Top 5 Reasons Why Caissa feels This Market has Room to Run

Written by Kelly S. Olson Pedersen, CFP®, CDFA

Smartphone and newspaper

GDP (GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT)

Has accelerated to 3% from 1.5% in 2016
The acceleration is not factored into forward P/E ratios but will likely decrease them
Potential repatriation of Apple cash alone could boost GDP 1-1.5% if funds are deployed

Downside: We need companies to put the cash on their balance sheet to work to sustain 3% GDP and more to attain the goal of 4% GDP.

3^RD QUARTER 2017 EQUITY EARNINGS

They are looking to be provide strong results across the broad market
Potential future tax cuts for corporate could boost earnings bottom line immediately
Synchronized global growth is accelerating. The past few year’s market returns have mostly been driven by US equities. International equities are no longer a drag and are actually propelling more US growth

Downside: Unless we boost GDP and change the dynamics of investing cash to produce more/sell more, we will not be able to sustain great earnings on a quarterly basis in the mid to long-term.

STRONG CONSUMER

Consumer confidence is high. Household debt is at its lowest level since 1980 and household net worth has almost doubled since 2008.
Potential future tax cuts could pass through more after tax dollars through small businesses and personal tax returns that would become available for personal expenditure.
Personal consumption supports about 70% of our GDP

Downside: If people decide to halt spending and instead save more money, the economy will slow.

INFLATION FACTOR

Inflation is at 1.7% and rising.
We are all but certain to get an interest rate hike in the 4^th
In the near term, wage inflation is a positive driver of the economy as people have more money in their back pocket to spend.

Downside: Inflation will also be the death of this rally in the future

POTENTIAL TAX BILL

Repatriation of cash: Apple alone has about $264 Billion overseas. If all of their cash was brought back to the US, a $17 Trillion economy, GDP could have and instant bump of about 1-1.5%
Pass through tax rates to small business owners could lowered for those with pass through incomes to their personal returns. Small business owners make up the largest part of the economy
Fewer and potentially lower brackets and repeal of AMT for individuals
Swapping some itemized deductions for a much higher standard deduction
Immediate deduction of capital expenditures for corporations – companies will start to put that 30% cash to work!!
Lower corporate tax rates: hiring more people, immediate bottom line increase, boost of output to GDP.

Downside: Eventually the cuts will need to pay for themselves IF GDP can’t sustain them in production of the US economy

Consensus:

Broad market has room to run but this will be a stock pickers market. A number of names and sectors are quite overvalued and not growing fast enough to warrant owning. We are overweight growth vs value and favor sectors like biotech, financials and technology (basically anything in the spread business). Throughout the year we’ve been taking profits and reallocating to International equities and lately into alternatives/hedges in part.

Caissa Wealth Strategies is a fee based registered investment advisory firm, specializing in personal, dynamic wealth management. Based in Bloomington, Minnesota, Caissa financial planning professionals provide individualized strategies for every client. You can expect more from CAISSA, and in turn, you will get a fiercely loyal advocate on your side. For more news and information on wealth management solutions, visit Caissa Wealth.