Thursday, December 24, 2009

HO HO HO!

Portfolio Breakdown:
APP - 6.5%
BAC - 13.2%
TBT - 15.5%
ITUB - 12.2%
AOB - 10.7%
COIN - 1.7%
COINU 1.3%
TAMB - 21.5%
RIMM - 9.5%
HOGS - 14.8%
SDX - 5.2%
OCNF - 2.0%
BP - 7.1%
MBI - 15.4%
TRLG - 7.9%
TBV - 8.1%
CAD Cash - 8.1%
USD Cash - (55.4%)

USD/CAD - 1.046

Portfolio Performance:
Return Since Last Update - 4.16%
Return Since Inception - 199.39%
S&P 500 - 1126.48
S&P 500 Return (June 30) - 22.59%

The Prior Week of Trading:
Because of the holiday shortened week, I did not do any trading. I am satisfied with my positions and am happy to see them into the New Year. However, I would like to mention the moves I did not make this week. First of all, I am very pleased in the recent run up in the price of MBI shares, after buying into weakness last week I have been regarded with a substantial gain on this investment; I view this as more of a long-term holding, so I dont foresee selling this on any short term gyrations. On the opposite side is the way I have treated my holdings of RIMM. After crossing the $70 mark at the end of last week I was of the opinion it would move steadily to $80 given a flat to upward bias in the market. Instead, it has moved to $67 while I have continued to hold. Given future prospects for the smart phone market and RIM's ability to capitalize and execute I am comfortable holding at this level and will be looking for that $80 target early in the New Year.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Continuing Global Recovery

Portfolio Breakdown:
APP - 7.1%
BAC - 13.8%
TBT - 15.4%
ITUB - 12.8%
AOB - 11.0%
COIN - 1.6%
COINU - 1.2%
TAMB - 23.0%
RIMM - 10.6%
HOGS - 15.5%
SDX - 5.0%
OCNF - 2.2%
BP - 7.3%
MBI - 13.1%
TRLG - 8.0%
TBV - 2.8%
ITUB $25, Dec, sell call - (0.1%)
CAD Cash - 8.3%
USD Cash - (58.7%)

USD/CAD - 1.0655

Portfolio Performance:
Return Since Last Update - (1.97%)
Return Since Inception - 187.42%
S&P 500 - 1102.47
S&P 500 Return (June 30) - 19.98%

The Prior Week of Trading:
I made a few minor changes to the portfolio this week; mostly shifting from winners to underperformers. I sold out of my PRGN position at $5.10, a level that it had previously had resistance. I wanted to move that cash into 3 names which I currently see as undervalued; OCNF, MBI and TBV. OCNF is a fellow container and dry shipper who has not seen any recent love from the market, so I wanted to make it feel welcome in my portfolio. Adjusted tangible book value for OCNF I have calculated at slightly over $3 while the stock is currently trading at $1; on the surface this looks like unbelievable value for a going concern, it is commonplace among shippers to trade at a discount to book value. However, OCNF trades at a substantial discount to BV and forward potential P/E (0.3-0.5 IMO) to its peers. MBI I currently hold in my portfolio and decided to add to the position a couple days after it was announced that it was being removed from the S&P 500; the negative reaction was very large and in my opinion, unwarranted given the size of the move. I welcome the opportunity to hold MBI, one of the surviving stand-alone insurers who has a healthy balance sheet and the opportunity to profit from a recovery at such a steep discount. I also reintroduced TBV into my portfolio after trading it from the $3-$4 range after it dropped into the mid $2's at the end of last week. I can find no definite catalyst for this move, except for continued bearish sentiment on the inability of TBV to beat earnings expectations for the future; Now with such low levels of future expectations, I am willing to take the risk to see this stock into next quarters earnings report.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Winding down 2009

Portfolio Breakdown:
APP - 9.2%
BAC - 14.0%
PRGN - 5.5%
TBT - 15.2%
ITUB - 13.3%
AOB - 10.2%
COIN - 1.8%
COINU - 1.3%
TAMB - 23.5%
RIMM - 9.4%
HOGS - 15.2%
SDX - 5.5%
OCNF - 2.1%
BP - 7.1%
MBI - 10.8%
TRLG - 7.8%
ITUB Dec, $25, sell call - (0.3%)
CAD Cash - 5.1%
USD Cash - (56.5%)

USD/CAD - 1.0595

Portfolio Performance:
Return Since Last Update - 4.84%
Return Since Inception - 193.21%
S&P 500 - 1106.41
S&P 500 Return (June 30) - 20.41%

The Prior Week of Trading:
It has been a few weeks since I have updated this section of my blog, so please forgive some of the broad explanations as I will attempt to discuss the entire portfolio.

The thesis of an improving economy that I started with when I launched the tracking of my own portfolio in June of 2009 has continued to be confirmed by the relevant economic data; to this end, my portfolio is highly tilted towards global economic and consumer recovery plays. I continue to consider the core holding of my portfolio to be TBT; as previously explained, a variety of factors are coming together (US dollar, budget deficit, improving economy, future inflation) that make the long term prospects of the TBT to be the safest and most effective way to capitalize on higher long term interest rates. I continue to emphasize the financial sector in my portfolio, as the improvement in lending conditions as well as the steep shape of the US treasury yield curve makes stable banks a great investment. BAC is the most undervalued bank in the US; I hold ITUB both because of confidence in the banking sector as well as a desire for exposure to Brazil; MBI as an insurer could be considered the most undervalued in my portfolio if the economy continues to recover; TAMB, a California based community bank is currently priced so low it could be conisdered an option on bankruptcy. A fairly new addition to my portfolio, TAMB carries a relatively high weight due to the substantial increase in it's market value since I took my original position; my price target continues to be $5 although for the sake of allocation I will re-evaluate a portion of the position at $2-3.

Because of my belief in a recovery in the US economy, consumer cyclical stocks carry a substantial weight in my portfolio. My two favorite consumer discretionary stocks are APP and TRLG; both are attractive based on fundamental valuation, but also when taking into account historical and projected growth rates. RIMM would also fall into this category, although it is more a mix of technology and consumer discretionary. RIMM became attractive to me after it's latest small earnings miss put it out of favour with the market; I believe in the viability of this company over the long term and am very excited to buy it at this low level. HOGS is my bet on the Chinese consumer and follows a very simply premise; a growing population and middle class in China will require more food, and in particular: protein. HOGS supplies pork products to one of the fastest growing protein consuming populations in the world and surprisingly trades at a discount to its North American peers. AOB is a pharmaceutical company who manufactures and supplies traditional Chinese medicines within China; it currently trades at very attractive valuation levels and should outperform in the future if revenue growth begins to exceed expectations.

I continue to be bullish on global commerce and hence, have had a preference for dry bulk and container shippers since my portfolio's inception. I have begun to scale back on PRGN because of the market value gains I have experienced, and now am beginning to look once again at OCNF. I believe the market is unfairly punishing OCNF for it's dilutive share issuance without paying attention to how it is using the funds. At its current level, OCNF trades at roughly 1/3 book value and is poised to earn upwards of 0.30-0.50 for the next full fiscal year (in my opinion). Both metrics would put OCNF at a considerable valuation discount to its peers. On a similar subject, I use an investment in commodities as a partial hedge to my exposure to the US dollar. BP has a large dividend and would logically due very well if oil prices move higher over the long term. SDX is a Canadian based oil exploration company, who is in the process of drilling on promising sites in parts of Egypt. The company also boasts a very experienced management team, which is the primary factor for my investment. COIN is an small organic fertilizer supplier who has received very positive reviews from customers; as consumers continue to be more health conscious and fertilizer demand continues COIN should be a beneficiary; COINU is a unit which is comprised of one common share and one common share warrant exercisable at $1.30 in 2014.

Friday, December 4, 2009

More Good Economic News

Portfolio Breakdown:
APP - 10.3%
BAC - 16.2%
PRGN - 6.2%
TBT - 16.2%
ITUB - 15.0%
AOB - 11.7%
COIN - 2.1%
COINU - 1.4%
TAMB - 22.2%
RIMM - 9.8%
HOGS - 17.1%
SDX - 3.5%
BP - 8.1%
MBI - 12.1%
TRLG - 8.8%
ITUB Dec, $25, sell call - (0.3%)
CAD Cash - 0.6%
USD Cash - (60.8%)

USD/CAD - 1.0585

Portfolio Performance:
Retun Since Last Update - (6.25%)
Return Since Inception - 179.67%
S&P 500 - 1105.52
S&P 500 Return (June 30) - 20.31%

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Window Dressing into Year End?

Figures As of Nov 28, 2009

Portfolio Breakdown:
APP - 9.3%
BAC - 13.6%
PRGN - 5.3%
TBT - 13.8%
ITUB - 12.5%
AOB - 9.7%
COIN - 1.8%
COINU - 1.3%
TAMB - 25.0%
RIMM - 8.4%
HOGS - 14.2%
BWR - 4.2%
SDX - 1.8%
OCNF - 2.2%
BP - 7.2%
MBI - 9.9%
TRLG - 7.7%
CAD Cash - 5.3%
USD Cash - (53.0%)

USD/CAD - 1.062

Portfolio Performance:
Return Since Last Update - 15.06%
Return Since Inception - 198.33%
S&P 500 - 1091.45
S&P 500 Return (June 30) - 18.78%