For Immediate Assistance:(407) 951-8710info@lyonswealth.com
Aug 16, 2021
The Federal Reserve set financial markets on a wild roller coaster ride at its May 4th FOMC meeting. The Fed stuck to its plan with another 50 basis point interest rate increase, noting core PCE is showing signs of flattening out. By avoiding the hawkish surprise that would come with a rumored (and feared) 75 bps increase, the Fed fueled the peak Fed/peak inflation narrative that remains a key bullish theme. Investors initially celebrated the move with a rally in stocks, before giving it all back the next day and sending the yield curve on a bear steepening move with yields above 3% from the 5-year point on. Attention turned to the CPI report on May 11th where a cooling of inflation was expected (hoped). A surprise increase in core CPI poured cold water on the peak inflation narrative and drove further weakness in stocks. Consumer sentiment hit its lowest level since 2011, preceding Walmart’s May 17th show-stopping reveal of an unexpected consumer mix shift from discretionary items and name brands toward staples and private labels. Target doubled down the following day. Refusing to go quietly, the peak inflation narrative made a fashionable comeback on more data shifts, sparking a month-end rally that would take the S&P 500 from down almost 8% intramonth to a flat close of 0.01%. Underneath, market structural data deteriorated further. Daily return volatility continued its monthly rising trend, climbing to 1.97%, as did the month’s largest daily decline, which crossed the -4% mark. The Lyons Tactical Allocation strategy remained fully allocated to equities in May with a small risk hedge and an equity positioning that is balanced across the style-box. The strategy declined -3.57% net of fees for the month compared with 0.50% for the benchmark. Performance relative to the benchmark is attributed to our full equity allocation. Consumer stocks across both discretionary and staples sectors have been hurt by the inflationary environment and rising rates, particularly retailers and travel & leisure companies. Holdings in these industries weighed particularly on our portfolio, led by a -29% decline in Target stock (NYSE: TGT) for the month and Expedia’s -25.99% decline (NAS: EXPE). Staples names Costco (NAS: COST) and Church & Dwight (NYSE: CHD) were dragged down by similar inventory and mix shift dynamics, declining -12.32% and -7.42%, respectively. Quick market reversals amid high volatility prevented our hedge from maintaining its intramonth contribution, ultimately detracting 32bps from return for the month. The current market environment may be the next test of our Quantitative Risk Indicator, which seeks to reduce equity exposure during sustained bear markets. Our philosophy is that large, tactical moves out of equities should be reserved for risk of markets that wipe out years of compound growth and take even longer to recover. Our risk management mechanisms are in place for potential downside protection in such extreme drawdowns.
Are you missing out on this market rally? Wall Street has seen a surge in small-cap stocks lately, with the Russell 2000 index climbing over 10.7% in the past month versus 5.5% gains in the S&P 500 and 6.1% uptick in the Nasdaq Composite. This rally coincides with cooling inflation data and hopes for Fed rate cuts in 2024. We utilize our Fundamental Process, including our proprietary GRAPES valuation model, to screen the universe of mid, small and micro-cap companies, use the link below for more information.
Lyons Small Cap Value Fund >>
Delivering consistent, reliable cash flow, Each position is fully hedged to control downside exposure, Portfolio net yield target of 12-15% annually, Fully liquid No lockup period, no capital calls
Greater long-term upside capture through sustained full market participation and full equity allocations to multi-year, continuous time periods
The Fund’s objective is to seek total return from long-term capital appreciation and current income.
Investing in income generating common and preferred stocks and corporate bonds with long-term holding periods intended to optimize tax efficiency
Targets long term growth of capital through buying undervalued small and mid cap companies with improving business prospects.
Did your advisor say sell and diversify? Keep your stock with Lyons Income Overlay. You don't have to diversify with our cusotmized solution for large concentrated stocks.
CoinDesk Large Cap Select Index (DLCS), designed to measure the market capitalization weighted performance of some of the largest and most liquid digital assets that meet pre-defined trading and custody requirements.
DISCLOSURE ¹ This statement applies generally to initial purchases of a position. Additional shares of a particular stock purchased at subsequent quarterly rebalances may still remain in short-term holding status (owned for less than one year) at the time of this publication. Broadridge MarketPlace is an investment manager database that serves as an objective, third-party supplier of information. Broadridge MarketPlace's Best Money Manager ranking is a comprehensive survey of institutional money manager performance. To be eligible for recognition as a Broadridge Best Money Manager, performance must be calculated on an asset size, which is at least $10 million in size for traditional US asset classes or $1 million for international and alternative investments. Classifications must fall into one of the categories that Lipper ranks (minimum of 20 contenders). All performance data must be calculated net of all fees. For additional information regarding the criteria used by Broadridge MarketPlace, see Minimum Criteria for Inclusion in Best Money Managers listed in the Disclosure of Lyons Wealth’s separate Lipper ranking history document. This material is for the exclusive use of the person to whom it has been delivered, is confidential, and may not be copied, distributed, or otherwise given or disclosed to any person other than your authorized representatives. This material was prepared exclusively for information and discussion purposes and to indicate preliminarily the feasibility of a possible investment opportunity. This material is not meant to be nor shall it be construed as an attempt to define all terms and conditions of any transaction or to contain all information that is or may be material to an investor. Lyons Wealth Management, LLC is not soliciting any action based upon this material, and this material is not meant to be nor shall it be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer for the purchase or sale of any security or advisory or other service. Lyons Wealth Management (“LWM”) began formally tracking its portfolio performance as of April 2nd, 2012. Portfolio composite returns are preliminary and are presented on a time-weighted, size-weighted total return basis using monthly portfolio valuations. The composite returns for each LWM portfolio presented herein include all eligible LWM accounts. To be eligible for inclusion in the LWM composite, an account must be fee paying, fully discretionary, and not part of a broker wrap program. New portfolios that are managed to the Tactical Allocation Portfolio investment strategy and meet the composite definition will be added to the composite when fully invested. The composite is not representative of all accounts managed by LWM. All returns are expressed in U.S. Dollars and are presented net of all fees and expenses. The returns reflect the reinvestment of all dividends and interest. The return information presented herein has not been audited or otherwise verified by an independent accounting firm, and past performance of any LWM portfolio does not guarantee future results. No current or prospective client should assume future performance of any specific investment strategy will be profitable or equal to past performance levels. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Changes in investment strategies, contributions or withdrawals may cause the performance results of your portfolio to differ materially from the reported composite performance. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment will either be suitable or profitable for a client's investment portfolio. Historical performance results for market indices and/or categories, generally do not reflect the deduction of transaction and/or custodial charges or the deduction of an investment-management fee, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results. Economic factors, market conditions, and investment strategies will affect the performance of any portfolio and there are no assurances that it will match or outperform any particular benchmark. The information, data, analyses and opinions contained herein (1) may include the confidential and proprietary information of data provider, (2) may include, or be derived from information which cannot be verified by data provider, (3) may not be copied or redistributed,(4) do not constitute investment advice offered by data provider, (5) are provided solely for informational purposes and therefore are not an offer to buy or sell a security, and (6) are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Except as otherwise required by law, data provider shall not be responsible for any trading decisions, damages or other losses resulting from, or related to, this information, data, analyses or opinions or their use. This report is supplemental sales literature.