GameStop Fiasco and the Implications for the Market

It is rare for a fringe computer-game retailer to make national headlines, but the GameStop saga has done just that.  Through a confluence of events, the stock of a shrinking, bricks-and-mortar retailer, shot up 20-fold in a matter of days sending shockwaves through other areas of the market.

It has been set up as a battle between short-selling hedge funds versus an army of retail investors. Short sellers borrow shares and sell them with the promise they will buy them back at a future date. They profit when the stock drops.  GameStop was a perfect company for them to short with their dwindling store base and buyers’ move to downloading games directly from the makers.  In fact, they shorted so much that there were no additional shares left to possibly borrow.  Cue the vocal Reddit traders.  One especially aggressive and passionate investor, with seemingly thousands of followers, started touting the stock. This, along with a possible turnaround in the GameStop strategy with the hiring of a Chewy.com executive, provided the spark for some upward movement in the stock.  The upward momentum of the stock with the aggressive use of inexpensive stock options to leverage their bets, made these “amateur” traders more and more money while the hedge funds were hemorrhaging.  The hedge funds faced margin calls and a loss of assets which forced them to buy back the stock at higher and higher levels.  All of this fueled one of the more insane moves that I can recall.  There is literally no reason for the stock to be trading over $300 per share and will eventually fall back to earth with all the financial pain for those still owning the stock when the music stops.

There are several ramifications for this situation.  First, the hedge funds and other investors who have lost a material amount have, and will, be forced to pare back their other positions.  We have seen some weakness in the market especially in stocks that are held by hedge funds. Second, it will create other crazy moves as the mob of Reddit investors fresh off their win move on to new battles to wage. Third and most critical, it clouds the question whether this a well-functioning market.  The Fed stimulus and extremely low interest rates can impact asset prices.  In my view, a lot of the reason why the market has done so well is because of this.  The goal is for there to be a healthy amount of enthusiasm for speculation, and although we cannot predict the future based on past performance history, asset bubbles, like what we saw in the late-90’s tech boom, can potentially foretell market tops and could warrant caution.  A handful of short squeezes in small companies is not on the order of what we experienced in 1999, but we are on alert for other dislocations of price versus reality.  For now, we see corporate profits routinely exceeding expectations, an accommodative Federal Reserve, additional stimulus and the roll-out of the vaccine-- all of which should be beneficial to the market.  The sooner these Reddit “investors” move back to playing video games, rather than the market, the better.

APG Capital Asset Management 2nd Quarter 2020 Review and Outlook

The United States is still grappling with escalating Covid-19 cases, historically high unemployment, and a severe recession, all while the stock market had the best quarter in twenty-two years. With such a bleak background, this strength seems fairly bizarre but there are reasons for the S&P 500’s 20% quarterly rally to end the year down only 3%[1].  

Stock prices are determined by the present value of estimated future earnings.  Stock market valuations may imply that investors are looking past the next few quarters and that corporate profits rebound fairly rapidly in 2021 and 2022.  But with the uncertainty that exists, most of those estimates are impossible to determine so optimism over future profits only tells part of the story.

The most reasonable explanation is due to the unprecedented amount of government stimulus being pumped into the economy.  The payments to taxpayers and businesses, combined with the Federal Reserve bond buying programs (see the chart below of Fed activity), have created a flood of new money into the economy.  The effect of this is to devalue dollars, which increases inflation.  This, in turn, pushes assets like stocks, real estate and commodity prices up.  This gels with what we’ve experienced.  But stock prices should also weigh the risks of a depressed economy on the profitability of corporations and demand for hard assets.  We may be in a stage of the market recovery where the market will bounce around, finding where these opposing forces find an equilibrium.

It is useful to note how the market reacted to past pandemics.  During the Spanish Flu of 1917-1918 as shown below, the market then similarly plunged about 33%.  After the market bottomed, it quickly rebounded, traded in a range for a year, and then trended higher.  It took about 15 months for the market to fully recover the pre-virus highs.

This pandemic is forcing companies to adapt to news ways of doing business.  While many companies are struggling, there are some that are capitalizing on their market position.  Active management could have a good chance to outperform in this environment. We remain focused on growth stocks relative to value and de-risking portfolios through an overall lower weighting to stocks may be prudent.  We believe It is important to stay focused on the long term. While there may be short-term market weakness as we learn more about the wave of outbreaks and how companies are faring in the next earnings announcement cycle, it is hard to bet against the long-term ability of companies to evolve and thrive in new environments. This is especially true as long as the Fed remains highly supportive.

While the market continues to confound, we recommend paying attention to areas we can control.  Here are some things to consider:

1.       Make sure you are taking advantage of tax savings. 

• maximizing deductible 401-K and IRA contributions, (the deadline for 2019 contributions were pushed to July 15th this year

• tax-loss harvesting, and

• smart charitable giving, either to a Donor Advised fund or a Qualified Distribution from IRAs.  

2.       With the prospect of higher future tax rates, there may be opportunities converting Traditional IRA holdings to a Roth IRA.  

3.       Reviewing your mortgages to see if a refinancing makes sense

4.       Take a closer look at your expenses so there are no holes in your budgeting and cash planning.  

5.       Please stay safe - avoid crowds, wash your hands and, for the safety you and your loved ones, wear a mask.

This marks the third anniversary of APG Capital and I want to thank all of my clients for your trust and time.  I truly appreciate our collaboration and sharing of ideas.  I look forward to seeing you all in person soon.

Advisory services offered through APG Capital Asset Management, a Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC.

713-446-3233

www.apgcap.com

All views/opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views/opinions held by Advisory Services Network, LLC. Indexes are unmanaged and do not incur management fees, costs, or expenses.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.  The information and material contained herein is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only.  This material does not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.  The future performance of an investment or strategy cannot be deduced from past performance.  As with any investment or investment strategy, the outcome depends upon many factors including: investment objectives, income, net worth, tax bracket, risk tolerance, as well as economic and market factors.  All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results.  All information contained herein is derived from sources deemed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed.

[1] https://www.statista.com/chart/22169/change-in-us-stock-market-indices-in-the-second-quarter-of-2020/

[2] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/market-behavior-a-century-ago-suggests-the-worst-could-be-over-for-stocks-if-not-for-the-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-03-19

Coronavirus Update and Positioning - March 18 Letter to Clients

I wanted to give you some of my thoughts on the Coronavirus and the impact on the markets.  I think that the government is finally on board with broad efforts to stop the spread of the virus and to provide aid to people and companies most affected by the virus.  I am in favor of the current guidelines around social distancing and take a preponderance of care in your daily activities.  These efforts to slow the virus should help keep more Americans from getting sick and those that do, the proper medical assistance.  This will no doubt disrupt our lives and affect companies possibly for a longer period of time.  As evidenced by the slowing rates in China and South Korea, taking drastic efforts now should pay off down the road. 

I construct portfolios to match your tolerance for risk and to help generate the most return.  However, this is not a “set it and forget it” process.  As the risks have increased, I think additional caution is warranted. 

Typically, we judge the value of stocks based on the future cash flows the companies generate.  There are a number of inputs, but to simplify, we look at the current earnings, the expected growth, and an interest rate to “discount” those future cash flows.  Prior to the outbreak, there was relatively high certainty to those inputs; however, In the current environment, the market is struggling to know what any of those numbers are.  In addition, the ability of some companies to repay debt is also in question.  We cannot rely on past earnings or many companies to estimate their current or future earning power.  Furthermore, the risks in the market are raising the discounting interest rate which lowers the value of those future cash flows. 

Much of this uncertainty has been absorbed by the market, as the stock market has dropped so precipitously in such a short time frame.  However, I believe the virus will run its course at that economic activity will rebound and companies should go back to normal operations and return to generating profits.  I think this is a short-term phenomenon for most companies and stronger companies with good balance sheets may even come out more efficient and in a better position to grow.  As the market is forward-looking, the market should bottom well before the economy and timing that bottom will be impossible. 

This market fluctuations can be unnerving.  Please know that I am keeping a close watch of the markets on your behalf. The most important thing is your health, and the well-being of your family, friends, and neighbors.  I am available to provide guidance on some financial items like refinancing your mortgage, looking at your budgets and financial plans, and update changes to your estate planning.  Otherwise, take the opportunity to do some spring cleaning, work on projects around the house, catch up on some reading and TV shows and take some mental breaks from the news! 

2019 Financial Planning Year-End Checklist

The holiday season is a time for family and reflection.  Hopefully, it will also leave some time to take stock of your finances. As the calendar resets in a month or so, it is wise to remember some important financial end of year to-dos to make sure you have maximized your situation by lowering taxes, bringing portfolios back into balance and your estate planning is up to date.  Happy Holidays and may you have a wonderful 2020!

         Consider funding a Donor Advised Fund with appreciated assets.  One larger contribution that can fund your charitable giving for many years can help push your deductions high enough to itemize, and it avoids capital gains taxes on the appreciation.

•          Harvest capital losses.  After a year like 2019 when practically all asset classes rose, it may be hard to find losses, but there are always those that struggled.

•          For those 70 ½ or older or have an inherited IRA, make sure you take your RMD to avoid paying a 50% penalty.

•          Also, for those 70 ½ or older that have Required Minimum distributions from their IRA, a preferred way to donate to money to a charity is thru a Qualified Charitable Distribution. These payments count toward satisfying your RMD for the year (up to $100,000) and are excluded from income for tax purposes.

•          If there are any changes to your estate plan or beneficiaries, make sure you will (you have one, right?) has your final wishes.

•          You have until April 2020 to make your IRA contributions, but if you already know what kind of contribution you will be making (Roth, tax-deductible traditional), now is a great time to make it. Remember, the contribution limits are up to $6,000 for those under 50, and $7,000 for those 50 and older.

•          Decide when you are making that property tax payment.  With the new lower deduction for state and local taxes of $10,000, it may not be as critical, but some still benefit from choosing which year to make the payment.

•          If you happen to have a lower-income year, take advantage by thinking about a Roth conversion. Filling up your low marginal income-tax-rate buckets with income from moving dollars from traditional to Roth IRA may pay long term benefits.

•          Reallocate your investments.  After such a strong year in the equity markets, you may be tilting a bit stock-heavy in your portfolio.  Consider taking some chips off the table and trim strong performing growth stocks in favor of value and international equities and high-quality bonds.

•          Remember the words of Bob Harris from the film Lost in Translation (2003) “The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you.”

All views/opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views/opinions held by Advisory Services Network, LLC. The information and material contained herein is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only.  This material does not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.  Advisory Services Network, LLC does not provide tax advice.  The tax information contained herein is general and is not exhaustive by nature.  Federal and state laws are complex and constantly changing.  You should always consult your own legal or tax professional for information concerning your individual situation.

How "Top Gun" Can Help You Position Your Portfolio when the Yield Curve Inverts

Maverick: “We Were Inverted”

During the iconic Tom Cruise scene in Top Gun when he details his interaction with a Russian MIG during a test flight, he explains to a shocked room (not before he removes the cool shades), that the way he was able to see the MIG while flying above it, was that “We were inverted.”  This week, in a shock to the market, the 5-year minus 2-year yield was negative, or “inverted”.  Usually, the longer the duration, the higher the yield; however, short-term interest rates are currently higher.  A more common tracked metric is the 10-year minus 2-year yield which is close to inverting as seen below.

There are several reasons why this is occurring.  The Fed (which controls short term rates) is witnessing strong domestic growth and an upward creep in core inflation.   Since interest rate changes can take time to move through the economy, the Fed preemptively will move to limit anticipated problems, i.e. runaway inflation.   By increasing rates, they can put the brakes on growth limiting inflation.  It also gives the Fed room to move rates lower if the economy slips.  On the other hand, the market (investors and traders) determines the rest of the interest rate curve.  Currently, the market has a strong demand for longer duration bond for the relative safety of government bonds due to a combination of fear of market volatility and an outlook that the Fed may have to lower rates in the coming years.

What are the implications of an inverted curve? All seven recessions since 1970 have been heralded by a yield curve inversion.  However not all inversions imply a recession.  Tom Lee, the co-founder of Fundstrat Global Advisors LLC, calculates that the 3- to 5-year yield inversion has occurred 73 times since 1954 while the economy endured only nine recessions. “5Y-3Y inversion predicted 73 of the last 9 recessions, too many false positives.”[i]

Now the question is: “What are investors to do about this?”  It really all depends on your risk appetite, holding period and allocation. While market weakness is not a guarantee, there are strong indications, like the higher VIX index, the market will be more volatile going forward.  Investors need to know how they are positioned to ensure their allocations are aligned with their capacity for risk.  At my firm, we use Riskalyze’s risk alignment software to make sure we know how much risk our clients are willing to take and to position their portfolios accordingly.  First, we determine your “Risk Number” though a short survey.  Then we analyze your current portfolio of securities to see how risky your portfolio is.  If you are interested in this, or just curious what your risk number is, click here for a short survey and check out more on Riskalyze here. 

[i] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-06/history-shows-inverted-yield-curve-is-no-death-knell-for-s-p-500

Advisory services offered through APG Capital Asset Management, a Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC.

Phone: 713-446-3233  Website: www.apgcap.com

All views/opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views/opinions held by Advisory Services Network, LLC. Indexes are unmanaged and do not incur management fees, costs, or expenses.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.  The information and material contained herein is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only.  This material does not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.  The future performance of an investment or strategy cannot be deduced from past performance.  As with any investment or investment strategy, the outcome depends upon many factors including: investment objectives, income, net worth, tax bracket, risk tolerance, as well as economic and market factors.  All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results.  All information contained herein is derived from sources deemed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed.

Third Quarter 2018 Review and Outlook

It was a tale of two markets in the third quarter.  US Equities markets on one hand and, seemingly, the rest of the investable universe, on the other.  US Equities rallied, as evidenced by the 7.7% surge for the S&P 500 for the quarter (+10.6% year to date)[i], while the Developed Markets eked out a 1.1 return in the quarter (-1.3% year to date)[ii] and emerging markets dropped 1.4% (-7.9% year to date)[iii]. Even domestic bonds continued their streak of losing quarters, dropping marginally in the quarter leaving the Barclays’ US Bond Aggregate Index down 1.6% for the year.[iv] 

Domestic Backdrop

The effects of lower taxes and regulation have helped sustain the economy’s growth momentum. The 4.2% growth in GDP for the second quarter may have been boosted by a “sugar high” form the tax-cut but expectations are for continued growth as the US Conference Board is forecasting a 3.1% growth rate for 2019.[v] Furthermore, as shown in the Federal Labor Market Conditions Index, the labor market has fully recovered from the Financial Crisis.

Interest Rate changes

Emblematic of this strength, the Fed has removed their “accommodative” stance for interest rates, signaling continued rate hikes.  The effect of these hikes make housing more expensive and hurts profitability for debt-laden companies. The Fed hopes that, while tempering growth, these increases keep inflation under wraps.  While the Fed makes changes to short term rates, longer term rates are set by the market.  Recently, the 10-Year rate broke out of its trading range and moved significantly higher, from about 2.80% to 3.25%.   Back in February, when we saw these rates jump higher, the market corrected sharply, but since has recovered and have shown decent gains for the year.  We may see another similar situation with the markets acting a bit jittery while the economy sorts out these countervailing impacts. 

With the expansion almost a decade old, we are certainly in the later stages of the growth cycle, but when the economy turns downward is still a question.  Positioning portfolios more cautiously is probably warranted, but we are still optimistic for the mid- and long-term for the US markets.

International Situation

The current trade policies of the US Administration are a heavy-handed approach to fix some of the unfair treatment of US companies when dealing overseas, especially when it comes to intellectual property.  Specifically, escalating tensions with China are proving to be damaging to the worldwide growth story and most markets are feeling those effects.  Hopefully the new tariffs on trade is ultimately posturing, and a more pro-trade resolution is negotiated.  Ahead of that resolution, maintaining some exposure to emerging markets should be a good risk/reward position considering the current weakness, as these markets are trading at significant discounts to US markets and should witness higher growth.

Looking forward, the underperformance of international stocks this year make it a good opportunity to bring portfolios back to target allocations by trimming winners like larger cap growth companies and adding (as painful as it may seem) to those international laggards. 

Advisory services offered through APG Capital Asset Management, a Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC.

Phone: 713-446-3233  Website: www.apgcap.com

All views/opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views/opinions held by Advisory Services Network, LLC. Indexes are unmanaged and do not incur management fees, costs, or expenses.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.  The information and material contained herein is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only.  This material does not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.  The future performance of an investment or strategy cannot be deduced from past performance.  As with any investment or investment strategy, the outcome depends upon many factors including: investment objectives, income, net worth, tax bracket, risk tolerance, as well as economic and market factors.  All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results.  All information contained herein is derived from sources deemed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed.

[i] http://performance.morningstar.com/funds/etf/total-returns.action?t=SPY&region=USA&culture=en_US

[ii] http://performance.morningstar.com/funds/etf/total-returns.action?t=IEFA&region=USA&culture=en_US

[iii] http://performance.morningstar.com/funds/etf/total-returns.action?t=IEMG

[iv] http://performance.morningstar.com/funds/etf/total-returns.action?t=AGG

[v] https://www.conference-board.org/data/usforecast.cfm

Interview with Heidi Dugan - Top Real Estate Agent with Greenwood King

Key insights on Houston's market since Harvey and critical advice when buying a home that may have flooded.

Making the Most Out of Your Bonus

It’s that time of year when many companies are paying out their year-end bonuses.  Hopefully “congratulations” are in order and all that hard work from the last year paid off.  Now the real decisions begin.

In some fields, like energy trading, your bonus can vary widely from year to year and are only maximized when the stars align -- you have a great year, your group meets their goals, and the company hits their profit targets.  Even the most successful may only get a dozen or so of these big paydays in a career, so it is critical to be thoughtful about how you allocate your bonus.   These are the payments that ought to support you and your family’s hopes and dreams for a lifetime. 

What is your plan?  Upgrade the house, pay off an existing mortgage, invest in the market or just sit in cash?  How much should you save versus spend?

·         Working through the hierarchy of how to allocate new capital can be challenging.  A good place to start is making sure to maximize your employer’s matching 401-K plans, Health Savings Accounts and any other tax advantaged account that is underfunded, like an education 529 Plan.

·         While it is tempting to ratchet up your lifestyle with a big payday.  Be careful when adjusting your spending habits that even when there are years when the bonus is sub-par, you can handle your bills.  One way to keep your spending in check is to imagine: what if I had to find a new job?  What kind of salary could I earn in the current job market?

·         Finally, as there are no one-size fits-all decision-making tools, consider working with an independent Register Investment Advisor.  RIAs typically do not market products or have outside pressures as to where these funds go plus as your fiduciary, have an obligation to put the client first and develop solutions that align with your risk appetite and long-term goals.  Even when an advisor’s pay is a function of the amount of assets they manage, your advisor should acknowledge this and determine the best course, regardless of this conflict.

We hear of athletes or actors going from rags to riches and end up having financial problems later in life.  Many other careers can have volatile earnings streams. Careful and thoughtful planning during the heady years can help to minimize the impact of the lean years.

Advisory services offered through APG Capital Asset Management, a Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC.

Phone: 713-446-3233  Website: www.apgcap.com

All views/opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views/opinions held by Advisory Services Network, LLC. Indexes are unmanaged and do not incur management fees, costs, or expenses.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.  The information and material contained herein is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only.  This material does not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.  The future performance of an investment or strategy cannot be deduced from past performance.  As with any investment or investment strategy, the outcome depends upon many factors including: investment objectives, income, net worth, tax bracket, risk tolerance, as well as economic and market factors.  All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results.  All information contained herein is derived from sources deemed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed.