2017 saw a spike in investor confidence and complacency, as volatility fell significantly and appetite for risk fueled many stocks higher. Chad Morganlander, Portfolio Manager at Washington Crossing Advisors, was with us to discuss whether he expects more of the same for the year ahead.
Morganlander says we are at point in the market cycle where global growth is predictable in the short-term. His firm is somewhat optimistic, but aware that valuations are becoming quite stretched, he adds. Morganlander believes markets are entering a period of low growth for next several years, predicting a 4% to 6% return in U.S. equities.
One of Morganlander's top picks for the year is Hershey’s. He suggests investors stick with "big and boring" companies. With Hershey's, investors can go to sleep for 3-5 years and wake up with tremendous returns, according to Morganlander. Hershey's has also entered a bid for Nestle's U.S. confectionary business, which includes brands such as Butterfunger and Baby Ruth. The potential acquisition is not baked in to Washington Crossing Advisor's outlook. He also recommends shares of Hormel Foods and Dr Pepper Snapple.
The FDRA is a trade association that supports nearly 500 brands worldwide including Nike, Adidas, Walmart, and Target and represents over 90% of US shoe sales.
Lead Analyst at TVREV, Alan Wolk, joins Cheddar to discuss the latest in media and business news, including why business at the box office may be slowing down.
With stubborn inflation sticking at about 2.8%, there’s a chance that the Fed won’t cut rates this year. That might be the smarter choice in the long run.
The health and wellness industry is booming, expected to hit $14 trillion by 2032. Equinox teamed up with Function Health to revolutionize health optimization.
Featherie, a line of sustainable and functional golf wear for girls, fills a void in the market, catering to the increasing number of female junior golfers.