Making more people is about the easiest thing in the world to do. That trend could turn in a few short years if they wanted it to. The Japanese are nonplussed about shrinking population with one of the highest population densities in the world. Consumption per capita can rise faster than population declines.
Debt to GDP is high in Japan, but the country also has one of the greatest stocks of fixed and financial capital per person in the world including a net international investment position of +56% of GDP. The country's balance sheet is sound especially compared to other's.
What J.C. Penney Sellers Are Missing [View article]
Forget what's in the stores, their locations are terrible. All in the old parts of town in run down malls. People buy clothes for fun -- none of these stores could pay their bills on clothes demand driven by necessity. All your margin is coming from discretionary purchases, sure people shop because they have to, but it is not enough; you have to entertain and get the extra dollars. Going to an old run-down store doesn't cut it. I am sure the investments they are making will help some, but you cannot turn around some of these locations. I would rather go to TJ Maxx: that is the future of middle class retail.
I think you answered for me. Invest by P/E means you buy stocks with low P/Es and nothing more. This is not the same as investing in the market in general after a sell off, when P/Es are low. It just means picking all the stocks right now with 10x P/Es, for example. A lot of people just look at P/E and say its cheap, it must be good, or its expensive it must be bad. Lots of companies have been bought at 25x earnings that have generated fantastic returns for the buyer (I am not saying pay any price, just that 10x, 15x, 25x can all make the same ultimate return on investment).
Even if you go by the most optimistic and outdated studies (outdated meaning a market inefficiency from 50 years ago must still be around today, right?), invest by P/E is giving you a couple percentage points a year of alpha. But no study I have seen has really been convincing to me because low PE stocks tend to be from the same industries and you could just be seeing a successful sector of the economy over the 15 year life of the study. Financials were always low PE stocks, for example and showed very good returns from 1991 to 2007 (if you chose that time period).
And Buffett does not invest by P/E. Buffett pays big multiples for good businesses when buying stocks. If he is doing a special situation then he gets off market deals or no deal at all (GE, Goldman, etc. were off market and during times of significant distress).
By the way, I do prefer being both completely and utterly wrong than either or, there is something about the totality of it that is compelling.
A few too many on one side of the boat? The world's most popular short, the yen is strengthening in chunks now, with the dollar -2.5% and buying ¥91.10. More popular than long dollar/yen has been long euro/yen and that's getting pounded even harder. The twin trade to short yen has been long Japan stocks, particularly in the form of the hedged equity ETF (DXJ). It's off 3.3%. [View news story]
Exactly, there is little reason to believe the 40 year trend of yen appreciation will reverse.
3D Systems (DDD) -9.5% following its mixed Q4 results. The 3D printer maker, whose 3-for-2 split goes into effect today, is guiding for 2013 revenue of $440M-$485M and $1-$1.15 vs. a split-adjusted consensus of $442.2M and $1.05. Q4 gross margin was 51.7%, -10 bps Q/Q and +460 bps Y/Y. Backlog +23% Q/Q to $11.4M. R&D spending (the subject of some criticism) +70% Y/Y to $7.8M (8% of revenue). SG&A +51% to $26.5M. Q4's 45% growth a slowdown from Q3's 57%. SSYS -6.5%. XONE -5.2%. PRLB -3.3%. CC underway (webcast). (PR) (slides) [View news story]
For decades, H-P made a bundle of money in "commoditized" 2D printers. I don't think that is the main issue to focus on. Most good companies have real competitors, if they don't they get regulated and at best turn into to bonds (like utility stocks).
Historical financials look ugly -- might have some accounting earnings but hasn't produced much cash before acquisitions (and after of course has used a lot). Bad business, who cares what the price is.
More on FOMC minutes: Those expressing concern about the costs/risks from further asset purchases are upgraded to "many" from "several." A "number" said a close look at the data might well lead the FOMC to "taper or end" QE before a substantial improvement in the labor market occurred. "Several" argue the risks of ending too soon are also significant. Status quo for now, but the monetary law of the land can clearly no longer be called QE∞. [View news story]
If the FY14 federal budget is even close to what happens in reality, $85 billion of monthly purchases would mean the Fed is shrinking the level of debt held by the public on an annual basis. I doubt the Fed wants to do this -- their upper comfort level is probably monetizing 100% of actual issuance. They will need to start laying the framework for a reduction to the area of $50 billion a month.
Price Matching Is Synergistic With Sales Tax Collection [View article]
Over the past year or so (perhaps more, but this is what I notice personally) Best Buy has been much more aggressive in pricing (and in some cases I think Amazon has let prices increase). It is now likely that a large portion of the Best Buy store is price matched on the sticker.
I know for a long time things like cables at Best Buy were literally 3x more expensive than on-line -- where the cheapest HDMI cable you could buy was $30-40, but not any longer. They realize this just made customers upset.
Anyway, I think people shop Amazon for convenience at this point first and price second (although bargain hunters can be a ... vocal group). Going to a physical store is just very inconvenient and its not like electronics retailers have much of a shopping experience.
Price Matching Is Synergistic With Sales Tax Collection [View article]
I think Best Buy has price matched online for a long time. I shop in these stores from time to time in California. I always see people with printouts from online for many years and getting price matched. Also, for TVs Best Buy has price discretion. You can get deals there beyond just price matching with negotiation. This is done regularly.
Mondelez's Sugary Valuation Could Cause Wealth Decay [View article]
It's not undervalued. Good business at a fair price, that is all. Expected returns 6% nominal under current inflation.
Kraft split had to be done to ameliorate post retirement benefits and Wal-Mart / other top 5 grocers exposure but the dis-synergies will hurt a lot.
Over short-term coffee / cocoa pricing going down will hurt revenues but stimulate demand and either help profit or at least help keep it stable.
Lastly, these businesses are not really very high return and everyone should realize this. Using book capital, it may look like it, but these firms have decades of marketing dollars spent to achieve their current "brand equity" and there is steady inflation in what it costs to get your message out.
Why Hyperinflation Is A Myth (And What It Means For Gold Prices) [View article]
Hyperinflation is always and everywhere a political decision. In Zimbabwe it was used as a tool to transfer wealth from the remaining white elites. In Germany it was a form of nonviolent protest against reparations. In neither case was economics important. If there is ever a hyperinflation in America, it will be to achieve a political purpose. And not just to change the guard from red to blue or back again -- it would be something of a scope far greater, on the scale of a major war.
Valuing The Yen [View article]
Valuing The Yen [View article]
Debt to GDP is high in Japan, but the country also has one of the greatest stocks of fixed and financial capital per person in the world including a net international investment position of +56% of GDP. The country's balance sheet is sound especially compared to other's.
What J.C. Penney Sellers Are Missing [View article]
What J.C. Penney Sellers Are Missing [View article]
VeriFone Now A Falling Knife [View article]
Even if you go by the most optimistic and outdated studies (outdated meaning a market inefficiency from 50 years ago must still be around today, right?), invest by P/E is giving you a couple percentage points a year of alpha. But no study I have seen has really been convincing to me because low PE stocks tend to be from the same industries and you could just be seeing a successful sector of the economy over the 15 year life of the study. Financials were always low PE stocks, for example and showed very good returns from 1991 to 2007 (if you chose that time period).
And Buffett does not invest by P/E. Buffett pays big multiples for good businesses when buying stocks. If he is doing a special situation then he gets off market deals or no deal at all (GE, Goldman, etc. were off market and during times of significant distress).
By the way, I do prefer being both completely and utterly wrong than either or, there is something about the totality of it that is compelling.
A few too many on one side of the boat? The world's most popular short, the yen is strengthening in chunks now, with the dollar -2.5% and buying ¥91.10. More popular than long dollar/yen has been long euro/yen and that's getting pounded even harder. The twin trade to short yen has been long Japan stocks, particularly in the form of the hedged equity ETF (DXJ). It's off 3.3%. [View news story]
http://bit.ly/WnphQM
3D Systems (DDD) -9.5% following its mixed Q4 results. The 3D printer maker, whose 3-for-2 split goes into effect today, is guiding for 2013 revenue of $440M-$485M and $1-$1.15 vs. a split-adjusted consensus of $442.2M and $1.05. Q4 gross margin was 51.7%, -10 bps Q/Q and +460 bps Y/Y. Backlog +23% Q/Q to $11.4M. R&D spending (the subject of some criticism) +70% Y/Y to $7.8M (8% of revenue). SG&A +51% to $26.5M. Q4's 45% growth a slowdown from Q3's 57%. SSYS -6.5%. XONE -5.2%. PRLB -3.3%. CC underway (webcast). (PR) (slides) [View news story]
VeriFone Now A Falling Knife [View article]
VeriFone Now A Falling Knife [View article]
More on FOMC minutes: Those expressing concern about the costs/risks from further asset purchases are upgraded to "many" from "several." A "number" said a close look at the data might well lead the FOMC to "taper or end" QE before a substantial improvement in the labor market occurred. "Several" argue the risks of ending too soon are also significant. Status quo for now, but the monetary law of the land can clearly no longer be called QE∞. [View news story]
Price Matching Is Synergistic With Sales Tax Collection [View article]
I know for a long time things like cables at Best Buy were literally 3x more expensive than on-line -- where the cheapest HDMI cable you could buy was $30-40, but not any longer. They realize this just made customers upset.
Anyway, I think people shop Amazon for convenience at this point first and price second (although bargain hunters can be a ... vocal group). Going to a physical store is just very inconvenient and its not like electronics retailers have much of a shopping experience.
Price Matching Is Synergistic With Sales Tax Collection [View article]
Mondelez's Sugary Valuation Could Cause Wealth Decay [View article]
Mondelez's Sugary Valuation Could Cause Wealth Decay [View article]
Kraft split had to be done to ameliorate post retirement benefits and Wal-Mart / other top 5 grocers exposure but the dis-synergies will hurt a lot.
Over short-term coffee / cocoa pricing going down will hurt revenues but stimulate demand and either help profit or at least help keep it stable.
Lastly, these businesses are not really very high return and everyone should realize this. Using book capital, it may look like it, but these firms have decades of marketing dollars spent to achieve their current "brand equity" and there is steady inflation in what it costs to get your message out.
Why Hyperinflation Is A Myth (And What It Means For Gold Prices) [View article]