It’s remarkable how fast modern risk and rates markets move these days. Like all reliable narratives, there’s almost never one rationale—it’s generally a combination of factors. Sure, we can start with faster computers and the rapid rise of indexing as culprits, but the former are still programmed by humans and the latter are a now-established method of obtaining inexpensive and transparent asset allocation. One is an inevitable outcome—that humans will continue to make the same investing mistakes over and over again; the second essentially gives them easier tools to allow their emotions to intrude on common sense financial planning. It’s why we build asset allocation models based on these same indexes that take the emotion out the equation and interject fundamental research. We combine that with the ability to tactically shift when there are imbalances and most importantly, try to explain it every month to Advisors and Fiduciaries.

The tweet-driven explanation for volatility since 2016 is certainly credible, since many pundits and politicians have followed The US President in rapid, emotionally driven opinions that probably have little correlation to longer term outcomes. The amount of day-to-day rhetoric on “Trade Wars” is a perfect example; we know empirically that tariff policies ultimately slow economic growth, but really, what are the short-term effects of any of them on markets, other than the human desire to do something in response?

All we can do is tell you what we are doing now, with an eye on the big picture and an understanding that emotion must be factored out of our work. First, global equities provide far better value compared with bonds. There’s a massive gap between bond yields and equity earnings yields. Second, equity factor, regional and sector choices are very important—global stock markets no longer move in lockstep as rate, fiscal and tax policies have become more, not less varied in the last two years. Finally, know that our Global Tactical strategies will adapt to fundamental, not emotional influences. We seek opportunities for solid risk adjusted returns and to preserve capital in risk downturns.

With this month’s positioning, we have modified our risk-seeking outlook over the short-term. We added to our high quality factor with an international version and added US Value exposure while exiting our Momentum position. We exited Gold in favor of broad commodities.

Recent Portfolio Changes

We exited our positions in Momentum in favor of Value. We expect value to outperform Momentum as economic growth recovers and the yield curve steepens.

We exited our position in Gold and initiated a position broad commodities. Gold has had an amazing run since we initiated a position in May. However, we believe that investor positioning has gotten out of hand and risks are skewed to the downside. We expect oil and industrial metals prices will move higher as economic growth recovers.

We initiated a position in International Quality factor equities. We maintain our conviction to Quality factor exposure and upgraded our ex-US regional equity exposure.

Portfolio Changes
Since July 1, 2019¹

Cash

We initiated a position in cash. As risks persist across asset classes, and with 1-3 month treasury yields near 2%, an elevated position will help shield the portfolio from volatility.

Fixed Income (US)

We continue to be overweight in our position to Ultrashort Maturity Bond. Huge moves in interest rates have left government bonds at extremely overbought levels, reflecting a very bearish view of economic growth. We continue to see duration as a risk and favor ultrashort duration at the expense of allocations to long-dated fixed income.
We maintain our position in Preferred Stocks. We maintain our conviction to the position. The asset class’s attractive yield and positive tailwinds will continue to provide diversification benefits to the portfolio.

Fixed Income (International)

We increased our position in Emerging Market Bonds. Given solid sovereign fundamentals and cyclical highs for yield spreads, emerging market bonds provide attractive yield and portfolio diversification.

Equity (US)

We maintain positions in Quality equities. Quality equities possess pricing power, exhibit strong profitability, and have additional sustainable competitive advantages which allow businesses to remain viable over time. We feel this holding is prudent in the later stages of the US credit cycle.

We initiated a position in Value equities. We believe that value equities provide yield at a reasonable price, are historically cheap relative to other style factors, and should outperform as the macroeconomic backdrop recovers.

Equity (International)

We maintain a reduced position in Emerging Market equities. The most important risk to emerging markets (a big Chinese growth slowdown or collapse in its currency) is unlikely but has increased on the margin and Chinese stimulus has yet to catalyze a credit response. We have reduced emerging market equity exposure.

We maintain a position in broad Global equities. We believe that Easing financial conditions and relative valuations to other asset classes (especially bonds) justify broad exposure to global stocks in the portfolio.

We initiated a position in International Quality equities. We maintain our conviction to Quality factor exposure and upgraded our ex-US regional exposure.

Alternatives

We initiated a position in Broad Commodities. We expect oil and industrial metals prices will move higher as economic growth recovers. Additionally, the recent Saudi oil attack puts a risk premium into the oil price.

¹ Information as of 10/4/2019. Individual account allocations may differ slightly from model allocations.

² Some Emerging Markets allocation overlaps with regional allocations.

³ Excludes GTA’s alternative, cash, and cash equivalent positions.

⁴ Contains international exposure

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The material contained herein as well as any attachments is not an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. It is presented only to provide information on investment strategies, opportunities and, on occasion, summary reviews on various portfolio performances. The investment descriptions and other information contained in this Markets in Motion are based on data calculated by W.E. Donoghue & Co., LLC (W.E. Donoghue) and other sources including Morningstar Direct. This summary does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities and may not be relied upon in connection with any offer or sale of securities.

The JAForlines Global Tactical Allocation Portfolio composite was created July 1, 2009. The JAForlines Global Tactical Income Portfolio composite was created August 1, 2014. The JAForlines Global Tactical Growth Portfolio composite was created April 1, 2016. The JAForlines Global Tactical Conservative Portfolio composite was created January 1, 2018.

Results are based on fully discretionary accounts under management, including those accounts no longer with the firm. Individual portfolio returns are calculated monthly in U.S. dollars. Policies for valuing portfolios and calculating performance are available upon request. These returns represent investors domiciled primarily in the United States. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance reflects to re-investment of dividends and other earnings.

Net returns are presented net of management fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Net of fee performance was calculated using a model fee of 1% representing an applicable wrap fee. The investment management fee schedule for the composite is: Client Assets = All Assets; Annual Fee % = 1.00%. Actual investment advisory fees incurred by clients may vary.

W.E. Donoghue & Co., LLC (Donoghue) claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®).

The Blended Benchmark Moderate is a benchmark comprised of 50% MSCI ACWI, 40% Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate, and 10% S&P GSCI, rebalanced monthly.

The Blended Benchmark Conservative is a benchmark comprised of 35% MSCI ACWI, 55% Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate, and 10% S&P GSCI, rebalanced monthly.

The Blended Benchmark Growth is a benchmark comprised of 65% MSCI ACWI, 25% Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate, and 10% S&P GSCI, rebalanced monthly.

The Blended Benchmark Income is a benchmark comprised of 80% Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index, 10% MSCI ACWI, and 10% S&P GSCI, rebalanced monthly.

The MSCI ACWI Index is a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets. The S&P GSCI® is a composite index of commodity sector returns representing an unleveraged, long-only investment in commodity futures that is broadly diversified across the spectrum of commodities. The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index is a flagship measure of global investment grade debt from twenty-four local currency markets. This multi-currency benchmark includes treasury, government-related, corporate and securitized fixed-rate bonds from both developed and emerging markets issuers.

Index performance results are unmanaged, do not reflect the deduction of transaction and custodial charges or a management fee, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing indicated historical performance results. You cannot invest directly in an Index. Economic factors, market conditions and investment strategies will affect the performance of any portfolio, and therefore are not assurances that it will match or outperform any particular benchmark.

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