POCKETBOOK: Week ending Dec. 29, 2017

• 

• Not every stock makes money

One of the honest-to-goodness realities of investing in stocks is that all stocks don’t make their shareholders money. In fact, every year—including in 2017— there are some winning doozies and some losing doozies.

Louis Navellier, in a recent email, included a listing of companies in which shares lost money and were on his “sell” list in 2017. Some included General Electric, down -43%, AmTrust Financial Services, down 63% and L Brands, down -44%.

Some of the winners on his “buy” list included TSL Education Group, up 150%, Align Technologies, up 146% and Burlington Stores, up 30%.

The way I see it, if your investments were up 10% or more, consider it a profitable year.

Wishing you another lucky year in 2018.

 

• Market Quick Glance

After a year in which the equity market indices continued to make new highs and new highs and new highs, many investors were smiling all the way to the bank. That said, during the last week of 2017, all four indices followed below lost ground. Not a lot of ground—but all wound up lower than they had at the end of the previous week.

Below are the weekly and 1-year index performance results for four major indices— including the dates each reached new highs—according to CNBC.com based on prices at the close of business on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017.

–DJIA +25.08% YTD down from last week’s 25.26%.

• 1 yr Rtn +24.72% up from last week’s 24.27%

The last new high for the DJIA was reached on December 18, 2017 of 24,876.07.

 

-S&P 500 +19.85% YTD down from last week’s 19.85%.

• 1yr Rtn +18.87% up from last week’s +18.68%

The S&P 500 reached its latest new high on December 18, 2017 of 2,694.97.

 

-NASDAQ +28.24% YTD down from last week’s +29.29%.

• 1yr Rtn +27.09% down from last week’s 27.77%

Nasdaq reached its latest new high of 7,003.89 on December 18, 2017.

 

-Russell 2000 +13.14%YTD down from last week’s +13.69%

1yr Rtn +12.64% down from last week’s +13.23%

The Russell 2000 reached its last new all-time high on December 4, 2017 of 1,559.61.

 

-Mutual funds

Although the final year-end numbers for mutual funds has yet to be published, the year-to-date average cumulative total reinvested returns for equity funds that fall under the broad U.S. Diversified Equity Funds heading were still charming.

On the day before the 2017 trading year ended, Thursday, December 28, 2017, the average return was 18.91%, according to Lipper. That’s up from the close on Thursday of the previous week of 18.57%.

Below are the best and worst average returns for the fund types that fall under the Lipper’s four broad equity fund category headings through 12/28/17:

• U.S. Diversified Equity Funds

-best: Equity Leverage Funds, average +42.86%

-worst: Alternative Equity Market Neutral Funds, -0.06%

 

• Sector Equity Funds

-best: Global Science/Technology Funds, +44.61%

-worst: Energy MLP Funds, -5.95%

 

• World Equity Funds

-best: China Region Funds, +43.34%

-worst: Global Equity Income Funds, +17.30

 

• Mixed Asset Funds

-best: Mixed-Asset Target 2055+Funds,+21.48%

-worst: Alternative Multi-Strategy Funds, +4.80%

Visit www.allaboutfunds.com for more information about how various equity and fixed-income funds have rewarded investors over the short-and long-term, based upon Lipper data. Short-term meaning weekly and monthly performance returns; longer-term includes quarterly, year-to-date, 1-yr, 2-yr, 3-yr and 5-yr returns.

 

• Market volatility

2017 was a rewarding one for many. It was also a year in which the markets didn’t jump around as much as one might remember.

In fact, according to a recent SeekingAlpha story by Lance Roberts, the DJIA “enjoyed less adversity in 2017 than any other year in history going back over 100 years, (beginning data in 1915).”

Here’s hoping that 2018 is as easy going a year.

Happy New Year!

 

-30-

 

 

 

 

Advertisement

POCKETBOOK: Week ending July 14, 2017

• 

• Middle class illusion

 If you’re at all like 70 percent of America’s adult population, you consider yourself middle class both in income and mindset. This, according to the results from Northwestern Mutual’s 2017 Planning and Progress study.

Too bad that’s not really the case.

Turns out the middle class has lost a serious amount of its heft over the past 45-ish years. According to Pew Research Center, in 1971, middle-income households totaled 61 percent of the household landscape. But by 2015, that percentage had slid to 50 percent.

While the middle class is shrinking, both the number of households in the upper- and lower-income levels has been on the rise.

So much for that 70 percent thinking.

 

• Market Quick Glance

I get nervous when all the 30-some stocks that I follow close in the green. But, that’s what happened as of the close of market business Friday.

As for the four indices followed here, all four had a great week with year-to-date numbers higher than the week previous. Additionally, both the DJIA and S&P 500 reached new highs for the year.

That’s all hunky dorey but take notice of the 1-year returns and you will see that all four indices figures are lower than they were a week ago.

So, as Friends character Joey Tribbiani would say, “How YOU doin?”

And if you’re doin good, maybe it’s time to lock in some profits. Nobody has ever gone  broke doin that.

Below are the weekly and 1-year index performance results— including the dates each reached new highs— according to data from CNBC.com. Data is based on prices at the close of business for the week ending on Friday, July 14, 2017.

-DJIA + 9.49% YTD up handsomely from last week’s +8.36%

• 1 yr Rtn +16.92% down from last week’s 19.66%

The DJIA reached a new all-time high on July 14, 2017 of 21,681.53.

(Previous high was on July 3,2017 of 21,562.75. Prior to that high dates include: 21,535.03 on June 20, 2017; 21,391.97 reached on June 14, 2017; 21,305.35 on June 9, 2017; 21,225.04 on June 2, 2017; and 21,169.11 on March 1, 2017.)

 

-S&P 500 +9.85% YTD up attractively from last week’s 8.32%

• 1yr Rtn +13.66% down from last week’s +15.60%

The S&P 500 reached a new all-time high of 2,463.54 on July 14, 2017.

(Prior to that date new highs and dates include: 2,453.82 on June 19,2017; 2,446.2 reached on June 9, 2017; 2,440.23 reached on June 2, 2017; 2,418.71 reached on May 25, 2017; 2,405.77 reached on May 16, 2017; 2403.87 on May 9, 2017; 2,400.98 reached on March 1, 2017.)

 

-NASDAQ +17.26% YTD up seriously from last week’s +14.30%

• 1yr Rtn +25.40% down from last week’s 26.17%

The Nasdaq reached a new all-time high of 6,341.7 on June 9, 2017.

(Previous highs include: 6,308.76 on June 2; 6,217.34 reached on May 25; 6,170,16 on May 16; 6,133 on May 9, 2017; 6102.72 on May 2, 2017; 6074.04 on April 28, 2017; and 5,936.39 on April 5, 2017.)

 

-Russell 2000 +5.28% YTD up enough to notice from last week’s +4.33%

• 1yr Rtn +18.85% down seriously from last week’s +23.14%

The Russell 2000 reached its latest all-time high of 1,433.789 on June 9, 2017. (Previous highs include 1,425.7 reached on April 26, 2017 and of 1,414,82 reached on March 1, 2017.)

-Mutual funds

Like the major indices showed their stuff, last week the average U.S. Diversified Equity Fund gained ground too closing at 8.74% at the close of business on Thursday, July 13, 2017, according to Lipper. That’s up attractively from the previous week’s close of 6.95%.

That said, time is one of the most important factors to consider before dipping your toe into the ever-changing currents of the stock market. And just like every other thing associated with investing, there is no one guaranteed time frame that comes with the promise of making you money. All time frames can be rewarding or disappointing. That’s just the nature of this beast.

To make that point, here’s a relatively short-term look at the cumulative total reinvestment performance for the 8,549 funds that fall under the U.S. Diversified Equity Funds over seven time periods:

-1 week: up 1.62% (7/6/17 through 7/13/17)

-4 weeks: up 1.01% (6/15/17 through 7/13/17)

-13 weeks: up 5.50% (4/13/17  through /13/17)

-52 weeks: up 14.88% (7/14/16 through 7/13/17)

-2 years: up 7.47% (7/9/15 through 7/13/17)

-3 years: up 6.64% (7/10/14 through 7/13/17)

-5 years: up 12.65% (7/12/12 through 7/13/17)

Visit www.allaboutfunds.com for more information about how various equity and fixed-income funds have rewarded investors over the short-and long-term, based upon Lipper data. Short-term meaning weekly and monthly performance returns; longer-term includes quarterly, year-to-date, 1-yr, 2-yr, 3-yr and 5-yr returns.

 

• IPOs? Not so fast

Louis Navellier is no fan of investing in IPOs.

According to his recent Navellier Growth Fund newsletter, this well-established money manager pointed out that over 70 companies have already gone public so far this year. But, while that’s exciting news for some, Navellier warns everyday ordinary investors to stay away from these big-time hyped and often temping offers.

“The last thing you should do is buy into the hype,” he said. The reason? Because he said there is “ too much volatility early on.”

Instead, he suggests waiting. “If you want to get into these companies, I recommend that you come back in a year or two….And I say that for one specific reason—-earnings results.”

 

-30-

 

 

POCKETBOOK:Week ending Sept.17,2016

• 
• Guns and suicides

Where ever you stand on gun control, there is no denying the fact that guns kill. It’s like the reason they were created.

On that note, from Bloomberg.com comes this:

” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are about 11,000 firearm homicides a year and some 21,000 firearm suicides. In terms of sheer mortality, gun suicide is a bigger problem than gun homicide.”

• Market Quick Glance

At the close of business on Friday, Sept 16, 2016, all four indices had performed better than the week before with Nasdaq gaining the most.

According to Bloomberg, below are last week’s closing YTD performance numbers of four popular US indices along with 1-year performance figures.

-Indices:

-Dow Jones +6.13% YTD

• 1yr Rtn +13.61%

-S&P 500 +6.34% YTD

• 1yr Rtn +11.67%

–NASDAQ +5.77% YTD

• 1yr Rtn +10.12%

–Russell 2000 +8.96% YTD

• 1yr Rtn +6.90%

 

-Mutual funds

At the close of business on Thursday, September 15, 2016, the average YTD return of U.S.Diversified Equity Funds had lost ground from the previous week and ended the week +4.97%, according to Lipper.

Look back over the past year and the average total 52- week YTD return was 4.09%.

World Equity Funds, on average, are up 5.22%.  Latin American Funds lead the way, up 30.97% on average, followed by Emerging Markets Funds, up 12.38% and then India Region Funds, up 11.20%.

Slide into income and World Income Funds, Lipper tracks 802 of them, were up on average 9.55%.

Wondering how best to use Lipper’s fund performance figures? Use their YTD returns as a guideline for how your individual fund(s) are performing. For instance, the average stock fund is up about 6.5 percent so far this year. Are your stock funds doing better or worse than that?

Visit www.allaboutfunds.com for weekly updates to see how various equity and fixed-income funds have rewarded investors over the short-and long-term, based upon Lipper data. Short-term meaning weekly and monthly performance returns; longer-term includes quarterly, year-to-date, 1-yr, 2-yr, 3-yr and 5-yr returns.

Lipper’s weekly performance figures for stock and fixed-income funds are at www.allaboutfunds.com in the left column on the home page.

• Dubious Dividends

I’m a big fan of stocks that pay dividends to their shareholders. Invest in companies that have a long history of paying them and this old-fashioned widows-and-orphans kind of investment strategy can reward shareholders handsomely.

But dividends don’t come with guarantees. The companies that pay them aren’t required to make that promise. And, can change their mind about how much gets paid at any time.

That’s something to keep in mind when hunting for dividend paying stocks to purchase.

Louis Navellier brought that point home in a current email in which he wrote: “Of the 1,500 dividend paying stocks in the market, a unbelievable 313 companies cut their dividends in the first half of 2016. That’s 1 out of every 5 dividend stocks CUTTING their dividend….”

This money pro is anticipating more cuts from dividend paying companies this year. Including companies included in  ETFs and  REITs .

So what can you do if you’re a divie investor?

In a word “homework.”

The dividend investing strategy remains to be a sound one but learning as much as you can about the company that pays the dividend, its history of dividend payment, current financial picture and future growth prospects all need to be reviewed and considered.

-30-

 

 

 

 

 

 

A shooting range in every home

(Tris Walker, MorgueFile free photo)

Louis Navellier was a guest on CNBC Squawk Box this morning, Tuesday, Jan.5. I’m a fan of his so I watched. Two takeaways from the interview: First, President Obama is a great gun salesman. Second, there is a big difference between how those living in the West think about guns versus those living in the East. But before going there, consider the following.

Whether you’re a firearms enthusiast or not, or believe your right to carry or wear a gun out in public is as appropriate in 2016 as it was when the 2^nd Amendment was adopted to the United States Constitution in 1791, really doesn’t much matter because—bottom line—there’s money in guns. Plenty of it. And, the more people who purchase guns, bullets and holsters, etc., or join shooting ranges and gun clubs and whip up others about the need to protect yourself, the more money this already multi-billion-dollar industry makes.

As for the hundreds of deaths caused by guns each day and every year, well, that’s sorta like collateral damage: An ugly reality that doesn’t carry nearly as much weight as profits do.

So while President Obama is hoping to knock a little common sense into all of us and would like to see some simple gun-control measures put into place—-and see the United States dump its top-billing status as the developed world’s most gun-violent country— every time he suggests any kind of gun control laws the sale of guns go up. As Navellier suggested, the guy, indirectly, is the best gun salesman in America today.

To that point, yesterday, at the end of the first trading day of the New Year, the DJIA tanked as did  most stocks on the major exchanges. Shares of both Sturm, Rugar and CO. (RGR) and Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC), however, closed the day up $1.78 and $1.31 respectively.

Today, their gains were even more rewarding: Smith& Wesson Holding Corp. hit an all time high closing up over 11 percent at $25.86 per share and Sturm, Ruger & Co. ended the session up 6.46 percent at $65.54, according to Yahoo Finance.

The 52-week lows for each: RGR, $35.07 and SWHC, $9.39.

Like I said, there’s money in guns.

There’s also a gun-slinging mentality not shared by everyone across America.

Navellier, who owns homes out West and in the East, said his house in the West came outfitted with a shooting range and an RV garage. He didn’t specifically ask for either but said that was just how the homes in the area he lives are built. When out walking his dog this quant-style money manager said he can hear people target practicing inside their homes.“ I don’t do that but I can hear it.”

You won’t find those kinds of trappings in his home in the East. But the dichotomy between the two life-styles can’t be ignored. Nor can the odd chance that the real firepower underscoring the strength of our pro-gun lobbyists and legislators is really more about making money than it is the right to bear arms.

 

30-