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Income Advisor
Conservative investing. Double-digit income.
Issues
Sure, the rally in the overall market may not last, but this unusual environment is still creating great opportunities in certain pockets if you know where to look. One such opportunity exists in the new and rapidly growing marijuana industry.
The growth in marijuana is undeniable.


While most companies have struggled to make a profit in the young industry, one company has been making money like crazy. It’s a marijuana farm REIT with a superior business plan that has managed to grow profits 600% over the last four years. The stock has been a phenomenal performer. But it sold off recently and appears to have just begun moving higher.


This month I also highlight a call on Global Ship Leasing (GSL), a stock that has bucked the trend and returned 28% YTD.


There are three portfolio stocks that have been upgraded to a BUY this week: U.S. Bancorp (USB), Visa Inc. (V) and One Liberty Properties (OLP). All the stocks have some momentum and strong reasons why the rally may continue.


The overall market may have a challenging year as it grapples with inflation and uncertainty about the Fed tightening.
While most companies struggle, energy and financial stocks actually thrive with inflation and rising interest rates. But there are also lesser-known areas that are also benefitting from this current bend in the road.


In this issue, I highlight a company from the shipping sector. The industry had struggled for the last decade. But the current environment is much more hospitable. Shipping rates have soared in the pandemic recovery. And these rates are likely to stay high in one particular area, container shipping.


The S&P 500 is on the cusp of a correction, down 10%. The technology- laden NASDAQ is already well beyond a correction. Energy is the only S&P 500 sector in positive territory YTD.



The problem is inflation and the Fed raising rates to combat it. There is a realization that inflation can’t be handled seamlessly. That means we could face continued high inflation, or much slower economic growth induced by a hyperactive Fed making up for lost time. Neither scenario is good for stocks.



While the year might be difficult for the overall market, the energy and financial sectors should shine. These sectors actually like inflation and rising interest rates. While portfolio positions in those sectors have been dragged lower by the recent indiscriminate selling, I expect them to regain momentum when this selloff ends.



Two fantastic portfolio positions in energy and finance are highlighted to buy in this issue. They had momentum going into the selloff and should pick up where they left off when the selling abates.

Cyclical stocks have been getting clobbered over the past month amidst virus concerns. But I think the recent action is creating an opportunity.

The inflation and Fed contraction issues, which are good for energy and financial stocks, will outlast this latest virus strain. The virus will fade away before too long, but the other problems are much stickier. Certain stocks are being knocked back temporarily ahead of a very promising new year.



In this issue I highlight one of the very best financial stocks on the market. It’s has pulled back recently and is about 15% below the 52-week high, yet the company is poised for a fantastic 2022.

This is a great time to sell covered calls.

The recent upward movement in the market increases upside speculation, and call premiums have risen. It’s a great time to take advantage of the recent surge in certain stocks to secure a high-income return. Even if the stock gets called, you are taking profits in a very high market ahead of what is likely a choppier environment.



In this issue, I highlight a covered call on the recently red-hot Qualcomm (QCOM). The stock soared 50% in a little over a month but has leveled off in recent days. It’s a great time to secure a huge call premium and lock in a huge income to go along with recent appreciation.

You can still find sky-high yields.

Despite the recovery in the overall market, there are still lingering pockets of high yields. It reminds me of the years following the financial crisis. You could still find good stocks that paid a sky-high income relatively easily. But the situation didn’t last. Those high yields on quality stocks evaporated as investors realized the opportunity.



Some of the current high yields probably won’t last long either.



At the same time, it’s a great time for cyclical stocks. The economy is still booming. Plus, we are likely at the point in the economic cycle where such stocks tend to do best. We are likely still in the early stages of a bull market and recovery.



In this issue, I found a stock that benefits from both opportunities. It has a stratospheric 11.5% yield that likely won’t last. At the same time, the yield should be safe and growing as the company is highly cyclical.

Despite the recent dicey market, there are two great opportunities created by a weird interest rate move that is likely to correct itself in the months ahead.

The yield curve, defined as the difference between short- and long-term interest rates, has flattened as the benchmark 10-year Treasury rate has fallen. The rate has fallen from 1.75% in February to the current 1.31%, despite the stronger economy and persistent inflation.



I believe rates have moved far too low. Interest rates are still well below what has been defined as normal for the last decade. The 10-year rate is still well below the pre-pandemic level. Plus, the benchmark rate averaged between 2% and 3% during both the Obama and Trump Administrations.



Interest rates have fallen too far and are likely to trend higher in the months ahead. Two portfolio stocks benefit from the difference between short and long rates and have been held back by the falling rates. These stocks are likely to move higher as the situation reverses

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq just made new all-time highs. Strong earnings and a booming economy are outweighing concerns about the delta variant, the Chinese slowdown, inflation and a Fed tapering of bond purchases.

It’s difficult to say what narrative will be dominant after the summer. The cyclical slump could gain traction or turn around. Much will depend on the headlines, which are unpredictable. While I like the way the current portfolio is positioned, it needs more stocks with momentum that generate high call premiums.



In this issue I highlight for purchase one of the very best financial stocks on the market. Prospects are dazzling over the rest of this year. But the stock is also moving right now. It should offer a quick opportunity to ring the income register with a covered call.

It’s been a sideways summer market. Perhaps earnings will change that. But summer markets have a tendency to do whatever they were doing before investors stopped paying attention in the dog days of August.

In this issue I highlight a high-paying REIT that has been bucking the trend and moving higher in this market. It presents a timely buying opportunity that can create a call writing opportunity in a short amount of time.



Few income stocks have had consistent upward momentum in this market, but those that do generally fetch higher call premiums. The target buy is a fantastic REIT that pays a high dividend and continues to move higher. It should provide a great income opportunity in an otherwise lackluster summer market.

Despite last week’s overreaction to the Fed, the market will likely continue sideways for a while for two reasons. One, the market indexes had to take a breather after a massive 90% move higher from the pandemic lows. Two, investors look ahead and can’t decide what will drive the market six months from now after the economy slows and comparisons get tough.

In a sideways market, income is at a premium. Income is the only game in town when stock prices aren’t rising. Dividends roll in regardless of near-term market gyrations. Covered calls greatly enhance that income.



In times like this, a portfolio geared towards high income can provide strong returns while the overall market languishes. In this issue, I highlight two new covered call opportunities that will enable you to ring the register while the market wallows.

It looks like this relentless bull market is finally stalling out. The market isn’t correcting, or really selling off in any substantial way. It has just stopped moving higher, for now. Given the returns in the past year and recent months, the market had to take a break. That pace couldn’t last.

Stock prices may be stuck in mud for the time being, but there are some fantastic income opportunities out there. Many high-dividend stocks are still well below pre-pandemic prices and offer some of the highest yields in a decade. In this month’s issue I highlight a phenomenal stock with a sky-high yield and a price that’s trending higher.

The market is still trending higher. But it can’t continue at the recent pace. And a 10% or so correction is possible at any time, especially after such a strong move higher. While the short term is always unpredictable, I’m still bullish over the intermediate and longer term.

With the market looking topsy in the near term, it’s a great time to write covered calls. In this issue, I highlight two call writing opportunities on existing portfolio positions. These calls provide a great way to cash in on a high market without giving away too much upside potential.


Updates
The market has shown some renewed strength over the past several days, particularly among interest rate-sensitive stocks. The Fed met last week, and the market dug this month’s vague insinuations.

The rally sputtered in April after sticky inflation soured the falling interest rate narrative. But last week the Fed Chairman indicated that the next Fed Funds rate move would most likely be a cut and not a raise. Although a hike wasn’t expected, investors like hearing the Fed say it. The statement also combines with recent news of weaker economic growth and a slowing job market.
The market is in a tug-o-war between the bummer that rates are likely to stay higher for longer and excitement about the earnings season and artificial intelligence.

The launch of this earnings season has so far saved the market from a selloff that began at the beginning of April when the interest rate prognosis soured. Sticky inflation and a Fed that appeared to lose its resolve to cut rates this year spoiled a five-month rally. But earnings are reviving the market.
This market has been resilient. But that resilience is being severely tested. The next couple of weeks should tell us the near-term direction of stocks.

The S&P rallied higher for five straight months. That’s long in the tooth for any rally. The market is down so far in April and the story is changing for the worse.
It’s still a bull market and a rally. But the S&P has been in a sideways funk since the middle of last month.

April has not had news that the market seems to like. There has been stronger-than-expected economic news. The manufacturing numbers were the highest in about two years, and the Fed upgraded its 2024 GDP forecast from 1.4% to 2.4%. But sometimes good news is bad news.
The market looks great. The quarter ended last week with the S&P posting the strongest first-quarter start in five years. All three major market indexes have now risen for five straight months.

The Fed said it still intends to cut the Fed Funds rate three times this year at the March meeting. Meanwhile, inflation remains subdued, and the economy is surprisingly strong. Manufacturing data was much better than expected and the Fed raised its GDP forecast for 2024 from 1.4% to 2.4%.
It’s another big Fed week in a market that has rallied for more than four months.

The S&P 500 is up 7.28% in the first two and a half months of this year and has rallied over 25% since the low of late October. Stocks have been thriving amid the likely peak in interest rates, expected Fed rate cuts this year, a still-strong economy, and the artificial intelligence (AI) catalyst in the technology sector.

Earnings season is over, and the market’s main focus is on the February inflation numbers that come out this week.

Stocks were able to continue to build on last year’s late rally in January and February. Mixed Fed and interest rate news was overcome by strong earnings, particularly in technology. Signs that artificial intelligence is continuing to drive strong demand and sales lifted the sector and the market.
The good times keep rolling. The S&P 500 continues to make new highs and closed last week up 7.7% YTD. Nine of the 11 S&P sectors are well into positive territory for the year so far.

As usual, the index is being led higher by technology, which is by far the largest sector. Technology stocks are up over 12% YTD. While no other stock sectors are up as much as the overall market, most of them are delivering very respectable returns for the year so far. The only down sectors are Real Estate and Utilities. But even these beleaguered sectors are only down 1.4% and 3.25% respectively YTD.
In what has been a basically good market this year, investors just got a dose of bad news. Inflation isn’t going down enough, even with the current high rates. That makes the rate cut “Holy Grail” far less likely anytime soon.

The Fed will have to at least keep interest rates at a very high level to prevent inflation from reigniting. But at some point, the Fed will need to lower interest rates in order to keep the recovery alive. But they can’t, at least to an impactful degree. Historically, inflation tends to come right back when the Fed takes its foot off the gas.
The market looks strong right now. The S&P 500 just made a new all-time high in a young bull market and the index is up 5.38% in just the first five weeks of this year.

Inflation is way down. The Fed is done hiking rates. The economy is still strong. And earnings are solid. That’s a good macroeconomic background for stocks. But how long will this good news last?
Wow! The economy is red hot! Both GDP and Jobs numbers came in much stronger than expected. But good news can also be bad news in the demented view of many Wall Street professionals.

Inflation is way down. The Fed is still unlikely to raise the Fed Funds rate again. The economy is surging despite the highest interest rates in decades. Ultimately, the economy is the most important driver of overall stock market performance. The economy isn’t weakening but strengthening after the recent malaise. And it’s a new bull market.
We are smack dab in the heart of earnings season for this portfolio. With the market sputtering along without much conviction, individual stocks are taking center stage, and earnings are a major part of that.

Quarterly and annual earnings will be reported this week from AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE), American Tower Corporation (AMT), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), and Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM). The reports could be a hugely important factor in determining the near-term direction of these stocks.
Alerts
As I mentioned in this week’s update, CEG has some technical support around the $225 per share range. The stock had been flying high but has been under considerable pressure recently. CEG (currently around $227 per share) is down over 35% from the high made in late January.
Sell USB November 19th $60 calls at $2.30 or better
Sell CVX April 1 $95.50 call at $4.30 or better
Sell BGS February 19 $27.50 call at $2.40 or better
The idea is to sell a covered call, meaning you already own or you just purchased V on the buy recommendation.
The first issue of Cabot Income Advisor just came out yesterday. The idea is to sell a covered call, meaning you already own or you just purchased IIPR on the buy recommendation.