On 22 October 2018, Argo Investments Ltd (ASX:ARG) announced the results of an annual general meeting (AGM). At the meeting, the chairman Mr. Russell Higgins talked about the strong financial results and continued dividend growth of the company. He also discussed the general market outlook and the Company outlook in the context of financial services industry developments. Further, the company released its full-year results on 22 October 2018, following which the share price of the company increased by 0.128 percent.
While addressing the shareholders of the company, the chairman Mr. Russell Higgins started his speech by highlighting the strong financial results of the company achieved during the year. He told that the companyâs straightforward business model and proven investment philosophy have again delivered a positive outcome for the shareholders. He pointed that, for the sixth consecutive year, the company has increased annual fully franked dividends after reporting a full-year profit of $218.9 million for FY 2018.Â
He further added that due to the dividend increases from Macquarie Group, BHP and Rio Tinto, the revenue of the company increased by 2.3 percent. The income from interest received on cash deposits increased due to higher cash balances on hand in FY 2018, however, the income from trading and option writing has declined. Talking about the expenses of the company, he pointed that the expenses of the company increased by 1 percent and due to the companyâs stronger balance sheet, the Management Expense Ratio dropped to 0.15 percent of average assets held over the year, which is significantly lower than most other actively managed products.
While talking about the continued dividend growth, he addressed the fact that providing sustainable and growing tax-effective dividend income is very important for the shareholders. He informed that the companyâs board has declared an increased fully franked final dividend of 16 cents per share. While talking about the Investment performance of the company, he highlighted the NTA return of +11.0 percent for the 12 months to 30 September 2018. He also added that Argoâs NTA return underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index, which returned +14.0% for the same period.
While discussing the Market outlook of the company, he informed that the Global economies are experiencing largely synchronized growth and most indicators are looking positive. The US economy is currently looking very strong as evidenced by a very tight labor market and strong business and consumer sentiment. It is expected that the current trade war could escalate further. And if the tariff or taxes are increased, it will have a negative impact on global growth.
He added further, that Australiaâs economy is strengthening and is now expanding âabove trendâ. Business conditions in Australia have become more favorable due to infrastructure expenditure and increased trade supporting growth. He further pointed that the despite signs of momentum, household debt remains high and wage growth is low.
In the past six months, the share price of the company increased by 0.65 percent as on 19 October 2018. ARGâs share traded at $7.810 with a market capitalization of $5.55 billion as on 22 October 2018 (AEST 4:00 PM).
The Income available from dividends remains attractive for many investors.
We take a look at the best yields on the market and assess what they say about a companyâs prospect.
One Thing is certain, though, Australia interest rates are still low, making income difficult to come by and keeping the focus for many investors on high yielding stocks. Kalkineâs team of analysts bought you handpicked report for âTop 25 Dividend Stocks For 2018.â
ASX-relevant Special Reports are published year-round to provide a detailed analysis into an investing opportunity or a potential risk to your portfolio.
Click here to get your free report.
Disclaimer
The advice given by Kalkine Pty Ltd and provided on this website is general information only and it does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. You should therefore consider whether the advice is appropriate to your investment objectives, financial situation and needs before acting upon it. You should seek advice from a financial adviser, stockbroker or other professional (including taxation and legal advice) as necessary before acting on any advice. Not all investments are appropriate for all people. Kalkinemedia.com and associated websites are published by Kalkine Pty Ltd ABN 34 154 808 312 (Australian Financial Services License Number 425376). website), employees and/or associates of Kalkine Pty Ltd do not hold positions in any of the stocks covered on the website. These stocks can change any time and readers of the reports should not consider these stocks as advice or recommendations.