Q1 2011 Performance, Updates and Thoughts
Performance
I have ended Q1 2011 almost at the exact same spot as I left 2010. Still trailing my target portfolio by almost the exact same amount. Though both me and the mock portfolio ended up around 3.7% for Q1 2011. There has been some changes to the portfolio so I would expect the underperfomance to continue, especially if this rally in the equity market continues.
Updates
I have sold WJA, FES and EQI (formerly GHC). WJA was around 25% below my low end fair value. The same with FES. EQI was almost at fair value. None of the companies have done anything wrong, but I am finding better value in smaller names. I added to MGO and have bought a few new companies. I hope to have write-ups on them in the coming weeks.
Thoughts
The markets have had a very nice run. The higher they move, the less I like them. I start to get nervous about my holdings in large companies. QE2 is ending soon, and we will this economy on its own footing for the first time. I think that "the economy" is no longer a catalyst going forward. Picking specific companies that have their own internal catalysts will be more important than just plowing money into what's hot. I don't think that you will see another recession, but I doubt the mean reversion growth rates in GDP continue. Some large US companies are cheap and some look cheap. Looking back over the last 10 years you see excess. Excess borrowing and spending. I don't think that profit margins and growth rates will look so rosy over the next 10 years. Profit margins are quite high and have the potential for mean reversion to the downside. With steady revenue and closer to normal margins will take away any margin of safety in the broader market. That is why I am focusing more and more on small companies with their own internal catalysts.
Given the extreme debt levels, a small increase in interest rates will dramatically increase the cost to service those debts. That's money that won't be spent further to buy more flat-screens, cars, or other discretionary items.
Japan
Japan was horrible. The damage isn't completely tallied yet. The Nikkei is off 7-8%. That's not really that much. Japan is not a long term investment. Their companies are not shareholder friendly. The have an even worse debt/GDP ratio than America. Their aging demographics are the worst in the first world. Japan would be nothing more than a sentiment trade. In order to minimize risk on that type of a trade you need panic. I don't see panic. As soon as Buffett says "buying opportunity" you money flowing in whether it's warranted or not. Maybe the eventual trade would be uranium, but again I see no panic.
Dean