Issues
The market remains in good shape, but growth stocks have come under pressure -- for the first time in months, we’re seeing a good amount of abnormal action. Longer-term, we’re still quite bullish, both on the market and on leading stocks, but given the action (and our solid gains this year), we’ve been paring back, with numerous partial profits and one outright sale, which has us holding a 37% cash position.
In tonight’s issue we write about all our latest thoughts on the market, and how to handle big winners that begin to act iffy. We also write up a handful of names we’re watching should growth stocks stabilize.
In tonight’s issue we write about all our latest thoughts on the market, and how to handle big winners that begin to act iffy. We also write up a handful of names we’re watching should growth stocks stabilize.
These are uncertain times. Risks abound, yet the market forges to new all-time highs. With so many things we can’t know about the virus and the election, it’s a good time to focus on what we do know.
Certain powerful trends will continue regardless of what the economy does or who’s President. One such undeniable trend is the aging population. The population is older now than it has ever been before. And it’s getting still older, at warp speed. The aging population is an irrefutable fact. And older people will require more health care.
This mega trend is literally transforming the demographics of the human race. It will be a huge tailwind for the health care sector in the future. At the same time, many great health care stocks haven’t gotten nearly as pricey as the overall market. And they tend to hold up well if things turn south.
In this issue I highlight one of the very best health care companies in the world. The stock is defensive and barely budged when the market crashed. Yet there are huge growth opportunities ahead as it sells cutting-edge treatments and drugs for illnesses and diseases to a public that will demand them like never before.
Certain powerful trends will continue regardless of what the economy does or who’s President. One such undeniable trend is the aging population. The population is older now than it has ever been before. And it’s getting still older, at warp speed. The aging population is an irrefutable fact. And older people will require more health care.
This mega trend is literally transforming the demographics of the human race. It will be a huge tailwind for the health care sector in the future. At the same time, many great health care stocks haven’t gotten nearly as pricey as the overall market. And they tend to hold up well if things turn south.
In this issue I highlight one of the very best health care companies in the world. The stock is defensive and barely budged when the market crashed. Yet there are huge growth opportunities ahead as it sells cutting-edge treatments and drugs for illnesses and diseases to a public that will demand them like never before.
Today, we are getting defensive and recommending a micro-cap consumer staples company.
While this issue’s new recommendation is defensive, it has many other attractive attributes:
All the details are inside this month’s Issue. Enjoy!
While this issue’s new recommendation is defensive, it has many other attractive attributes:
- Strong historic revenue growth (24% CAGR)
- Over 50% insider ownership
- A strong balance sheet
- A cheap valuation (P/E of 15.0x)
All the details are inside this month’s Issue. Enjoy!
With nearly four million apps in Google Play Store, developers face the daunting task of targeting potential customers. Today’s recommendation makes this effort easier by simplifying the app advertising, delivery and tracking process, helping developers and digital advertisers increase revenue and user engagement at scale.
Current Market OutlookTwo weeks ago we saw a bunch of positive earnings reactions that bolstered leading stocks, but last week was mostly the reverse—the leaders that had been running for months took on water, often reacting poorly to earnings and/or share offerings. Of course, while we see a few storm clouds, it’s not a hurricane, as the major indexes are in good shape and there are a growing number of “fresher” leaders (just getting going in the past few weeks) that are still acting just fine. All in all, the majority of the evidence is bullish, so we are as well, but it’s a stock-by-stock environment—many names look fine and are even buyable (preferably on weakness), but if you do have some extended stocks that are wobbling, have a plan in place (tightening stops, partial profits, etc.) in case the sellers gain strength.
This week’s list contains many of those fresher leaders mentioned above, including a few that have taken off on earnings. Our Top Pick is Zillow (Z), which should be a great bet to benefit from the new housing boom.
| Stock Name | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) | 79.05 | ||
| Chart Industries (GTLS) | 72.05 | ||
| Digital Turbine (APPS) | 24.75 | ||
| Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) | 13.78 | ||
| Freshpet (FRPT) | 107.99 | ||
| LivePerson (LPSN) | 58.55 | ||
| Maxar Technologies (MAXR) | 27.02 | ||
| Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (OLLI) | 103.94 | ||
| Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) | 78.41 | ||
| Zillow (Z) | 76.64 |
The market continues to hum along, with the S&P 500 closing in on its February highs. Thus, it makes sense to maintain a full portfolio of 20 stocks. To get there, and make room for our newest recommendation, we have to say goodbye to AbbVie (ABBV), which has given us a nice profit in four months but has started to weaken.
Taking AbbVie’s place is a name that’s likely familiar to you, and one that’s showing greater strength than it has in years thanks in part to a new mega-deal. We’re also upgrading Big Lots (BIG) to Buy after a big second quarter.
Full details in the issue.
Taking AbbVie’s place is a name that’s likely familiar to you, and one that’s showing greater strength than it has in years thanks in part to a new mega-deal. We’re also upgrading Big Lots (BIG) to Buy after a big second quarter.
Full details in the issue.
All eyes are on Washington this week as markets, which have risen over the last four trading sessions, are counting on lawmakers hammering out another stimulus bill. Our emerging markets market timer remains positive. Sea Limited (SE) shares soared again this week, from 119 to 146, as this stock has quietly become the world’s best-performing large-cap stock, up more than 880% in the past 18 months. Cloudflare (NET) moved ahead along with our strategic metals ETF, and NovoCure (NVCR) reported positive earnings. This week’s issue begins with an overview of the emerging high-tech rivalry between America and China, and highlights a new recommendation of a dominant company at the heart of that rivalry.
This month we’re jumping into a new IPO that’s following in the footsteps of Livongo and Teladoc, bringing an innovative digital health solution to the masses.
As with those firms, this company sells solutions to companies, but it is the end consumer that uses the products, which are aimed at improving engagement and health outcomes while reducing costs.
With limited history as a public company, an earnings report coming next week, and the recent news that Livongo and Teledoc will merge, I expect shares of this company will be somewhat volatile. Please be sure to average in. We are starting with BUY A HALF rating today.
All the details are inside this month’s Issue. Enjoy!
As with those firms, this company sells solutions to companies, but it is the end consumer that uses the products, which are aimed at improving engagement and health outcomes while reducing costs.
With limited history as a public company, an earnings report coming next week, and the recent news that Livongo and Teledoc will merge, I expect shares of this company will be somewhat volatile. Please be sure to average in. We are starting with BUY A HALF rating today.
All the details are inside this month’s Issue. Enjoy!
Here is the August 2020 issue of Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor.
Thank you for subscribing to the Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor. It’s earnings season, and in this issue we review fresh reports from MKS Instruments (MKSI), Tyson Foods (TSN), Columbia Sportswear (COLM), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC). Marathon also announced a deal to sell their Speedway retail gas station business for $21 billion in an all-cash deal, which we discuss.
As a newsletter looking for undervalued stocks in a market full of enthusiasm for only a select few mega-sized tech companies, we almost feel a moral obligation to highlight contrarian ideas. In this issue, we recommend a stable but meaningfully out-of-favor company that has the potential to provide solid long-term returns. “Out-of-favor” implies that it doesn’t have the immediate profit potential of a “digital economy” stock, but that lack of zest produces the opportunity. With low expectations comes upside surprises. We believe global beverage company Molson Coors (TAP) fits the bill.
You may notice that we are tweaking some of the components of the Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor letter. For example, we’re bringing back the portfolio tables to every weekly and monthly issue. A “Hold” rating means that we believe the stock is fine to hold in the portfolio, but that the risk/return trade-off isn’t compelling enough to warrant a “Buy” nor unfavorable enough to warrant a “Sell.” Also, for the monthly issue, we may not always have a “Feature” stock in each portfolio – that doesn’t mean we don’t like any of the names, it probably just means that we featured it recently and want to avoid being repetitive to save you time and effort.
Please feel free to send me your questions and comments. This newsletter is written for you and the best way to get more out of the letter is to let me know what you are looking for.
I’m best reachable at Bruce@CabotWealth.com. I’ll do my best to respond as quickly as possible.
Thank you for subscribing to the Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor. It’s earnings season, and in this issue we review fresh reports from MKS Instruments (MKSI), Tyson Foods (TSN), Columbia Sportswear (COLM), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC). Marathon also announced a deal to sell their Speedway retail gas station business for $21 billion in an all-cash deal, which we discuss.
As a newsletter looking for undervalued stocks in a market full of enthusiasm for only a select few mega-sized tech companies, we almost feel a moral obligation to highlight contrarian ideas. In this issue, we recommend a stable but meaningfully out-of-favor company that has the potential to provide solid long-term returns. “Out-of-favor” implies that it doesn’t have the immediate profit potential of a “digital economy” stock, but that lack of zest produces the opportunity. With low expectations comes upside surprises. We believe global beverage company Molson Coors (TAP) fits the bill.
You may notice that we are tweaking some of the components of the Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor letter. For example, we’re bringing back the portfolio tables to every weekly and monthly issue. A “Hold” rating means that we believe the stock is fine to hold in the portfolio, but that the risk/return trade-off isn’t compelling enough to warrant a “Buy” nor unfavorable enough to warrant a “Sell.” Also, for the monthly issue, we may not always have a “Feature” stock in each portfolio – that doesn’t mean we don’t like any of the names, it probably just means that we featured it recently and want to avoid being repetitive to save you time and effort.
Please feel free to send me your questions and comments. This newsletter is written for you and the best way to get more out of the letter is to let me know what you are looking for.
I’m best reachable at Bruce@CabotWealth.com. I’ll do my best to respond as quickly as possible.
People are flocking to the company’s hobby photo- and video-sharing application, posting pics and videos of their cooking masterpieces, children’s activities, business décor ideas and just about any other creative task you can imagine.
Updates
Updates on all our stocks, no ratings changes, and 10 stocks that look likely to rise 5% in the near term.
The year’s first major bout of market volatility hit this week. It’s about time. I’m moving two of our stocks to Hold.
This Weekly Update includes summaries for three Cabot Benjamin Graham Value Investor companies that reported quarterly financial results or other noteworthy news during the past week, plus questions from subscribers along with my answers.
Trim your sails a bit and see how the market handles itself going forward. Today’s whopping decline isn’t the end of the world for growth stocks, but the broad market is more worrisome, with the Cabot Tides now neutral and our Two-Second Indicator turning negative.
The major indexes pulled back late last week, then rallied Monday after Saudi Arabia and Russia said they would extend oil production cuts. Crude prices surged to their highest level in two weeks, and energy stocks led the market higher. Things cooled off again on Tuesday, as housing starts disappointed and the U.S. dollar fell to its lowest level since before the election.
It’s no secret that I’ve favored energy, financial and construction materials stocks for many months. That’s because many stocks in those sectors are expected to achieve very strong, multi-year profit growth.
It’s been a wild week, much more so than a high-level look at the small-cap index would imply. According to the index, we’re just moving sideways with a little wiggle here and there. But when you look within our portfolio—wow! This was anything but a quiet week. Stocks were jumping all over the place as earnings reports came out.
In this Weekly Update, I include summaries for 10 companies that reported quarterly financial results or other noteworthy news during the past week. I also include questions from subscribers along with my answers.
The Emerging Markets Timer is in great shape, as the iShares EM Fund has pushed out to new highs in recent days. We’re holding on tight to our winners, but we are downgrading one stock to Hold tonight.
The S&P 500 and Dow finally joined the Nasdaq at new highs this week, although they continue to underperform the tech-oriented index. Despite this divergence, most signals continue to point to further gains for the stock market in the months ahead. I have one rating change today.
We’re on the tail end of earnings seasons for companies that wrapped up their quarters in March. Almost every one of our portfolio companies that reported earnings delivered an upside earnings surprise, especially in the integrated oil and construction materials industries.
This Weekly Update includes summaries for 11 Cabot Benjamin Graham Value Investor companies that reported quarterly financial results or other noteworthy news during the past week.
Alerts
Traders can maintain a long position in my favorite market-tracking ETF.
This is a low-cost biomedical stock that has its hands in several potentially lucrative medications.
Today’s update is brief, but it does include a couple of important observations about the behavior of cannabis stocks in recent weeks, as well as updates on all the portfolio stocks.
One stock begins a run-up and moves from Buy to Strong Buy and two others continue to rise.
This fund moves twice the movement of the S&P 500, and pays a small dividend (0.61%).
In the past 30 days, two analysts have increased their EPS estimates for our first idea today, an HVAC company.
This global hotelier beat analysts’ earnings estimates by ten cents last quarter, and eight analysts have increased their forecasts for the company in the past 30 days.
The top three sectors in this ETF are: Real Estate, 26.32% of assets; Financial Services, 15.27%; and Consumer Defensive, 14.87%.
In the past couple of months, coverage of the shares of this cybersecurity stock was initiated at Mizuho.
Analysts expect this grocer to grow by double-digits next year.
Growth stocks were hit hard today, though they found some support in the afternoon. Bigger picture, we remain optimistic that the market’s next big move is up, as our long-term Cabot Trend Lines are still bullish. Near term, however, the market has clearly lost some steam. Near term, however, the market has clearly lost some steam and we are selling one position today as a result.
Portfolios
Strategy
Our Cabot Top Ten Trader’s market timing system consists of two parts—one based on the action of three select, growth-oriented market indexes, and the other based on the action of the fast-moving stocks Cabot Top Ten features.