corporate earnings | Bill DeShurko

Posts Tagged 'corporate earnings'

Dividend Investing

401 Advisor, LLC specializes in building client portfolios using dividend paying stocks due to their long term history of providing superior returns over non dividend payers. I recently contributed to an article posted by U S News on their web site. The article highlights warning signs that a stock may be cutting their dividend in the future.

What to Make of the Current Market High

Published January 26, 2013 covestor , dividends , finance , Investing , money management , portfolio 2 Comments
Tags: bear market, corporate earnings, recovery, secular markets

Much is being said about the S&P 500 breaking through its former daily high set in 2007. The question seems to be whether this is the end of a bull market or the start of a new one?

First, let’s put this into perspective. Below is a chart of SPY – the SPDR’s S&P 500 Index tracking ETF showing monthly returns since 1997. Many pundits like to point out that we have been in a four year bull market, and therefore, this rally is extended and due to come to an end. This is simply false.

What we have been in for four years is a bear market recovery, as anyone who invested prior to 2008 can tell you, we have simply had a long 4 year slog to recovery from the financial crisis induced crash.

Figure 1 SPY 1997 – Present, monthly returns.

Source: www.freestockcharts.com

Second, from a longer term secular reference, we have really been in a 13 year bear market and recovery cycle dating back to the 2000-2002 tech wreck market crash. Since the market peak in March of 2000, we have not gone above, and stayed above that level for 13 years now. This is the definition of a secular bear market.

The good news is that secular bear markets do end.

Below is a chart from Crestmont Research showing the history of secular markets in the U. S. since 1900. As you can see the market’s history consists of long periods of rising markets (green bars) followed by relatively flat periods (red bars). However, “flat” describes the period from beginning to end of the period. Flat periods, or secular bear markets, can be filled with large declines and recoveries.

Chart 2. History of Secular Markets

Source: http://www.crestmontresearch.com/docs/Stock-Secular-Explained.pdf

So are we going higher? Hard to say.

I know you want an answer.

My point is not that we are at the beginning or end of a bull market. My point is simply that just because we have re-attained prior market highs, does not in and of itself mean much of anything as to which way this market goes from here. It is simply not that simple. But it makes for good headlines.

What I will say is this: The overall stock market is not “cheap” at these levels – in terms of corporate earnings. However, it is extremely hard to factor in just how much of an effect the Federal Reserve’s series of Quantitative Easings have had on valuations. In English – low interest rates make stocks more attractive. We have extremely low interest rates, albeit artificially low due to the Fed.

If the Fed can successfully keep interest rates low this year, and without a major “event” the market could finally breech its former highs, and stay above them before the next bear market rears its ugly head.

That said, in practice we remain cautiously optimistic. We continue to look primarily for undervalued dividend opportunities in our Dividend Growth portfolios. We are fully invested in our seasonal ETF growth strategies.

Sell in May Looks Pretty Good So Far

Published June 1, 2012 Investing Closed
Tags: corporate earnings, S&P, yield curve

My last post on April 26, “Why I’m Worried,” I went through several fundamental and technical indicators that showed the first quarters rally was likely to have ended. From an investment perspective our client accounts were moved to low beta stocks and ETF’s. I sold JNK. And last week added another defensive layer by adding SH, Powershares Inverse S&P 500 ETF to our income portfolios. Here’s a wrap up of why I am growing more bearish.

Corporate Earnings. First quarter earnings came in very strong relative to expectations. That should have been a good sign, but it failed to move the market upwards.
Citibank Economic Surprise Index (Figure1.) The stock market is based on expectations more than reality. As the chart in Figure 1. indicates actual economic data has been coming in below expectations. The index has flattened recently, but this could be from lowered expectations, as estimates have been missing for the past 3 months. Look for a trend reversal as one signal that the market may have bottomed.

Figure 1. Citibank Economic Expectations Index.
Source: Bloomberg.com

St. Louis Fed Financial Conditions Index and Chicago Fed Manufacturing Index. Last time I looked the CFNAI-3MA (3 month moving average) was weekly trending up and the STLFSI was trending down, but still at troubling levels. These indices have continued to weaken as seen in Figure 2. My comment a month ago was that financial conditions were not at levels to support strong economic activity. As seen below financial stress has turned back up (bad) in the latest reading. Expect CFNAI to continue to trend lower with its next release.

Figure 2. STLFSI and CFNAI-3MA.
Source: http://research.stlouisfed.org

Yield Curve Figures 4. And 5. The yield curve has been a fairly decent economic indicator. Reliable enough that the Federal Reserve has a formula that predicts GDP growth based on the spread between 10 yr and 3 month Treasuries. Figure 4 shows that the yield curve has been flattening as long term rates are declining. The current yield curve is the black line; the fading lines show recent history. Figure 5 shows that at current rates the Fed is anticipating real GDP growth of around 0.7%. Not impressive, but still positive. Continue watching the long end of the yield curve. As rates come down the expectation for GDP growth will be lowered too.

Figure 3. Yield Curve.
Source: http://www.stockcharts.com

Figure 4 Future GDP Growth as Predicted by the Yield Curve.
Source: http://www.clevelandfed.org/research/data/yield_curve/

Europe. This is a topic worthy of a book. Actually I’m sure, dozens of books over the next decade or so. But the real issue, is what affect will, whatever happens, have on the U.S.? For a clue, take a look at the recent performance of our “too big to fail” banks; JPMorgan (JPM), Citi Group (C), and Bank of America (BAC). Simply put, these stocks have tanked since mid March. Yes interest rates have come down which will hurt earnings, but not enough to see 40% drops in price. Investors are definitely seeing problems ahead. While my understanding is that they are not directly exposed to European sovereign debt, they are exposed through the CDS market – as re-insurers of sovereign debt.

Figure 5. BAC, C and JPM
Source: www.freestockcharts.com

Continuing Divergence Between SPLV and SBHB. The Stand and Poors High Beta (SPHB) and Low Volatility (SPLV) Indices shows a continuing flight away from the higher beta “risk on” stocks in the S&P 500. Since the stock market high in early April the low volatility index has continued to hold its own, while the S&P 500 (SPY) and the High Beta Index have continued to decline.

Figure 6. SPY vs SPHB vs SPLV
Source: www.freestockcharts.com

JNK Below 30 day Moving Average. A month ago I sold JNK (Spider High Yield Bond Index ETF), shortly after it broke down through its 30 day moving average. Since then JNK has continued to tumble. What makes this interesting is that if expectations are that U.S. corporations can weather a Euro storm, JNK would not be dropping off as it has the last 30 days or so. Clearly, the markets are indicating that there is a serious worry that whatever happens in Europe, will have a negative impact on both our economy and corporate earnings.

Figure 7. JNK and 30 Day Moving Average
Source: www.freestockcharts.com

Conclusion

No indicator is 100% certain in predicting either the economy or the stock market. As an investment advisor I’m entrusted with clients’ business and personal wealth. It is incumbent upon me to adjust our holdings as the market indicates either softening or recovery. It is about probabilities, not certainties.

What we’re seeing now, across a fairly broad spectrum of indicators, is that investors are worried. There are more sellers than buyers of risk assets. Period. The questions are, “Is this a time to be a contrarian?” My personal opinion is that if Greece exits the Euro there is a strong likelihood of another 40% drop or more in our markets. The next question then is not “whether” this will happen, it is “what are the consequences if it does?” Are you and your clients willing to live through another sell off? If not, the only prudent response is to take risk off the table and take a wait and see approach.

What to Look For

The US economic calendar heats up quite a bit on Thursday, May 31 and
Friday, June 1:

Thursday: ADP Employment, Jobless Claims and GDP (first revision to Q1)
Friday: Government Employment Situation, Personal Income & Outlays, ISM Mfg, Construction Spending

If these reports are terrific, then we may spring higher. Unfortunately, if the economic reports show weakness, and then coupled with the debt problems in Europe, the markets could resume their spring sell off and extend into summer.

Watch the economic indicators listed above for a turn around. If corporate earnings and GDP can continue to grow in the face of European turmoil we could be setting up for the end of this 12 year old secular bear market. It is just looking more likely that we will have to go lower first, before we see a return to a long term secular bull market.