1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: Ye, Welcome to the Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast. I'm Tom Keene 2 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: Jay Ley. We bring you insight from the best in economics, finance, investment, 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: and international relations. Find Bloomberg Surveillance on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg dot com, and of course on the Bloomberg. The 5 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: story in the equity market front end center is Twitter 6 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: right now down in the pre market with a Facebook 7 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: style disappointment. Joining me to discusses, Paul Sweeney, Bloomberg Intelligence, 8 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: Director of North American Research pull what went wrong? Users? 9 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: Monthly average active users declined in the quarter, and the 10 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: company is talking about the more declines on the third quarter, 11 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: and you know, they're they're talking up to their trying 12 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: to clean up the platform of you know, some bad accounts, 13 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: of fake accounts, some accounts that are just troublemakers. And 14 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: so the you know, the monthly active users has been 15 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: a metric that investors focus on for Twitter, you know, 16 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: it's it's it's kind of struggled to gain scale we 17 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: need we need compared to Facebook with a couple of 18 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: billion users and um, and so I think people are 19 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: concerned that ge if this, if the company is not 20 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 1: growing its user based then it's going to become less 21 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: attractive to advertisers, and that's kind of the concern going forward. So, UM, 22 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: you know, the monthly active users was disappointing here and 23 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,639 Speaker 1: trying to understand the bullish view on this stalk this morning. 24 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: Monthly three active users stalled. They stall because they're cleaning 25 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: up the platform. They reset revenue expectations. Is there a 26 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: good story out there associated with this over the long term, pool, Well, 27 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: the good story is that you know, there are three 28 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: thirty five million users roughly, and they are a very active, 29 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: passionate users. UM. There's some influencers there if if you will, uh, 30 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: including uh Donald Trump. UM. So you know, if advertisers 31 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: want to reach a you know, a audience of over 32 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: three million, UM, passionate audience uh tends to be younger demos. Uh, 33 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: then this is a good audience. Uh. The problem, however, 34 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: in digital media is it's it seems to be if 35 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: you have less than a billion users, you're just not relevant. So, 36 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: you know, the good news for Facebook because they have 37 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: four platforms with Facebook and Messenger and WhatsApp and Instagram 38 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: all north of a billion users. UM. Obviously uh, Google 39 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: and and and even at Amazon Uh, you know, have 40 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,079 Speaker 1: have that kind of scale, but anything sub a billion 41 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: users tends to be deemed not really an effective advertising 42 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: by for for advertising. What's your point called You've got 43 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 1: Facebook with four franchises with a billion users plus and 44 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: Twitter are struggling to get past the five hundred million mark. 45 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: There is a question mark about the whole sect of 46 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: the whole space today in social media. I notice his 47 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: Facebook pad it's gains after these Twitter results came out. 48 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: Are we finding out there's just limitations to growth in 49 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: terms of social medi idea? You know, it's um probably, 50 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 1: I mean there's certainly from a user perspective, you know, 51 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: there's some close to matrization in some of the more 52 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: mature markets such as the North American Western Europe, but 53 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: there's a you know, a lot of growth, uh and 54 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: and other parts of the world. But what we're seeing 55 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: is I still think the long term bowl case for 56 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: digital advertising is still very much intact because we see 57 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: across all me including Twitter today, their daily active users 58 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: are actually up eleven So people are spending more and 59 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: more time on the Internet, including social media, and the 60 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: advertisers are are are following. And I put a personal 61 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: note on this. I mean, I'm looking here at the 62 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: bold letters of the fabulous Bloomberg top live blog on Twitter. Folks, 63 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: I can't say enough about this. If you have a terminal, 64 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: these top live streams are unreal. And they say we 65 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: have made we wait, Twitter says, reflecting impact from decisions 66 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: we have made to prioritize the health of the platform. 67 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: I went down over two thousand followers, you know, in 68 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: my puny world, not not Donald Trump's world, but I 69 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: want to down two thousand followers one day. Is they 70 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: cleaned up the health of their platform. I would suggest 71 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: the the m a you miss there's a lot to 72 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: do with them getting these idiot bots and computer stuff off. 73 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: I think you're probably You're probably right. And I think, um, 74 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: you know, the bullish call here is this is for 75 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: the long term benefit of the platform and advertisers will 76 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: ultimately reward this platform down the road. Um so, And 77 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: I think you know what, I think what investors are 78 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: saying is g where where where? Where is the end 79 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: of this? We we saw it here in the second 80 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: quarter where they they kind of talked about it in 81 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: the third quarter. So again, I think concerns for it 82 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: for Twitter have been you know, you know, scale, it's 83 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: one of scale. Will they ever have scale to be 84 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: relevant to advertisers? And anytime you you talk about re 85 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 1: reducing the amount of users on there, I think that 86 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: just heightens the concern. And John, you've got a followers 87 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: size like area on a grand Did you lose like 88 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: seven year eight tho? I lost nothing, Seriously, I lost nothing. 89 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 1: I don't know I lost seriously. I was like one 90 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: oh seven, one oh eight and all of a sudden 91 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: boom and at one oh five, just one day. Help us. 92 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: Have you've seen this before? Facebook hysteria, Amazon omg, phenomenal, 93 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: Twitter hysteria. What's next? You know, I think the uh, 94 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: you know, what we're seeing out there in the tech 95 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 1: world is very high valuations. The stocks have been just 96 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 1: phenomenally just think about this like mar one hopefully not 97 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: hopefully not um although that was a good year for me, 98 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: but um. I think the you know, the Fank stocks 99 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: and and tech stocks in general, you know, they have 100 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: been one of the very few consistent areas of growth 101 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: that investors could feel confident about. And and and to 102 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: the extent that there's any miss there, whether it's a 103 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: you know, even you know, on users are on revenue 104 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: or EPs, the stocks get get hit hard. But let's 105 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: talk about the A and fang for most people. Amazon. 106 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: Amazon did this really interesting thing yesterday where they said, 107 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: don't look at that, Look how vega UM. We've been 108 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: looking at revenue and growth there for a long long time, 109 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: and that all of a sudden they said, look, we 110 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: can make big profits. How did they disappoint on revenue 111 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: but beat on profits. You know, it's it's an interesting story. 112 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: You're right. For for years and years and years that 113 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:16,359 Speaker 1: the company has done a wonderful job of conditioning at 114 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 1: shareholder base to say, don't worry about profits, just focus 115 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:21,559 Speaker 1: on the top line growth because we're playing this long 116 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: game for the growth of e commerce, and we are 117 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: the play in e commerce globally. UM. But every once 118 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: in a while they will dial down their expenses in 119 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: terms of opening up new fulfillment centers and distribution centers 120 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: and R and D and so on and so forth, 121 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: on all the crazy things they invest in, whether it's 122 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: groceries or whatever, they will dial that back a little bit, 123 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 1: and then the EPs will just explode and and and 124 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: really surprise people. And that's what happened again. Yesterday. So 125 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 1: you know, the the drivers for the improved profitability of 126 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: Amazon today versus just even two years ago are really 127 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: two areas. One is the cloud business, the Amazon Web 128 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: services business that has operating margins in the mid thirty 129 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: percent range versus low single digits for the core Amazon business. Uh. 130 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,719 Speaker 1: And then the second thing is advertising. You know, they 131 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: they're advertising was up over a hundred percent last quarter. 132 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: We think advertising will be an eight billion dollar business 133 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: for them in two thousand and eighteen versus three billion 134 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: last year. That's a profitable business. So they are in 135 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: fact growing businesses that are profitable. Uh. So this is 136 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: a business that, whether investors wanted or not, are going 137 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: to show increased profitability. So um, the narrative is changing 138 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: a little bit here on Amazon is great to have 139 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: you with it, Seanna, You and I are really on 140 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: the same page. On Friday as a time to collect 141 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: your thoughts, particularly in the summer, and drive forward a 142 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: weekend thinking and getting to Monday. We have a guest 143 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: who can jump start the Yes, Steve Asman. It's always 144 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: great to catch up with Steve, of course, famed for 145 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: the big Shot I Sman's groups, new Berger Berman Signior 146 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: portfolio manager Stevis grab to catch up with you a 147 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: couple of shorts that you mentioned on TV a little 148 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: bit earlier. But for the benefit of our listeners, let's 149 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: begin with Tesla. It's kind of one of those stocks, 150 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: one of those stories that just separates the longs, which 151 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: are sort of called fans, and the shorts, which are 152 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: called the haters. Um, you're sort of in the latter 153 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: category right now, walk me through it. I'm not a hater, 154 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: I'm a lover. That's a joke. Um. Look, people who 155 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: love tests are like the point. They like to say, 156 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: he's a genius, and he's in my experience over the years, 157 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 1: there are a lot of smart people this world. Um, 158 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,319 Speaker 1: But just because you're smart doesn't mean you're execute well. 159 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: And so far he's not executing well. Um. He's building 160 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: a whole bunch of cars in a tent. He's negative 161 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: cash flow, he's at war with his safety regulator after 162 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: the the unfortunate crash for his autonomous driving car. Um, 163 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: and he's and he's lost a tremendous number of executives 164 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: over the last two years. Those are all negative signs. Now, 165 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: maybe he can pull it out, but as of now, 166 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: it seems to me all the fundamentals are pointing negatively 167 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: and some really peculiar behavior elsewhere. Do you factor that 168 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: in when you have to create short thesis or is 169 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: that separate to what you're walking us through at the 170 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 1: moment um? I don't I factor some of that in. 171 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: I factor more in that. After the autonomous driving accident, 172 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: he announced two weeks later that he was no longer 173 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: cooperating with the National Safety Board. I thought that was 174 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: a very poor decision. And the other stuff I listened to, 175 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: but I don't pay that much attention to. Let's talk 176 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: about the execution of this short. How difficult is it 177 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: to execute? How expensive is it? Just walk us through this? 178 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: It's the fundamental short. It's a very liquid stock. You know, 179 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: you can put the position on before you go out 180 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: and get a cup of coffee and come back. So 181 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: it's for the easiest thing in the world, either by 182 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 1: tesla or short. It must talks about storemy weather and 183 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: short phil Quite often it's there a risk that you 184 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: do get that surprise to the upside and all of 185 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: a sudden the position gets wiped out, Steve, is that 186 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: something you account for? That's of course, I mean you 187 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: have to assize it appropriately. It's a very very volatile stock, 188 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: So it's not the biggest short my portfolio. Um, but 189 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: you know, I I think the stock could go down 190 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: about Is there a biggest short out there for you? 191 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: Then if it's not the biggest short in your portfolios, 192 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: but it's it's not the biggest short because of the motility. 193 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:38,319 Speaker 1: Interstility is wild and the stock tends to move on nonsense. 194 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: So you know, just for I like to sleep at night, 195 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: so I've sized it in a way where it's sleep 196 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: is still possible. Could you explain what you mean by that? 197 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: That's a word I use when I get lecture and 198 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 1: people go, what what do you mean when you say sized? 199 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 1: I'm looking at It's called portfolio sizing. But what do 200 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: you mean when you say sized? Well, first of all, 201 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: my philosophy of investing generally longs and shorts is that 202 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: no position should be so large that your career is 203 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: at risk. So you know, as I said on the TV, 204 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 1: you know, my biggest long position is four and my 205 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: biggest short position is about three and a half percent. Um, 206 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: my smallest short position is about one and a half percent. Position. 207 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: You know, Tesla is is size more towards the smaller 208 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: end of the scale. Um, not because I don't think 209 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: there's a lot There isn't a lot of downside. I 210 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: do think potentially there's a lot of downside, but it 211 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: tends to be an extremely volable stock. And what tends 212 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 1: to happen with stocks like that is your day gets 213 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: consumed completely by that one stock, And when your day 214 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: is consumed by one stock, you can't think about the 215 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: rest of your portfolio, and so I try to avoid 216 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: situations like so, just to be clear here, the same 217 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: here at bloom Bogs reached down to testa for comment. 218 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: UM represent STIPs for for Tesla have not immediately returned 219 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 1: a co full comment on this position of yours. Steve, 220 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: Is it about the space that Tesla is operating in 221 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: or is it about Tesla? Do you think there could 222 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: be winners in this space, because quite clearly Elon Muski 223 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: is having a very difficult time rolling this out in 224 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: mass production. Well, look, I think when you look at 225 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:26,439 Speaker 1: the the car space, the real future is going to 226 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: be autonomous driving. You know, he's gotten big in the 227 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: electric car space, but I really think that we're leap 228 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: frogging now towards autonomous driving, and the two largest players 229 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: in a Toronto's driving are Google and GM, and as 230 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 1: far as I can tell, um, Tesla is a very 231 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: distant party in that space. Your other short that you 232 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: mentioned to us, and there are longs, including your enthusiasm 233 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: for Mr Bezos and Amazon, was Zillo, which is a 234 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: whole different beast. It's again a smaller single story if 235 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: you would, how do you handle a given short like 236 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: a Zillo Z versus something with notoriety like a Tesla. Well, 237 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: Zilla was a larger short, and the vectors up. I mean, 238 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: you're really going against now, I'm going against I'm going 239 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: against a trend in the sense that Zillo is considered 240 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,959 Speaker 1: to be what's called a platform, and the platform space 241 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: is the hottest space in the Internet, so that I 242 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: have going against me Um. But not all platforms are 243 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: created equal, and this is a platform where I think 244 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: the addressable market is much smaller than the company is saying. 245 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: The growth rate of the company has slowed in its 246 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: basic business enormously over the last year or so. And 247 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: then the thing that really took tilted me over the 248 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: edge with respect to Zillo was when they announced earlier 249 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: this year that they were entering a new business, which 250 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: was they were going to use their own capital to 251 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: buy houses and flip them. And you know, you could 252 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 1: have arguments about how good or bad the basic businesses, 253 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: but it's definitely a cash flow positive business doesn't require 254 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: a lot of capital. They're now entering into a low 255 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: margin cyclical business where if we go into recession, that 256 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: business will do particularly badly. Steve Osman, it has been 257 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: great to get your thoughts this morning. Thank you very much. 258 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: Iisman Group Newberger Berman, Senior portfolio manager. Why don't you 259 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: bring in mr rupt Gear as we see the the 260 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: yield come in a solid basis point two point nine 261 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: six Chris Rapki joining us NATCHI financial economist m uf 262 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: G a Union bank. You thought, she really thoughts Chris, Yeah, 263 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: it looks like a pretty terrific number. As they say, 264 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: it had a four handle. I was surprised by the 265 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: strength of consumers spending because it didn't look like car 266 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: and light truck sales were all that strong. I guess 267 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: we're of the teen point four million annual rate in June. 268 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: Um exports look like they're pretty strong. I still think 269 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: you can say that you can make the case that 270 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: this is the high water mark for growth here certainly 271 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: this year, and that everything clicked this quarter, um, and 272 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: we'll see what happens in the future. I think some 273 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: of the trade uncertainty is still a problem, even with 274 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: the agreement with the European Union. Well, Chris Let's unpacks 275 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: that first of all, as Tom says, going beneath the 276 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: headline number you've picked up on that trade story, how 277 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 1: much of a contribution did we get from a build 278 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: up ahead of tariffs being introduced that will likely not 279 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: be in the number in the back half. Just trying 280 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: to get my Bloomberg screen going here, Well, better get 281 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: going net ex Well, exports add at one point one 282 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: percentage point, and the drag from imports was minimal. So 283 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: does look like certainly, uh you know, they people we 284 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: exported more to the rest of the world to get 285 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: ahead of some of these made tariff uncertainty that one 286 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: percentage point. Yeah, I've got a first look at seven 287 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: point four percent current g d P. That's a whow statistic. 288 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: I've had a search here to figure out what that 289 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: gives us. US goes back to is seven point four 290 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: percent boom nominal GDP A healthy condition. Well, yeah, I 291 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: mean you can do the same thing by saying, uh, 292 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: you know, for some reason, inventories was a huge drag. 293 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: I mean, first off, we revised the data back to 294 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: um I wasn't there, so we'll have to study this 295 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: a little more. But I was surprised that inventories subtracted 296 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: one percentage point. So even though we missed at four 297 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: point one percent, it was actually five point one percent. 298 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: Which also, you know, if we take out inventories, which 299 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: are just you know, they go back and forth every quarter. 300 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: Uh so the underlying potential rate real growth is like five. Really, 301 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: the economy is quite strong with I think the Trump 302 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: administration has a reason to crow about it. I don't 303 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 1: know if they'll be crowing quite the same way. No, 304 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: but still real final sales John Ferrell or five and 305 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: that's a that's around statistic that uh is just absolutely 306 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: absolutely extraordinarius. Another way, overwhelmingly, the consensus view now is 307 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: this is as good as it gets. Chris, tell me 308 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 1: why this can't be self fulfilling. Why these kind of 309 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: numbers can inspire confidence in the economy and drive things 310 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: forward even more? Well, I mean it comes down to 311 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: the battle between the Trump administration. Remember the famous US 312 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: Treasury one page economic growth forecast that came out with 313 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: to justify the tax cuts. Now, the administration is looking 314 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 1: for three percent growth starting in two thousand and twenty 315 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: forever as far as the eye can see. But the 316 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 1: economics profession, as shown by FED official forecasts, have GDP 317 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 1: being two in two thousand and twenty. So the tax 318 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: cuts that economists see is one year phenomenon in trailing 319 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: out in two thousand nineteen. So the economics world say 320 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: has two percent growth starting two thou administrations say is three. 321 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 1: So I mean there's quite a difference. And the reason 322 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: between the two is the the economists have come down 323 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: on the idea of demographics are very big. They ignored 324 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 1: it for years now. They think the graying of society, 325 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: low birth rate, that's gonna doom economic growth, or at 326 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: least keep it down at load percent range. Chris Rob, you, 327 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: what's your run rate for for US GDP. I think 328 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: we're gonna get close to three percent, not quite in 329 00:18:57,920 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: the next couple of years. I haven't like two point 330 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: eight two point nine. I'm not quite as bearish as 331 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: some of the set official forecasts, but not quite as 332 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: uh as Blue Skies for the economy, I don't I 333 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: don't see the administration forecast is being that good either. 334 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, Chris ROPPI greatly appreciate it, And for 335 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,199 Speaker 1: the record, I would note that Mr Rupprie has been 336 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: an optimist on the American economy. Margie Battell looks at 337 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: the same day that we look at uh in a 338 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: high yield in bonds, in dividend, paying in dividend, and 339 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,879 Speaker 1: growing equities at Wells Fargo Asset Management. Margat I happened 340 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: to be looking at contribution to g d P. Exports 341 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: is jaw dropping goods, boom services not bad, but export, 342 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 1: the export char coming off of two thousand and fifteen 343 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: and particularly coming off the election, is extraordinary. You are 344 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: very optimistic on the markets. Is it because we're an 345 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: export juggernaut? Uh? Well, really it's everything everything. US business 346 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 1: is extremely productive, globally competitive. Global growth is at least 347 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: okay to picking up a little bit. So conditions here 348 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: are great. Our manufacturers in particular have lowered their costs. 349 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: They have such a flexible cost structure they can compete 350 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: with anybody even if the dollar moves up, which of 351 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 1: course it has I mean the dollar dynamics are tangible. 352 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: Is a kind of report today in the interior data 353 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: of the report enough to shift the bond market priced down, 354 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: yield higher, Not as long as you have inflation so 355 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: well behaved, and not as long as the treasury market 356 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: is still has a competitive yield compared to yields of 357 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: other developed countries. It's incredible that our yields are so 358 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: much hard and say your yields in Europe. So I 359 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: think that for a safe haven for investors to get 360 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 1: something like a three percent is going to keep a 361 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 1: lid on how fast rates can go up, assuming inflation 362 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 1: days where it is. Have you changed your portfolio a 363 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 1: lot in the last ninety days? I mean the toxic 364 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 1: not toxic, the cocktail rather of booming economic growth four 365 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 1: point one percent with a real final sales folks nicely 366 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: above five. I mean, do does that make you change 367 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 1: your portfolio? Have you been you vacationing in Iceland? No? 368 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: I've been thinking for a long time that the market 369 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: is set up under estimating how strong and how sustainable 370 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 1: the growth is. And I think that a lot of 371 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,199 Speaker 1: market players still are geared as if tomorrow is going 372 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: to be two thousand and eight. Again in the market's 373 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: going to drop. Where do you wrong on rates too? 374 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 1: They're not going to go up, that asked. Okay, they're 375 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: on rates as well, which means price stability. But what 376 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 1: does it mean for dividend growth? And where can you 377 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: find intelligent dividend growth backed by free cash flow? I 378 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: think in just about all sectors except for those that 379 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 1: are under structural pressure because of global forces. Um. I 380 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: think retailing is a sector that is continuing to suffer 381 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: because of the Internet trend. And I think, really you 382 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,400 Speaker 1: look at a sector like autos. Yes, people have more 383 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,879 Speaker 1: money to buying more cars, but too much global competition, 384 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:35,360 Speaker 1: too much capacity. We have a headline out now Margie 385 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: Patel to speak on the American economy at eight one am, 386 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: and just behind that Bloomberg headline, President Trump will speak 387 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: to the nation a m this morning, uh New York 388 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 1: time on the US economy. Pim Fox, Why don't you 389 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,880 Speaker 1: jump in here as we speak with Margie Patel, Wells Fargo, PIM. 390 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: I mean this is this is this is an economy 391 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: Pim from years in my childhood. Well, well, well we 392 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: won't go there. This is big numbers. These are big 393 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: numbers and market. One point to you is how much 394 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: do you believe the investors smart investors are willing to 395 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: pay for every dollar of earnings? Now do you think 396 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:24,719 Speaker 1: that's changing? I think they should be willing to pay 397 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,439 Speaker 1: a bit more um. If you say that, you know, 398 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: going forward, PE is roughly seventeen is. I see no 399 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: reason why they can't go up a turn or two. 400 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 1: You know, the argument that well as rates go up, 401 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 1: pees gets compressed. Again. I'm skeptical of the naysayers on 402 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 1: how well the economy is going to do, how all 403 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 1: the equity market is going to do. Is that because 404 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: they're going to have to be competitive in terms of 405 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: trying to actually purchase shares some companies. In other words, 406 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,959 Speaker 1: why would they be willing to pay more? Because you 407 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: can see this cycle is different because it really doesn't 408 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: look cyclical, It looks more secular um. Just as Milton 409 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: Friedman said, if you have a passive monetary authority, you 410 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: can allow for more sustainable growth. And we're finally seeing 411 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: once again he's being true, and I think that's it. 412 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: And you're not going to see the kind of inflation 413 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: that would really cram down equity values or or put 414 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 1: the financial pressure on sectors. Financial sector, Do you believe 415 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,120 Speaker 1: that that is going to be one industry group that's 416 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: going to perform. I'm extremely lukewarm on the financial sector 417 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: again because unless you have a boom and bus lending cycle, 418 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: I just do not see where the growth is coming from. 419 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:42,920 Speaker 1: And this whole recovery has not been grown by increased leverage, 420 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:47,199 Speaker 1: so I have very minimal exposure. That's really interesting in 421 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: the sense of how you get to that decision. You're 422 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: talking about lower rates than people expect, you're talking about 423 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: a better economy. Those those those bring on this ambiguity 424 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 1: within banks, and that's distilled to yield curve. Is it 425 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: just they can't make net margin, they don't have to 426 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: spread between long and short well exactly. That was a 427 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: big case for I think all the macro stories are 428 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: are pretty pretty wobbly. But just as far as what 429 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: sector is going to borrow, it doesn't look like housing, 430 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: it doesn't look like it's consumers, it doesn't look like 431 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: it's business. So who's left I didn't see much Markie. 432 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 1: One more question. I want to go to pim Fox 433 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:25,919 Speaker 1: in this in a moment, if you look at the 434 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: first quarter corporate profits. It's amazing the tax effect, the 435 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 1: legislation effect. Can you say that this quarter was based 436 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: off Mr Trump's tax reform legislation. I think we're only 437 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: beginning to see the positive benefits of that on the 438 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: corporate side and then flowing ultimately over into consumers. So 439 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 1: I think this has very, very long life at the 440 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: beginning of it. Markt Ptel, thank you so much, greatly 441 00:25:55,119 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 1: appreciate it with her optimism on the American the County. 442 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Bloomberg Surveillance podcast. Subscribe and 443 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:16,879 Speaker 1: listen to interviews on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, or whichever podcast 444 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:21,159 Speaker 1: platform you prefer. I'm on Twitter at Tom Keene before 445 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 1: the podcast. You can always catch us worldwide. I'm Bloomberg Radio.