Monday, January 08, 2007

2007

Happy New Year!

As we finish the holiday season and make our transition to the New Year, it’s a good time to take a look back and prognosticate a bit about what we might expect going forward. Usually we limit our investor letters to one page, but because of the intriguing issues we currently face and the ability to post our thoughts endlessly on the blog (which you have hopefully bookmarked and reread with interest) we have made this one a bit longer. So read on at your leisure and at your own pace.

Introduction

2006 ended up being a good year economically for the United States, despite persistent mixed signals, which sent perplexing and often contradictory messages to investors: (1) an inverted yield curve; (2) spiking, then collapsing, oil prices; (3) low unemployment; (4) a slowing housing market; (5) a weakening dollar; (6) a volatile, yet rising, stock market; (7) the Iraq War and all of the attendant problems of the Middle East; (8) a vote of very low confidence in our President; and (9) the persistent threat of terrorism. We consider all of these issues in aggregate when determining how to deploy our investment strategy. In this post-stock market bubble, post-9/11 world, we have chosen to step carefully, becoming fully invested at our own pace to create valuable and durable portfolios that will compound significantly over many years.

Consider the return of the market during the six-year period from the beginning of 2001 to the end of 2006. This period affords a snapshot of the market history of our country from after the bubble, but pre-9/11, to the current moment. People are always surprised to learn that the market was up only about 7.5%, in aggregate, during that entire period (i.e. only about 1.25% a year in simplified terms) despite the barrage of “new-record high” news we have been hearing almost every night for the last few months. The key in this period was to avoid the significant down market of 2002, because of the difficult recovery from such a loss, which is reflected in the above six-year statistic. We have learned a great deal in the past six years and have seen nothing to dissuade us from our belief that history could well repeat itself in the next five or six years.

The Inverted Yield Curve

Of the issues mentioned earlier, one of the most notable and interesting for the financial markets is the inverted yield curve and its implications for the economy (i.e. what does it mean when short-term interest rates are consistently higher than long-term interest rates?). There is much debate about what the curve is telling us about future economic growth versus the credibility of the Federal Reserve. By managing the federal funds rate (the rate at which banks borrow overnight to maintain their required reserve levels) from 1.00% in mid 2003 to the current 5.25% the Fed has signaled its commitment to fight inflation, while potentially slowing the growth of the economy. When considering that long-term rates are generally lower than short term rates, it would appear the Fed has gone too far. GDP growth has indeed slowed a bit recently, but still not near recessionary. In fact, in the last several weeks of 2006 the Fed has actually added liquidity to keep the current federal funds rate from rising above the target of 5.25%. This signals continued demand from banks for money and implies continued growth in the economy. Consequently, moves like this reduce the expectation in the market of the Fed lowering rates any time soon.

So it appears at this point that the inverted yield curve has less to do with predicting a recession and possibly more to do with a decrease in the volatility of inflation expectations, due largely to the persistent and, to date, successful actions of the Fed. Lower volatility creates less uncertainty, which results in a smaller inflation premium demanded by investors who own long term assets (i.e. lower long-term bond rates).

It is important to add that the demand for U.S. Treasuries has likely applied significant pressure to longer term rates as well. While most investors like ourselves don’t find 4.5% 10 year Treasury yields attractive, countries that carry enormous dollar reserves from their trade surpluses with the U.S., namely China and Japan, need a safe place to park their cash. As you can guess, many of the dollars we use to buy products from China turn right around and come back to us via the United States Treasury, adding to our ever-growing national debt.

We consider the current structure of interest rates to have been a net positive to the U.S. economy, the stock market, and the prospect for continued growth, for several reasons. First, the Fed has demonstrated its effectiveness in moderating core inflation and inflation expectations, thereby creating generally lower risk premiums for investors, as well as gaining credibility from the markets. Second, lower long-term rates have enhanced corporate profitability and allowed for continued capital spending. Third, the housing market has avoided a destabilizing decline due in part to the persistence of historically low fixed mortgage rates. Fourth, the Fed has ample room to lower rates and create liquidity in case of recession or an external shock such as terrorism.

As for the shape of the yield curve in 2007, we really can’t say for sure. It’s our guess, however, that the economy will sputter sometime late in the year as the economic cycle and the Fed will hit the tap for more liquidity by lowering rates. As long as we are not facing a severe recession, we would expect the markets to respond positively, as the Fed would be seen as promoting economic growth, while gaining credibility by controlling inflation. In particular, we would expect bank stocks to do very well, as they resume the business of borrowing short and lending long profitably. We are looking to add to our bank holdings and capturing some very attractive current dividend yields. Consider US Bank (USB) yielding 4.4%, Bank of America (BAC) at 4.2%, and TCF Financial (TCB) at 3.4%.

Housing and Employment

We feel it is important to look at jobs and housing together. The single most important factor in a healthy housing market is a healthy jobs market. Much has been said about the collapse of the housing bubble and the shock to the economy. Having significant experience with residential and investment real estate ourselves it is painfully obvious that housing has endured a significant correction that has yet to fully run its course. For those homeowners looking to sell, the pain has generally been felt in reduced expectations of what they can get for their property, rather than actual loss of initial investment.

The greatest risk is the leverage used against overzealous return expectations and the consequent fallout of foreclosure and bankruptcy. The fastest growing and highest risk segment of the mortgage market is sub-prime loans. Recently the New York Times addressed a report from the Center for Responsible Lending claiming that 1 in 5 sub-prime mortgages made in the last two years are likely to see foreclosure in the coming year, as adjustable rates are ratcheted up. Although possibly a worst-case scenario given the subjectivity of foreclosure models, with these types of loans accounting for 25% of the mortgage market the potential negative fallout is obvious.

We have always felt the consumer/homeowner has been vulnerable in the past several years with rising oil prices and higher short-term interest rates. However, the unemployment rate has remained at historically low levels of about 4.5% and workers have seen a recent rise in real wages due largely to the year-end decline in energy prices. Always aware of the certainty of economic cycles, being at a trough for so long in unemployment makes us nervous about its duration. We are certainly not out of the woods and the risk definitely gives us caution in making our investment decisions.

Oil and Energy

2006 saw us invest in the oil and gas sector for the first time. With the rise in oil prices and the expectation for continued global demand, we are seeing companies in this segment finally meet our return on capital criteria. We believe that $50 per barrel oil prices allow for sufficient returns on capital, while not overburdening the consumer.

We are among those who believe in increasing global demand with tighter supplies (supporting higher prices) of both domestic and foreign oil and natural gas over the next several years. Those in the opposing camp believe that oil demand will lessen as the world economy (read primarily China) slows down and perhaps recesses from its current growth pattern. In that case, we would probably have an even bigger problem of world recession, but we see that as quite remote at the moment. China, in particular, is creating growth to support its massive employment base while aggressively acquiring oil assets.

According to a report in 2006 from the Energy Information Administration (the statistical arm of U.S. Department of Energy) world oil demand will increase 47% from 2003 to 2030. 43% of this increase is projected to come from developing Asian countries, including China and India. A commensurate rise in output is needed to maintain stable oil prices and favors companies involved in exploration and production, as well as oil services. We are looking to invest approximately 10% of our assets in these areas over the next year or two. We have currently chosen ConocoPhillips (COP) and Noble Corporation (NE) as initial investments. COP gives us global exposure for exploration and production and a stake in the largest supplier of natural gas in North America. Noble Corporation is engaged in global deepwater drilling, where demand is currently outpacing the supply of equipment. We expect these holdings to be quite volatile and move with the short-term speculation in oil futures, which may take some short-term patience. However, we believe the underlying value and cyclical forces in the oil and oil services sectors will prevail.

Within the energy sector, we also believe there will be a massive move toward hybrid automotive technology over the next 3-5 years, as we try to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and attack the sources of global warming. We have run the numbers ourselves and can see how conversion of approximately half of the U.S. automotive fleet to hybrids would virtually eliminate foreign oil dependency, particularly if “plug-in” hybrid technology comes to pass, resulting in 50 mpg SUVs burning alternative fuels, such as E-85 gasohol or bio-diesel.

Many people have made the choice to drive a hybrid but cost and vehicle selection have inhibited wider use. With Toyota entering production of their 4th generation hybrid technology and U.S. auto makers making future production announcements of 5th generation hybrids, based on a consortium of General Motors, Daimler and BMW, it is only a matter of time before substantial portions of the U.S. fleet are converted. We have identified Johnson Controls (JCI) as the front runner in U.S. automotive hybrid battery development, as they have received significant contracts to develop next- generation, lithium-ion batteries.

If that sounds like we are playing both sides of oil demand, that would be correct. Oil exploration and production and offshore oilfield services should see significant gains over the next 2-3 years, while hybrid battery development will be very important in the longer term.


Healthcare

We increased our exposure to the healthcare segment this year with recent acquisitions of Aetna (AET) and Wellpoint (WLP). This adds to our healthcare related holdings of Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, and Abbott Labs. For the year, this segment has underperformed the S&P 500 and continues to persist as undervalued in our model. Much of this underperformance relates to the sell- off in the weeks prior to the election, as the market discounted the possible change in legislation from a shift in control in the Congress. Even though Medicare Advantage will likely be scrutinized, significant change is unlikely, especially in the next two years. We feel comfortable that the return on investment and growth incentives for healthcare companies will remain attractive as the U.S. population ages and innovative products for the uninsured become a focus for the private sector.


Summary

For our part, we ended 2006 fully invested in all but our newest accounts. Our emphasis has continued to be defensive, with the notable exception of positions we took during the year in the oil industry, both in exploration and production, and offshore oil-field service. As always, our outlook is long-term, with particular attention toward capital conservation. This results in low-beta portfolios, which can be expected to do well (but not quite as exciting) in a frothy market, and decidedly better than the market in downturns. Our only objective is to outperform the market in the long term, which we are very proud to have accomplished during the period of our management experience.

In general, our other investments include major banks, consumer product companies, and medical technology and biotechnology companies, which, as always, must meet our criteria of generating internal rates of return on invested capital that consistently exceed the companies’ costs of capital, and are undervalued based on our EVA/DCF modeling technique.

We also have a core holding in Berkshire Hathaway, which is primarily a casualty insurer, but has broad portfolio holdings not unlike our own, including oil and gas and consumer products, among several others. We strongly subscribe to Warren Buffett’s current thinking about the markets and keep always before us his prediction of several years ago that he expects 6-8% returns in the markets over the next “decade or two”. So far, he has been fairly accurate, if not a bit generous. Most importantly, Warren Buffett is totally unconcerned about the short term and the current gyrations and records set by market averages. His two rules of investing are always worth repeating: Rule #1, Never lose money; Rule #2, Never forget Rule #1. We believe our portfolios have significant room for appreciation while limiting our risk of loss.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and comments.

Peter and Jack Falker


Note: Jack and Peter Falker and the clients of FalkerInvestments Inc. hold positions in the companies mentioned above, with the exception of General Motors, Daimler, BMW and Bank of America.

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