I’ll Buy “Stuff” Stocks When…

Let me tell you when I'll buy "stuff" stocks. It's when everyone stops telling me how cheap they are and that they are "buys."

Ill Buy “Stuff” Stocks When

You should buy Freeport McMoRan (FCX), Caterpillar (CAT), PACCAR (PCAR).” – that is what I hear from friends of mine, who are in the biz, all the time.  They tell me how cheap these stocks are – 3, 6, 8 times earnings.  “You are a value guy! How come you are not loading up on them?” they say.

Let me tell you when I’ll buy “stuff” stocks (if ever do buy them because I’ve never really cared for the cyclicality of their business). It’s when everyone stops telling me how cheap they are and that they are “buys.”

These stocks are very similar to housing stocks two years ago: housing stocks were down 50% and looked cheap. Value managers bought just to see their stocks get cut in half again and again.

One needs to sub-normalize earnings in this environment for all stocks, but “stuff” stocks need to see their earnings to be “sub-sub-sub-sub normalized.”  I’ve said it before, but it is worth repeating: the global economy just started its journey of going into a recession; demand for “stuff” will drop off the cliff most likely to a lot greater degree than anyone imagines.

I hear from my friends in Russia that the construction business that was booming only in September is dead. Like deader than dead.  It doesn’t matter if projects were finished or not, investors took their money and ran.  Russia may appear like a special case since its prosperity is directly linked to commodity prices, but the slowdown is happening in the rest of the developing world like China and India… and the list goes on.

Stuff stocks are likely to bottom when they’ll look expensive – their “E’s” will be low or negative.  Also, consumers were not the only ones that over-consumed “stuff.” Emerging markets over-consumed earthmovers, tractors and factories. They still have huge overcapacity at a time when the global economy is slowing down.

Have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Related Articles

The Chinese Black Swan

Party rulers in China are trapped in a position that chess players deeply fear — zugzwang — where any ... Read more
Video from China/Japan Presentation and DC Trip

Video from China/Japan Presentation and DC Trip

I had been in DC a few times before but never really had time to see the city.  I took my almost-ten-year-old son Jonah with me on this trip, and we had an amazing experience.
China - The Mother of All Gray Swans / Japan - Past The Point of No Return

China – The Mother of All Gray Swans / Japan – Past The Point of No Return

Overcapacity + late-stage growth obsessive 1998 - 2008, economy grew at 10% a year. China's customers are overleveraged and are deleveraging.
Set the Bar High

Set the Bar High

The world today is riddled with unique economic, political, and demographic risks.  Finding attractively priced assets that will perform well in spite of these challenges is excruciatingly difficult.

Leave a Comment