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| [Whether] one sees valuations as attractive or fundamentals as improving,…one should always be cautious when profitably reaches extreme levels like we can see today. The fact of the matter is that corporate profits as a percentage of GDP have rarely reached dizzying heights like at present and the most likely scenario is mean reversion in coming quarters. Therefore, I think it is prudent that investors ask themselves…[whether] or not they want to be positioned on the long side right here. Words: 485
So writes Tiho Brkan (http://theshortsideoflong.blogspot.ca) in edited excerpts from his original article* entitled Chart of the Day: Corporate Profits.
Brkan goes on to say in further edited excerpts: In today’s chart of the day, we can safety assume that corporate profits tend to track the overall growth of the economy…[the] majority of the time (link here). After a four-year expansion, in recent months my view has been that profitably has most likely reached its peak. There are a few observations we could make by looking at chart below:
Chart 1: Corporate profit margins could soon mean revert
 Source: Short Side of Long
Historically, the best time to invest into equities has been during [a time of] disappointment in corporate profits. Certain readers are most likely asking why would corporate profits mean revert? Why couldn’t they stay elevated? Well basically, the recent expansion has been built mostly on labour cost cutting and that is why margins have managed to approach record highs despite anaemic growth in the last few years.
With Federal Reserve and US government closely linked towards a goal of further employment, one has to consider the following:
Conclusion In my opinion, we are about to…[witness] a mean reversion in corporate profitability regardless of outcome as we have most likely has reached its limits for the cycle. Now comes the painful part, which is usually jam-packed with earning disappointments and investor losses….
*http://theshortsideoflong.blogspot.ca/2013/03/chart-of-day-corporate-profits.html
Related Articles: 1. ‘Sell In May And Go Away’ – or Even Sooner! Here’s Why
Taking profits is rarely a bad idea, and staying fully invested at these levels seems foolish. That is why it might pay to raise some capital now, before the sell in May strategy comes up. Having a core position of equities along with some dry powder and keeping a look out for short-term trading opportunities is how I plan to play this market through 2013. [This article presents 5 specific reasons why it might be wise sell in May and go away – or even sooner – this year.] Words: 1280 2. Research Says Stock Market Bull Should Continue Its Run Until…
The mainstream financial press would like us to believe that because the S&P 500 and Dow 30 are at or near their record highs that it must mean we’re nearing the end of the current bull market and, as such, now must be a terrible time to buy stocks. Let’s not jump to any conclusions, though. Instead, let’s do our own due diligence to find out. Hint: If you’ve been stuffing cash under the mattress since the last market crash, you might want to finally go deposit it in your brokerage account. Here’s why… Words: 420 3. 2000 & 2007 All Over Again? Yes & Here’s Why
It’s that time again. The Dow surpassed its all-time high and the S&P 500 is not that far from the tops of 1553 on March 24, 2000 and 1576 on October 9, 2007. Just as in 2000 and 2007, the economic, valuation and political background does not support the budding euphoria. [Let us explain precisely why that is the case.] Words: 680
There have been 6 previous Greedometer warnings – 5 of them real world, 1 from back testing alone – in the 7 years that the Greedometer (or parts that formed its predecessor) have been used in the real world, and there have been zero missed calls, and zero false alarms. The 7th warning began in January and in late February,the Greedometer gauge reached an epic 7900rpm which is marginally higher than the 7700rpm maximum reading seen 3 months prior to the S&P500 peak in October 2007. [This article outlines the development and successes of the Greedometer and the new Mini Greedometer and what they are predicting for the stock market in 2013.] Words: 1420 5. It’s Time to Apply the “Greater Fool Theory” and Sell Your Winners to All Those Fools
The Dow has surpassed its all-time record high – set in October 2007 – and the S&P 500 is not far behind? Is this the early stage of another great bull market? Let’s look back at the two previous times when the S&P 500 set new all-time highs and see if we can learn something. Wait…first put your “this time it’s different” glasses on. OK, let’s go. Words: 430; Charts: 1 6. Don’t Ignore This Fact: “Greedometer Gauge” Signals S&P 500 Drop to the 500s by July-August, 2013!
7. This Metric Strongly Suggests a Major Correction in the S&P 500 Could Be Coming
History shows that when investors experience a rapid decline in the amount of available cash in their brokerage account to spend/invest quickly such “negative net worth” leads to major corrections in the stock market. Currently such is the case so can we expect another such decline or will it be different this time? 8. Dr. Nu Yu: Formation of S&P 500′s “Three Peaks & a Domed House” Pattern On Course
The S&P 500 is on its way to building a “Domed House” and to challenge multi-year highs, or even all-time highs, in the process. Based on the forecast of my proprietary Long Wave Index, the broad market should be in a short-term bullish time-window until March 21st/13 by which time the “roof” phase of the formation should be complete with the S&P 500 having reached a projected peak of 1570. Words: 634; Charts: 4 9. I’m “making the call” for a market correction of 50% – or more!!
I don’t relish the job of constantly pointing out the risks to the equity markets but since few on Wall Street seem willing (or able) to do this, I’m “making the call” for a market correction, as enough variables have aligned to indicate a high likelihood of stocks heading downwards from here. Words: 1203; Charts: 6 10. Watch Out For Falling Stocks! Here’s Why
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Most everything you’ve heard about investing from the mainstream media, your mutual fund advisor and your tax accountant is a lie. You’ve been told…that the entire point of portfolio diversification is to mitigate downside risk yet when the market experiences the inevitable decline, every sector pushes significantly lower – and your “diversified” portfolio suffers as a result, [right? Well, there IS a better way.] Hear me out. Words: 895 13. The U.S. Stock Market Is Overvalued By More Than 50%! Here’s Why
Key stock indices are becoming significantly overpriced. The value of the U.S. stock market stands at about 133% of GDP. The average for the past 60 years has been around 82%. By this measure, the U.S. stock market is overvalued by more than 50%! Words: 398 14. Stop! Don’t Forget Market Risk – Remember What Happened in 2000 & 2007/8.
Investors are more bullish now than at any time since 2002 but the current rally has not been fueled by improved prospects of actual growth and wealth creation. Instead, it’s mostly due to:
but nowhere do they seem to be considering market risk – the risk that your investment will lose value because it gets dragged down in a falling market. Words: 615 15. Insider Trading Suggests That a Market Crash Is Coming
What you are about to read below is startling. •Every time that the market has fallen in recent years, insiders have been able to get out ahead of time… •[What] is so alarming [this time round is] that corporate insiders are selling nine times as many shares as they are buying right now. •In addition, some extraordinarily large bets have just been made that will only pay off if the financial markets in the U.S. crash by the end of April. •So what does all of this mean? [Could it be that they] have insider knowledge that a market crash is coming? Evaluate the evidence below and decide for yourself. Words: 570
At some point we are going to see another wave of panic hit the financial markets like we saw back in 2008. The false stock market bubble will burst, major banks will fail and the financial system will implode. It could unfold something like this: Words: 660 17. Ignore Wall Street Cheerleaders: Market Technicals, Fundamentals & Other Info Says Otherwise!
18. 5 Sound Reasons Investors Would Be Better Off On the Sidelines Than In the Market
New year festivities have continued on the stock market even as the Christmas trees have been put away. The “death of the fiscal cliff,” not horrible job numbers and supportive comments from Mario Draghi on the other side of the pond have led to bold and bullish behaviors over the last three weeks. While no one can predict the exact peak, here are five reasons you’re better off on the sidelines than in the market. 19. These Charts Suggest a Possible +/-60% Decline in the S&P 500 by 2014
21. Goldman Sachs’ Leading Indicators Signal Steep Market Crash Ahead
22. Will a Black Swan Event Cause the S&P 500 to Drop by 40%?
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J.P. Morgan Asset Management has developed a chart showing the past two cycles in the S&P 500 highlighting peak and trough valuations. At face value it is very alarming as it suggests a potential decline of somewhere in the vicinity of 60% over the next year or two and concurs with previous innovative trend analyses included in this article. Charts: 4
Mark Spitznagel…warned the other day that the S&P 500 could lose 40% of its value in the next couple of years. So what black swan event could cause the S&P 500 to drop down to 760? [Let’s take a closer look.] Words: 856