Market Signals We Watch
Market Projections…There is an old saying that the stock market will perform in a way that will surprise the most investors. The only individuals that are right in their projections…
The Evolution of Stock Market Thinking
The Evolution of the Stock Market during the past century involved major changes in thinking about stock portfolios. Here are some of the major changes. Growth: Early in the 20th…
Understanding Safety and Risk
Dear Friends and Family, Safety, Risk and Volatility. These are all words that are interchangeably used in security analysis. We and most clients believe that Safety should measure the risk…
Buy Backs
Dear Friends and Family, “All of our major holdings enjoy excellent economics, and most use a portion of their retained earnings to repurchase their shares. We very much like that:…
Innovation and Economic Growth
Dear Friends and Family, Innovation has been the driving force behind economic growth and the growth of civilization. Innovations are sometimes overlooked in the history books and sometimes underappreciated in…
Past Is Prologue
What’s past is prologue Several events in 2018 will impact 2019 and beyond. Here are a few that will have a positive effect. The Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, confirmed…
Tax Cuts & Market Impact
Dear Friends and Family, The tax reduction and reform bill passed in late 2017 and went into effect January 1, 2018. In some quarters there were great expectations for the…
Midterm Trends & Market Patterns
Dear Friends and Family, Sixty-six years of midterm elections. Since 1962 in every bi-election year the stock market has had a negative return from January 1st till election day. There…
Understanding Risk
Dear Friends and Family, RISK is an important factor in building portfolios but not always understood or addressed correctly. Here are several different examples and approaches to handle financial risks.…
On the Other Hand
Dear Friends and Family, President Harry Truman, tired of getting advice that ended with “on the other hand”, famously asked for a one-armed economist. The past 20 years has seen…
Smart Moves for 2018
Dear Friends and Family, We have had many personal financial questions recently related to the new tax law and the state of the economy. The cover letter this month will…
The Buyback Advantage
Dear Friends and Family, Second quarter review… It is too early to have comprehensive corporate numbers for the second quarter; however, some data is available. 95% of companies whose quarter…