Founder Evidente. Top rated quantitative analyst, Evidente

Sam Ferraro

Founder Evidente. Top rated quantitative analyst

Evidente

Evidente is an independent financial education firm that delivers innovative financial advice to wholesale investors, including active long only funds, hedge funds, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds, in Australia and globally.  Drawing on academic research in asset pricing, behavioural finance and portfolio construction, Evidente provides wholesale investors with commercial solutions to stock selection and asset allocation decisions across equities and other asset classes.

Macroeconomics

Two months ago, Evidente published a report which suggested that contrary to the RBA's view that the currency remained over-valued, the Australian dollar was trading below fair value. &nbsp;After what had been a strong period of out-performance from US dollar earners, I concluded that without the tailwind of A$ over-valuation - which prevailed through most of 2014 - their returns in the near term would be capped. In this post, I show that recent currency appreciation has eliminated the modest under-valuation and been associated with under-performance from US$ earners. The basket is trading on a median 12 mth forward PE of 20x, which represents a 25% premium to the median estimate for the ASX100, slightly higher than historical norms. The premium reflects the fact that offshore earners have strong growth expectations and low betas, thanks to their defensive business models. I highlight that the stocks suffering from the highest level of analyst bearishness remain Cochlear, Treasury Wine Estates and Westfield, which each attract less than 20% of buy recommendations from analysts.&nbsp;

Two months ago, Evidente published a report which suggested that contrary to the RBA's view that the currency remained over-valued, the Australian dollar was trading below fair value. &nbsp;After what had been a strong period of out-performance from US dollar earners, I concluded that without the tailwind of A$ over-valuation - which prevailed through most of 2014 - their returns in the near term would be capped. In this post, I show that recent currency appreciation has eliminated the modest under-valuation and been associated with under-performance from US$ earners. The basket is trading on a median 12 mth forward PE of 20x, which represents a 25% premium to the median estimate for the ASX100, slightly higher than historical norms. The premium reflects the fact that offshore earners have strong growth expectations and low betas, thanks to their defensive business models. I highlight that the stocks suffering from the highest level of analyst bearishness remain Cochlear, Treasury Wine Estates and Westfield, which each attract less than 20% of buy recommendations from analysts.&nbsp;

A new narrative for the Australian dollar (update)

In a wide ranging speech delivered overnight in New York,&nbsp;Glenn Stevens, provided more colour on his prior communications in which he has bemoaned the low level of entrepreneurial risk taking across Australia's corporate sector and implored businesses to invest for future growth prospects.&nbsp; Mr Stevens has acknowledged that lower returns on safe assets have not&nbsp;pulled down the cost of capital because there has been an offsetting rise in the equity risk premium.&nbsp;&nbsp; The risk free rate is low due to factors that are restraining corporate investment: low expected earnings growth and a high expected risk premium.&nbsp; I show that the lower risk free rate and lift in the risk premium have contributed to the relative rise in multiples of defensive stocks, and expect their lofty valuations to persist as long as animal spirits remain dormant.

In a wide ranging speech delivered overnight in New York,&nbsp;Glenn Stevens, provided more colour on his prior communications in which he has bemoaned the low level of entrepreneurial risk taking across Australia's corporate sector and implored businesses to invest for future growth prospects.&nbsp; Mr Stevens has acknowledged that lower returns on safe assets have not&nbsp;pulled down the cost of capital because there has been an offsetting rise in the equity risk premium.&nbsp;&nbsp; The risk free rate is low due to factors that are restraining corporate investment: low expected earnings growth and a high expected risk premium.&nbsp; I show that the lower risk free rate and lift in the risk premium have contributed to the relative rise in multiples of defensive stocks, and expect their lofty valuations to persist as long as animal spirits remain dormant.

The Reserve Bank Board meets today, a month after cutting the official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points&nbsp;to a multi-decade low of 2.25%.&nbsp; This followed an 18 month period of interest rate stability.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There is a compelling case for the RBA to ease policy now to restore the psychology of risk taking in the economy and combat the new capital and cost discipline.&nbsp; But Mr Stevens has previously said that it is important that further cuts do not send a signal to the market that the economy is weak, at a time when consumer and business sentiment remain fragile.&nbsp; Thus, I believe that the May meeting presents the best opportunity to ease policy with the positive narrative of a lower inflation outlook following the release of the first quarter CPI in late April.

The Reserve Bank Board meets today, a month after cutting the official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points&nbsp;to a multi-decade low of 2.25%.&nbsp; This followed an 18 month period of interest rate stability.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There is a compelling case for the RBA to ease policy now to restore the psychology of risk taking in the economy and combat the new capital and cost discipline.&nbsp; But Mr Stevens has previously said that it is important that further cuts do not send a signal to the market that the economy is weak, at a time when consumer and business sentiment remain fragile.&nbsp; Thus, I believe that the May meeting presents the best opportunity to ease policy with the positive narrative of a lower inflation outlook following the release of the first quarter CPI in late April.

The New Capital Discipline and the RBA's Line Ball Decision

As with most macroeconomic releases, there was something for everyone in today’s December quarter CPI. For the doves, the precipitous fall in petrol prices has pulled down the headline CPI which is around 1.6% higher than a year ago. For the hawks, the various measures of core or underlying inflation came in stronger than expected, growing by 0.66% in the quarter. Nonetheless, on a year on year basis, they remain close to the bottom end of the Reserve Bank’s inflation target range of 2-3%.

As with most macroeconomic releases, there was something for everyone in today’s December quarter CPI. For the doves, the precipitous fall in petrol prices has pulled down the headline CPI which is around 1.6% higher than a year ago. For the hawks, the various measures of core or underlying inflation came in stronger than expected, growing by 0.66% in the quarter. Nonetheless, on a year on year basis, they remain close to the bottom end of the Reserve Bank’s inflation target range of 2-3%.

Tame Inflation data and the bond market signal that the yield trade is yet to run its course

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>You wouldn't short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rohm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2953:1" rel="noopener">ROHM Co Ltd (6963 JP)</a>. Look to add on a big dip.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener">ENN Energy</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener"> (2688 HK)</a> remains a challenging situation. But arguably there is upside potential here; but it's not a high conviction trade.</li>
<li>Large treasury share cancellations in vogue from the likes of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:393:1" rel="noopener">SK Inc (034730 KS)</a>, among a slew others.</li>
</ul>


You wouldn't short ROHM Co Ltd (6963 JP). Look to add on a big dip.

ENN Energy (2688 HK) remains a challenging situation. But arguably there is upside potential here; but it's not a high conviction trade.
Large treasury share cancellations in vogue from the likes of Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), SK Inc (034730 KS), among a slew others.


Last Week In Event SPACE: ROHM, ENN Energy, Samsung Electronics, SK Inc, JCNC/Astra

Australia

Telstra Corporation Limited is a full service domestic and international telecommunications provider for Australia.  The Company provides telephone exchange lines to homes and businesses, supplying local, long distance and international telephone calls and supplying mobile telecommunications services. Telstra also provides data, internet, on-line services and directory services.

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Telstra Corp (TLS AU)

A new narrative for the Australian dollar (update)

Two months ago, Evidente published a report which suggested that contrary to the RBA's view that the currency remained over-valued, the Australian...

Sam Ferraro

Beware of bubble talk, for now

In a wide ranging speech delivered overnight in New York, Glenn Stevens, provided more colour on his prior communications in which he has bemoaned...

Sam Ferraro

The New Capital Discipline and the RBA's Line Ball Decision

The Reserve Bank Board meets today, a month after cutting the official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to a multi-decade low of 2.25%. This...

Sam Ferraro

Tame Inflation data and the bond market signal that the yield trade is yet to run its course

As with most macroeconomic releases, there was something for everyone in today’s December quarter CPI. For the doves, the precipitous fall in...

Sam Ferraro

Last Week In Event SPACE: ROHM, ENN Energy, Samsung Electronics, SK Inc, JCNC/Astra

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

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