Cash Is Trash: Are We Headed For Recession? http://usmarket.seekingalpha.com/article/24601 Posted on Jan 19th, 2007 with stocks: IYY, SPY Michael Panzner submits: In the financial markets, widespread acceptance of the mantra that "cash is trash" has often been a prelude to a major selloff. These days, a similar perspective is increasingly prevalent on Main Street, suggesting we are poised to see an analogous reaction in the real economy. A recession, in other words, or something worse, given the fact that gargantuan amounts of increasingly unserviceable debts are likely to be involved. No doubt the jaded views towards liquid assets partly reflect the phenomenal "success" of the private equity industry, which has helped convince many of the wonders of leverage. According to Bloomberg: Buyout firms logged $699 billion of deals in 2006,...fueled by a mix of record fundraising and borrowing costs for sub-investment grade companies near the lowest in 40 years. Deal-making is set to continue as firms target larger companies, bankers say. But it isn't just dealmakers who are spreading the word. In "Investors Demand 'Show Me the Money,'" the Financial Times notes that money managers are also doing their part. Investor demands for companies to hand back cash to their shareholders have reached new highs, according to a Merrill Lynch poll of fund managers. More than 50 per cent of investors want cash returned â via dividends, share buy-backs or cash acquisitions â rather than used for capital spending, debt repayment or pension top-ups, the survey found. The poll showed that a record 53 per cent of fund managers want cash returned, up from 44 per cent a month ago. Some 60 per cent of respondents said they felt company balance sheets were underleveraged, while 46 per cent believed pay-out ratios were too low. âInvestors are urging companies to return cash to shareholders as never before. They perceive corporate cashflow to be very stable, very strong and unlikely to be derailed,â said David Bowers, consultant to Merrill Lynch. Some of the so-called "smart money" types, in fact, are deriding the idea of holding any liquid reserves at all. The Australian writes: Fund managers will increasingly demand that listed companies use their "lazy capital" to make acquisitions that optimise returns to shareholders, rather than leave it sitting in cash for a rainy day, a leading fund manager says.... "What's the use of a public company having a lot of cash sitting on its balance sheet for a 'rainy day' earning 6 per cent when it could be earning 20 per cent by being actively employed and geared up elsewhere?" Mr van Munster said. "Private equity investors scoop up that cash and gear up the company, too, so any returns they make are magnified." While ever increasing levels of gearing would ratchet up pressure for investment returns from private equity and see some poor results, investor attitudes to listed companies still needed to change. "In particular, attitudes regarding investment horizons, capital investment risk, board structures and executive remuneration (need to change) so they can adopt some advantages of private equity. With all the pressure to throw caution to the wind, it is not surprising that at least some of those in the firing line have decided it is better to switch than fight. In "A 'Do It Yourself' LBO HMA Adds on Debt, Spurning Its Suitors," the Wall Street Journal writes that Hospital operator Health Management Associates Inc. yesterday opted for a do-it-yourself leveraged buyout, using private-equity tactics to recast its finances even as it spurned buyout offers from private-equity suitors themselves. HMA will take on $2.4 billion in new debt to fund a one-time dividend that will return $10 to stockholders for every share they own. The proposal makes it much harder for buyout shops to take the company over because it will have so much debt when completed. At the same time, it will give shareholders the ability to quickly cash out on some of their investments. The one-time dividend is scheduled to be paid in March.... It is also one of the most potent signs yet that public companies are adapting to the debt-heavy strategies of the private-equity world. The buyout shops use the targets' cash flow to fund interest on new debt. The debt is used to fund the acquisitions and sometimes to pay special dividends. Until, of course, the music stops.
This is nothing new. Our equity market has been "liquidity-driven" for quite some time. Furthermore, the Bears that are looking for a RECESSION appear to be WRONG once again. Today's Univ. of Michigan Sentiment report at 98.0 would indicate that. Combine that with much lower crude and heating-oil prices and you have the recipe for a continued strong showing by the consumer.
Strong economic news is bad news. The street is looking for weak economic news to prompt the fed to lower interest rates. The stronger sentiment report means that there now will be a chance of a rate hike by a quarter or two. High interest rates is bad for small and mid cap companies. Why did the market finish down for the week if the lower crude and sentiment indicators were so strong? The Wilshire 5000 closed at 14405.79 today. One week ago it closed at 14411.80. I have a detailed explanation at my blogspot. www.marketbarometer.blogspot.com