There is a special challenge for investors planning for 2009.
It is easy to get caught up in emotion, especially when so much is
going wrong. This causes people to look backward. Investors can meet
the challenge by using a sound analytical framework and by looking
ahead. For those nearing retirement, this is particularly crucial.
My advice to our investors emphasizes two major points:
1.
The news flow is incessantly negative — fraud, corruption,
mismanagement, greed, and every proposed solution called a bailout.
When this message is repeated in every news source, it is also
reflected in current market prices.
2. The market has a gift for us. Our initial rebound target is Dow 11,000. Let us see why.
Basic Rationale
We
will not have another Great Depression, and the prices of many stocks
are at depression levels. The collapse came in mid-September when the
Lehman Brothers failure led to a credit market freeze. Take a look at
the chart.

The
Lehman failure, permitted by government inaction, made every lender
suspicious of every borrower. Normal lending came to a halt, throttling
regular business activity. Equity and credit markets had been priced
for a moderate recession. Now many expected something much worse, a
depression.
Meanwhile, the effect of the government
policy has been underestimated. None of us expects the Federal
Government to solve all of our problems. We have joined the criticism
of the many mistakes.
Enough is enough.
The
counter-reaction has been too extreme. People have expected immediate
policy impacts. This is naïve. There are lags in implementation and in
effect. The modern news cycle has become extremely short. Any new
policy has scores of critics – all wanting to get on TV – within hours
of the announcement. The reaction gets a pitch in blogs and in the
press. The hot-button traders join in.
When the
market reacts negatively, as it has for months, it seems to validate
the pundit reaction. People are not looking at the actual policy
effects, but rather at stock prices. Everything becomes a story of
fraud, corruption, and bailouts. This is a trap.
Stories of corruption are easy to understand. Economic impacts are complicated. Successful investing means finding things that others do not see. The wise investor will see that current government policy is exactly the opposite of depression-era actions.
Data will triumph over speculation.
There are already many signs of improvement. Each is important and the cumulative effect is very important.
· No more dominoes falling. A
few months ago we faced the risk of failure in many banks and major
financial institutions. Whatever one thinks of TARP, it stopped that.
· Credit markets have improved. LIBOR rates are down and bank lending is improving.
· The stimulus package. Whatever the exact size, it will serve to add demand for services and employment.
· Lower gasoline prices. Consumers focus on what is in front of them. This is a boost to everyone’s weekly budget.
· The Fed on mortgage rates.
Massive intervention by the Fed has driven mortgage rates much lower
and they are still declining. Some homeowners are refinancing and it
also helps affordability for new buyers.
· A housing bill. A major housing package will be Job #1 of a new Congress. There will be assistance for new home buyers.
No
economic model – even the best – has any ability to forecast these
effects. Why not? Models require relevant historic data. This is a
collection of policies beyond any precedent. The economic predictions
you read in the paper are more speculative than usual.
How to React
Our basic advice is to buy something. If you have been out of the market, Congratulations! It is now time to act.
If
you have been invested, it is time to consider your asset allocation.
Nearly everyone we talk with is over-invested in real estate, cash
(CDs) and bonds. Stocks now offer a better opportunity.
Do
not view the market, or the newspaper, or pundits as your investment
advisor. Instead, look to the fundamental value of the companies and
the stock prices that are offered.
Most investors
are fighting the psychological tug that causes them to sell at market
bottoms and buy at market tops. Great indicators, including our Gong Model and our Sector Rotation System, are in line with the fundamental analysis.
Are
you a skeptic? Take a partial position. If you are out of stocks, buy a
1/3 position. If you are in stocks and thinking of selling everything,
move to corporate bonds with a yield of 8-10% with half of your
position.
You can make a big return even without an
economic boom. Stocks will start to react when it becomes clear that a
depression is “off the table.” That gets us to the initial target of
Dow 11,000. That is over 20% for the market, and even more in our
basket of stocks. It may take a few months, but we can then reassess
the economic prognosis.
Some Examples
There are several great themes. We love energy plays in the drilling space. The majors need to replenish depleted holdings. The market has treated these stocks like oil futures. Our favorite is Transocean Energy (RIG),
which has locked-in contracts with cancellation penalties. The
valuation is so low that a double is easily possible with a more
positive economic prognosis.
We also like construction and infrastructure stocks such as Caterpillar (CAT). Investors can wait a lifetime to see companies like this offered at single-digit P/E multiples on normalized earnings.
There are great growth stocks such as Apple (AAPL).
The company has a broad range of products, and a low P/E relative to
growth if one allows for the cash holdings. Too many people trade on
rumors about Steve Jobs, ignoring the company fundamentals.
You can also find some unfairly punished stocks, those that declined with the general selling. We like ResMed (RMD)
which works in the sleep disorder field. This is a growth industry
where insurance pays the tab. They have an approved home testing kit,
avoiding the mega-buck price tag from the past. It is not sensitive to
the economy, but has sold off by 1/3.
There are many “Obama opportunities” where one can pounce when the time is right.
Conclusion
Rarely
has there been such a great opportunity for investors. With it comes
the challenge of putting aside emotions and looking forward. There are
many stock ideas that will put some octane in your portfolio. Some
investors can find these on their own. For others, this is the perfect
time to get some professional help, leaving the worry to someone else.
[We own all of the stocks mentioned in both personal and client accounts. This article is one of our regular reports to investors. We have not edited it to reflect changed prices and events. It originally appeared as part of Seeking Alpha's series where ten managers were invited to provide their thoughts about 2009. Readers will find many good ideas in the series, which is refreshingly different from the MSM approaches.]
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