the companies in the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF is 17.18, compared to the S&P 500's 25.63 [18]. Investment Characteristics - The ETF is characterized by low management fees, with a net expense ratio of 0.06%, making it cost-effective for investors [17]. - The focus on high-quality dividend stocks has historically provided better returns and lower volatility compared to non-dividend payers [13].

Core Viewpoint - The proposed sale of Costa Coffee by Coca-Cola is facing significant challenges, with last-minute negotiations taking place with private equity firm TDR Capital to salvage the deal [1] Group 1 - Coca-Cola is in discussions with TDR Capital to prevent the collapse of the Costa Coffee sale [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend investing, highlighting that the best dividend stocks not only provide consistent payouts but also increase their dividends over time, benefiting long-term shareholders [1] Group 1: Dividend Growth Leaders - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has a 2.54% yield and has increased dividends for 62 consecutive years, supported by a diversified portfolio in healthcare [5][6] - Coca-Cola (KO) boasts a 2.87% yield with 63 years of dividend increases, demonstrating strong operational performance and pricing power [8][9] - Procter & Gamble (PG) leads with 68 consecutive years of dividend increases, offering a 2.96% yield and showcasing operational excellence [11][12] - AbbVie (ABBV) has the fastest dividend growth in this ranking, with a recent 5.5% increase, bringing its yield to 2.94% [15][16] - Realty Income (O) offers a unique monthly dividend structure with a 5.62% yield, supported by a strong rent recapture rate and a long history of dividend increases [18][19] Group 2: Financial Performance - JNJ reported Q3 2025 EPS of $2.80, with revenue of $24.0 billion, and raised its full-year guidance, indicating confidence in growth [6][7] - Coca-Cola's Q3 2025 EPS was $0.86, with revenue of $12.5 billion and a stable operating margin of 32%, reflecting its ability to pass costs to consumers [9][10] - Procter & Gamble's Q1 fiscal 2026 EPS was $1.95, with revenue of $22.4 billion and a free cash flow of $5.4 billion, indicating strong cash generation [12][13] - AbbVie's Q3 2025 EPS was $1.86, with revenue of $15.8 billion, and management raised its EPS guidance for the full year [16][17] - Realty Income's Q3 2025 AFFO reached $1.08 per share, with a full-year guidance increase and a quarterly revenue growth of 10.3% year-over-year [19][20]

Core Insights - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and SPDR S&P Dividend ETF are positioned to provide growing yields, especially as the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates, making high-yield investments scarcer [1][2] Group 1: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - Launched in October 2011, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on companies that have increased dividends for at least 10 consecutive years [4] - The fund emphasizes consistent dividend growth and strong fundamentals, using metrics like cash-flow-to-debt ratio and return on equity, and it removes any stock that cancels its dividend [5] - The ETF has a current yield of 3.8%, significantly higher than the average S&P 500 company, and has returned an average of 12.17% per year since inception [7][8] Group 2: SPDR S&P Dividend ETF - The SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) aims to track the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats® Index, selecting stocks that have raised dividends for at least 20 consecutive years [9] - Since its inception in November 2005, the fund has achieved an average annual return of 8.65%, with a current yield of 2.6%, which is more than double that of the average S&P 500 company [11][14] - The fund's top holdings include Verizon, Chevron, and Target, which raised their dividends by 1.88%, 5%, and 1.8% respectively in 2025 [11] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - The SPDR S&P Dividend ETF is more diversified with 152 holdings and includes exposure to REITs, which benefit from falling interest rates [13][15] - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has a lower expense ratio of 0.06% compared to the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF's 0.35%, making it potentially more attractive for short-to-medium term investors [8][14][16] - Both funds offer above-average yields that could grow significantly, appealing to investors navigating a low-rate environment [16]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Company/Industry Involved - The discussion primarily revolves around the investment strategies and experiences of Michael Burry, particularly focusing on his insights from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including his views on companies like Apple and the broader technology sector during that time. Core Insights and Arguments - **Investment Environment in 1999**: Burry describes the late 1990s as a period of significant wealth and rapid growth in Silicon Valley, with young professionals enjoying lavish lifestyles, which he observed while working as a resident physician in Palo Alto [6][8]. - **Stock Market Behavior**: He notes that many physicians at Stanford were preoccupied with stock trading, highlighting a culture of speculation and the presence of a market bubble [7][8]. - **Apple's Performance**: Burry's article "Buffett Revisited" was a response to criticism he faced for investing in Apple, emphasizing the importance of thorough analysis and patience in investing [9][10]. He points out that Apple had been trading in a narrow range for 11 years, which led to skepticism about its value [10]. - **Historical Stock Performance**: Burry provides examples of major companies like Coca-Cola, American Express, and Disney, which experienced significant capital losses over extended periods, illustrating the risks of long-term investments in seemingly stable companies [11][12][13]. - **Investment Philosophy**: He emphasizes the need for a margin of safety when investing, as advocated by Benjamin Graham, and suggests looking for undervalued stocks, particularly in distressed industries [32][35]. Other Important but Possibly Overlooked Content - **Personal Investment Journey**: Burry shares his personal investment journey, including how he used a wrongful death settlement to invest in stocks rather than pay off student loans, which ultimately led him away from a career in medicine [22][23]. - **Online Investment Community**: He discusses the early days of online investing, mentioning his website and the lack of competition at the time, which allowed him to gain visibility and credibility in the investment community [20][21]. - **Performance of VSN Fund**: The VSN Fund, which Burry managed, reportedly returned 38.7% in a year, outperforming major indices like the Dow and Nasdaq, showcasing his successful investment strategies during that period [32][37]. - **Cassandra Unchained**: Burry's current focus is on a project titled "Cassandra Unchained," where he continues to analyze stocks and market trends, drawing on historical patterns [40][41]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, providing insights into Burry's investment philosophy, historical context, and personal experiences in the investment landscape of the late 1990s.