Author Archive: Brett Owens

Six summers ago, Donald Trump lamented privately to Republican donors that he expected Jay Powell to be a “cheap money” Fed chair. To the President’s chagrin, Powell had recently raised interest rates. Thus, making money more expensive.

Most real estate guys like Trump are allergic to high rates. Back in 2018 they were certainly no bueno for his growth-focused agenda. The President told Fox Business the Fed was his “biggest threat.”

He even admitted to the Wall Street Journal he “maybe” regretted appointing Powell. Appointer’s remorse! Then came Trump’s biggest zinger of them all:

“The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can’t score because he has no touch—he can’t putt!”

Trump’s win cements what we’ve been saying for months: You can forget about a hard landing or a soft landing—This economy is headed for no landing at all.

In the last few weeks, I’ve started to see the mainstream media pick up on our thinking here. Nice to see they’re finally catching up!

We’ve got two “refined” trades on Trump 2.0 below (ranked in order of appeal). They’re both growing their dividends, and they’ve both been unfairly left behind in this year’s rally.

Before we get to them, let’s take a look at the post-election state of play so we can get a grip on exactly how we’re going to move ahead here.… Read more

Fifteen months ago, we contrarians started the bond bandwagon. It’s hard to believe now, but back then the financial suits hated fixed income. We faded their fears, bought bonds and benefited.

Now, however, I’m cautious on bonds. The 10-year Treasury yield has been on a tear since Jay Powell first cut the Fed Funds Rate.

Bond Vigilantes Scoff at Powell’s Rate Cuts

You can’t make this stuff up. On September 18, Powell cut rates by 50 basis points. However, this was only the “short end” of the yield curve. The 10-year yield meanwhile (the “long end”) popped from 3.7% to nearly 4.5% in a matter of weeks!… Read more

As we income investors roll into Trump 2.0, it’s time for us to “flip the script” on the trades that have worked for us over the past two years. Things have the potential to get wild. Fortunes made; retirements lost.

Let’s re-calibrate to make sure we own the stocks that will benefit most from the Trump 2.0 presidency.

Yes, I emphasized equities intentionally. Fifteen months ago, we contrarians started the bond bandwagon. It’s hard to believe now, but back then, the financial suits hated fixed income. We faded their fears, bought bonds and benefited.

Now, however, the fixed income trade is a bit tired.… Read more

Look, I know what a pain it can be to track your dividends.

ChatGPT? It’s no help. When I asked if it could give me a hand, its top suggestion was that I use a spreadsheet!

I mean, I guess the offer to help set up formulas is appreciated. But this is still a pain to set up—with AI assistance or not.

Sure, your brokerage account might have a built-in dividend tracker, but it’s almost certainly only useful for any investments you hold with that particular broker.

But what if you hold investments in more than one account, or with more than one brokerage (as many of us do)?… Read more

It’s a party on Wall Street! While the suits fawn over the hot “Trump trade” stocks, we dividend investors are going to dumpster dive.

Hey, we have no shame. We’re talking about yields from 7.8% to 13.4%, paid monthly!

Why the bargains? Bonds have been bloodied since the Federal Reserve cut rates.

Wait, what? Let’s remember the Fed guides short-term rates. Long-term rates , on the other hand, march to the beat of their own drum:

20- and 30-Year Treasuries Above 4.5% Again

We could dip into bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs)—they’ll have the same tailwind at their back. But I prefer CEFs over bland ETFs for three very simple reasons:

1. They yield more.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by an “historic” 50 basis points. Then, interest rates soared.

Wait. What?

The Federal Funds Rate is a target (technically a target range) that influences short-term rates in the economy. Money market funds, for example, pay interest based on this benchmark. They pay 0.5% less today than two months ago due to the Fed cut.

Long-term rates, on the other hand, are not controlled by the Fed. Not directly, at least. The global bond market is a cool $130 trillion. Far too large for anyone, even Uncle Sam, to control.

Hence the recent fixed-income paradox.… Read more

I know things feel pretty tense right now. But don’t be pulled into the trap of thinking everything is up in the air these days.

Truth is, there are always rock-solid trends out there that no one can change. I’m talking about sure things that outlast presidencies, wars, inflation, deflation, you name it.

One of my faves: soaring food demand, which is tied straight into global population growth—hands-down the most “baked in” (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) trend there is.

According to the UN, there will be 9.7 billion people on the planet in 2050, nearly 2 billion more than now. That means we’re going to need a lot more food.… Read more

Election. Recession. No landing. Social unrest. Election contest.

Low beta, anyone?

Today we’ll talk calm in a sea of manic. A six-pack of tranquil dividend payers yielding up to 8.9%.

How do we know they’re tranquil? Beta, baby.

A stock with a beta above 1 is considered more volatile than “the market.”

A stock with a beta below 1 is considered less volatile.

Let’s say a stock had a beta of 0.5. This means it’s half as volatile as the market. If a 30% bear market swipes, this safety stock only loses 15%.

It’s an inexact science—I wouldn’t build projections per se around current beta.… Read more

Many investors are worried about a recession. Or The Federal Reserve easing too fast. Or not fast enough!

And then we have the upcoming election. Buckle up, my fellow contrarian.

Fair enough. But let’s remember that headline worries are usually priced in. The popular “threatdown” rarely thwarts the market.

On the other hand, we contrarians fret about the scenario that may come out of left field. We worry not about a hard landing. Or a soft landing. The underappreciated risk is the no landing that reignites inflation.

Rates down, assets up—let the good times roll! It will be fun for a while.… Read more