Guru Stock Dividend Increases: CVS Caremark Corp., Duncan Energy Partners L.P., Genesis Energy L.P., Epoch Holding Corp., Fifth Street Finance

Guru Stock Dividend Increases: CVS, DEP, GEL, EPHC, FSC

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Jan 26, 2010
This is the group of companies which raised their dividend recently: CVS Caremark Corp., Duncan Energy Partners L.P., Genesis Energy L.P., Epoch Holding Corp., and FIFTH STREET FINANCE.

1.CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS, Financial)

CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS), which is a pharmacy services company, that provides prescriptions and related healthcare services in the United States, increased its quarterly dividend by 15% to 8.75 cents per share. CVS Caremark has regularly increased its quarterly dividend seven years. The stock currently yields 0.90%. Cvs Caremark Corp. has a market cap of $46.89 billion; its shares were traded at around $33.24 with a P/E ratio of 13.1 and P/S ratio of 0.6. The dividend yield of Cvs Caremark Corp. stocks is 0.9%. Cvs Caremark Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 10.5% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Cvs Caremark Corp.

Lee Ainslie bought 5,081,838 shares in the quarter that ended on 09/30/2009, which is 2.18% of the $8.32 billion portfolio of Maverick Capital. George Soros bought 19,000 shares in the quarter that ended on 09/30/2009, which is 0.02% of the $4.41 billion portfolio of Soros Fund Management LLC. NWQ Managers owns 5,244,515 shares as of 09/30/2009, an increase of 265.62% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 1.09% of the $17.23 billion portfolio of NWQ Investment Management Co. Andreas Halvorsen owns 3,959,900 shares as of 09/30/2009, an increase of 22.33% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 1.81% of the $7.83 billion portfolio of Viking Global Investors LP. Chris Davis owns 37,522,573 shares as of 09/30/2009, which accounts for 2.19% of the $61.3 billion portfolio of Davis Selected Advisers. John Keeley owns 79,245 shares as of 09/30/2009, which accounts for 0.04% of the $6.65 billion portfolio of Keeley Fund Management. Ruane Cunniff owns 106,944 shares as of 09/30/2009, which accounts for 0.05% of the $7.71 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc. Ken Heebner owns 1,597,300 shares as of 09/30/2009, a decrease of 27.1% of from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.85% of the $6.72 billion portfolio of CAPITAL GROWTH MANAGEMENT LP.

Buy:: CEO & President Thomas M Ryan bought 400,000 shares of CVS stock on 08/07/2009 at the average price of 34.41 and 17,000 shares of CVS stock on 11/12/2009 at the average price of 29.96, the price of the stock has increased by 10.95% since. Sell:: CFO David B Rickard sold 251,520 shares of CVS stock on 08/17/2009 at the average price of 33.96 and 80,000 shares of CVS stock on 12/14/2009 at the average price of 32.37, the price of the stock has increased by 2.69% since. Buy:: President, Caremark Pharm Serv Per Gh Lofberg bought 45,483 shares of CVS stock on 01/04/2010 at the average price of 32.98, the price of the stock has increased by 0.79% since. Buy:: Director Kristen Gibney Williams bought 1,000 shares of CVS stock on 11/12/2009 at the average price of 30, the price of the stock has increased by 10.8% since. Sell:: President, Caremark Pharm Serv Howard A Mclure sold 100,000 shares of CVS stock on 09/01/2009 at the average price of 37.45, 100,000 shares of CVS stock on 10/01/2009 at the average price of 35.64, and 100,000 shares of CVS stock on 11/02/2009 at the average price of 35.71, the price of the stock has decreased by 6.92% since.

2.Duncan Energy Partners L.P. (DEP, Financial)

Duncan Energy Partners L.P. (DEP) engages in gathering, transporting, marketing, and storing natural gas, as well as in transporting and storing natural gas liquids (NGLs) and petrochemicals in the United State.. Last week this master limited partnership increased its quarterly distributions by 4.10% to 44.50 cents per unit. Duncan Energy Partners L.P. has only raised distributions since 2007. The stock currently yields 7.10%. DUNCAN ENERGY PARTNERS L.P. is a publicly traded energy partnership that provides midstream energy services, including gathering, transportation, marketing and storage of natural gas, in addition to transportation and storage of natural gas liquids and petrochemicals. DEP's assets, which are located primarily in the Gulf Coast region of Texas and Louisiana, include interests in more than 1,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines. DEP owns approximately 66 percent of the equity interest in these assets, with affiliates of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. owning the remaining 34 percent interest. Duncan Energy Partners L.p. has a market cap of $1.44 billion; its shares were traded at around $24.92 with a P/E ratio of 16 and P/S ratio of 0.9. The dividend yield of Duncan Energy Partners L.p. stocks is 7%.

Duncan Energy Partners L.P. announced its financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009. The partnership reported a 134 percent increase in net income attributable to Duncan Energy Partners of $24.8 million, or $0.43 per common unit on a fully diluted basis, for the third quarter of 2009 compared to $10.6 million, or $0.18 per common unit on a fully diluted basis, for the third quarter of 2008.

Buy:: Director Joe Havens bought 7,500 shares of DEP stock on 11/05/2009 at the average price of 21.36 and 266 shares of DEP stock on 11/06/2009 at the average price of 21.39, the price of the stock has increased by 16.5% since.

3.Genesis Energy L.P. (GEL, Financial)

Genesis Energy, L.P. (GEL), which operates through four divisions: Pipeline Transportation, Refinery Services, Industrial Gases, and Supply and Logistics, increased its quarterly distributions to 36 cents per unit. Genesis Energy, L.P.is has raised distributions since 2003. The stock currently yields 7.30%.

Genesis Energy, L.P. announced its third quarter net income and Available Cash before reserves results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. Net income attributable to the partnership for the third quarter of 2009 was $4.3 million, or $0.14 per unit, as compared to $4.5 million, or $0.13 per unit for the second quarter of 2009. In the third quarter of 2008, net income attributable to the Partnership was $10.8 million, or $0.25 per unit.

Genesis Energy operates crude oil common carrier pipelines and is an independent gatherer and marketer of crude oil in North America, with operations concentrated in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and New Mexico. Genesis Energy L.p. has a market cap of $795.6 million; its shares were traded at around $20.15 with a P/E ratio of 35.4 and P/S ratio of 0.4. The dividend yield of Genesis Energy L.p. stocks is 7.1%. Genesis Energy L.p. had an annual average earning growth of 15.7% over the past 5 years.

4.Epoch Holding Corp. (EPHC, Financial)

Epoch Holding (EPHC), which is a publicly owned investment manager, increased its quarterly dividend by 66.70% to 5 cents per share. This is the second dividend increase for Epoch Holding since the company started paying dividends in 2007. The stock currently yields 1.80%. Epoch Holding Corp. has a market cap of $218.8 million; its shares were traded at around $9.87 with and P/S ratio of 7. The dividend yield of Epoch Holding Corp. stocks is 1.2%.

John Keeley owns 2,655,920 shares as of 09/30/2009, which accounts for 0.35% of the $6.65 billion portfolio of Keeley Fund Management.

Sell:: CEO, 10% Owner William W Priest sold 50,000 shares of EPHC stock on 12/09/2009 at the average price of 10.51, 30,000 shares of EPHC stock on 12/10/2009 at the average price of 10.9, 3,700 shares of EPHC stock on 01/04/2010 at the average price of 10.9, and 16,300 shares of EPHC stock on 01/07/2010 at the average price of 10.9, the price of the stock has decreased by 9.45% since. Sell:: Executive Vice President David N Pearl sold 3,600 shares of EPHC stock on 01/14/2010 at the average price of 11.07 and 2,500 shares of EPHC stock on 01/19/2010 at the average price of 10.98, the price of the stock has decreased by 10.11% since. Sell:: Executive Vice President J Philip Clark sold 28,300 shares of EPHC stock on 01/11/2010 at the average price of 10.95 and 8,200 shares of EPHC stock on 01/14/2010 at the average price of 10.95, the price of the stock has decreased by 9.86% since. Sell:: COO Timothy T Taussig sold 6,500 shares of EPHC stock on 01/07/2010 at the average price of 10.9, the price of the stock has decreased by 9.45% since.

5.FIFTH STREET FINANCE (FSC, Financial)

Fifth Street Finance Corp. (FSC), which is a fund specializing in mezzanine investments, increased its quarterly dividend by 11.10% to 30 cents per share. Despite the high current yield of 9.30%, Fifth Street Finance Corp. has a short and erratic dividend history.

Fifth Street Finance Corp. announced its results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. Net investment income for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 was $7.8 million or $0.26 per share, as compared to $7.2 million or $0.32 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $7.7 million or $0.25 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $2.9 million or $0.13 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

FIFTH STREET FINANCE CORP. is a specialty finance company that lends to and invests in small and mid-sized companies in connection with an investment by private equity sponsors. Fifth Street Finance Corp.'s investment objective is to maximize its portfolio's total return by generating current income from its debt investments and capital appreciation from its equity investments. Fifth Street Finance has a market cap of $422 million; its shares were traded at around $11.14 with a P/E ratio of 8.7 and P/S ratio of 8.5. The dividend yield of Fifth Street Finance stocks is 9.6%.

David Einhorn owns 2,284,492 shares as of 09/30/2009, which accounts for 0.96% of the $2.6 billion portfolio of Greenlight Capital Inc.

Buy:: CEO & President Leonard M Tannenbaum bought 22,685 shares of FSC stock on 09/23/2009 at the average price of 10.55 and 20,000 shares of FSC stock on 12/15/2009 at the average price of 10.19, the price of the stock has increased by 9.32% since. Buy:: CCO, Exec. V.P.& Sec Bernard D Berman bought 1,000 shares of FSC stock on 08/19/2009 at the average price of 9.7 and 1,000 shares of FSC stock on 12/16/2009 at the average price of 10.25, the price of the stock has increased by 8.68% since. Buy:: Chief Investment Officer Marc A. Goodman bought 1,000 shares of FSC stock on 12/14/2009 at the average price of 10.22, the price of the stock has increased by 9% since. Buy:: Director Brian S Dunn bought 1,000 shares of FSC stock on 08/19/2009 at the average price of 9.7, the price of the stock has increased by 14.85% since. Sell:: 10% Owner Life Insurance Co Genworth sold 1,000 shares of FSC stock on 11/06/2009 at the average price of 9.81, the price of the stock has increased by 13.56% since.