Current Market View

BUY!

What can one say regarding the US markets?

March and April have experienced record volatility, numbing price movements in both debt and equity markets. Outright FEAR truly overtook the markets and the economic landscape. IN RIDES J. POWELL and the FED! Who would have thunk it? The most maligned FED Head in recent history comes to the rescue and likely saved the markets from a 2008/2009 type of result.

As of this writing, the US Fed has expanded its balance sheet to a record breaking $6.6 Trillion from just over $4 Trillion, 2 months ago. They are buying assets across the board in virtually all debt and mortgage related securities. The BOJ committed on April 27th to buying all Japanese government and corporate debt necessary to keep their banking system solvent. The ECB has yet to detail its plan, though, it has made the same verbal commitments as the other central banks. The US Congress has approved just under $750 Billion for paychecks, debt relief, protective equipment and who knows what else. The point is, the HELICOPTERS have arrived!

The biggest concern that is seemingly being raised by the central banks’ aggressive actions is eventual INFLATION as worldwide economies begin to recover. This is completely consistent with classic economic theory. We disagree. DEFLATION is and will likely continue to be the persistent barricade to growth as we move forward. Only when governments allow their banking systems to rid themselves of bad loans (with a Bad Bank of some kind) and a lending policy that frees up capital held on reserve at their respective central banks, will inflation begin to become meaningful.

Employment is the key. We feel that the US economy can make substantial progress over the next 12-18 months, yet, the low 3% rate of unemployment achieved at the beginning of 2020, which is likely now to be hovering in the 15%+ area, will take 2-3 years to once again achieve.

Tactically, the firm is: 1) expanding its core positions, 2) adding new companies with a technology, especially software and services orientation, and 3) investing its cash. Our bond exposure has treated us well, though, we are now shortening maturities and reducing exposure to take advantage of what we believe are attractive valuations when looking ahead to an economic recovery that could morph into a barn burner by the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022. Using the DJIA as a reference point, we believe the market may move as low as 22,500 during the summer of 2020 and depending upon the pace of reopening the economy as well as the effective containment of COVID-19, it could move to new highs in 2020 towards 35,000. A peek at 2021 suggests to us that the DJIA may be heading toward 40,000 by year-end as earnings could be moving to new highs as 2022 approaches and the markets begin to discount this potential achievement. We believe interest rates are bottoming and will likely stay at the .60% -.75% (US10Yr) range into the fourth quarter of 2020.

For more, check out our 1Q20 Market Commentary Memo.

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*One of DCA’s guiding principles is that we will communicate with our investors and prospective investors as candidly as possible because we believe investors and prospective investors benefit from understanding our investment philosophy and approach. Our views and opinions regarding the prospects of investments and/or the economy are forward looking statements as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws, which may or may not be accurate and may be materially different over future periods. Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “plan,” or the negative of such terms and similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from an investor’s historical experience and current expectations or projections indicated in any forward looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, equity securities risk, corporate bonds risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, leverage and borrowing risk, additional risks of certain investments, management risk, and other risks. We disclaim any obligation to update or alter any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.