Consumers are cutting their landlines while youngsters are watching/downloading content for free, a huge struggle for all telecoms anywhere. They (and Verizon) are struggling to build their business. He stays away from this industry.
Doesn't see growth in this space. Internet and wireless are the only areas of growth, but there is pricing pressure here.
Holding cash is critical as rates rise. Have cash to spend. He has 35% in his equity fund. We're in a time of massive volatility and there are few stocks of good value. He's looking for global stocks that are temporarily down (and will recover quickly), while he's avoiding those with too much debt, like Enbridge.
European recovery: Interest rates are still negative in some European countries. Spain's unemployment has dropped from 25% to 17%. There's still a long way to go, but that's massive. This picture is all over Europe. There's a natural cyclical recovery benefitting from North America's recovery and China. All Euro countries are decreasing their deficits (austerity has worked) and many are now in a position to spend money again.
(A Top Pick May 16, 2017, Down 0.4%) Earlier this year, they announced they would merge with Fuji Xerox, so Xerox will cease to exist later this year. Investors will get $9.80 dividend and own 49% of the new Fuji Xerox. This merger makes a lot of sense for them and good for shareholders. Though paper hasn't gone away, Xerox is now a tech company involved in document storage for large businesses. Photocopies are slowly declining, though colour copying is a boom for Xerox, given colour's high margins in colour cartridges. Xerox had trouble growing unlike Fuji Xerox.
(A Top Pick May 16, 2017, Up 20%) Lots of free cash flow which covers their dividend, unlike other companies that borrow money to. He expects dividend increases. They're actually investing big in renewables. Big oil is investing their profits in green because they see renewables as their future in 20 years as oil declines.
(A Top Pick May 16, 2017, Up 14%) A flavours and fragrances company with products that go into foods and perfumes. Generates double-digit earnings and equity growth, as well as ROE unlike many Japanese companies. A strong Yen hurt their last few quarters. Their international presence is growing in a very niche business.
A cyclical stock. Aluminum is in a sweet spot as the Chinese cut back on capacity. There'll be a premium of aluminum prices. Rent, don't buy this stock. There could be share buybacks and dividend increases next year. Earnings will
double in the next three years.