Investments
Under the Hood: Surging Software
The iShares Expanded Technology Software Sector ETF (trading under IGV) has recorded a quarter-to-date gain of +21.5% as of Thursday’s close (FactSet data). The software-focused ETF is trouncing other broader ETFs over this period. It’s a welcome relief for software and technology-focused investors compared to earlier in the year, with the ETF seeing a gain …
Blake Anderson
December 9, 2024
The Labor Market Is in a Reasonably Good Place, but There Are Risks
The November payroll report was going to be a tricky one to parse because of a bounce back from hurricane effects (which pulled down October payrolls) and the resolution of the strike at Boeing. The economy created 227,000 jobs in November, close to expectations, which somewhat made up for the low 36,000 number in October …
Sonu Varghese
December 6, 2024
A Fed Policy Error Is a Big Risk for 2025
Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, was quite upbeat about recent economic data during a moderated conversation with the New York Times Dealbook. He noted that the since the Fed’s September meeting, growth has improved, while downside risks to the labor market have declined. At the same time inflation has come in a little higher. As …
Sonu Varghese
December 5, 2024
Enhancing Portfolio Management
Factors The world of investment product has evolved in many ways over the years, and that evolution has seemingly accelerated more recently. There are nearly 4,000 U.S. exchange-traded products, each with their own index or objective (for better or worse), this is on top of tens of thousands of traditional mutual funds. It can be …
Grant Engelbart
December 4, 2024
3 Things We Are Worried About
Are today’s markets walking a tightrope? Balancing optimism with caution, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist at Carson Group, are once again joined by Barry Gilbert, VP of Wealth Management, to tackle three key market concerns in this thought-provoking episode of Facts vs. Feelings. They examine …
Ryan Detrick
December 4, 2024
Why December Will Probably Be Strong and a Few More Random Thoughts
“To be an investor is to be an optimist.” Jason Zweig, writer for the Wall Street Journal I touched a lot on why more strength is expected in December in Five Things To Know About December, but I wanted to add a few more things today. As I noted last week, when the S&P …
Ryan Detrick
December 3, 2024
Berkshire Hathaway – The Newest Trillionaire
Berkshire Hathaway’s market capitalization stands at $1,032,347,000,000 (FactSet data) as of Tuesday’s close. It is the newest addition to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world – the Trillionaire Club. Notably, it is the only financial stock so far to gain entry to this club, whose membership is largely populated by technology-related stocks. …
Blake Anderson
December 2, 2024
Five Things To Know About December
“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” Aristotle The final month of 2024 is nearly here and in today’s blog I wanted to take a look at why we think the chance of another strong month to end this record-breaking year is likely. Here are five …
Ryan Detrick
November 27, 2024
Reasons to Be Thankful
Surprising economic growth, falling inflation, and financial wins—what’s not to be thankful for? On this gratitude-filled episode of Facts vs. Feelings, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist at Carson Group, reflect on the moments, milestones, and market trends that make this year one to celebrate. Guest …
Ryan Detrick
November 27, 2024
The Perils of Stock Picking
Being an effective stock picker is a specialized skill that requires a combination of deep knowledge of a company’s business model and prospects, fierce self-discipline, a hard-earned feel for market psychology, and knowledge of portfolio construction to help limit risk. In the end, you need to have an informational advantage that isn’t already “priced in” …
Barry Gilbert
November 26, 2024
What Happens After Back-To-Back 20% Gains?
“Don’t look for it, Taylor. You may not like what you find.” -Dr. Zaius to Taylor (Charleton Heston) at end of Planet of the Apes Many bears are back at it, claiming that because stocks are looking at back-to-back 20% gains then 2025 must be doomed. Unfortunately, all we have to do is look at …
Ryan Detrick
November 25, 2024
This Is Why the Dollar Is Surging, and Why It Could Pose Risks
An underrated story right now is the US dollar, which has appreciated by over 6% since the end of September. A big driver of the dollar is relative growth rates between the US and everyone else. So, the outlook for the dollar really depends on how you think the US economy will do relative to …
Sonu Varghese
November 22, 2024