Growth
The money will get even faster.The Federal Reserve is unveiling its new "FedNow" system - it will allow banks to send domestic payments instantly. Even at midnight Saturday and even on a holiday. Now all payments are processed in old systems and their processing takes several hours or even days. With the new, everything will become much faster. But, as always, there is one "BUT!" - If you provide full access to individuals, they will be able to withdraw and cash out any amount in a short time. That could prove a problem for smaller banks. Therefore, most likely the system will work in full access only between banks and enterprises. And individuals will have full access only to repay loans/mortgage debts.
Source: CNN
CNN: "Job market reports are encouraging".The decrease in the number of jobs created in June compared to May data gave a slight hope for inflation easing. Job growth in June was a third less than in May. A slowdown in job growth is not necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps this will lead to the achievement of the inflation target.
Source: CNN
The Fed and the Interest Rate - The story continues.The Fed still believes that inflation will continue to rise. They have already scheduled a rate hike at the end of July. But the release of employment reports in June made the timing of the increase unclear. The Fed is aiming to cut inflation, which is now above its target. Officials are indeed worried that inflation may rise despite favorable labor market conditions.
Source: CNN
A High tight flag?XO has impressively gone up double in just a couple of months, responding the good news that the company has successfully penetrated the US market for the first time.
The chart seems to be forming a High tight flag pattern. The price although did a break on 3rd of July, until today it has gone sideway instead of continuing the bull run. Considering volatility, I don't see a good contraction here but a noticeable long red candle on 21st June 2023 with massive volume (distribution?).
I gave it a pass this time, and monitored closely...
The chip war begins.In the world with semiconductors, there was no particular expanse anyway. And now, against the backdrop of heightened tensions between China and the United States over restrictions imposed by China today on foreign exports of raw materials such as gallium and germanium, chip prices will rise even more. This means it is necessary to buy shares of semiconductor manufacturers. I didn't mess anything up?
CNN: "Does the Fed have the labor market all wrong?"The labor market just won't quit, but this could be another case of "good news is bad news" for the Federal Reserve.
The US unemployment rate has been at or below 4% for the past year and a half, and the economy has gained an average of 314,000 jobs each month this year through May.
People who need jobs are getting them, and those with jobs are getting paid more. Business and consumer sentiment remain resilient and spending and investment are also proving to be relatively robust. Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic output, grew by 2% in the first quarter.
But while job growth is a sign of a healthy economy, Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said that he wants to see more slack in the labor market in order to bring inflation down. If there are too few people chasing too many jobs, he says, wages will rise and add to upward pressure on prices.
What's happening: This week, a slew of new unemployment data is expected to show that US hiring finally slowed in June. Economists forecast that the US added 223,000 jobs last month, way down from the 339,000 added in May.
But here's the thing: those forecasts have been way off. They projected sharp drops in hiring for April and May; instead there was increased employment.
And so in order to get unemployment back to where it thinks it should be (5%), the Fed keeps pushing interest rates higher.
But some economists are starting to wonder if it will ever get there.
For decades, economists have said that the natural rate of unemployment — in a healthy, stable economy — was 5%. But in April, the unemployment rate reached 3.4%, with the 12-month average of unemployment reaching a record low of 3.6%.
"Growth and unemployment rates at these levels are not only a sign of an extraordinary recovery from the previous recession, but also are a sign that this is not your parents' labor market," said RSM US chief economist Joe Brusuelas. "Today, we think the natural rate of unemployment is closer to 4%, which reflects a mixture of efficiency gains driven by technology and demographic factors that dampen overall unemployment."
The efficiency of searching for jobs online and a newfound ability to work at home means that there's less friction in finding employment than ever before, he said. That may permanently lower unemployment rates. Plus, the mass retirement of baby boomers, slowing of immigration rates and long-term health impacts of Covid have also permanently altered the labor market.
Why it matters: These changes have led many economists to say that the labor market doesn't matter anymore, said Kathryn Rooney Vera, chief market strategist at StoneX. The gig economy, generational differences, and baby boomer retirement make this " unlike anything we've seen," she said. "You have so much Fed tightening, and the most forecast recession in my lifetime, but consumers have not tightened their belts at all whatsoever."
People clearly feel good right now, said Vera, and when people feel good their habits of consumption don't change.
In an economy where consumer spending accounts for about 70% of America's gross domestic product, you would have to have big negative detractors from the rest of the economy to really cause a recession.
"The economic expansion will just not die despite the twin inflation and interest rate shocks over the past two years," said Brusuelas. Perhaps it's time to accept that this is the new normal.
Coming up: The May Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and jobless claims are due out on Thursday and Government unemployment numbers for June come on Friday morning.
Source: CNN Business
APLD Analysis: Potential Breakout AheadIntroduction:
Greetings traders! Today, I would like to share an analysis of Applied Digital (APLD), highlighting a potential breakout scenario. APLD is currently trading at $9.80, facing resistance on the daily chart between $10.50 and $11. Join me as we examine this horizontal channel and explore the possibility of a breakout, keeping in mind the need for a cautious approach. Our next daily resistance level stands at approximately $15.
Chart Analysis:
Upon examining the APLD chart, we can identify a well-defined horizontal channel that has formed between $10.50 and $11. This range has served as a strong barrier to further upside movement, causing multiple rejections in recent trading sessions. It is crucial to approach this potential breakout scenario with caution and consider additional factors before drawing conclusions.
Technical Indicators:
While the horizontal channel suggests the possibility of a breakout, we must analyze various technical indicators to gain a comprehensive perspective on APLD's potential trajectory. Currently, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers around 55, indicating a relatively balanced state between buying and selling pressures. It implies that there might be room for upside momentum if buyers enter the market.
Additionally, it is essential to consider volume analysis. In recent consolidation phases within the resistance zone, there has been a notable increase in buying volume. This surge in volume could indicate growing interest and potential accumulation, supporting the likelihood of a breakout.
Breakout Scenario and Caution:
Considering the factors mentioned above, we need to exercise caution despite the potential breakout scenario. While the indicators suggest bullish possibilities, it is crucial to wait for confirmation before assuming the breakout will occur. Traders should closely monitor price action and volume trends, seeking decisive moves above the resistance zone to validate the breakout.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Applied Digital (APLD) shows potential for a breakout beyond the resistance zone between $10.50 and $11. However, it is crucial to approach this scenario with caution and wait for confirmation. Keep a close eye on price action, volume trends, and any significant catalysts that may impact APLD's price movement. Remember, trading decisions should be based on careful analysis and risk management.
News:
7/1: Applied Digital Stock Surges 12% After Announcing Its Third AI Deal:
www.coindesk.com
6/30: Applied Digital Announces Strategic Collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise to Deliver AI Cloud Services:
finance.yahoo.com
Gold to 1894 Downwards continuationHi,
Spotting Gold to move within the expanding wedge where we can that the lower band of the pattern is 1884 level. Price can hit that level after breaching 1894-1895 level.
However, falling wedge being a bullish reversal (mostly) we should be careful watching levels 1895.
DXY bullish continuation and US GDP is a catalyst and confirmation.
EURUSD view for next weeks- USA is in a BULL MARKET, so the risk apetite is on stage;
- the inflation in to high. even inflation down in the near future, the job market are very strong, maintaning the economie stable;
- at this moment ECB provability will raise the rates more than USA in near future;
APPLE ATH Fueled by Quintet PowerhousesHow did APPLE make a new ATH?
In the fiscal year of 2022, Apple Inc. amassed a staggering revenue close to $400 billion. The tech behemoth’s financial forecast predicts an even more dazzling $450 billion by 2023. What’s at the nucleus of this financial prowess? Here’s a dissection of the five products and services that are the linchpins in Apple's revenue generation.
1. iPhone: The Standard-Bearer
Since its inception in 2007, the iPhone has been the lodestar in Apple's stellar performance, consistently accounting for over half of the company’s revenue. There was a lull in the iPhone's sales during 2015-2020, but the fiscal years of 2021 and 2022 witnessed a robust resurgence. Could it be the worldwide lockdowns that reignited consumers' affinity for this beloved gadget? One wonders.
Moreover, Apple's unceasing innovation has been a catalyst in this resurgence. The company has been adept at understanding and adapting to market trends, releasing newer models with advanced features such as enhanced camera capabilities, cutting-edge processors, and improved battery life. The introduction of 5G technology in the iPhone 12 and subsequent models further bolstered its appeal. With the ever-evolving landscape of consumer preferences, Apple's commitment to innovation ensures that the iPhone continues to hold its enviable position in the market.
2. Services: A Diverse Armamentarium
Apple's services segment is a multi-pronged affair. The App Store and Apple Music are the twin pillars, but AppleCare, Apple Pay, Apple TV+, Apple Card, and iCloud storage are significant contributors as well. It's been an upward trajectory for this segment since 2013, with no signs of abating.
Additionally, the expansion of Apple's services is emblematic of the company's strategic diversification. As the digital landscape evolves, Apple has astutely tapped into the growing demand for integrated services. Its focus on user privacy and seamless integration across devices has been a strong value proposition. For instance, Apple TV+ enters a competitive streaming market but with original content and collaborations with high-profile creators. Apple’s services segment not only supplements its revenue but also enhances customer retention and creates a more entrenched ecosystem, encouraging users to invest more within the Apple universe.
3. Mac: The Unwavering Pillar
The allure of personal computers has attenuated globally, and Mac's revenue plateaued between 2011 and 2020. However, the Mac remains integral to Apple’s ecosystem, not least because of its role in keeping users within Apple's interconnected iOS operating system.
In recent times, Apple has sought to reinvigorate the Mac lineup through innovation and integration. The introduction of Apple's own M1 chip, as opposed to relying on Intel's processors, marked a significant turning point. The M1 chip has been lauded for its performance and energy efficiency, giving the Mac a competitive edge. Furthermore, the seamless integration between the Mac and other Apple devices through features like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and Sidecar has reinforced the appeal of owning a Mac as part of the larger Apple ecosystem. This ongoing revitalization suggests that Apple is far from considering the Mac as a legacy product, and is instead positioning it for a renewed period of relevance and growth.
4. iPad: Upon their debut, iPads were an instant sensation, raking in an impressive $19 billion in the first year. There was a zenith in 2014, after which sales experienced a decline. Currently, iPad sales hover in the range of $20-30 billion, cementing their place in Apple’s revenue mix.
5. Wearables & Accessories:
The Rising Contenders Under this category, one finds an array of products including Beats headphones, AirPods, and the Apple Watch. This segment has been climbing the ladder of success since 2015. Notably, AirPods are estimated to constitute a quarter of the revenue in this category.
Apple's foray into the wearables and accessories market is indicative of its visionary approach to emerging consumer trends. The health and fitness boom, for instance, has been adeptly capitalized on through the Apple Watch, which offers features like heart rate monitoring, exercise tracking, and ECG. AirPods, on the other hand, have become something of a cultural phenomenon, merging high-quality audio with sleek design. These products are not just revenue generators; they are an extension of Apple's ecosystem, promoting brand loyalty and customer engagement. By continuously innovating and expanding in this sector, Apple ensures it remains not just a heavyweight in consumer electronics but a trendsetter in lifestyle technologies.
Conclusion: Apple's ascent to become the first company to reach $1 trillion and subsequently $2 trillion in market capitalization is hardly fortuitous. The aforementioned quintet of products and services is the bedrock of its supremacy. With consumers' unabated ardor for Apple’s innovations and the brand loyalty it commands, NASDAQ:AAPL remains a formidable player in the stock market. Is Apple part of your investment portfolio?
SUPER BULLISH on SOLO - SologenicHi Traders, Investors and Speculators of Charts 📈📉
Before we dive deep into the fundamentals of the new DEX Sologenic, please note that this is not a paid shill or endorsement but rather introducing a new partner to try out in your crypto journey whether you speculate coins or NFTs.
Sologenic disrupts the asset trading industry by offering a decentralized ecosystem for Tokenized Securities, Crypto Assets, and NFTs. The Sologenic Development Foundation consists of independent developers dedicated to maintaining, expanding, and building the Sologenic ecosystem. Sologenic.com serves as the primary use-case for the Sologenic Ecosystem, providing on-demand tokenization of various assets, including Stocks and ETFs. There's also the mobile app for convenience and wallet creation.
Sologenic, the pioneering NFT marketplace built on the XRP Ledger, has received a grant from XRPL Grants. This grant program selects open-source projects that contribute to the growth of the XRP Ledger community. The approval came shortly after the successful launch of the Sologenic NFT Marketplace in January 2022. Sologenic's vision aligns with XRP's goal of revolutionizing decentralized finance (DeFi) by offering decentralized and borderless access to financial products and services while prioritizing security and performance. By leveraging the XRP Ledger's fast and efficient consensus algorithm, Sologenic aims to provide an intuitive and cost-effective platform for NFT trading.
The recent introduction of the NFT-Devnet unveiled the capabilities of the new XLS-20d technology, which enables native support for NFTs. Sologenic announced that once the technology becomes available on the Mainnet, a seamless migration of NFTs minted under the current XLS-14/SOLO methodology to the new format will be supported, preserving the history of each NFT. Operating within the same ecosystem as the Sologenic DEX, a decentralized exchange for cryptocurrencies such as XRP, SOLO, and upcoming Tokenized Assets, the NFT Marketplace offers a user-friendly interface for both newcomers and experienced traders. Sologenic aims to bridge the gap between traditional trading and NFTs, empowering users to have full control over their digital assets through their preferred private wallets.
Within its first week of operation, the Sologenic NFT Marketplace witnessed the sale of 4,300 NFTs, prompting the introduction of new features. The team has implemented profile and collection verification protocols to enhance user security within the decentralized ecosystem.
Noting that this is BULLISH for the price of XRPUSDT as well as SOLOUSDT, as it increases adoption and market cap considering you need about 10XRP to mint an NFT collection and 3 SOLO to mint an NFT. This is extremely affordable compared to other options in the market.
SOLOUSDT has recently released and the price is dirt cheap. It looks like most of the hype and airdrop sales are over, I'd be looking to start accumulation from now onwards (even though I expect the price to drop more, so it will be spot definitely not leverage). I am EXTREMELY bullish on SOLO due to the revolutionary nature of their products including minting on XRP and coming soon the stock market trading options.
POLONIEX:SOLOUSDT
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Mastering the Mental Game of Trading-THIS ONE FOR THE BOYZTrading is 99.98% mental and 1% physical. Stay focused, disciplined, and immune to the influence of FUD and FOMO to maximize your trading success.
Trading is not for the faint of heart! It requires a strong mindset, unwavering discipline, and the ability to navigate the treacherous waters of FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) and FOMO (fear of missing out). Here are some key insights to help you master the mental game of trading and stay on top of your game! 💪
1️⃣ Stick to Your Plan: A well-defined trading plan is your guiding light in the chaos of the market. It helps you make rational decisions and avoid impulsive moves driven by emotions. Trust your plan and resist the temptation to deviate from it.
2️⃣ Manage Your Emotions: Emotions can cloud judgment and lead to irrational decisions. Stay calm, composed, and unswayed by the market noise. Don't let FUD and FOMO derail your trading strategy. Embrace a disciplined approach and separate emotions from your trading decisions.
3️⃣ Timing is Key: Recognize that there are different trading opportunities in different market conditions. Some days are meant for day trading, while others are for accumulating positions. Be mindful of key levels and choose your entry and exit points wisely. Patience and timing are crucial.
4️⃣ Mind Over Bag: Trading is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on long-term gains and building a strong position rather than chasing quick profits. Avoid being swayed by influencers or external factors that can disrupt your game plan. Keep your eye on the bigger picture.
5️⃣ Stop Loss Strategy: While stop losses are essential risk management tools, they need to be used judiciously. Tight stop losses at critical levels may lead to premature liquidation. Assess the market conditions and adjust your stop losses accordingly. Let your trades breathe within reasonable risk parameters.
Remember, success in trading stems from a disciplined mindset, adherence to your plan, and the ability to overcome emotional impulses. Build your skills, stay focused, and enjoy the journey of becoming a master trader! 🚀💰
ABRI was in at $10.80 on ABR - it's been a very good run with a cap-gain of about 29'ish %, and earning a dividend of 12.5% while doing it - the dividend was 15.5% at my entry-point!
I am still long, and I think it is still undervalued. The ABR earnings and margins are strong and the dividend is still very strong compared to it's peers. I have a sell-order on it when it reaches
$21, if it happens to strike gold on a major pop... but I expect it will soften around $17-$18. @ $17.50 or so, the dividend will be in-line with peers and I will probably leave it in the portfolio for the handsome quarterly checks.
Peeking into Super SevensIn our previous paper , we outlined how investors can use CME's Micro S&P 500 Futures to hedge beta exposure and extract pure alpha.
The paper referenced that the Super Sevens stocks (Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla) will continue to outperform the broader S&P 500 index. Not only do these stocks benefit from passive investing and ESG investing, these firms also have solid fundamentals to back up their gargantuan valuations.
Each of the firms in the Super Sevens offer unique value drivers. Each firm is a market leader in its space and has demonstrated resilient earnings capacity and solid growth potential. Still, each also has its own set of risks. Notably, with the Super Sevens the value drivers outweigh the potential risks.
AMAZON
VALUE DRIVERS
• Blistering profits from AWS offering with dominant market share of 33%.
• Market dominance in e-commerce and solid supply chain network.
• Successful new categories: Kindle (publishing), Alexa (voice assistant), and Prime (video streaming).
POTENTIAL RISKS
• Heavy reliance on AWS for profits. Slowing growth in AWS due to slowdown in corporate IT spending.
• Low profit margins in e-commerce business. Slowing growth due to lower consumer spending.
• Rising competition in cloud services and e-commerce.
ANALYST PRICE TARGETS
• Across 54 analysts providing a 12-month price target, 42 (77%) having a strong buy rating, 7 (13%) of them have a buy rating, 4 (7%) suggest a hold, while just 1 (2%) has a strong sell rating.
• Average 12-month price target stands at 137, with a maximum of 220 and a minimum of 85.
TECHNICAL SIGNALS
• Technical signals point to momentum deeply in favour of Amazon shares. Oscillators point to buy and Moving averages point to a strong buy.
• In aggregate, technical signals point to a buy.
APPLE
VALUE DRIVERS
• Product category definers. Dominant and still growing iPhone demand.
• Solid eco-system which is extremely hard to displace.
• Control over both software and hardware enables specialized tailored improvements.
• Sticky services such as App store, Apple Pay, and potentially Apple BNPL.
POTENTIAL RISKS
• Apple is heavily reliant on external fabricators exposing it to supply-chain bottlenecks.
• Heavily dependent on iPhone sales.
• Rising dependence on future growth in unexplored new categories.
ANALYST PRICE TARGETS
• Across 42 analysts providing a 12-month price target, 22 (52%) having a strong buy rating, 6 (14%) of them have a buy rating, 13 (31%) suggest a hold, while just 1 (2%) has a strong sell rating.
• Average 12-month price target stands at 187, with a maximum of 220 and a minimum of 140.
TECHNICAL SIGNALS
• Technical signals point to solid momentum favouring long position in Apple shares. Oscillators point to buy and Moving averages point to a strong buy.
• In aggregate, technical signals point to a strong buy despite Apple trading at near its all-time-high.
GOOGLE
VALUE DRIVERS
• Google is the dominant search engine (86% market share).
• Phenomenally successful and effective ad-targeting capabilities.
• Heavy investments in future innovation enabling leapfrog into new verticals such as Android, Waymo (FSD & Maps).
• Successful early acquisitions such as YouTube, Android, Applied Semantics & DoubleClick (AdSense), Nest (Home Automation).
POTENTIAL RISKS
• Massive reliance on ad revenues via search for profits. Slowing ad spend as firms cut back on spending.
• Non-trivial dependence on cloud revenue for growth exposes them. Slowing cloud revenue growth due to lower corporate IT spending.
• Failure to expand into new domains such as social media, wearable tech, and gaming.
ANALYST PRICE TARGETS
• Across 52 analysts providing a 12-month price target, 40 (77%) having a strong buy rating, 7 (13%) of them have a buy rating, while 5 (10%) suggest a hold. None of the analysts have a sell rating.
• Average 12-month price target stands at 131, with a maximum of 190 and a minimum of 100.
TECHNICAL SIGNALS
• Technical signals point to decent momentum favouring Google shares but prices are at tiny risk of oscillating downwards. Oscillators point to neutral while Moving averages point to a strong buy.
• In aggregate, technical signals point to a buy.
META
VALUE DRIVERS
• Market monopoly on social media with high penetration across global markets on multiple platforms.
• Flagship Facebook platform continues to see growth with 2.9 billion monthly active users (MAU).
• Successful acquisitions have provided them with a wide suite of social media platforms – WhatsApp (2 billion MAU) and Instagram (2 billion MAU).
• Successful developer tools (Graph, Hydra, React) have allowed them to build useful SDK (Software Development Kit). Potential sources of enterprise revenue from these.
POTENTIAL RISKS
• Increasing competition from TikTok.
• Privacy concerns have a direct revenue impact e.g., Apple’s new privacy policies.
• Falling market share for flagship Facebook in advanced economies.
• High reliance on ad-sales. Slowing ad sales as firms cut back on spending.
• Shaky bet on the Metaverse which is starting to fade.
ANALYST PRICE TARGETS
• Across 60 analysts providing a 12-month price target, 39 (65%) having a strong buy rating, 7 (12%) of them have a buy rating, 10 (17%) suggest a hold, 1 (2%) sell rating, and 3 (5%) has a strong sell rating.
• Average 12-month price target stands at 281, with a maximum of 350 and a minimum of 100.
TECHNICAL SIGNALS
• Technical signals point to decent momentum favouring Meta shares. Oscillators signal neutral indicating a tiny risk of shares shedding gains while Moving averages point to a strong buy.
• In aggregate, technical signals point to a buy.
MICROSOFT
VALUE DRIVERS
• Sheer dominance of Windows (74% market share) & MS Office.
• Deep roots in MS Office enables the firm to straddle across consumers & enterprise.
• Diversified software offerings - cloud (Azure), gaming (Xbox), enterprise (Windows Server and SQL), search (Bing), productivity (Office), collaboration (Teams), and AI (through Open AI's ChatGPT).
• Active M&A activity to acquire assets - LinkedIn, OpenAI, GitHub, Skype, Mojang, Nokia, Activision-Blizzard (Pending).
• Besides Windows, Microsoft controls dev frameworks such as .Net further strengthening their grasp on SW dev.
POTENTIAL RISKS
• Limited success in hardware offerings unlike Apple.
• Multiple major acquisitions have fizzled – Skype and Nokia.
• Limited adoption in enterprise software.
ANALYST PRICE TARGETS
• Across 51 analysts providing a 12-month price target, 37 (73%) having a strong buy rating, 6 (12%) of them have a buy rating, 7 (14%) suggest a hold, while just 1 (2%) has a strong sell rating.
• Average 12-month price target stands at 345, with a maximum of 450 and a minimum of 232.
TECHNICAL SIGNALS
• Technical signals point to decent momentum favouring Microsoft shares. Oscillators are at neutral while Moving averages signal a strong buy.
• In aggregate, technical signals point to a strong buy.
NVIDIA
VALUE DRIVERS
• Market dominance in discrete GPU’s (80%).
• Early mover in AI hardware which gives them a lead over the competition.
• Raytracing, DLSS, Neural Network cores.
• Nvidia’s CUDA is the primary choice for training ML models.
• Market dominance in high-growth data centre graphics hardware (95%) and super-computing hardware.
• Successful enterprise partnerships – car manufacturers using Nvidia software.
• Emerging tech such as AI and VR require more graphics intensive processing driving demand for Nvidia’s products.
POTENTIAL RISKS
• Hardware-focused business model exposes it to supply-chain risks and bottlenecks.
• Extremely high P/E of 225 dependent upon expectations of future growth in AI.
• Losing market share in discrete GPUs and enterprise GPUs to AMD and Intel.
ANALYST PRICE TARGETS
• Across 50 analysts providing a 12-month price target, 36 (72%) having a strong buy rating, 6 (12%) of them have a buy rating, 7 (14%) suggest a hold, while just 1 (2%) has a sell rating.
• Average 12-month price target stands at 444, with a maximum of 600 and a minimum of 175.
TECHNICAL SIGNALS
• Technical signals point to solid momentum favouring long position Nvidia shares. Oscillators point to buy and Moving averages point to a strong buy.
• In aggregate, technical signals point to a strong buy despite Nvidia relentless and unrivalled price ascent.
TESLA
VALUE DRIVERS
• Early mover in EV’s with dominant market share in US (62%).
• Dedicated and loyal customer base.
• Vertical integration of EV value chain allows it to reduce reliance on external suppliers.
• Early investment in large factories that will allow them to scale output more efficiently.
• Huge and monetizable supercharger network by opening it up to other EV makers.
• Subscription model for software enables revenue generation after product sale.
• Long term vision has allowed Tesla to create entirely new products such as supercharger network, battery banks, home power backup and solar roofs.
• Tesla’s planned Robotaxi and entry into car insurance can be hugely disruptive.
POTENTIAL RISKS
• Increasing competition from automobile majors as well as Chinese EV firms.
• Tesla’s brand is deeply entangled with Musk’s reputation.
• Dependence on government incentives to make Tesla affordable.
• Continued access to battery metal minerals.
• Ongoing and unresolved production scaling challenges.
ANALYST PRICE TARGETS
• Across 46 analysts providing a 12-month price target, 18 (39%) having a strong buy rating, 5 (11%) of them have a buy rating, 17 (37%) suggest a hold, 1 (2%) has a sell rating, and a 5 (11%) hold a strong sell rating.
• Average 12-month price target stands at 201, with a maximum of 335 and a minimum of 71.
TECHNICAL SIGNALS
• Technical signals point to solid momentum favouring Tesla. Oscillators point to buy and Moving averages point to a strong buy.
• In aggregate, technical signals point to a strong buy.
SUMMARY
The Super Sevens are well positioned to continue outperforming the wider market. As mentioned in our previous paper , investors can use a beta hedge to nullify the effects of the broader market (S&P 500) and extract pure alpha from the growth of the Super Sevens.
MARKET DATA
CME Real-time Market Data helps identify trading set-ups and express market views better. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
DISCLAIMER
This case study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
Trading or investment ideas cited here are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management or trading under the market scenarios being discussed. Please read the FULL DISCLAIMER the link to which is provided in our profile description.
Harvesting Alpha with Beta HedgingImagine this. Dark skies, earth tremors and thunder roars. Shelter is top priority. Size matters in a crisis. When the tsunami strikes and lightning splits the sky, investors shudder in fear; But the super seven stand tall, shielding investors from the fury.
Dramatic metaphors aside, we truly live in unprecedented times. Risk lurks everywhere.
List is endless. Unstable geopolitics. Sticky inflation. Recession expectations. Unprecedented deepening of yield curve inversion. Unfinished regional banking crisis. Weak manufacturing. Tightening financial conditions. Extremely divisive global politics, to just name a few.
Despite severe headwinds, US equity markets are roaring. YTD, S&P is up +15% and Nasdaq is up +32%.
At the start of 2023, the consensus was for US equities to be in doldrums dragged down by recession. Halfway through the year, markets are at the cusp of one of the best first half for US equity markets in twenty years.
This is among the narrowest and top-heavy rally ever. Only a sliver of stocks - precisely seven of them - defines this optimism. This paper will refer to these as the Super Sevens.
These are the biggest members of the S&P 500 index. Super Sevens are Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.
This paper argues that the Super Sevens will deliver above market returns in the short term as investors seek safe haven from a vast array of macro risks.
The paper articulates a case study to demonstrate the use of beta hedging to extract alpha from holding long positions in Super Sevens and hedging them against sharp reversals using CME Micro E-Mini S&P 500 index futures ("CME Micro S&P 500 Futures").
THE RISE AND RISE OF SUPER SEVENS
Super Sevens have an outsized impact as S&P 500 is a market weighted index.
Merely five of these seven form 25% of the S&P 500 market capitalisation. At $2.9 trillion in market capitalisation, Apple is greater than all of UK’s top 100 listed companies put together.
If that were not enough, Apple's market capitalisation alone is greater than the aggregate market capitalisation of all the firms in the Russell 2000 index.
Nvidia has been soaring on hopes of AI driven productivity gains. On blow out revenue guidance, it has rallied $640 billion in market cap YTD. That increment alone is larger than the combined market cap of JP Morgan & Bank of America the two largest banks in the US.
The heatmap summarises analyst targets & technical signals on pathway for prices ahead:
In part 2 of this paper, Mint will cover the detailed analyst price forecasts, technical signals and summary narratives covering value drives and intrinsic risk factors.
WHAT DRIVES INVESTOR CONCENTRATION INTO THE SUPER SEVENS?
As reported in the Financial Times last week, two broad market trends appear to have fed into this investor concentration.
First, Passive investing. When funds merely deliver the performance of an index by replicating its composition, the higher the index weights, the more these passive funds buy into these names.
Second, ESG investing. Rising push towards ESG has forced investment into tech and away from carbon-heavy sectors such as energy.
Collectively, this has resulted in all types of investors – active, passive, momentum, ESG- all going after the same names.
Question is, what happens now? Will the broader market catch up with the Super Sevens? Or will the Super Sevens suffer a sharp pullback?
That depends on the broader US economy. Will it have a hard landing, soft landing, or no landing at all?
Given market expectations of (a) resilient earnings capacity, and (b) solid growth potential among Super Sevens, we expect that in the near to mid-term the Super Sevens will continue to outperform the broader market.
In ordinary times, investors could have simply established long positions in Super Sevens and wait to reap their harvests. However, we live in unprecedented times.
WE LIVE IN TRULY UNPRECEDENTED TIMES
Risks abound but no signs of it in equity markets. Historically, geopolitical instability, tightening financial conditions, and a deeply inverted curve could have led to crushing returns in the US equity markets. Not this time though.
Peak concentration
As mentioned earlier, bullishness in equity markets can be vastly attributed to just the Super Sevens. These seven have delivered crushing returns rising between 40% and 192% YTD. The S&P 500 index is market cap weighted. Super Sevens represent the largest companies in the index by market cap and their stellar performance has an outsized impact on the index.
Is this a bull run or a bear market clouded by over optimism among Super Sevens?
Deeply inverted yield curve
In simple words, it costs far more to borrow for the near term (2 year) relative to the borrowing for long term (10-year). The US Treasury yield curves have been inverted for more than a year now. The difference between the 2-Year and 10-Year treasuries is at its widest level since the early 1980s.
Inversion in yield curve has historically been a credible signal of recession ahead. When bonds with near term duration yield higher rates than those with longer-dated expiries, this precedes trouble in the economy.
Recession. What recession?
This period might go into the record books for the most long-awaited recession that is yet to come. For the last 12 months, experts have been calling for recession to show up in 3 months.
While manufacturing sector seems feeble, labour market remains solid. Corporate balance sheets are robust. Consumer finances and consumer confidence are in good health.
The VIX remains sanguine while the only fear indicator that appears unsettled is the MOVE index which indicates volatility in the bond markets. After having spiked earlier in the year, the MOVE is starting to soften as well.
BETA HEDGING FOR PURE ALPHA
In times of turbulence, risk management is not an afterthought but a necessity.
Hedge delivers the edge. When there are ample arguments to be made for bullish and bearish markets, taking a directional position can be precarious.
This paper posits Super Sevens holdings be hedged with CME Micro S&P 500 Futures. Hedging single stocks is nuanced. The stocks and the index do not always move in tandem. A given stock may be more volatile or less volatile relative to the benchmark. Beta is the sensitivity of the stock price relative to a benchmark.
Beta is computed from daily returns over a defined historical period. Stocks with high Beta move a lot more than the underlying index. Stocks that move narrowly relative to its underlying benchmark exhibits low Beta.
Beta hedging involves adjusting the notional value of a stock price based on its beta. Using beta-adjusted notional, hedging then involves taking an offsetting position in an index derivative contract to match the notional value.
TradingView publishes beta values computed based on daily returns over the last 12 months. The following table illustrates the beta-adjusted notional for the Super Sevens based on the last traded prices as of close of market on June 16th.
Beta hedging using CME Micro S&P 500 Futures enables investors to precisely scale their portfolio exposures to the index. A small contract size enables investors to manage risks with finer granularity.
CME allows conversion of micro futures into a classic E-mini futures position, and vice versa. Round the clock liquidity combined with tight spreads and sizeable open interest across the two front contract months, investors can enter and exit the market at ease.
BETA-HEDGED TRADE SET UP
In unprecedented times like today, markets may continue to rally or come crashing. To harness pure alpha, this paper posits a spread with long positions in Super Sevens hedged by a short position in CME Micro S&P 500 Futures expiring in September 2023.
This trade set-up gains when (a) Super Sevens rise faster than the S&P 500, or (b) Super Sevens suffers drop in value but falls lesser relative to S&P 500, or (c) Super Sevens gain while S&P 500 falls.
This trade setup loses when (a) Super Seven falls faster than S&P 500, or (b) S&P 500 rises faster than Super Seven, or (c) S&P 500 rises while Super Sevens pullback
Each CME Micro S&P 500 Futures has a multiplier of USD 5. The September contract settled on June 16th at 4453.75 implying a notional value of USD 22,269 (4453.75 * USD 5).
Effective beta hedge requires that notional of the hedging trade is equivalent to the beta-adjusted notional value of single stock. Given the beta-adjusted notional value of USD 2,561 for single shares in Super Sevens and the notional value for each lot of CME Micro S&P 500 Futures at USD 22,269, the spread trade requires:
a. A long position in 26 shares each across all the Super Sevens translating to a beta-adjusted notional of USD 66,576.
b. Hedged by a short position with 3 lots of CME Micro S&P 500 Futures which provides a notional exposure of USD 66,807.
The following table illustrates the hypothetical P&L of this spread trade under various scenarios:
MARKET DATA
CME Real-time Market Data helps identify trading set-ups and express market views better. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
DISCLAIMER
This case study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
Trading or investment ideas cited here are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management or trading under the market scenarios being discussed. Please read the FULL DISCLAIMER the link to which is provided in our profile description.
$HOOD - A New Generation, A New Bull MarketState of the Stock
Robinhood’s time in the stock market has been an arduous one and not one without controversy. The stock went public in a hotly anticipated IPO at about $36.41 on July 29th, 2021. It saw tremendous interest in the first week of trading reaching an overly lofty value at ~$85 a share before starting to sell off. This sell off has relentlessly continued and in many places, you will find negative commentary on the stock.
I personally believe that the stock’s price action bottomed on June 17th, 2022 at about $6.84 a share. Since then the stock has been slowly plodding along and striking higher lows, which I will illustrate later in the charting.
I also believe that the stock’s story is close to turning around and could get more positive attention in the later half of this year. I am going to talk about the balance sheet, cost cutting, charts, and the controversy.
I will be limiting my comments on the balance sheet to lines that I believe deserve notice. For this post, I will be comparing Robinhood to their old school rival, Charles Schwab.
The Balance Sheet
(See Robinhood's Financials)
Overall, I read Robinhood’s balance sheet as being quite strong. Particularly in the amount of cash and sort term investments that the company is carrying. At 5.46 Billion in cash and 1.52 Billion in short term investments the company can cover operating expenses (excl. COGS) for about 3.5 years.
The company has also shared that the short term investments are in <1 year term treasuries. Which is quite a good decision given the current rates. I only wish they had purchased a little more than 500 million or so.
As of this writing (6-11-23), Robinhood carries a market cap of ~$8.5 billion as well. Their cash position is nearly the size of their entire equity. In comparison,
SCHW
(Charles Schwab) has about $75 billion in cash and a market cap of 100 Billion. I believe that the market is underestimating how Robinhood can deploy that cash.
Lastly, Robinhood is very close (9.41 market) to their book value per share (7.83). In comparison,
SCHW
has a book value per share of 15.36 and is trading at 55.0 in the market. I believe this illustrates that Robinhood is quite cheap, even after the June ’22 bounce when it was cheaper than the book.
(See Robinhood's Financials)
Next, the cashflow at Robinhood is quite good and turned positive in Q4’22. Whereas their rivals are experiencing negative free cash flow during this same period. Robinhood, on a relative basis for this metric, looks to be outperforming during the banking crisis.
During their earnings calls they have also reported a net increase in deposits as well as assets under custody (AUC) increasing by an impressive 26% due to the run on stocks in 2023.
What I find most interesting about this is that customer cash in Robinhood has steadily grown to $11 billion from $2 billion at IPO. It has been on an impressive path of growth. I believe this is the result of their strong “Brokerage Cash Sweep” program and the rates they’ve been able to offer.
They have been able to effectively remove the friction between treasury yield and their customers. This also creates a beneficial situation where their clients can deploy capital quickly, while maintaining some yield from their cash. Effectively, creating productive reserves for their customers who can choose to deploy it at any moment right on their app.
(See Robinhood's Financials)
Lastly, the company itself is quite close to profitability. The next 4 quarters are projected by broader WallStreet to come in at an EPS of about -0.01 to -0.03. Any positive change in their costs or earnings could lead to a surprise profit. Such as cash from treasury yield, cost cutting measures, new products, or increased business. The company itself continues to stress, that they are becoming leaner as time goes on. I believe that to be true.
Cutting Costs – The Layoffs
In 2022, Robinhood performed several rounds of lay offs. This allowed them to cut Q2 ’22 and Q3 ’22 operating expenses significantly (excl. COGS). This does not appear to have impacted their revenue growth and has given them the added benefit of being ‘right sized’. And to the best of my knowledge, no further lay offs are currently on the table. In fact, their revenue is now higher than it has ever been since IPO at $447 million and is pushing them ever closer to profitability.
“Robinhood Is Laying Off 9% of Its Full-Time Employees”
– Wall Street Journal, Apr. 29, 2022
www.wsj.com
“Robinhood Lays Off 23% of Staff as Retail Investors Fade From Platform”
– Wall Street Journal, Aug. 2, 2022
www.wsj.com
2023 Road Map – 4 Catalysts
Now that we’ve talked about cost cutting, let’s take a look at the road map and see if there are opportunities for fundamental growth. I will list out 4 that I believe can have a positive impact on their business.
Options Trading in Cash Accounts
Margin Outside Gold
Futures Trading
UK Market Expansion
Lets tackle the first two on the list.
Options Trading in Cash Accounts should continue to grow their existing business. This should increase their revenue generated per user as more current customers have access to more products. Options trading is particularly popular among Robinhood’s customer demographic.
Margin Outside Gold I find personally controversial. I personally don’t believe in using margin. Regardless, it should also increase their revenue generated per user.
While both of these are improvements that could turn the company profitable for EPS. They are not as major as the next two items.
Futures trading would open an entire new market for the Robinhood user. I believe it is an incredibley potent catalyst for their user base and will allow their customers to trade more often and in new ways.
Robinhood advancing offerings for active traders
In March, we applied for a Futures Commission Merchant license and, if approved on a typical timeline, we
expect to launch futures trading by the end of 2023.
s28.q4cdn.com
UK Market Expansion should allow them to acquire a significant number of new users.
Robinhood continues to explore growth opportunities, expands access globally
With an experienced team leading and an existing license in place, we believe we’re on track for our
ambitious goal of launching brokerage services in the UK by the end of the year.
s28.q4cdn.com
To summarize, I believe expanding into a new country, the UK, and providing futures trading to their existing customers they expand their business significantly over time.
Lets take a look now at the charts and see what we can find in the price action.
Charting A Path
The first thing of note on Robinhood’s stock chart is that a series of higher lows have been put in. The price action, for the first time since IPO, is showing an increasing pattern in the price. I believe the stock has a classic Falling Wedge which I interpret as bullish. I believe the wedge has formed because of the positive developments in the balance sheet, cost cutting, and the future outlook.
Examining the MACD on the 1D time scale we also see higher lows put in as well as an MACD crossover onto the positive scale. Overall, I read the charts as having increasingly positive momentum. I also believe that momentum is growing, albeit slowly.
Lastly, on the 2D time scale my favorite indicator, DMI, shows the bulls having taken control on ~May 24 2023. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that was the low after the most recent earnings report. I believe the majority of the bears have left the stock as evident by their strength at ~11.5. We also have seen the natural termination of the ADX which implies, to me, that the previous trading trend for the stock has come to an end. A new trend does appear to be forming. It could fizzle out, but that’s up to Robinhood’s management.
I believe all of the necessary setups are currently there for them to succeed as both a company and a stock.
Closing Thoughts & Possible Risks
The Demographic & The Controversy
By discussing Robinhood here, I feel that I must mention reddit’s r/wallstreetbets. The community there has a significant impact I believe on Robinhood’s success or failure.
The community has a significant following and many of their members use the app. I believe they are an opportunity for Robinhood as well as a possible risk. The 14 million members are potential customers for the Futures trading introduction as well as the increased margin offerings.
However, the community has aligned itself with being against the Robinhood app and have been in a ‘boycott’ of the app since the
GME
trading saga of early 2021. While the community is very vocal on the matter, many of the posts continue to show use of the Robinhood app. At a minimum, it remains controversial, but still in use.
This has led me to believe that most of the drama has faded and because of the high quality product Robinhood offers, has started to draw users back to the app. I believe this is well illustrated in their MAU and NFA graphs. There’s a unique opportunity here for them to either win back this community or lose them forever.
This could also be related to the flurry of trading activity seen in stocks related to AI in the past few months.
Heavy Insider Selling
An additional risk is that the insiders, specifically Tenev Vladimir, CEO & Bhatt Baiju, Chief Creative Officer, continue to sell large numbers of shares. This is creating an immense downward pressure on the stock price. If this pattern continues, it could contribute negatively to the stocks performance.
However, I believe that’s a non-issue if the company becomes profitable. I hope that we are approaching the end of the insider selling.
Crypto & SEC Action
Additionally, due to recent events, Robinhood has pulled 3 of their crypto offerings. I believe this is another mixed risk. While they will take a revenue hit by delisting those tokens, they may end up gaining users if customers of Coinbase or Binance decide to take their business elsewhere. It could end up being beneficial to Robinhood, but there’s no way of knowing at this time.
At the time of this writing there has been no report that I can find of Robinhood receiving a notice on the matters affecting Binance and Coinbase. Robinhood instead chose to remove the 3 affected securities voluntarily.
I believe this is the responsible thing to do and well advised. By taking pre-emptive action they are protecting their business from getting entangled in the matter and remaining compliant with the SEC. This is a value the company has stated a number of times during their earnings calls. I believe their actions demonstrate that value and is representative of good governance from the company leadership.
That said, the SEC could still take action against the company if they choose to do so. Therefore, it still carries some risk and must be considered.
Macro & Last Thoughts
So, here we are. It’s June 11th, 2023. Costs are significantly reduced and being controlled, notable Roadmap 2023 objectives are close, plans for new markets and offerings are approaching, and revenue continues to grow. The company is just a few pennies away on EPS from breaking even or potentially turning a profit. There is also significant distance from the drama surrounding GameStop, Robinhood, and WallStreetBets.
The charts are showing higher lows being put in place. More positive momentum looks to be coming into the stock via the MACD. Additionally, the bulls appear to have taken control via the DMI on ~May 24th, 2023.
I believe this is a case where a significant breakout could occur. It remains to be seen if it will, but I believe there is a potential trade here to the upside. It is not without downside risk though and that must be taken into consideration.
Current thinking in the market is that we may be entering a new bull market based off of recent SP500 closing levels. However, the macroeconomic picture still remains unclear. Particularly in regards to inflation, interest rates, and consumer spending.
If it is a new bull market, Robinhood may benefit from increased trading activity, but if the macroeconomic picture deteriorates it could degrade Robinhood’s business and affect the stock.
Either way, I personally believe the stock is in an interesting position within the market.
Trade carefully, trade wisely.
~Kryptonite
As always, please consult the appropriate professionals for any financial decisions. I am not a professional. I am an amateur hobbyist. These are my own personal opinions that I’ve expressed regarding the market and the companies mentioned above. I am not responsible for any decision, trade, or investment you may make.
You should assume that as of the publication date of any report, post, or communication referencing any publicly traded security or asset that Kryptonite Research (myself) may have a position in the security or asset and I might stand to realize significant gains if the price of the stock moves. Following publication of any report, post, or communication, I intend to continue transacting in the securities covered therein, and Kryptonite Research (myself) may be long, short, or even neutral at any time thereafter regardless of Kryptonite Research’s (myself) initial position. I reserve the right to alter my position at any time without notice.
Images are sourced from the TradingView app, Adobe Stock photos, and Robinhood’s Investor Relations. I do not claim ownership.
As an additional disclaimer, at the time of this writing I am a Robinhood customer and holding a position in Robinhood’s stock.
Momentum Shifting final warningextended the low range forcast to March 2023 with a potential rally for the bottom first week of January
traders have been dollar cost averaging and you can plainly see it on the charts. Forcast is bearish with
momentum diverging for a lower low. Dollar cost averaging in my opinion only works if your taking short
term profits. The risk in todays market is extremely high in my opinion. I am not going to speculate any further.
This chart only shows a visual representation of what we believe is coming.
Is the Worst OVER? This is the differential of 10yr vs 1yr US bond which represents long term against short term yield on sovereign debt, and those you don't know, short term bonds are used by central banks to control interest rates(amazing uh? the FED does not actually print money) therefore they do use bonds as a tool to control interest rates which then controls the S&D of capital.
As you can see, we are back at a differential which is extremely low, back to energy crisis levels. However, we seem to be already at very low levels, does that mean THE WORST HAS COME? What is going to happen to the stock market?
A very quick and personal thought to sum everything up as I do not consider myself an expert macroeconomist: the market is efficient, meaning that the current price on every single security is traded at all the current public information that is available and if something keeps going up, it means that expectation are in favor of it moving higher.
Hope that explains what I wanted to say,
Feel free to ask question, be safe!