1 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg P and L Podcast. I'm Pim Fox. 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: Along with my co host Lisa Abramowitz. Each day we 3 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: bring you the most important, noteworthy, and useful interviews for 4 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: you and your money, whether you're at the grocery store 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: or the trading floor. Find the Bloomberg P L Podcast 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: on iTunes, SoundCloud and at Bloomberg dot com. All right, now, 7 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: someone that's going to make a smarter about the US 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: economy is Elena Shueteva, senior US economist to for Bloomberg Intelligence. 9 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: And well, okay, you can. It's always great to have you, Elena. 10 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: You know you're you're a little self deprecating yours. Yes, 11 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: so let's talk about what it sounds like. You're not leaving, 12 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: are you alright? Because all right, tell me what happened. 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: GDP two point nine print estimate was for two point 14 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: five big deal. Oh, these numbers are very encouraging in 15 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: a sense that they do a highlight that growth has 16 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: rebounded in the second half of the year. So in 17 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: that respect, it's it's very positive, but as always, you 18 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 1: need to look at the details, and the details to 19 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: us seem to be a little bit less encouraging. Although, um, 20 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: you know, the bottom line from the report, let me 21 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: just say that is that will provide comfort for the 22 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: FIT to raise rates in December, but the underlying details 23 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: might not necessarily mean that they will continue at a 24 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: very rapid pace in the next year, So they might 25 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: have to continue only on a gradual pace next year. 26 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: The channet yell and send you an email. I mean 27 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: that sounds earlier this year, right, we were talking about December. Correct, Well, 28 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: let's let's take into some of those details that are 29 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: giving people comfort that the federal move for not too quickly. 30 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: What are you looking at? So the details of the 31 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: reports showed considerable deceleration in consumer spending, which could be discouraging, 32 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: could be encouraging. So it is discouraging because this is 33 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: the biggest part of the economy and that is slowing 34 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: down considerably. On the other hand, that means less dependence 35 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: on consumer spending alone and some acceleration in other sectors 36 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: of the economy. So diversification is always good, right. So 37 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: but uh, you know, if you look at the details, 38 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: for example, you see that the inventories at its sixty 39 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: one basis points to growth in the third quarter, and 40 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: the net exports at it eighties three basis points, so 41 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: together they account for half of that growth rate that 42 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 1: we saw in the third quarter. But it's not good. 43 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: Don't we want to be exporting more? And don't we 44 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: want to These numbers could be very volatile, and uh, 45 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: you really need to see several quarters of growth to 46 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: UM actually to see this is a sustainable kind of 47 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: growth in these sectors. Exports net exports could be distorted 48 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: by the engine UM shipping company bankruptcy, so that could 49 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: be something going on there and it might not be sustainable. 50 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: Inventories is another wild card. We were talking about considerable 51 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: pickup in stockpiles and uh, you know this seems to 52 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: be UM not happening that inventories are going to contribute 53 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: uh quite a lot going forward, so to me it 54 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: seems unsustainable. So but overall for the year as a whole, 55 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: h GDP needs to grow only by one point nine 56 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: percent in the fourth quarter to reach the fat target 57 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: of one eight percent for for the years a whole, 58 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: So that seems to be attainable. Helena. We got new 59 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: home sales this week, we got durable goods orders, jobless claims, now, 60 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: we got the g DP print is this up or 61 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: down week for the for the land of the economy. 62 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: So let me think it's always a always a mix. 63 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: We can say that everything's going along, everything is going 64 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: on chug chugging along just fine. And next week we're 65 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: going to get the payrolls report correct on Friday. Yes, 66 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: a big deal, not a big deal. But we care 67 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: as long as the paces within the kind of the 68 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 1: same kind of range, it doesn't need to accelerate from here, 69 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 1: that's going to be fine. You know one fifty is 70 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: still fine. And you think that the market has already 71 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: baked in twenty five basis points that bonds, for example, 72 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: I was surprised. I was talking with Lisa earlier today 73 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: when we got the two point nine g d P report. 74 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: I was surprised that the bond market did not sell off. 75 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: We were talking about the same thing on the desk 76 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: actually earlier this morning. Um, well, as long as the 77 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: probability on the weird right uh days above. Yes, but 78 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: I do think, I mean, we got the University of 79 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: Michigan survey of consumer confidence in this inflation expectation again 80 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: we're back at that new low. Yes, but I tend 81 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 1: to be very skeptical of the survey data ahead of 82 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: the election. Okay, so any survey data ahead of the election, 83 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 1: you might want to wait until sentiment could be very 84 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 1: much distorted. Listen to the rhetoric that we're hearing Pale exactly. 85 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: So it's it's really like it happened before, Like the 86 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: Michigan survey was distorted during the dead ceiling crisis back 87 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 1: in two thousand and eleven, and so what nothing happened 88 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: to consumer spending, So you have to be very careful 89 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: with sentiment numbers, both consumer and company sentiment. Elena Shugliatieva, 90 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: thank you so much for being with a senior US 91 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: economist for Bloomberg Intelligence breaking down at the GDP report 92 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: and why the bond market just doesn't seem to be 93 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: responding right now A tenure U S Treasury is pretty 94 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: much flat at one point eight five percent. This all right, 95 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: let's solve the quandary of oil and the price of oil. 96 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 1: Joining us is our expert, yes, Vincent Piazza. He is 97 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: the senior US oil and Gas analyst four Bloomberg Intelligence. 98 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: Always a pleasure to see you. Thank you. I was 99 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: looking at X on today stock is down more than 100 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: one percent. I was looking at Chevron stock is up 101 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: more than three percent. What's going on between these two companies. So, 102 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: I think the broad narrative today is that output growth 103 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: continues to be a challenge for both UM and today 104 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: it seems output growth is more of a challenge for 105 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: x On relative to Chevron. With the broader takeaway, the 106 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: broader narrative is output growth continues to be a challenge. 107 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: The cap X decline with the spending decline that we've 108 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: seen since the price decline from a couple of years ago, 109 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: is impacting the ability for resource capture. So lower output, Yes, 110 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: spending is down, but the the ability to book the 111 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: resource UH is challenging as well. The tailwind that refining 112 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: was during the price decline has now become a headwind. 113 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: So the outsized gains, the over earning from the refining business, 114 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: the downstream business, the chemical business now becomes more of 115 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: a tail wind for both entities. Now, Exxon did say 116 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: that because of these lower prices UH, it may have 117 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: to take a look at impairing some of these reserves 118 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: in North America to the tune of roughly eighteen or 119 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: t UM and that is a headwind for them. For Chevron, 120 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: UM sentiment coming into the quarter was somewhat murky. Uh. 121 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: They came out with a modest uh level of output 122 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: UM year over year, and they did provide guidance for 123 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: December output. So for four Q output slightly higher relative 124 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: to three Q UH so UM modestly more positive for Chevron, 125 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: less less so for Exxon. But remember what these businesses are, right, 126 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: they are integrated networks. Uh So they are more defensive. 127 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: They are lower beta equities because of this, less volatile 128 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:33,719 Speaker 1: earnings and cash flow stream. So during a price recovery, 129 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: you want leverage to the upstream, the more direct exposure 130 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: to the price recovery, and not these integrated platforms where 131 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: they're downstream the chemicals and refining business tends to offset 132 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: any benefit from a higher price in the upstream piece. 133 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: So I want to go back to Chevron. I mean, 134 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: they've posted their first profit in a year and seem 135 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: to be more upbeat, and their shares are up almost 136 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: first is fourteen percent less than that thirteen percent gain 137 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: year to date for Exxon. What's Chevron doing to gain 138 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: investors confidence more than at least Exon. Well, I think 139 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: it's it's relative sentiment as well, right, So coming into 140 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: the year better sentiment for Exxon relative to Chevron, and 141 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: Chevron is outperforming that lower sentiment, right, so under promise 142 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: over deliver in a sense. And for Chevron this quarter 143 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: you had some issues with uh some downtime and Nigeria unrest, 144 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: so that hurt volume as well. UM. For Exxon, the 145 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: one uh, the one item this quarter that probably has 146 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 1: longer near term effects is this issue of the reserve bookings, 147 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: any potential impairments um come the close of the year. Okay, 148 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,959 Speaker 1: So taking a bigger step back, X and Chevron, they 149 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: both delivered their earnings. Uh. Do they give a better 150 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,079 Speaker 1: sense of what they expect as far as oil prices 151 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: in the year ahead. Well, I think everyone else. Uh, 152 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,719 Speaker 1: they are perplexed. It's it's a challenging environment out there. Uh. 153 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: The the potential OPEC cuts UM also may impact them 154 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: because they are partners as well, and how much of 155 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: that cut they would have to take on is uncertain. Uh. 156 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: Exxon said that on their call today. So, UM, there 157 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: is as much uncertainty UM that they see as the 158 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: the the upstream player here in the US. UM. And 159 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: so we are in the midst of a younger recovery UM, 160 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: there are still challenges ahead. UM. We're probably oversupplied by 161 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: roughly a million barrels. UM. We need to see that 162 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: sustainable demand growth to sort of truncate those imbalances, but 163 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: that remains to be seen. OPEC. We need to get 164 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 1: some clarity as to what type of agreement there really is. 165 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: If there is an agreement, UM, and that will give 166 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 1: us some additional clarity, but that remains a very big 167 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,719 Speaker 1: unknown and that will be the driver, uh for that 168 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: will forge any type of price recovery from from the 169 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: From this point, Vincent Piazza, you are not only just 170 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: an expert in terms of the macro oil stuff, but 171 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: in terms of balance sheet and understanding how companies work. 172 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:17,559 Speaker 1: Can we just talk for about about a moment of 173 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: free cash flow from these because these are dividend pairs right, 174 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: exactly exactly, And you know we've been through this with BP, 175 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: with that terrible thing in the Gulf of Mexico, the 176 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: a condo. Well, I mean, when you monkey with the 177 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: what you changed rather the dividend, right, that's going to 178 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: change your investor base, right, And that's a very good point. 179 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 1: We're talking about shareholder engagement, So shareholder engaged engagement is 180 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:46,080 Speaker 1: through the dividend and is also through shrry purchases. Okay, 181 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: and you fund those sherry purchases and that dividend through 182 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: your free cash flow, and it sometimes you borrow forward 183 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: as well. Now, the dividend yield for Chevron and Exxon 184 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: is three and four percent. The average dividend yield for 185 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: an SMP company is around somewhere around two percent. You're 186 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 1: owning it for that capital repatriation um and for EXCEN 187 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: they'll throw off somewhere around four or five billion or 188 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: free cash flow this year um. Chevron will still be 189 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: in a negative cash flow, so they're still they are 190 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: borrowing to pay that dividend UM. But in general that 191 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: remains the key that shareholder engagement because these are lower beta, 192 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: less volatile investments relative to the capital appreciation you would 193 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 1: see from an upstream player. So real quick, I want 194 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: to go back to the idea that XN may have 195 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: to write its reserves off by why haven't they done 196 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: so yet? Well, you do that throughout the you do 197 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: that from year to year. Once you once you have 198 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,840 Speaker 1: a full twelve year period and you're able to take 199 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: the average of those individual twelve months to make that 200 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 1: final cut off for the for the for for that 201 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: fiscal year period. So in other words, there could be 202 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: a lot of realized losses across the industry. Well, we've 203 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: seen this last year as well for the upstream players. UM, 204 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: So this is not a new phenomenon. I think it's 205 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: the size that has some UM concerned. UM and it 206 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: probably has led to some of the under underperformance relative 207 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: to Chevron today. Thank you so much. Got it? Vincive Piazza, 208 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 1: senior US oil and Gas analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, breaking 209 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: down the tail of two oil companies of Exxon which 210 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: is losing value of versus Chevron, which is gaining an 211 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 1: oil certainly being one of the driving factors pim behind 212 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 1: expectations of inflation going forward, oil sort of hovering around 213 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: forty nine dollars a barrel, still in that fifty two 214 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: dollar barrel range. I don't know what it will take 215 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: for us to break out of this. Perhaps Vincent Piazza 216 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: knows in his his seat, uh, And Lisa bramwoits, I'm 217 00:13:45,040 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: here with pim Fox. This is Bloomberg. I would like 218 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,319 Speaker 1: to learn more about what to do with money, particularly 219 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: seventy two billion dollars which is how much will Being 220 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: can Trust overseas. And Tony Roth, chi's chief chief investment 221 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 1: officer at Willman can Trust, is responsible with coming up 222 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: with a strategy. So Tony, I want to start with cash. 223 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: We're hearing a lot about people who are hoarding larger 224 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: stockpiles of cash to capitalize on the market. What it 225 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: turns is that what you're doing now, we we think 226 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: that the market is already turning. Lisa, by the way, 227 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: thanks for having me today to you, and Tim Um 228 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: it's great to speak with you. We think the market 229 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: is actually already in the process of turning, and we 230 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: think that that cash is better put to work today 231 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: unless it's earmark for very short term purposes. We can 232 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: see that, UM, when we look at the global economy, 233 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: looking at oil stability, inflation, stronger dollar change, in the 234 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: commodity supercycle. UM, there's a lot of opportunity in the 235 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: market right now. We're preconstructive, so we'd rather see that 236 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: cash put to work. Where are you putting it to 237 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: work right now? Well, we like emerging markets, UM. So 238 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: I mentioned the commodity supercycle, and if you look at 239 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: UM measures like the CRB raw industrials and decks, for example, 240 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: which moves very closely with the emerging markets UM. It's 241 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: been moving upwards UM since about February, and we think 242 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: the merging markets are going to continue to see UM 243 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: an upward trend. UM credit and equity. Credit and equity 244 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: are just uh, how how exactly you're going about that? Yeah, yeah, 245 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: credit and equity. So UM China for example, has been 246 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: a real underperformer. And when you think about the two 247 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: draw downs that we had in the market over the 248 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: last fifteen months, UM August and then uh January February 249 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: this year, right, really triggered by China. And we think 250 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: that China has really gotten ahead of its problems in 251 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: terms of the credit bubble and in terms of its 252 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: management of its currency. So there's a good opportunity I 253 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: think in the Chinese equity market right now, UM and 254 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: more broadly UM Partuity believe with respect of the consumed 255 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: commodity consumers which haven't had as big a rally as 256 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: the commodity producers like Russia and Brazil, etcetera. Tony, I'm 257 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: wondering if you feel that it's a small contradiction that 258 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: Chinese companies are venturing outside of China to acquire assets. 259 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: They seem to want to buy almost everything that is 260 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: not nailed down. And particularly you had the purchase I 261 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: believe of insurance the Waldorf Historic Hotel group, and then 262 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: most recently you've had you know, Chinese investment in the 263 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: United States in a variety of industries, had the Genworth 264 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: Financial deal this week. Absolutely listen to. China has a 265 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: lot of capital, So why would that be wanting to 266 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: go out of the country if it's such a good 267 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: deal to have it in the country. Well, one of 268 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: the things to remembers that the Chinese currency is clearly 269 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: on a trajectory of appreciation. So if you're a Chinese company, right, 270 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: and you can't a choir skills and capabilities UM that 271 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: you can mirror inside China by buying foreign companies UM, 272 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: and you can head your currency exposure and diversify your 273 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: revenue streams. That can make a lot of sense from 274 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: the perspective of the US based investor that's looking for appreciation. Certainly, 275 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: UM to the extent we have the ability to hedge 276 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: currency exposure in China, UM, it's probably how we would 277 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: invest in today's market. Going back to the idea of 278 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: energy prices, and where they are currently. KKR Credit Co 279 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: had nat Zeka spoke with Bloomberg's Eric Shasker yesterday and 280 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: basically said that KKR is selling a lot of its 281 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: distressed debt holdings and a lot of its energy related 282 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: holding salk in gains so far. Why are they wrong? Well, 283 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,159 Speaker 1: if we look at what's happening, the US is now 284 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: the spling energy producer in the world, right, So number one, 285 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: we see a trajectory where we're still um dropping in 286 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: terms of US production. So production is down about eleven 287 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: and a half percent from the peak, and while we've 288 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: seen a little bit of a rebound and recounts, we're 289 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 1: still massively down around se down from the peak and 290 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 1: there's a big lag effect. So when we see that 291 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: the fact that US as a swing producer is still 292 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 1: dropping from a production standpoint, And on top of that, 293 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: we look at the fact that ARAMCO write the big 294 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: spotty UM state Energy Enterprise oil enterprise is gonna have 295 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: an I p O sometime in the next twelve to 296 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 1: eighteen months, and maybe a very strong incentive keeping the 297 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: oil price upward as well. UM those are all fairly 298 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: strong UM supports for the oil price. On top of that, 299 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: look at the g d P number today, right two 300 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: point nine percent. So we see not just in the 301 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: emerging markets, but even in the US, we see strengthening 302 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,399 Speaker 1: global global activity, which is going to be further aided 303 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: and embedded by what I call step back from monetary insanity. Right, so, 304 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: we've had, you know, a broad practice of monetary insanity 305 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: across the globe. I think that UM, central banks are 306 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 1: gonna start to step back from that in the next 307 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: twelve months, much more quickly than we've anticipated, and that's 308 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: going to help stabilize the environment as well. Is that 309 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: going to be bullish for commodity stocks? And if so, 310 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: do you want to buy commodity stocks that do business 311 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: around the world like Freeport mcmuran, or do you want 312 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,479 Speaker 1: to focus on domestic players. I do think that UM, 313 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: it's going to be helpful for commodities. I do think 314 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: that we've turned the cycle on commodities. UM it's going 315 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 1: to be a slow process. UM We're not going to 316 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: see an aggressive growth trajectory for commodities. But I do 317 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: think that materials, for example, in the US, has really 318 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: not done well recently, and I think that there's a 319 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: mean reversion opportunity for commodities, domestic commodity stocks UM, So 320 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: I think that either way to play, it is actually 321 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 1: going to be UM, whether it be domestic companies or 322 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: UH emerging market companies, etcetera, foreign producers. I think they're 323 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 1: both going to do fairly well over the next two 324 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: to three years. And again, it only can trust for 325 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,360 Speaker 1: long term investors. So I'm not looking to trade, if 326 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: you will, on the most recent data point, but we're 327 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: looking for the the trend, and we do see this 328 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: trend in the commodity space. So Tony switching asset classes 329 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: taking a look at bonds. If you think that stocks 330 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: are going to do well broadly, is your sense that 331 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: developed market government bonds are going to do badly? And 332 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: if so, how badly? We think they'll do badly on 333 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 1: a relative basis. So if you think about where to 334 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: look for income, right, we think the dividend in today's environment, right, 335 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: which is right, bonds are still have significantly negative real 336 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: yields and so while we're not that concerned about the 337 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: credit side of the bond market, we are very concerned 338 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,640 Speaker 1: about the rate side, and so we would prefer pick 339 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: up income UM and MLPs dividends UM. To some degree, 340 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: the municipal bond market will always stay a little bit 341 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: underweight there UM today UM relative to our strategic acid allocation. 342 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 1: But UM we would stay away from UM. You know, 343 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,880 Speaker 1: any kind of duration over five years in today's environment. 344 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 1: We don't expect to see a complete normalization of the 345 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: rate environment in the next year or two. Right. We 346 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: think that we're going to see clearly a hike now 347 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: in December. I think that's pretty much consensus UM, but 348 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 1: also two hikes next year. UM. That'll leave us around 349 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: UM once a fee or so on the policy rate UM, 350 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: and it'll leave room for a little bit more rate 351 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: rate hiking. But we're not going to end up at 352 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: a police rate of three percent or so anytime soon. 353 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 1: So we don't see a huge shift UM in the 354 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: rate environment. UM. That's gonna crush bonds, but we don't 355 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 1: think that they're particularly attractive with durations over five years. 356 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: Tony Roth, thank you, Chief investment officer, Wilmington's Trust, managing 357 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 1: seventy two billion dollars. I'm pim Fox along with Lisa Abramowitz. 358 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg. Well, it's not hard to imagine what 359 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: happens when you're in a business that is competing on 360 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: price and is also looking at record infant tory in 361 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 1: some cases, I want to bring in Mike Jackson. He 362 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: is the chief executive of Auto Nation. He joins us now. 363 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: Mike Jackson, thanks very much for being with us, My pleasure. 364 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: Good morning. All right. So, you know, if if I had, 365 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: if I had a way to console you, I would 366 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: because you know, you've been through a little bit of 367 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: a trial by fire here. The stock is down I 368 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: believe about three and a half percent today, it's down 369 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: so far this year. Uh, you're in a tough business 370 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: and you're trying to find new ways to invigorate the 371 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: automobile retail business. You're opening standalone used car outlets. Tell 372 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: me what's going on with the business and how you're surviving. Well. 373 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: We understand that the new vehicle business is cyclical, uh, 374 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: in one of three phases, growth, plateau, and decline. Years ago, 375 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: we said we wanted to have a way to grow 376 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 1: when this marketplace plateau. So we launched the Auto Nation 377 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 1: brand from coast to coast. It's been very well accepted 378 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: and trusted by consumers, and we launched the Auto Nation Express, 379 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: our digital capability from which we get of our business today. 380 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 1: So now we're spanning dramatically into the pre owned and 381 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:21,479 Speaker 1: UH customer care business, building free center UH, freestanding service 382 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: and sales centers UH within our markets, which will be 383 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 1: under the brand Auto Nation, and in order to have 384 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: a compelling value story and a good experience for our 385 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: customers in those centers, UH, they will all be one 386 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: price on the pre owned vehicles, and we will launch 387 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: Auto Nation parts and accessories in these centers and also 388 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: offer those parts and accessories in our franchise business. So 389 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 1: as I look at it now, we're the largest retailer 390 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: of premium luxury vehicles in the US, with almost a 391 00:23:55,760 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: hundred premium luxury franchises including Mercedes, Ben's, BMW, Porsche across America. 392 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: We have a very large franchise volume business, and now 393 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 1: we will have freestanding pre owned sales and service centers 394 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,640 Speaker 1: across our footprint. You know, we were talking to Bob 395 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:16,120 Speaker 1: Shanks yesterday UH CFO of Ford, and he was talking 396 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 1: about how the cycle is maturing. UM. From your perspective, 397 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: you talk about plateau ng in the auto industry, what's 398 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: the risk and how can you measure it? Of a 399 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 1: potential significant downturn in auto values and in appetite for 400 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 1: new for new vehicles. So once the industry enters the 401 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:39,720 Speaker 1: plateau phase, it can run many years. There. We've gone 402 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,959 Speaker 1: five six years in plateau, and if I look at 403 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 1: the availability of credit and the cost of money and 404 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: the price of gasoline, we are in an extended period 405 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 1: a plateau. But ultimately a declient will come, but that 406 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 1: would take much higher rates or restriction of credit compared 407 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: to what we have today. So but even in plateau, 408 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 1: it's a challenge to us as a company to have 409 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: the ambition to still grow. And hence we've built a 410 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 1: brand and hence we've built this digital capability that we're 411 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: now extending a new business field. So we have the 412 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: opportunity to continue to grow just quickly. Mike the as 413 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: Lisa was saying, having to do with the fourth CFO, 414 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: any area of the country that is a better or worse, 415 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: any particular product that's better or worse, give you about 416 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: fifteen seconds. Well, we can go right to what's the 417 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: most difficult part of the country, and that would be 418 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 1: the energy markets, whether it's Colorado or Texas or up 419 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:44,880 Speaker 1: into Oklahoma. While it's stabilized. It's stabilized at a lower level, 420 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: and um, those are the most difficult markets. The two 421 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: coasts are doing fine. Thanks for listening to the Bloomberg 422 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: P and L podcast. You can subscribe and listen to 423 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 1: interviews at iTunes, SoundCloud, or whatever podcast platform you prefer. 424 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:08,959 Speaker 1: I'm Pim Fox. I'm out there on Twitter at pim Fox. 425 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: I'm out there on Twitter at Lisa Abramo. It's one 426 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: before the podcast. You can always catch us worldwide on 427 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio.