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Lowell Herr

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  • Optimizing The Dividend Aristocrats [View article]
    Bob,

    The limit is 40 stocks with the QPP40 software. There is also a QPP20 where only 20 tickers can be evaluated.

    If I recall, there are now 54 Dividend Aristocrates so I eliminated any with a yield below 2% and came up with 37.

    You have the idea of how the optimization works. One can optimize on return, risk, beta, yield, or some other metric of your choosing, so long as it can be located in the QPP spreadsheet.

    Lowell
    Feb 15 02:44 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Optimizing The Dividend Aristocrats [View article]
    Inzkeeper,

    1) The double entry of CLX is an error. One should be CL, but when I entered it, Excel automatically "typed" CLX and I failed to catch the double entry.
    2) QPP is a software program designed by Geoff Considine. To my knowledge QPP does not account for dividend growth rate.
    3) To come up with the above results two spreadsheets are running in cooperation with each other. An optimizer worksheet links to the QPP spreadsheet projections and comes up with the "best" allocation of assets based on constraints one places on the investments.

    More on how all this works can be found on my blog at
    http://bit.ly/rfwO89

    Lowell
    Feb 14 03:53 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Top Core Stocks Analyzed Using QPP Plus Delta Factor Projections [View article]
    Oldlaxer59,

    As way of explanation, Seeking Alpha editors picked this article up off my blog (http://bit.ly/rfwO89) so this piece was written for my readers. The portfolio needs to be read in the context of many other posts.

    As way of color explanation, the individual holdings are compared to Vanguard's Total Market Index Fund, VTSMX. For a stock to receive a green background in the Delta column, the value must be equal or greater than 15%. That means the projected return minus historical return must be => 15%. This value is subject to change.

    Lowell
    Feb 13 12:00 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Harry Browne's Permanent Portfolio And Market Stages [View article]
    In William Bernstein new e-book, "Skating Where The Puck Was," he is less than positive as to the future performance of the "Permanent Portfolio." Gold is not likely to repeat the past performance, bonds will decline when interest rates begin to rise, and cash contributes little to the portfolio except as a downdraft protector.

    Lowell
    Feb 8 03:03 PM | 2 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • 'Swensen Portfolio' Updated [View article]
    I would be a very patient investor with the market near an all-time high. That is about as much investment advice as I prefer to give on a public forum.

    Yes, you can use a Pimco bond instead of TLT and TIP. Here again, with interest rates as low as they are, it seems unlikely bonds will be the place to be over the next three to five years. However, I've thought the bond bubble would burst a year or so ago.

    Lowell
    Feb 7 07:58 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • 'Swensen Portfolio' Updated [View article]
    Msapp,

    No, I've not heard of Betterment. I don't see any reason to pay an advisor to invest in index ETFs as it just lays on another fee.

    Yes, I watch all the ETFs used in the portfolios I track. I call it the ITA Risk Reduction (ITARR) model. I discuss this on my blog at the following URL. If you Google the full title you will come up with references.

    http://bit.ly/rfwO89

    I'm not a fan of the 60/40 stock/bond ratio, particularly when we are all waiting for interest rates to rise. That may be a few years off, but it is coming. There is no perfect portfolio so I advocate diversifying all over the globe. This includes domestic and international REITs, sovereign debt ETFs, emerging markets, commodities (gold), etc. Then hold through thick and thin unless one wants to work with a timing model such as the ITARR. The ITARR model is not for everyone.

    Lowell
    Jan 30 12:36 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Bullish Percent Indicators And Delta Factors For January 25, 2013 [View article]
    While the Bullish Percent Indicators are based on historical data, the same is not true for the "Delta Factor" information.

    If the Affordable Healthcare bill guarantees more money will go to healthcare, then one better buy an ETF such as VHT.

    Lowell
    Jan 30 10:12 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • 'Swensen Portfolio' Updated [View article]
    Swensen did not recommend his "Yale Portfolio" in his Unconventional Success book. My interpretation of his recommendations comes from Chapter 3, Portfolio Construction.

    As an aside, the highly leveraged funds have not done all that well recently. Apparently too many hedge fund managers are chasing too few opportunities.

    Lowell
    Jan 30 09:20 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • A Portfolio That Reduces Risk [View article]
    Danny,

    I also recommended to the holder of this portfolio that they cut investments that are holding anything below 3%.

    While the expense ratios are included in the analysis, this does not mean one should not find other investments to replace those with high fees. I totally agree with you on these recommendations.

    Lowell
    Jan 29 01:05 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Adding Piotroski Stocks (CRA) To A Core Index Portfolio [View article]
    It should read CRAI in the title of the article.

    Lowell
    Jan 28 09:11 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • A Portfolio That Reduces Risk [View article]
    Both Risk and Return are important and that is why I strive to construct portfolios that have a projected Return/Risk ratio of 0.60 or higher. One of the weaknesses of the above portfolio is that it does not meet this standard.

    Again, this portfolio was submitted by a reader.

    Lowell
    Jan 25 09:33 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • A Portfolio That Reduces Risk [View article]
    The person who set up this portfolio wanted to reduce risk, so return was not the primary concern.

    The 3.93% is the future projected return for BWX, not the historical return. It will likely do better or worse than 3.9%.

    Lowell
    Jan 24 07:53 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • A Portfolio That Reduces Risk [View article]
    Clarification: Just so readers know, the above portfolio was sent to me by one of my blog readers.
    http://bit.ly/rfwO89
    I posted the portfolio and my analysis for ITA readers. Seeking Alpha picked up the article and published it - which they have the right to do.

    So read the article and analysis in that context.

    Lowell
    Jan 24 07:51 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • ITA Dozen: A Simple 12-ETF Portfolio [View article]
    Taxes would not differ from those related with SPY. All but GTU can be purchased commission free and the fees are similar.

    Lowell
    Jan 23 10:18 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • ITA Dozen: A Simple 12-ETF Portfolio [View article]
    Tom,

    Here is the URL for the Bullish Percent Indicator (BPI) article.

    http://seekingalpha.co...

    Lowell
    Jan 22 02:52 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
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554 Comments
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