Interesting story on whats under the hood of SRI ETF’s:
Buyer Beware: What’s Really in Your Socially Responsible ETF?
Summer doldrums markets as participants are waiting for the FOMC message later today. While few expect any real change, the tone reflected in the post meeting communique tends to move markets.
NDR continues to predict that no Double Dip recession is on the horizon. Their Recession Probability Model remains at 0%. Economic activity advanced in 47 states in May and over the past three months.
Industrial Goods manufacturer Hawk Corporation (which we have a position in for clients) makes fuel cell components has raised their 2010 guidance based on an improving economy. The stock is responding nicely up $2 to $23.
Chinese Health Club owner Soko Fitness and Spa SOKF may be finally coming to life on news of two new facilities in the Harbin area. Soko is an example of a company where the valuation is hard to ignore with earnings capable of .50 cents a share in 2010 and .80 or more for 2011. While the stock has done little in light of the weakness in the Chinese stock market it has held up reasonably well. Should present growth rates continue for another year the valuation would be very compressed. Selling at just 2x book value and 7x present earnings with no long term debt, .70 in cash along with +50% revenue growth and 80% member retention rate this has some serious potential. But beware SOKF can be volatile and isn’t heavily traded with a big spread between bid and offer.
From the Carbon Disclosure Project: Corporate Clean Energy Investment Trends in Brazil, China, India and South Africa pdf
Long HWK, SOKF (client and personal accounts)
Intriguing article by Standard and Poor’s: “Does Past Performance Matter?”
Spent the morning accompanying my son on the gorgeous campus of U.C. Boulder for freshman orientation. The contrast between his orientation and my own first days at Northeastern couldn’t be greater….all we ever got was our course schedule and a map along with the Dickensesque: “look to the left, look to the right to see who’ll be gone in 4 years”
Is now the time to refocus on Emerging Markets with the potential weakness in the US Dollar? The USD appears to be rolling over which bodes well for Emerging Markets who thrive on a weak dollar. They’ve been dormant for at least six months so we might see a move shortly. More on our holdings later……….
In addition to the dollar rolling over the ECRI leading weekly indicator has rolled over………and not just for a rub on the tummy. At its present value the ECRI has predicted 5 recessions and given two false alerts. Our favorite research outfits ISI and Ned Davis are calling for economic softness but not a double dip recession.
Yield on high yield debt rose in the month of May the most since February 2009 while Investment Grade debt was little changed. High Yield is now back above 10% which accounts for a spread of approximately 7% versus medium term treasuries. However, attractive yield spreads aside high yield will perform along with the economy and its inherent risks.
One of the potential trends we have our eyes on is a serious rise in long term treasury yields. In an interview with St. Louis Federal Reserve head Bill Poole on Bloomberg, Poole remarked that with the Fed having no where to turn in lowering short term rates if the economy soften significantly the Fed might consider buying long term treasuries to lower their yields which will flatten the yield curve.
Asset Allocation: At present we remain at a 70/30 ratio of stocks to bonds which has been the case for close to a year. Models suggest that a move to 55% equities might be in order but the timing is questionable. Should the Advance / Decline line of the stock market not surpass the January high, we will likely pare back our equity stakes. The A/D line typically peaks before major market highs and for the past year has been rising quite nicely. However if the stock market were to become bifurcated with a smaller number of stocks advancing it would be a warning of trouble ahead.
NY Times: China Leading Global Race to Make Clean Energy
Be careful out there
Long JNK, HYD, HYG, SHY
Yesterdays rally confirmed our more constructive intermediate term outlook as the S&P 500 pushed above the 200 day moving average on a 90% up day. We have not seen a cluster of 90% up days since 2009 during the strongest points of the rally. Bears will comment that it was a fake rally due to high frequency trading, but as the coach of the New England Patriots Bill Belichick would drolly would say: “It is what it is”.
Yesterday while driving home I remembered a conversation from the mid 1990’s with a major SRI fund manager who insisted upon owning a major oil company despite their environmental screening policies. His rationale was that this particular company was the best of the lot, the most progressive within the space. Care to guess what that company was? Hint: my initials.
Being that I’m somewhat of a financial geek I get excited when our model identifies companies that are also identified as promising by other proven investment models. Case in point is IDT Corp. which also ranks very high on the esteemed
Piotroski model
as well as our own. We don’t own the stock for clients at present but will begin to look closely at it.
Also, will be breaking down a host of Green Tech firms looking for revenue acceleration. Stories about this morning about the promise of Green Tech but unless revenues start to move higher its only a trade and not an investment.
All the best,
BP
This blog has been relatively inactive for the past two months as I try to determine its future.
From my perspective there is and has been a great deal of hyperbole regarding “green” stocks that fundamentals such as valuation and balance sheet strength are essentially ignored.
There may always be companies with better technologies but if the price is high relative to value the chances are strong that unless you’re a very short term trader you’ll eventually have a significant loss. While there is no perfect formula for investing, not all methodologies are created equal nor do they produce the same results in the long run.
Our methodology revolves around growth at as low a cost as reasonably possible. Many of our investments are socially “neutral” where the investment has little or no social, environmental or humane impact. Ideally we would all love to own a very green proactive portfolio but the volatility and risks associated with being totally proactive are simply too high. The bottom line is you must make money for yourself in the long run hence we blend both old school fundamental analysis with environmental screening.
