CME Group Inc (CME)

(A Top Pick Jul 11/18, Up 26%) He wonders when they will have to drop data prices, but as a user they have not seen them make much of a change. They will do well in a downturn of the market. They are building in new technology.

Time to move out of US banks? BAC-N lots of levers to earn money. It trades a little higher than book value. The valuation is okay, but is trading fair value. He would not be compelled to buy at time. He would roll this position into holding the exchanges -- like CME-N

(A Top Pick Feb 08/18, Up 19%) A conservative holding, which sees strong reoccurring revenue for the exchange. He thinks as the market volatility increases, it will also benefit. -- a bit counter-cyclical with some price insensitivity.

It's been on a smooth uptrend since 2016. Probably due for a slight correction. It's had trouble breaking new highs this year. Buy it if it pullsback--he's be all over it.

It is a major derivative exchange with a data group with a high margin business. Trading volumes will go up with increased volatility and will add to their bottom line. The scale is large enough to allow for further global acquisitions. Yield 1.7%. (Analysts’ price target is $176.09)

The exchange space may face some headwinds from a regulatory perspective. They have enormous amounts of data which people pay for. There may be fewer terminals on desks today; however, when there is tenseness in the market, they make more money. He likes it.

It is more defensive. When you have to be an investor, you love these. When markets go sideways and wonky, this one goes up. They are firing on all cylinders. (Analysts’ target: $166.60).

It helps if there is lots of volatility in the market so they get more trading volumes. It has to reverse itself.

Merging with the Chicago Board of Trade. Great company with a great upside potential from all of the derivatives that need to go on to an exchange. A lot of talk of how there is going to have to be central clearing on a lot of these contracts. Great growth business. Huge competitive advantages. There is risk because current earnings are not that big.