Two Plus Two Older Archives  

Go Back   Two Plus Two Older Archives > Other Topics > The Stock Market

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-19-2001, 04:00 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



In the column titled, The Trader, the was an interesting paragraph regarding fair value for the S&P 500. Byron Wein is a well known Wall Street Guru and from the several times I've heard him interviewed he seems to be very reasonable and knowledgeable. The paragraph said that his model for valueing the S&P 500 puts fair value at 1350 which is quite a bit higher than it is now. He bases this valuation on an expectation of a 10% rise in profits for the S&P 500 in 2002. What's interesting to me is that if is model used an expectation of 7%, fair value for the S&P 500 is 1050. Ok there is quite a difference in relative terms but in my mind there isn't much difference in absolute terms. I guess the implication is that long term earnings growth rates must change a lot based on 10% vs 7% for next year. I guess it's easy to understand why the market has a lot of volatility.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-19-2001, 05:04 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



Not to be short on this...but Barrons has consistently the worst advice of a major financial publication. Having a column called "The Trader" shows you what market they are trying to reach. Did you see their big ad in the WSJ bragging about how they called the bottom of the market right before it tanked again. They stink!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-19-2001, 10:51 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



Barrons wasn't offering any advice here they were reporting on a "guru's" price model. The point is that a 3% difference in next years profits makes a difference of around 30% in valuations in someones valuation model. Does this seem high, low or right?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-20-2001, 01:24 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



Sure if you project far enough ahead. I think it's pointless to consider that stuff. When managing money I think it's always best to manage against a benchmark and not worry about stuff like that.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-20-2001, 01:40 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



If I understand correctly you aren't interested in what the fair value is for an index, is that correct? I always thought that valuations based on future earnings are the ultimate benchmark. Could be wrong but I also thought that the value of a company among other things is based on what it will earn in the future. However, I can accept that your apparent position that future earnings aren't important and I'm not being facetious when I say this either.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-21-2001, 02:31 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



Exactly...it's I think pointless to worry about it. If you accept that any benchmark over a long period does X amount then what you do is manage against it depending on your expertise. If you have none than you should buy an index fund. If you think you can handle it then underweight or overweight certain sectors based on your expectations. I think the market is too efficient to get much excess return based on stock picking.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-21-2001, 11:08 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



One thing for sure, is that seemingly small changes in earnings expectations (at least to me) can cause large changes in stock prices.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-21-2001, 01:38 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



Oh what a suprise another publication can't predict where the market is going.Neither can anyone else for that matter as no-one has better than a 50% record prediting the market over the long run. But then people will sail around the world and the members of the flat earth society will continue to believe.


If you want to better your results focus in on the companies your buying and forget trying to predict the unpredictable. Be happy with the companies you buy even if the market were to shut down. Heck it closes every Saturday-Sunday and holidays and it hasn't bothered me yet.Happy Holidays. Lar
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-21-2001, 11:25 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



No one has a better than 50% record predicting the market in the long run? What does that mean? The market usually goes up so anyone who bets up is right more than 50% of the time. Know what you're talking about before posting.

As for focusing on the companies you buy...if you don't have a source of information the market hasn't already factored in, everything you do is worthless and basically a crapshoot. Buy an index fund or at least mimic it with individual stocks. At least there is less volatility there.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-22-2001, 09:12 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Barron\'s Column 11/11/01



It wasn't a prediction, it was about fair value for the market. A 3% difference in one years earnings made an approximate difference of 30% in market value. The article wasn't predicting earnings either it stated that if earnings next years S&P earnings grew by 7% in the aggregate next year the model would show a fair value for the S&P 1050. If earnings grew by 10% in the aggregate next year the model would show a fair for the S&P of 1350. The focus wasn't on predicting the unpredictable it was regarding seemingly small changes in earnings expectations resulting in huge market moves. If we want to focus on something that is unpredictable we should focus on the future earnings prospects of individual companies and trying to predict what their earnings will be [img]/images/smile.gif[/img].



Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.