Cocktail Investing

For more than two years, we’ve used our thematic lens to distill the everyday noise around into clear investing signals. We’ve shared thematic signals for our 10 investing themes, shared conversations with management teams, portfolio managers and key thought leaders. But after more than 100 Cocktail Investing podcasts, we are making a change. As we leave Cocktail Investing behind, we are launching the Thematic Signals podcast. Is anything changing? Only the name. The same great noise distillation will continue unabated provided you follow us to the new show. The new episodes will be posted on Tematica Research, iTunes, Spotify and elsewhere. I encourage you to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. For example, on the inaugural Thematic Signals podcast I explain from a thematic perspective what is happening and why with retailer earnings, and which retailers are positioned to benefit from a thematic perspective. I also explain exactly why retail is a key part of the US economy and how it drives nearly 20% of the S&P 500. Here’s a link to that Thematic Signals podcast for your listening pleasure! See you at the new show!    

On today’s podcast we discuss the renewed sense of uncertainty in the stock market following the US-China trade SNAFU that is simply not what investors were expecting just 10 days ago. With weeks to go until the next round of trade talks, investors will focus on the potential impact from the latest round of trade tariffs on existing growth expectations for the economy and corporate earnings. Following the recent sharp market sell off as investors grapple with these issues and the renewed risk off mindset, we could see a dead cat bounce emerge and rather than fall for this potential head fake investors should stay on the sidelines until building their shopping list for when the market stabilizes. The kinds of companies to examine include those that are undergoing a business transformation that will allow them to more adeptly ride our investing themes. We walk through examples ranging from Apple and Disney to AT&T and Axon Enterprises. The podcast closes out with some of the latest signals for our Digital Lifestyle, Middle-class Squeeze and Safety & Security investing themes, and why we more than like Costco’s business model. Have a topic or a conversation you think we should tackle on the podcast, email me at cversace@tematicaresearch.com  And don’t forget to subscribe to the Cocktail Investing Podcast on iTunes! 

On today’s podcast we sit down with Dan Ahrens, the portfolio manager of the AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (YOLO), the first actively managed ETF with a dedicated cannabis investment mandate domiciled in the United States. Dan is no stranger to the investing in vice stocks (tobacco, gaming, alcohol) and he is bringing that experience and due diligence acumen to this Cannabis focused ETF. Unlike most ETFs, Pure Cannabis is actively managed, and Dan explains the reasons for that as well as the benefits it can bring to an ETF. During the podcast, Dan talks not only several of the ETF’s top holdings, but also how he sees the long game playing in the cannabis opportunity.   Have a topic or a conversation you think we should tackle on the podcast, email me at cversace@tematicaresearch.com   And don’t forget to subscribe to the Cocktail Investing Podcast on iTunes!   Resources for this podcast: AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (YOLO) - https://www.advisorshares.com/fund/yolo AdvisorShares - https://www.advisorshares.com Chris Versace –@ChrisJVersace Lenore Hawkins –@EllesEconomy Tematica Research – https://www.tematicaresearch.com Thematic Signals: https://www.tematicaresearch.com/thematic-signals/     PURE CANNABIS ETF (YOLO) HOLDINGS AS OF MAY 8, 2019   (OGI) ORGANIGRAM HOLDINGS INC, (TGOD) GREEN ORGANIC DUTCHMAN HOLDINGS, (APHA) APHRIA INC, (CTST) CANNTRUST HOLDINGS INC, (IIPR) INNOVATIVE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, (HEXO) HEXO CORP, (CARA) CARA THERAPEUTICS INC, (CGC) CANOPY GROWTH CORP, (ACB) AURORA CANNABIS INC, (VFF) VILLAGE FARMS INTERNATIONAL, (NEPT) NEPTUNE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS, (TLRY) TILRAY INC, (EMH) EMERALD HEALTH THERAPEUTICS, (CRBP) CORBUS PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS, (ALEF) ALEAFIA HEALTH INC, (FIRE) SUPREME CANNABIS CO INC, (GNLN) GREENLANE HOLDINGS, (WMD) WEEDMD INC, (ARNA) ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS INC, (KHRN) KHIRON LIFE SCIENCES CORP, (NTEC) INTEC PHARMA LTD, (RIV) CANOPY RIVERS INC, (ZYNE) ZYNERBA PHARMACEUTICALS INC

We’re halfway through the March quarter earnings season and so far, aggregate earnings for the S&P 500 is running ahead of expectations, and that has helped drive the market to new highs. Yet, as evidenced by results from 3M, Tesla, Sherwin Williams, Gorman Rupp and others that are feeling the impact of the slowing global economy, there are pockets of weakness investors should avoid. We discuss that as well as several new thematic data points, including Apple’s Service business and what it means for how investors should compare it to other smartphone companies, as well as the new IPO that is plant-based protein company Beyond Meat, that add credence to Tematica’s Digital Lifestyle, Disruptive Innovators, Cleaner Living and Safety & Security investing themes. Have a topic we should tackle on the podcast, email me at cversace@tematicaresearch.com And don’t forget to subscribe to the Cocktail Investing Podcast on iTunes!  Resources for this podcast: Chris Versace –@ChrisJVersace Lenore Hawkins –@EllesEconomy Tematica Research – https://www.tematicaresearch.com Thematic Signals: https://www.tematicaresearch.com/thematic-signals/

As we get ready for more than 685 companies to report their March quarter results this week, there are apt to be a number of key data points for our Digital Infrastructure, Digital Lifestyle, Rise of the New Middle Class, Guilty Pleasure and Cleaner Living investing themes. On this episode of the Cocktail Investing Podcast, we walk through which ones we’ll be digging into with respect to those themes and the other 5 investing themes. You may think smokes and beer, but when Altria (MO), Boston Beer (SAM), Starbucks (SBUX), Nokia and Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) report, our thematic lens sees data, data, data and more data.  Coming into the week, roughly 15% of the S&P 500 companies have reported, which means the vast majority will be doing so on the coming weeks. As we close this week, 45% of the S&P 500 will have shared their March quarter results and updated their guidance, which will set the stage for what’s to come at us in the following weeks. We also get our first look at March quarter GDP this week, and based on the data had during the quarter, there is no question it will show a slowing US economy compared to the second half of 2018. Even so, it’s going to look better on a relative basis to the other three global economic horsemen that are China, Japan and the eurozone. Have a topic we should tackle on the podcast, email me at cversace@tematicaresearch.com And don’t forget to subscribe to the Cocktail Investing Podcast on iTunes!   Resources for this podcast: Chris Versace –@_ChrisVersace Lenore Hawkins –@EllesEconomy Tematica Research – https://www.tematicaresearch.com Thematic Signals: https://www.tematicaresearch.com/thematic-signals/