Reiterating Our Bullish Long-Term View on Stocks

Reiterating Our Bullish Long-Term View on Stocks Image: The NASDAQ 100 Index remains resilient, bouncing off support, after breaking out to new highs recently. Some of our best ideas are included in the NASDAQ 100, and our favorite concentrations include exposure to big cap tech and large cap growth. We continue to be bullish on equities for the long run. — By Brian Nelson, CFA — Hi everyone, — Hope you are doing great! First, I wanted to let you know that we’re still working to get the second release of the survey out to you. Your participation in the survey will determine whether we launch a new business, so please do fill it out and keep a watchful eye out for … Read more

ICYMI: Survey Coming Later Today, More Market Volatility Expected

ICYMI: Survey Coming Later Today, More Market Volatility Expected Image: The market’s levels of volatility so far in 2020 have been among the greatest in history. Expectations for increased volatility in the marketplace as a result of the proliferation of price-agnostic trading (indexing and quantitative trading) is a key theme of Valuentum’s text, Value Trap: Theory of Universal Valuation. We continue to emphasize the importance of due diligence, enterprise valuation, behavioral thinking, the information contained in prices, and stock selection across equity portfolios. Page 256. — Hi everyone, — Hope you all are doing great!  — Many of you have already filled out the survey, and I can’t thank you enough for that. For those that may have missed the email housing … Read more

*ALERT* Scribbles and More Newsletter Portfolio Changes

*ALERT* Scribbles and More Newsletter Portfolio Changes Image: Why are stock prices increasing while the near-term economy and near-term earnings outlook isn’t as bright as before…How unlimited quantitative easing, runaway government spending, increased inflation expectations impact equity values…Why this year’s earnings expectations or next year’s earnings expectations don’t matter much…Why Valuentum thinks equity values are rising today, even as the near-term outlook remains unclear. Scribbles on page 76 of Value Trap. — “I know it sounds crazy to say so during a global pandemic and during a recession, but the right multiple and the right earnings to use to value this market is an 18-20x multiple on $196 earnings, putting a fair value range on the S&P 500 today of 3,530-3,920. The … Read more

Data from Visa Indicates the Economic Outlook is Improving

Image Shown: Visa Inc reports that US processed transactions volumes across its payment processing network improved materially on a year-over-year basis in May, relatively speaking, versus the downturn seen in the second half of March and the first half of April. Image Source: Visa Inc – 8-K SEC Filing By Callum Turcan One of our favorite secular growth industry tailwinds is happening in the payment processing, payment solutions, and financial technology space. The world is shifting toward a “cashless” society, and that has accelerated due to the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic, in part due to the rise of e-commerce and in part due to the preference of many consumers to use contactless payment options when in physical stores. Visa Inc … Read more

ICYMI — Stay Optimistic. Stay Bullish. I Am.

  Image: My great-grandfather (second from left) and his buddies in the 88th Division of the United States Army during World War I, at the time of the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919. He would serve under Major General William Weigel, become proficient in the 37mm gun, and take part in the largest offensive in U.S. military history, the Meuse-Argonne Campaign. As a corporal, he would survive the Great War and the Spanish flu pandemic, returning to the U.S. in May 1919 from the port of Saint-Nazaire, France on his way to Omaha, Nebraska.  This article was published May 15, 2020. — New (updated June 4): We continue to encourage members to study the ‘Duration of (Stock) Value Composition’ in Value Trap: Theory of … Read more

Dow Jones Surges Past 27,000; Bull Market Continues!

Dow Jones Surges Past 27,000; Bull Market Continues! — By Brian Nelson, CFA — Hi everyone! — What a bull market off the lows we are having. I don’t think we’re finished, as I have pounded the table time and time and time again about how bullish I am. In the words of Frank Sinatra, “The Best Is Yet to Come,” and I truly believe that. Yesterday, I explained to readers why we’re seeing this huge rally, “Stay Optimistic. Stay Bullish. I Am.”  — If you understand the duration and composition of equity value (page 74-83 in Value Trap), you can start focusing on what drives share prices and returns. How else could a market rally this much with 13% unemployment, right? How wonderful it … Read more

ALERT: Important Recap of Valuentum’s Research and Market Events

ALERT: Important Recap of Valuentum’s Research and Market Events: Unequivocally Bullish, S&P Target Range Was Withdrawn Last Month, Continued Focus on Individual Stock Selection with “Moaty” Operations, Huge Net Cash Positions, Strong Expected Future Free Cash Flows, Established Recurring Business Models, and Otherwise Attractive Economic Castles. Big Cap Tech and Large Cap “Growth” Remain Our Favorite Allocations. — Image: Breaking out to new highs, Facebook (FB) is a top weighting in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio (which includes our favorite capital appreciation ideas in a portfolio setting). The social media giant is surging on news of a new Shops feature, something we’ve been expecting and raving about with respect to its potential for years–as we maintain our view that, anti-trust considerations aside, Facebook … Read more

Best Idea PayPal Soars on Very Promising Outlook

Image Shown: Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio idea PayPal is surging after a strong outlook that speaks to underlying strength of the “new” consumer in a post COVID-19 world. By Callum Turcan On May 6, one of our favorite companies PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL) reported first quarter 2020 earnings. While PayPal missed consensus estimates on both the top- and bottom-line, investors looked towards the future and shares of PYPL rose sharply after the report on May 7. We continue to like PayPal as a near top-weighted holding in our Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. Please note we increased the weighting of PYPL shares in that newsletter portfolio back on January 13, 2020 (link here) and further increased PayPal’s weighting in our Best … Read more

Visa Reports That Global Spending Levels May Have Started to Stabilize in April

Image Source: DeclanTM By Callum Turcan One of our favorite companies and a top-weighted holding in our Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio, Visa Inc (V), reported second-quarter earnings for fiscal 2020 (period ended March 31, 2020) which beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Going forward, while Visa’s very lucrative travel-related businesses (which includes payment processing and foreign currency transaction solutions) will take a hit from reduced travel worldwide due to the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic, management is focused on controlling expenses to offset exogenous headwinds. Specifically, management noted that Visa would pull back on “discretionary spending especially related to personnel, travel, professional services, and marketing” which we appreciate. Outlook Commentary In the fiscal second quarter, Visa reported a 7% increase … Read more

ALERT: Going to “Fully Invested” — The Fed and Treasury Have Your Back

Image Source: BEA. Real GDP fell at an annual pace of 4.8% in the first quarter of 2020, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Summary For members to our new options commentary service, the second April options idea will be released tomorrow. We’re taking the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio and Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio to “fully invested,” scaling up our existing positions to reflect that status. We plan to consider put options to hedge against downside risk, if or when the time comes. Moral hazard continues to run rampant, and the Fed and Treasury may have no choice but to continue artificially propping up this market, even buying stocks through certain vehicles, if necessary. … Read more