JulNichols Investment Thesis The Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA: SCHM ) is a middle-of-the-pack contender in the U.S. mid-cap blend space. Despite its category-leading 0.04% expense ratio, SCHM’s selections are below-average quality and too expensive. This article compares SCHM’s strategy, performance, and fundamentals with other mid-cap funds and demonstrates why this lesser-known ETF is more of a misstep than a hidden opportunity. SCHM Overview Strategy and Performance SCHM tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Mid-Cap Total Stock Market Index, selecting approximately 500 securities based on total market cap and weighting them based on free-float market cap. The Index reconstitutes annually in September and rebalances quarterly, with buffer rules used to prevent unnecessary turnover. With a January 2011 launch, we have over a decade’s worth of history to analyze, so let’s start with how SCHM performed against 31 mid-cap peers through December 2022. The Sunday Investor This list is sorted by ten-year returns, revealing how SCHM’s 173.00% return was the 10th best out of 16 peers with enough history. Over the last five years, SCHM’s 32.67% return was the 16th best out of 20 ETFs. Finally, SCHM performed 26th best out of 32 last year. It may be generous of me […]

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Summary Geberit is a leading provider of bathroom and plumbing solutions, with a strong brand and reputation for producing high-quality, reliable, sustainable, and innovative products. The company is experiencing temporary headwinds due to rising interest rates and high energy prices, which have negatively impacted its net sales growth and earnings per share. The company’s shares have lost ~27% in the past year, but they appear to be recovering and currently offer a good buying opportunity. Imgorthand/E+ via Getty Images The best thing that happens to us is when a great company gets into temporary trouble… We want to buy them when they’re on the operating table. – Warren Buffett Geberit ( OTCPK:GBERY ) is a great company that is experiencing what we believe to be temporary headwinds. It is a leading provider of bathroom and plumbing solutions, with a very strong brand that is a key competitive advantage. The company has built a reputation for producing high-quality, reliable, sustainable, and innovative products. As a result of the headwinds the company is experiencing, its shares have lost ~27% in the past year, but it looks like they are starting to recover. Data by YCharts Headwinds include the rising interest rates […]

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Opinion contributor With residents and partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Greater Cincinnati forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity − great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. At LISC Greater Cincinnati, we have used that comprehensive approach − focused on both investment and systems change − in our work with communities across the region, including Cincinnati’s West End, where we have supported residents and stakeholders as they plan for their future. Most recently, we were a proud co-lead of Neighborhood Task Force for the West End Choice Neighborhoods Plan. This plan, made possible in part by grant funds awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2020, gives the West End neighborhood the opportunity to reimagine housing in the Stanley Rowe Towers and Rowhouses and the Liberty Street Apartments. Community-serving partners came together with neighborhood residents to plan for inclusive, neighborhood-serving development. In fact, more than 35 committed partners signed on to participate in this two-year planning process that has held dozens of interactive community sessions with hundreds of residents participating. The need for new investment in the West End is clear. The West End is home to some of Cincinnati’s oldest […]

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January 12 – Yarg Foundation’s Healthy Families Initiative in South Lane County is seeking grant proposals through February 7th, 2023. Proposals should focus on programs that support and develop healthy relationships of and among children ages 5-18 years old living within the South Lane School district boundary through mentorship, activities, advocacy and education. We support local grassroots community efforts which center the well-being of children and families. We hope for interventions that address potential problems before they occur. Yarg can fund recognized 501(c)(3) organizations and coalitions, as well as religious, educational or cultural institutions. We will review requests to fund work by individuals, but will encourage any grants directed to individuals to find a sponsoring organization or institution. If selected, we can fund staff, supplies, capital projects and general operating expenses related to your project. We will consider grants that range between $500 and $75,000 per year for one to three years. Organizations that applied for Yarg funding previously can apply again. Proposals must provide services, space or support within the South Lane School District boundary.* Beginning Dec. 15th fill out and submit the eligibility screen at: yargfoundation.org/lane-county If you meet the criteria: • Yarg will reach out and […]

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Copyright © 2023 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE – New Mexico’s revenue growth shows no signs of slowing down, with the state set to enter uncharted budget territory amid surging oil production, high inflation and robust wage growth. Specifically, new estimates released last month by executive and legislative economists project the state will have nearly $3.6 billion in “new” money available for the budget year that starts in July – a figure that represents the difference between forecasted revenue and current spending levels. In August, the amount of projected new money had been pegged at about $2.5 billion. “With this revenue forecast, there’s an opportunity knocking at our door,” said Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup. “No one in our state’s history has ever had this opportunity.” Overall, projected revenue levels for the coming budget year, if they materialize, would mean total state revenue would have more than doubled over the last seven years. The record-high revenue levels could also allow state lawmakers and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to approve tax relief for New Mexicans, additional teacher salary increases and other initiatives during the 60-day legislative session. But effectively spending the money could prove challenging, due in part to a state labor […]

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Another year has been and gone but as we head further into January, we take a look ahead at what’s in store for 2023. Packed full of regular Masses, retreats, and other events , 2023 already looks set to offer a fulfilling and faith-filled experience for many across the diocese, and with some landmark opportunities on the horizon, we hope this year will be truly transformative for our whole diocesan community. Continue reading below to find out more about what’s in store and how you can get involved. Synod This year will see the launch of our diocesan synod, giving us the opportunity to come together in a spirit of prayer to discern what God is asking of His Church in our diocese. The diocesan synod follows on from the Universal Synod announced by Pope Francis in 2021. Last year, over 1500 individuals responded to the questions in universal synod, a summary of which you can read here. Now, we are called to consider our Church on a more local level, and explore more about how God is calling us to grow and progress as a diocesan community. Hope in the Future This year also sees the launch of […]

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Last night, Governor Reynolds used her State-of-the-State address to boldly stand up for students and educational options. Following her decisive victory in November’s election, she has a strong mandate to pursue school choice for thousands of Iowa students. We’re thankful that the Iowa legislature has the opportunity to give thousands of students the same educational options that we had. Thanks to Iowa’s Catholic Tuition Organization, both of us were able to attend Dowling Catholic High School, an institution that aligns with our family’s values and meets our academic expectations. The experience greatly enriched our lives and set us on the path to success in school and life. Every child deserves that chance. We are now thriving college students, and we owe our success to the opportunity that allowed us to get a K-12 education that met our needs. However, we recognize that most families in Iowa lack the financial resources to make that opportunity possible, and the Catholic Tuition Organization cannot serve them all. If Iowa expands school choice this year, even more students will have that opportunity. Governor Reynold’s “Student First Act” (ESA) would be a significant step in the right direction, giving thousands of Iowans access to […]

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Xi Jinping with Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi at the 2017 BRICS Summit in Xiamen, China. Welcome to Next Africa, a weekly newsletter on where the continent stands now — and where it’s headed. South Africa’s chairmanship of the BRICS club of nations has come at an opportune time. There’s fierce competition between the world’s powers for influence on the continent. Already the country has set out its stall. The ruling African National Congress wants the group to be expanded and relations between the BRICS nations and the African Continental Free Trade Area member states strengthened. President Cyril Ramaphosa said this week that other African nations will be invited to the summit he will host this year. Ramaphosa waves as he walks past Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, at a Group of 20 summit in Japan in 2019. That comes hot on the heels of US President Joe Biden’s African leaders summit in Washington, a high profile visit to Africa by German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and an August pledge of $30 billion for African development from Japan. While China remains Africa’s strongest development partner, it’s wary of the renewed push for influence by its […]

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USEA/Hope Carlin photo The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce a new membership category, the “Digital Membership,” which will be available to qualified participants of the Volunteer Incentive Program in 2023. This new membership will serve as a thank you to the loyal volunteers in our sport for their dedication to supporting events around the country throughout the year. The USEA Volunteer Committee submitted a proposal for this new membership category to the USEA Board of Governors for review at their August 2022 meeting. A motion was approved at the August meeting to reward volunteers that log 10 hours or more through EventingVolunteers.com with a complimentary digital version of the USEA’s Supporting Membership for the year following their service. Therefore, any volunteer that logged 10 or more hours of service in 2022 receive a Digital Membership at no charge for 2023. Only hours logged in EventingVolunteers.com will qualify towards this benefit. “The USEA Volunteer Committee is pleased that the Board has approved this measure. Welcoming volunteers into the USEA as Digital Members not only helps grow our organization and the sport as a whole, but recognizes, in an official membership capacity, the integral role volunteers play […]

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In what is sure to be a pivotal year in the effort to combat climate change, Africa can make significant progress toward a carbon-neutral economy. But to do so, African countries must eliminate barriers to trade and innovation, address institutional decay, and build on recent diplomatic breakthroughs. WASHINGTON, DC – The past year has been challenging for Africa. After a hopeful 2021, during which the continent-wide GDP increased by nearly 7% and every region experienced real growth, the economy slowed in 2022 amid rising inflation, monetary tightening, and geopolitical tensions. But it was also a year when African countries were finally able to make their voices heard on the global stage. At the start of another critical year, with the continent’s GDP projected to increase at a relatively modest pace of 4.1% , governments can take several steps to boost economic activity and ensure a sustainable future. For starters, policymakers must foster trade and investment through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Under a fully implemented AfCFTA, Africa’s combined consumer and business spending is expected to reach $6.7 trillion by 2030 and $16.12 trillion by 2050 , transforming value chains and potentially reducing poverty across the continent. Eight […]

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