The Capitalist Investor with Mark Tepper
The Capitalist Investor with Mark Tepper
Mark Tepper
The Capitalist Investor ties together relevant items that influence the stock market and your investments – from economics to politics to earnings to planning strategies. We cover all the bases. Ask us questions at [email protected]. You can also reach out to Mark Tepper on Twitter - @MarkTepperSWP
Holiday Special: Bulls vs. Bears In 2023, Ep. #158
Welcome to the Holiday Special where the team discusses the bull and bear cases for 2023. They debate whether or not things will go well or not and also talk about the good and bad things that could happen in the new year. Will 2023 be just as crazy as 2022? Or will things finally calm down in 2023?1. The Stock Market2. The Bond Market3. The Commodity Market4. The Crypto MarketWhat are the possible outcomes for the S&P 500 in 2023. The bull case scenario is that the divided government is willing to work together, and that companies can invest without fear of significant tax code changes. The bear case scenario is that inflation will become a problem, and that the stock market will not be able to sustain its current level of projected earnings growth.The Bond Market is down just as much as the stock market essentially in 2022. The bull case for the bond market is essentially the bear case for the stock market. What is meant by that? How do interest rates in 2023 impact the bond market and will the bond market act the same as the stock market in 2023 or will it finally disconnect from the stock market again?Different commodities react differently to different situations. For example, gold can react differently to economic news than energy commodities like oil. But what is the overall bull and bear  case for commodities in 2023? Why is energy so important and how does Oil impact our every day life?The crypto market has taken a dive this year, especially recently after the FTX blowup that caused investors to become distrusted in cryptocurrency. What is the bull case and what is the bear case for cryptocurrency in 2023? How does government spending & interest rates impact speculation within the economy that ultimately impacts the crypto market:Timestamps0:00:03The Bull and Bear Case for 20230:02:56The Bull Case for the S&P 500 in 20230:04:45The Economy in 2023: A Look Ahead0:08:26The S&P 500 and the Market's Reaction to COVID-190:10:02The Bear Case for the Stock Market0:12:52The Fed's Impact on the Stock Market0:20:21Bond Market Outlook for 20230:22:53Bonds, Commodities, and ETFs: A Year in Review0:25:10The Impact of Interest Rates on Commodities0:26:16The Bull and Bear Cases for Gold and Energy in 20230:28:28Oil Prices and the Global Market0:30:15The Impact of Oil on the Global Economy0:31:55Crypto Market Regulation: The Pendulum Swings from One Side to the Other0:36:04The Future of Cryptocurrency: Bearish in 20230:38:20The Future of Crypto: A Roundtable Discussion0:40:54The opinions expressed in the podcast are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any investment, legal, financial, or tax strategy.
Dec 22, 2022
43 min
Powell's Last Comments of 2022, the State of the Housing Market, and Tesla's Share Price Comeuppance
The CPI read for 7.1% was a little below estimates, but the market still reacted positively. The Fed is expected to make a decision soon, and home sales will be a big topic for 2023. Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested before he was supposed to testify on Capital Hill. The team discusses the current state of the stock market and how it has been affected by various data points recently. They discuss how the market is pricing in a pause in the Fed's rate hikes, and how this could affect the market in the future.The speakers discuss the recent actions of the Federal Reserve and how they may respond to a slowdown heading into the 2024 presidential election. They question whether or not the Fed will be able to lower interest rates enough to spur economic growth, and whether or not this will be used as political ammunition by the either party. They also speculate on whether or not Biden will be replaced as the Democratic candidate for president.The team discusses the current state of the housing market and its expected future. They mention that home prices had been rising astronomically, but this is not sustainable. Home sales are expected to continue to decline into 2023 as a result. The cost of borrowing has also increased, which is not good for the long-term success of the housing market.0:00:04The heading should be in title case and no more than six words. CPI Read for the Week0:02:21The Impact of the Federal Reserve on the Stock Market0:03:45The Federal Reserve's Next Move0:07:36Home Sales in 2023: Will Prices Continue to Decline?0:09:17The Impact of Rising Home Prices and Mortgage Rates0:12:36The Real Estate Market in 2023: A Slow Burn Down0:14:27Tesla Stock Tumbles Amidst Controversy Surrounding Elon Musk0:18:12Tesla's Stock Price Drop and the Cancel Culture0:19:59Canceling Dr. Carson
Dec 15, 2022
23 min
The One Where They Discuss Alternative Investments: Oil, Real Estate, and Private Equity...and Cocaine Bear.
The Producers Price index (PPI) is a measure of inflation for manufacturers. It is coming out this week and is expected to be high. How high (or low) it reads, could move the markets. The PPI is the best way to explain how much it costs manufacturers to make things. This could possibly mean that inflation is not increasing as rapidly as previously thought, which could be seen as a positive by investors. However, it is still unclear how Federal Reserve Chairman Powell will interpret this data.The gang digs into real estate and the recent headlines surrounding some nontraded REIT's decision to limit withdrawals. For a variety of reasons, investors have begun to withdraw money from Blackstone Real Estate and Private Lending funds. We discuss the implications.We also discuss the recent stock market sell-off and how it may be due to concerns about China's economy. We discuss oil prices, energy stocks and some contradictory data points, which create some uncertainty about a possible recession. The gang chats about China's recent decision to ease some restrictions and the causes: protests or the state of the Chinese economy? Tony, Derek, and Ryan discuss the different viewpoints on China, then get into the good stuff: the lack of diversity during Shark Week and the impending smash-hit blockbuster, Cocaine Bear.Timestamps0:00:07The Capitalist Investor: PPI, Georgia Runoff Election, and Real Estate Funds0:02:06Inflation in the United States0:03:39Oil Prices and the Economy: A Conversation0:06:20The Impact of China's Economy on Global Markets0:07:51The Impact of the Georgia Runoff Elections on the Stock Market0:09:42Blackstone Private Placements and the Coronavirus0:11:26The Impact of Rising Interest Rates on Real Estate0:14:56Bereaved Properties and the Real Estate Market0:16:49The Impact of Legalized Gambling on the Casino Industry0:18:15The Discovery Channel's Shark Week is under fire for its lack of diversity and overrepresentation of men named Mike.0:20:45Cocaine Bear and Shark Week: A Conversation
Dec 8, 2022
24 min
Record Holiday Sales & Impact On Your Portfolio, China Zero-Covid Policy , Ep. #155
Despite warning signs, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales still break records.The group discusses Black Friday shopping and whether it is bigger than Cyber Monday. They mention that while the sales were up when inflation is taken into account, there was no real progress made. The speakers discuss the market and Black Friday and mention that the rail strike and protests in China are having negative impacts on the economy.The speakers discuss the possibility of an upcoming recession, citing several indicators that suggest it may be on the horizon. These include the recent inversion of the yield curve, the decreasing price of oil, and banks' unwillingness to loan money. They also note that the White House has started to take steps to prepare for a recession, such as replenishing the oil reserves.Are Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and whether or not they are indicative of a strong economy? The group discusses how businesses and employees are impacted by a weak economy, and how the recent sales numbers may not be as strong as they seem.0:01:51The Market This Week: A Look at Black Friday and Earnings Season0:03:31The Impact of Economic Indicators on the Federal Reserve's Decision-making0:05:28The Impact of the Resilient Consumer on Businesses0:07:29The Impact of Black Friday and Cyber Monday on the Economy0:10:20The Impact of Economic Uncertainty on the Stock Market0:12:34The Impact of High Consumer Debt on the Economy0:13:58The Impact of the Railroad Strikes on the Stock Market0:15:27The Impact of a Potential Railroad Strike on the U.S. Economy0:23:38The Impact of China Lockdowns on the Stock Market0:25:15Apple and Twitter's Feud Could Impact the Stock Market0:28:56Apple and Tesla's Feud: Why Elon Musk is Picking a Fight
Dec 1, 2022
32 min
Santa Claus Is (Isn't) Coming To Town & Iger Back At Disney, Ep. #154
Welcome back to this week's episode of The Capitalist Investor! The group discusses Diamond Hands D's recent vacation, during which time the crypto market collapsed. On top of the crypto collapse, a recent statistic shows that personal savings in the US has decreased from $2 trillion to $600 billion in the last year. This could be due to increased spending, and that could lead to increased personal debt in the future. The Santa Claus rally may not be real or long-lasting, due to the high levels of credit card debt among Americans. There is currently 16.5 Trillion dollars in household debt and over 31 Trillion dollars in government debt. Has the Santa Claus rally already happened this year? Is the Santa Claus rally going to be able to hold? What’s going to happen over at Disney with Bob Iger coming back as CEO? All of this and more is discussed in this week’s “The Capitalist Investor”.The Santa Claus rally, a stock market phenomenon that typically occurs in the seven days after Christmas. They note that this year, the rally may be occurring earlier than usual, and that it is generally driven by positive sentiment and increased consumer spending around the holidays. They also discuss the possibility that the rally may be extended into January, due to the recent strong performance of the stock market. One of the reasons the stock market does well during the holiday season is that retail investors are more optimistic during this time and there is less trading by institutional investors. But less trading means less volume, which usually doesn't support a strong move.Bob Iger is back at Disney as CEO. Disney has become very "woke" over the past few years and Iger coming back to Disney raises questions on the direction of their "wokeness". Will Disney double down on being woke? Or will Iger come into Disney and walk back what they did over the past couple of years?0:04:19The Santa Claus Rally: What to Expect0:09:18The Impact of Cryptocurrency on the Stock Market0:10:54The Impact of Bitcoin Mining on the Crypto Market0:17:38The Walt Disney Company's Plans to Leave Florida?0:22:53The Impact of Wokeness on Disney's Business Model0:25:26The Future of Disney Under Bob Iger0:28:14The Scammy Business of Ticketmaster: A Conversation0:29:54Celebrities and Ticketmaster: A Scam?0:33:09The Impact of Live Nation's Monopoly on the Music Industry
Nov 22, 2022
39 min
Trump Announces 2024 Campaign, Crypto Contagion & The FTX Blow Up, Ep. #153
What's going on with the recent crypto meltdown and specifically the FTX exchange? The traditional banking system works in a similar way, lending out assets to make money for themselves. What is to blame? The banks? The exchanges? Regulation? Or is this a culprit of low-interest rates and the changes in behavioral finance?In the traditional banking system, banks will take customer deposits and use them to invest in other products or services. However, this can be risky if the bank does not have enough liquid assets to meet customer demands for withdrawals. This is what happened with the crypto exchange FTX. The company had leveraged it's customer assets to make other investments, but when the market crashed and customers tried to withdraw their money, FTX was unable to meet these demands. This caused the company to collapse, wiping out billions of dollars in assets.The FTX crisis was caused by the company's use of client money for risky hedge fund leverage, which left the company unable to repay its debt obligations when clients began asking for their money back. But on top of that, it is absolutely possible that Fraud has occured, but we don't want to jump to conclusions until it is proven.The person who hacked into FTX's system is now the 35th largest owner of Ethereum in the world. This hack is a reminder that the banking system is vulnerable to attack and that companies need to be careful about over-leveraging themselves.The Crypto Meltdown: What Really Happened - 0:01:45The FTX Cryptocurrency Exchange Scandal - 0:03:34FTX Exchange Under Fire After Client Money Goes Missing - 0:07:17The FTX hack and its implications for the cryptocurrency industry - 0:08:39The Aftermath of the Largest Ponzi Scheme in History: The Bernard Madoff Scandal - 0:10:08The Decentralized Finance Community's Relationship with Regulation - 0:13:32Inflation: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - 0:19:13The Impact of PPI on the Economy - 0:22:35The Federal Reserve's Impact on Inflation and the Market - 0:25:19Excesses Will Change in the Next Two Years - 0:31:00
Nov 16, 2022
34 min
Mid-Term Red Wave Turned Into Pink Puddle, Ep. #152
Well.. the Mid-Term Red Wave wasn't really the Red Wave that many people expected. But the big question and observation is forecasting what this means for 2024 and your money. Does this shed some light into the future? What will be the impact on the economy & stock market? Also, we just head of major layoffs by big technology companies. What does that mean for unemployment as we head into 2023? And of course.. you can't forget about what's cancelled this week.●  [01:34] Mid-Term Red Wave Turned into Pink Puddle●  [19:43] Big Tech Layoffs●  [30:45] Cancelled! Kathy Griffin & COVID
Nov 10, 2022
37 min
There Isn't a Blue Check Next to Biden's Tax Plan for Oil, Ep. #151
1. Twitter is introducing a subscription model for verified usersTwitter is introducing a subscription model for verified users. This means that users who have a blue check mark next to their name will have to pay a monthly fee in order to maintain their verified status. The exact amount has not been determined yet, but it is rumored to be around $8 per month. This is a controversial move, as many people feel that verified users should not have to pay for their status. However, Twitter is hoping that this will generate more revenue and help to cut out some of the riff-raff from the platform.This move by Twitter is sure to generate a lot of debate. Some people feel that verified users should not have to pay for their status, while others think that this could help to clean up the platform. Only time will tell how this new subscription model will affect Twitter.2. Biden is introducing a plan to tax oil companiesBiden's plan to tax oil companies is based on the premise that they are making excess profits and that this tax will incentivize them to lower prices for consumers. However, there are many flaws with this plan. First, it is unclear how the government will determine what is considered an "excess" profit. Second, even if the tax is implemented, there is no guarantee that oil companies will actually lower prices. In fact, it is more likely that they will simply pass the cost of the tax on to consumers through higher prices. Finally, the tax will only further incentivize oil companies to move away from traditional fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy sources.It is also worth noting that this tax will likely have a disproportionate impact on small businesses and consumers in rural areas. This is because they are more likely to rely on oil for heating and transportation, and will thus be hit harder by any price increases. In addition, the tax could lead to job losses in the oil industry, which would further harm the economy. Overall, Biden's plan to tax oil companies is misguided and is unlikely to achieve its desired effect. It would be better to focus on other methods of incentivizing oil companies to move towards cleaner energy sources, such as investing in renewable energy research and development.3. The price of oil is determined by global supply and demandundefined - The government is going to take an average of the cost of oil from 2015 to 2019, and if any oil company exceeds that average, it will be taxed at a higher rate. This is supposed to incentivize oil companies to lower prices at the pump, but it is unclear how this will actually be implemented or enforced.The government's plan to tax oil companies that exceed the average price of oil from 2015 to 2019 is a step in the right direction, but it is unclear how this will actually be implemented or enforced. There needs to be more transparency and communication between the government and the oil companies in order to make this plan effective. Otherwise, it could end up being nothing more than a political ploy to score points with the public.This week's episode of the Capitalist Investor:[00:00:03] - This week's episode of The Capitalist Investor features three of the Dream Team members.[00:00:23] - They're going to go to a subscription model for the blue check marks. Twitter wants to charge $20 a month to be verified, but it settled at $8.[00:10:29] - Biden proposes a tax on oil companies to lower gas prices.[00:16:07] - The other positive catalysts are good earnings, good geopolitical, and a sudden peace.[00:23:13] - Jim Cramer covered every stock in the S&P 500 over the last several years.[00:25:37] - This week's Canceled Segment is Luke Bryan inviting Ron Dee and Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, on stage in support of the hurricane relief effort.[00:29:09] - Guys talk a little about Brown
Nov 3, 2022
30 min
California's Taxes Go Even Higher & China's Smackdown, Ep. #150
Taxes & More Taxes! After Mid-Term elections, California's tax rate might go even higher. And that's on top of the crazy rates they already pay. Here in Ohio, they actually are lowering taxes 1% down closer to 4%. In California, state tax rates will be almost 4x that of Ohio. What does that mean going forward for the state? All of this happening alongside news that China's leader Xi is serving a 3rd term, which begs the question of more government intervention into their companies. Is that a risk to the United States and the U.S. economy? This week's cancelled segment is all about cancelling the cancelled! All of this and more on this week's "The Capitalist Investor" podcast.●  [02:09] California's Taxes Go Even Higher●  [12:39] China's Smackdown●  [24:55] Cancelling the Cancelled! Worker's Fired Over Vaccines Hired Back & Paid Backpay
Oct 27, 2022
31 min
Mid-Term Red Wave & Impact on Stock Market.. Yeezy Buying Parler, Ep. #149
Mark is back! And we are Rocking & Rolling this week talking about mid-term elections right around the corner. What are the odds of a red sweep in November? How will mid-terms impact the stock market and your investments? On top of all of that, Kanye West announced his acquisition of the social media app “Parler”. How will that turn out as an investment and for society? And of course, this week’s cancelled segment is important for your taste buds.●  [02:59] Mid-Term Elections & Impact on Markets●  [13:50] Kanye West Acquires Parler●  [19:07] Cancelled! Snow Crab Legs
Oct 20, 2022
24 min
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