1 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg pm L podcast. I'm Pim Fox. 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,159 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 pm L podcast 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: on iTunes, SoundCloud and at Bloomberg dot com. In the 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: past month, we have gotten some details about the White 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: House's potential budget, but what will this mean for the 9 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 1: US is credit rating. I want to bring in Sarah Carlson. 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: She's vice president and senior analyst for Moody's Investors Service 11 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: in London. And Sarah, you know, we haven't gotten that 12 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: many details, and perhaps on purpose, we've found out that, uh, 13 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: it will not be released in a more sort of 14 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: a fully baked proposal until it is more fully baked 15 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: and and it's already pastbuster with some of the members 16 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: of Congress. But Sarah, so far do you see anything 17 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: that could lead Moodies to downgrade the US from its 18 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: triple A rating currently? Well, so far, I mean it's 19 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: important to stress that the thing that's going to be 20 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: really important for the USS sovereign rating at Moodies is 21 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: really what the future path for entitlement spending looks like. 22 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: The kind of detail that we've got so far really 23 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: doesn't move the dial one way or another there, because 24 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: whatever spending cuts, the balance between spending cuts and spending 25 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: increases that we're seeing so far don't really create additional 26 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: fiscal space for the kind of rise in an entitlement 27 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: spending that we're expecting to see over the next five 28 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: ten years. Sarah, the number twenty rattles around in my 29 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: brain a lot, because I think we're are we at 30 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: the twenty trillion dollar mark in terms of federal debt? Uh? 31 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: In terms of federal debt, No, they're not. Um So, 32 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: I thought that was the US the US Treasury total 33 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: public debt outstanding. It could be publicly held debts, So 34 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: it's less than that because remember, the US is about 35 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: a trillion dollar economy, twenty trillion dollar economy and um, 36 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: so that would make the Deutch GDP ratio, which it's 37 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: not right because it actually is heading in the wrong direction. Right. So, Sarah, 38 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: what are you going to be looking at when we 39 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: do get more details about President Trump's budget proposal to 40 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 1: determine whether or not affects the credit worthiness of the 41 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 1: United States. Sure, I mean the big thing, as I said, 42 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: that that will really matter is what happens with the 43 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,399 Speaker 1: future deficit trends and what that means for future debt trends. 44 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: The US does have the highest debt burden of all 45 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: of the Triple A rated economies. Now, it has some 46 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: other strengths that those other countries don't have, like the 47 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: role that the dollar place in the international financial system 48 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: by something. But as I say, that's really important to 49 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: see what's happening with the debt trajectory. And given the 50 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: role that entitlement spending plays in the overall federal budget. 51 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: Your mandatory outlays are just under two thirds of total 52 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: expenditure by the US, and entitlements are a huge component 53 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: of that. That's going to be really important and we'll 54 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: be absolutely key for the future rating trajectory. When I 55 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: was taking a look at the Congressional Budget Offices UH 56 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: forecast for where the deficit would go in the US, 57 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: one thing that caught my attention was the increasing provision 58 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: set aside for interest payments. How have you modeled for 59 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: the rise in benchmark yields in the US, and how 60 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: that might play into the credit worthiness of the country. Well, 61 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: our expectations for interest expenses are very similar to those 62 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: of the Congressional Budget Office. So in fiscal two thousand sixteen, 63 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: net interest expenses were around six point four percent. We're 64 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: expecting that to go no worth of eleven in fiscal okay, 65 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: So based on that, what's the underlying assumption for treasure yields? Uh, 66 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: There isn't an unther we it changes from year to year. 67 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: Doesn't have to have to have like a sense of 68 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: how much it could go up because I mean, for example, 69 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: if some of the more dramatic projections for say ten 70 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: year yields to go up to five percent in the 71 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: next two years, that would shoot up a lot more. No, 72 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: of course it would, um. But it also depends, for example, 73 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: on the maturity structure of the US that stocks. So 74 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: it's not quite so simple as just saying what is 75 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: the ten year treasury yield? But are the bottom line 76 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: for us is that our expectation is if you look 77 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: across the various maturities for US, that that you'll see UH, 78 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: net interest expenses as a percentage of total spending almost 79 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: double between now and is there a number there that 80 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: we can look at. I mean I was thinking, for example, 81 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: on the Treasury Direct website, you can get this for 82 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: each quarter, and we're talking about a hundred and eighty 83 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: eight billion dollars that's just for this fiscal year. UM. 84 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: I mean yeah, to give you a sense again of 85 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: what's expected for this year, the CBOs baseline assumption is 86 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: for seventy billion, rising almost a three hundred billion next year, 87 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: and so on and so forth. You're at just over 88 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 1: sixty billion. Sarah, real quick. In two thousand and eleven 89 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: SMP downgrade at the U S has Moody's reconsidered whether 90 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: they ought to do the same. Uh. The rating and 91 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: the out the stable outlook on the US is triple A. Uh, 92 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: you know, is what it is. UM. But as I say, 93 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 1: the thing that's really going to be important for US 94 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: going forward is what happens with entitlement spending. UM. Because 95 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: while there is a great deal of discussion about some 96 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: other budget items, uh, those things things like Medicare and 97 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: Social Security really dwarf all other expenditures that the US makes, 98 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: even dwarf military spending. Thanks very much, Sarah Carlson, Vice President, 99 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: Senior analyst at Moody's Investor Service giving us a little 100 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: bit of detail on the federal debt and the interest 101 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: payments that are going to eat up an even larger 102 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: portion of the federal budget. Here to help us sort 103 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: of decipher at least the Keystone XL pipeline is minal 104 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: vem bu Car. I want to thank you very much 105 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: for being here. And UM, I know I messed up 106 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 1: your name, but I'm sorry, but you are the Van Burker. 107 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: I beg your pardon. Who is really our best great 108 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: energy reporter for Bloomberg. I've reading your stuff all the time. 109 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: This approval by the by the President for the Keystone 110 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: excel is is this a done and dusted situation or 111 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: are we just going to spend a lot of time 112 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: paying lawyers now lots of lawyers. Um, it's not done 113 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: in dusted. It was expected that Trump would approve the pipeline. Um, 114 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: you know, he already kind of helped Dakota access UH 115 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: finish up their project, and we were expecting the federal approval. 116 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: But it's far from over. Um. Last time, the company 117 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: encountered a lot of problems in Nebraska and it's really 118 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: the state and local level that they're going to be 119 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: a lot of you know, protests and litigation going forward. 120 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: So this is TransCanada that was granted the permit to 121 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: work on the Keystone Pipeline project, correct, And so with 122 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: this uh particular project, what will the next step be 123 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: for TransCanada to move this closer to a reality? Right? 124 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: So they've applied for approval in Nebraska with the state's 125 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: Public Service Commission and that's kind of a lengthy process. 126 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: There are already opponents who have filed up locations to 127 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: intervene um and you know, turns into this long process 128 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: where the earliest they can actually get approval there is September. UM, 129 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: there's lots of public hearings. Uh, you know a lot 130 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: of stakeholders that have input, landowners, um, environmental groups. Well, 131 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: can you give us a read on how the people 132 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: in Nebraska who would be voting on this currently feel. 133 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: I mean, what's the sort of tea leaves? Where were 134 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,679 Speaker 1: they pointing right now? Well, you know, last time around, 135 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: there were a lot of environmental groups that, you know, 136 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: just as they have with other pipeline projects, chimed in 137 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: about just opposing the use of fossil fuels and developing 138 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: more infrastructure for fossil fuels. But the other side of 139 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: it is the landowners. Um, you know, eminent domain is 140 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,199 Speaker 1: actually an issue where these opponents and Republicans agree, uh 141 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: a few patches of common ground, and you know, the 142 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: land fight is just as much kind of in the 143 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: spotlight as the environmental stuff. Does the price of oil 144 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 1: at forty seven dollars a barrel change the dynamics of 145 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,719 Speaker 1: this project from when it was first conceived, because as 146 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: I understand that the oil was supposed to come from 147 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: is supposed to come from Canada, from the oil sands 148 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: and make its way down to the refining infrastructure that 149 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: the United States has in order to then ship it, 150 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,319 Speaker 1: sell it and make money. Is that something that has 151 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: been affected by the strothan oil prices? Right? I mean 152 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: that's a question that a lot of people are asking. 153 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: When the State Department back issued their environmental review, oil 154 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: was around a hundred dollars of barrel. It's about half 155 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 1: that now, you know, hovering around fifty. And people who 156 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 1: oppose the project will say that, you know, the dynamics 157 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: have changed, it's not economic anymore. Um. The company has 158 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: you know, said that, no, you still need this because 159 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: Canadian production is growing um. But the Canadian government is 160 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: also approving other pipeline expansions too, so it seems like 161 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: that bottleneck that you kind of have in Canada right 162 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: now is easing. How does this fit into the network 163 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: of pipelines that currently exist, because we have the Dakota 164 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: Access pie A plan, which was a separate project but 165 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: is connected. And I believe that a lot of that 166 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 1: confrontation had to do with Native Americans who were alleging 167 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: that the pipeline itself could harm the groundwater and some 168 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: sacred areas that are upstream from their water supply, right. 169 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: I mean the main patch there that got halted was 170 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: the pipe that was going to run under like Ohahi 171 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: and North Dakota, and that I mean, it's still there's 172 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: a case still in court. I mean, the pipeline is 173 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: basically close to being up and running, um and you know, 174 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: the courts haven't stopped that, so practically speaking, there's nothing 175 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: really getting in their way. But that was, Yeah, from 176 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: the tribal perspective, that was a big thing, um, the 177 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: issue of water, and that's definitely something that you'll see 178 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: play out with opposition to Keystone too. When you talk 179 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: about imminent domain how much land would have to be 180 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: seized from private owners to make way for this project. 181 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: You know, that's actually a good question. Um, the route 182 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: in Nebraska changed last time around, when you know, this 183 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:13,839 Speaker 1: thing went on for seven years, um, and so we'll 184 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: we'll see kind of how that plays out after the 185 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 1: the process in the PSC in Nebraska plays out. After 186 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: getting that approval is when TransCanada would choose to invoke 187 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: eminent domain and that would launch, you know, a whole 188 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: new round of litigation, the effort on the part of 189 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 1: President Donald Trump in order to unleash the industrial prowess 190 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: of the United States. Are there regulations in uh in 191 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: place right now that you can say that the pipeline 192 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: owners particularly would like to see a removed I mean, 193 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: is there a process that that is that is under 194 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,839 Speaker 1: threat as well? So, and this is something that we've 195 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: reported on a little bit already. But be sickly, you know, 196 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: on the federal level, for big projects like this, it 197 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: makes a difference. You know, you need State Department approval 198 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: for pipelines across the border. Um, you needed the Army 199 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: Corps approval for the federal land for Dakota access. But 200 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 1: when it comes to this big wave of pipeline opposition. 201 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:20,559 Speaker 1: So much of how these projects get stuck is at 202 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 1: the state level, UM, at the local level. And while 203 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,839 Speaker 1: Trump can green light these big projects, UM, he can 204 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:29,839 Speaker 1: make all the promises that he wants to the oil 205 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: and gas industry, he really can't change the state hurdles. 206 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: That's not up to him. So there's no magic wand 207 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: that he can wait and make everything better. Well, do 208 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: you have a sense of how much economic benefit this 209 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 1: project could lend to the US? You know? Well, I mean, 210 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: because that's that's that's ultimately at the crops of President 211 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: Trump's whole point, right, which is, let's approve these projects 212 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: which are going to make which will make America great again, 213 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 1: bring back jobs, generate growth. So how much growth is 214 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: being estimated from from this pipeline project? I mean again 215 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: the you know what, I'm sorry, I hold that thought 216 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: for another discussion for right now. We turned to President 217 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: Donald Trump's meeting with the National Economic Council at the 218 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: White House. He's expected to address this early announcement recording 219 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: his approval for the Keystone Exile pipeline. As we were 220 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: just talking about, let's listen in I okay, you know, 221 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: it seems like, we're not getting the audio signal right now, 222 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: but we will throw to it as soon as we 223 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: get it. Um. But just to continue on that point, 224 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: I mean, he's talking about the Keystone Excel pipeline inline 225 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 1: with the Economic Council. Let's see if we've got some sound. Now, 226 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: presidential permit for the Keystone Xcel pipeline, Transcanata will finally 227 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: be allowed to complete this long overdue project with efficiency 228 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: and with speed. We're working out the final details as 229 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: we speak. It's going to be an incredible pipeline, greatest 230 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: technology known demand or a woman. And frankly, uh, we're 231 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:07,559 Speaker 1: very proud of it. Russ Curling, President of trans Canada, 232 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: is right behind me, and I'm gonna have to say 233 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: a few words. I know, Russ, you've been waiting for 234 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: a long long time, and I hope you don't pay 235 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: your consultants anything because they had nothing to do with 236 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: you anything. In fact, you should ask for the hundreds 237 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: of millions of dollars backs that you pay them because 238 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: they didn't do a damn thing. Exfecating with no vote. Right, 239 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: it's a great day for American jobs and a historic 240 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: moment for North America and energy independence. This announcement is 241 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: part of a new year of American energy policy that 242 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: will lower cost for American families and very significantly reduce 243 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: our dependence on far and oil and create thousands of 244 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: jobs right here in America. And I also would like 245 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: to add, I think it's a lot safer to have 246 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: pipelines than to use other forms of transportation for your product. 247 00:14:56,280 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: When completed, the Keystone Exhale pipeline will span nine hundred 248 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: miles WOW and have the capacity to deliver more than 249 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: eight hundred thousand barrels of oil per day to the 250 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: Gulf Coast refinery at some big pipeline. The fact is 251 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: that this eight billion dollar investment in American energy was 252 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: delayed for so long. It demonstrates how our government has 253 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: too often failed at citizens and companies over the past 254 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: long period of time. Today we begin to make things 255 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 1: right and to do things right. Today we take one 256 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: more step in putting the job's, wages and economic security 257 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: of American citizens first, put America first. As the Keystone 258 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: Excel Pipeline now moves forward. This is just the first 259 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: of many energy and infrastructure projects that my administration will approve, 260 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: and we've already approved a couple of other big ones, 261 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: very very big ones which will be announcing. So in 262 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: order to help put Americans back to work, grow our 263 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: economy and rebuild our nation. And with that, I'd like 264 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: to invite Russ to say a few words. Russ is 265 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: a very highly respected man in the energy world. He's 266 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: president of trans Canada. And I know you're gonna do 267 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: a fantastic job for us and get it up and 268 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: hire plenty of American people. Thank you, ye, thank you 269 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: as president, and uh, this is a very very uh 270 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: important day for us for a company and so on 271 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: behalf and to build thousands of people that have worked 272 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: very hard to get here, as you pointed out, a 273 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: very long time to get here. But we're very relieved 274 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: and very much just want to get to work. Some 275 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: of those folks have with me today the building trades 276 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: with which was Sewan Garvey Um. Some of our our 277 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: destruction contracts from Quanta are types of flyers from from 278 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: well spun Um. There's thousands of people that are just 279 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: ready an itching tip to get to work with a 280 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: lot of work to do in the field. But as 281 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: you pointed out, this is the safest and most reliable 282 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: way to move our ex market. UM, we're gonna use 283 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 1: the best technology. UM. It will create thousands of jobs 284 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: UM and UH tax important tracts revenues in local communities. 285 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: And that something offense overlooked in new projects like this 286 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: is local communities benefit greatly from these projects. It gives 287 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: them tax revenues in which they can invest in schools, hospitals, roads, teachers, nurses, 288 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: all of those things build the fabric of communities and 289 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: UH and make the places better for for those posts 290 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 1: two ways. So again, thank you very much for this opportunity, 291 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: and we're not gonna let you down. Sir. Well, thank you, 292 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: rus And I I know the voters appreciate this. Some 293 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:42,400 Speaker 1: of them expressed it very very strongly. The workers definitely 294 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: appreciated that the building trades heads didn't. But now maybe 295 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: they're gonna start to where my building places got. I 296 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: think they're gonna start to because other people were not 297 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 1: going to be signing this build that I can tell you. 298 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,639 Speaker 1: And if it ever did get done, it would be years. 299 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 1: But I don't think it would have ever gotten done. 300 00:17:58,600 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 1: So we put a lot of people to work, all 301 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: great workers to work, and they did appreciate it, and 302 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: they appreciated Russ very much at the polls, as you 303 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: probably noticed, and so we're very happy about it. So 304 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 1: the bottom line, Keystone finished, They're gonna start construction. When 305 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: I got to see work to do un Neibraska to 306 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: get on permits there, looking forward to working through the 307 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 1: local Uh. You don't why. Nebraska is a great governor. 308 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: They have a great governor. We've been working there for 309 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: some time and I do believe that we'll get through 310 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: that process. But obviously have to engage with the local 311 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: landowners tropical communities. So we're reaching out to those over 312 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: the coming months to get the other necessary permits that 313 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: we need, and then we look forward to start construction. Okay, 314 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure to addressed it will do good. Pets. A 315 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 1: fantastic governor has done a great job. But I'll call 316 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: him today. So thank you all very much, appreciate it. 317 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,959 Speaker 1: Thank you. You've been listening to President Donald Trump. He 318 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: was speaking about his signing of the order approving the 319 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,919 Speaker 1: construction and completion of the Keystone XL pipeline. In the 320 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: him With him were Rick Perry. Uh. He is the 321 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: Secretary of Energy, along with Wilbur Ross, the Secretary of 322 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: Commerce and also speaking there was Russ Girling. He is 323 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: the president and the chief executive trans Canada, the construction 324 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: company that will well the oil pipeline company that will 325 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: operate the Keystone XL Here to just bring us up 326 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: to date, we have Menal van Berger. Did I get that? 327 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: I just have trouble. It's just me. Did you heard 328 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 1: that what the president was saying? And then at the 329 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: very end they talked about Nebraska and that goes to 330 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: what you were reporting, which is that great you get 331 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: the federal permits, but it's the local level that is 332 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 1: the big issue sometimes, right, Yeah, I mean, you know 333 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 1: Trump says, you know, I'll call Nebraska, and they joked 334 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: about that a little bit, but he can't do that. 335 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 1: I mean, and I think, you know, you heard Girling say, 336 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: we've been doing a lot of work in Nebraska, and 337 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: you know, we've spent a lot of years trying to 338 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: figure this out. So I think, uh, you know, they're obviously, 339 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 1: like he said, he's relieved, unexcited. But I didn't think 340 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: they're deluding themselves. They know they have a lot of 341 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: work to do. Still, thank you so much, Mean Van Berger, 342 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: energy reporter for Bloomberg, who has so kindly stayed here 343 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: and reflected on what we have heard, as well as 344 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: the whole situation and the arduous road ahead to get 345 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: this pipeline completed regardless of any presidential sign off. You know, Pam, 346 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: It's really interesting. We hear a lot about activists investors 347 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: in sort of their influence over companies, but it turns 348 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: out there actually is a predictable way to identify which 349 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: companies are vulnerable to such activists intervention. I want to 350 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,679 Speaker 1: bring in Joel Levington, a senior credit analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence. 351 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 1: He is here with us in our Bloomberg eleven three 352 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: oh studio. Joel, We're so happy to have you first 353 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: before we talk about how to identify companies that are 354 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:05,439 Speaker 1: targets or possible likely probable targets for activists. Why is 355 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: it important to know whether a company would be uh 356 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: the target of an activist investor? Sure, Lisa, and thank 357 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 1: you for having me Uh. I think there's implications for 358 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: both the stockholders as well as for bond holders. UH. 359 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: For stocks, it might be a catalyst for improvement if 360 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: you can find UH somebody that can lead the company 361 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: to either improve performance or maybe more optimal balance sheet 362 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: for credit. Uh, it could work the same way, except 363 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: tends to be more negative in that uh, activists tend 364 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: to come in and want to add more leverage into 365 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: a situation, which is uh, you know, would add credit risk. 366 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: So in other words, coming from a credit perspective, you're 367 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: sort of saying, look out, here are some companies that 368 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: could potentially have surprising shifts in their valuations that could 369 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: upend some of your expectations. Right, that's right, Okay, that's right. 370 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: So which companies that you IDEA five? Sure? Well? I 371 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: didn't identify any of them, Luckily, we Luckily we put 372 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,719 Speaker 1: a model together that identified a lot of them. Uh. 373 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:08,399 Speaker 1: And what we did is we broke it out by 374 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: different category, the sectors that they're in, and some of 375 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,919 Speaker 1: the names that screen high or ge which has been 376 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: flagging in our model going back to two thousand and fourteen, 377 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 1: the year before try And actually got involved, as well 378 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: as Ford and Kroger, they stood out as kind of 379 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 1: bigger names for their sectors. What is this measuring? Sure? Well? 380 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,479 Speaker 1: What what what I did is I went back and 381 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: looked at a lot of the research papers that try 382 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: And has produced. And what try And, of course is 383 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: the vehicle by which Nelson pelts the activist investor has 384 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: invested previously in PepsiCo UH and currently I believe has 385 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: a position in a Procter and Gamble, Yes and and 386 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 1: G and pent Air in the world of industrials, and 387 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: so for for them, they looked at a variety of 388 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 1: different factors like sales growth, margins, returns, capital intensity of 389 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: the business and stock performance. And so using the Bloomberg terminal, 390 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 1: we put all these factors together and then started measuring 391 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 1: peers to see like which stood out. And so out 392 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: of that comes our flaggers of for companies UH at 393 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: risk for activism as well as for potential credit reading 394 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: down grades. When we did this the first time on 395 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,959 Speaker 1: June sixteenth last year, UH, the eight names that we 396 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: listed wound up having twelve down grades and no upgrades. 397 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 1: So certainly a credit flagg are as well. You know, 398 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:31,120 Speaker 1: I want to talk a little bit about the composition 399 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: of activist investors. When you first hear that words, you 400 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: think of Carl Icon or some of these other UH 401 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: sort of big figures. But how much of the activism 402 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 1: has shifted to say, mutual fund companies that own a 403 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: lot of a lot of stocks of a specific company 404 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: and can consolidate that to be a pretty big voice. Yeah, no, 405 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 1: it's a it's a very good point, Lisa, and not 406 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: only mutual funds, but the type of activists. Whereas a 407 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: carl Icon might be more aggressive for financial risk changes, 408 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 1: there are others such as Starboard or UM or here 409 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 1: with Tryan where they focus more on the operational side 410 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: and how do we improve operations so which is not 411 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 1: always a negative for credit if you can, you know, 412 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: improve the quality of earnings and sales growth. What would 413 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: be the best use of this information for a bond 414 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: trade bond investor? And then just tell us also for 415 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: an equity investor, how would they use it? Sure? I 416 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: think for a bond investor, the key is, you know, 417 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: here is a identifiable risk? Are you getting paid for it? 418 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:36,480 Speaker 1: That's how I would be looking at it, or at 419 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: least that's how I was on the on the buy side. 420 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,440 Speaker 1: If you are an equity person, and maybe that becomes 421 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 1: a catalyst of change, and then you can start looking 422 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: at the holders and where that might be coming from, 423 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: like who would where's the impetus for it um and 424 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: what would be the earnings opportunity if the company could 425 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: achieve either sales growth or margins or whatever the item 426 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: is akin to its fear set, and that would be 427 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: the opportunity for you know, like earnings and perhaps appreciation. 428 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: You know, Joel, I'm interested in the response that you've 429 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: gotten to this index that you've put together, because for 430 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 1: so many years after the crisis, people just repiling into 431 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 1: indexes and sort of writing this UH beta wave or 432 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: you know, just trying to get just something, you know, 433 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 1: just basically writing the stimulus. But now it seems like 434 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:26,880 Speaker 1: there is so much more focused on picking specific bonds. 435 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: Have you found that as well, without a doubt, without 436 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 1: a doubt, And you know, the customer engagement has been 437 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 1: quite good, and in fact it tends to be Can 438 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: we have more can we get historic data to UH 439 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 1: to test prove the system that will be coming out 440 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: next week? So the baby we'll talk again. Are there 441 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: any areas that you would like to add to this 442 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:52,199 Speaker 1: information pile? Because it's not only what happens, it's the 443 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 1: outcome that matters, right, I mean, it's not just well, 444 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,399 Speaker 1: whether the investor is correct, because in the real world 445 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: outcome might be quite different. That's exactly right, And that's 446 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: one of the great things about the tool UH and 447 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: I guess version two point oh is that because it 448 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: has historic data in it, we can go back and 449 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: measure where activists actually hit UH and what was the 450 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: stock outcome was the bond outcome for most What we 451 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,120 Speaker 1: find is that the bond outcome was fairly negative and 452 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 1: the stock outcome. We have a U S equity strategist 453 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 1: that is going to be writing on that in the 454 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 1: in the near future. Were there any specific companies that 455 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: stood out to you other than the ones you've mentioned, 456 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,679 Speaker 1: because these are big companies General Electric and and so on. 457 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: I mean, you would have to amass a significant steak, 458 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 1: either in bonds or in stock in order to really 459 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 1: influence anything. There Are there any smaller companies that popped 460 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,120 Speaker 1: up on your radar? UH, There's a there's a there's 461 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 1: a lot of companies, even like in the supermarket area. 462 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:49,959 Speaker 1: I guess the things that that I thought were kind 463 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: of interesting was that the system UH certainly flagged on 464 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: more stable companies like a heavily in the supermarket area. 465 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 1: On the industrial side, where you have a steady set 466 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 1: of cash flow, but maybe a margin issue or you're 467 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 1: not growing sales as quick as your peers where something 468 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: could be done both operationally and also could be done 469 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: from a balance sheet perspective. You know, I want to 470 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: switch gears a little bit to another spot in credit 471 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: markets that's been causing a lot of concern for people, 472 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: and that is the auto sector. And I know we 473 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: were talking about this yesterday, Joel. You know, we hear 474 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 1: all about the auto loan losses increasing too, liquids is increasing, uh, 475 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: and and some of the concerns and the poor results 476 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 1: that we've seen as a result of that. How is 477 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 1: this affecting Hurts and you know Avis and some of 478 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 1: these companies that really depend on resale values of cars 479 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: in order to meet their bogies. Sure, well, I'm a 480 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: John Mellencamp fin but this does not hurt so good 481 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 1: for Hurts. Uh. They have really taken it on the 482 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,880 Speaker 1: chin since last November where they significantly lowered their earnings 483 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: guidance because of residual value declines or declines in the 484 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 1: values of used ours when they go to sell them, 485 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: and so they've had to take right offs on that. 486 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: Ford was out yesterday commenting that you know that they're 487 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,639 Speaker 1: seeing declines and values. Also this week, Ali Financial came 488 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: out with commentary basically saying that that they're seeing significant 489 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:18,639 Speaker 1: weakness there too, more than what they expected, which is 490 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:23,159 Speaker 1: really crushed Hurts bonds, Avis's bonds, and to a lesser effect, 491 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: some of the o e ms that are auto manufacturers 492 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 1: that have captive finance companies where that derivative exposure is 493 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 1: going to be as well. Last point to here when 494 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 1: you mentioned Ally Financial, which of course is the old GM, 495 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 1: which is the financing arm. One of the comments that 496 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 1: we got this week about their uh, their position was 497 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: that the subprime borrower in automobile loans is who is 498 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: in trouble. The If you've got good credit, you're paying 499 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 1: your bills. It's the subprime area where we're seeing more 500 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 1: delinquencies and defaults. Yeah, pay me your spot on and 501 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 1: uh my, my colleague Ryan O'Connell has done some great 502 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 1: work on this where he shows like if you look 503 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: at the last three quarters both for Ali Financial and 504 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 1: Capital One, their net charge offs have been increasing each quarter. 505 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: So it's telling you that there's a component of the 506 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: economy that isn't doing as well as you know, like 507 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 1: what might be dictated by by the stock market over 508 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: the last several months that makes sense. Well, thanks very 509 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: much to Levington. He is a Levington. He is a 510 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: senior credit analysts for Bloomberg Intelligence. I always learned something 511 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,080 Speaker 1: new when we when we have you one because you 512 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: focus on something specific and then give us that broad 513 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 1: reason for understanding it. Investing in airlines, let's find out 514 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: from Frank Holmes. He is the chief executive and the 515 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: chief investment officer of US Global Investors. They are based 516 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: in San Antonio, Texas. Frank joins us in the studio 517 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 1: here at Boomberg World Headquarters. Frank, always a pleasure, thanks 518 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 1: for being here. Um airlines, you know warm we keep 519 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: Whenever you hear airlines, I think warm. Buffett. Yes, he 520 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: said he would never invest in them. Now he will 521 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: UM tell us about the whole airline industry as in 522 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: terms of investments, because I would wonder whether there is 523 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 1: any uh, you know, pressure because of potential travel bands 524 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: and changes in the in the legal restrictions about what 525 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 1: goes on in the airlines. I think that there's no 526 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 1: doubt there that impact is some of the global travel. 527 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: But what's really happened. I think that's a change for 528 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: why Buffett and when we first talked about this. In 529 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,719 Speaker 1: launching the jet C t F, the question was he 530 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 1: was a head wind buffett towards the airlines because he 531 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: was anti Now he's a tail wind UH and he 532 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:49,760 Speaker 1: and went into the industry. I think for three reasons. 533 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: One is it's a motor around the industry. It's very 534 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 1: hard to build a new airport or get new UH 535 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: slips to be able to fly back and forth. There's 536 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: a shortage of pilots. The rules becoming a pilot changed dramatically. 537 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 1: The CEO is like the CEO of American airlines, take 538 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 1: stock in lieu of salary, so they're much more focused 539 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 1: on returns on capital bottom line. They have the highest 540 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 1: castle returns and capital in their history, and they're very 541 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,959 Speaker 1: disciplined for it. So I think that that's more significant 542 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 1: of why he spent ten billion dollars buying the four 543 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 1: big pillars of the airline industry. Frank, I'm looking at 544 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 1: your jets e t F which invests in airline shares, 545 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:29,160 Speaker 1: and the expense ratio is point six percent, which is 546 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: actually quite a bit higher than a lot of other 547 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 1: e t f s and equity funds. What do you 548 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 1: do to provide value and earn that point six percent 549 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 1: in this fund. It's a great question. It's a smart beta, 550 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 1: and then they call it a smart beta too, not 551 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:48,520 Speaker 1: only because of how we screen stocks that go into it. 552 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 1: It is the overall structure that the four major airlines, 553 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: which represent of all air travel in America, are forty 554 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: five percent of the of the fund, and they rebalance 555 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 1: each quarter. And then we look at those companies that 556 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: have the highest cash forward turns on invested capital the 557 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 1: what they call the revenue perceived mile, and we screen them. 558 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 1: So there's about a change each quarter of screening old 559 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: stocks that don't qualify for this detailed financial analysis. And 560 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: we did both four thousand hours of research doing back 561 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 1: studies of looking during the when they were through bankruptcy, 562 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 1: what were the best factors to deal with in a 563 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 1: rising market of following market price of oil rising price 564 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 1: of oil falling, And we came up with five factors. 565 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 1: And I really thrilled about it because it's doing exactly 566 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 1: what our performers showed it would do. And our US 567 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: companies are foreign. But what's interesting is that se of 568 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: the names are foreign, so they're only kept it one percent, 569 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 1: so they really don't currency swings don't impair it, but 570 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: it does capture if an airline's is very strong out 571 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 1: of Asia. Uh. And the other interesting part is that 572 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:05,640 Speaker 1: they can buy airports, and airports here are not owned 573 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 1: by the public, but they're very big private equity. Beijing 574 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 1: is a public, Bangkok is public. Uh and also in Mexico. Wa. Wait, 575 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 1: hold on a second, how does an e t f 576 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 1: by airports or a state in airports that are as 577 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:25,920 Speaker 1: you say, largely financed through private equity in debt, Well, 578 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: they're like there, it's more of a private equity model, 579 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: so that the Toronto stock than the Toronto Airport. The 580 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:35,560 Speaker 1: Pearson is a private equo owned by private equity. The 581 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 1: interesting part is that you can buy airports outside of 582 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,680 Speaker 1: the US that are public and they grow their cash 583 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 1: low at a fift caagar uh. So that means every 584 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: five years at doubles. That's very much how private equity functions. 585 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:53,080 Speaker 1: So I think that they qualify and they will show 586 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: up as soon as they're cash flow and their revenue 587 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:59,120 Speaker 1: per share on a quarterly basis is lagging over four quarters, 588 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 1: they're out. This is why you got what the Macquarie 589 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 1: Infrastructure Fund is part of your holding. Yes, and they 590 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,360 Speaker 1: own uh and they have a couple of them, but 591 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 1: the one we own a particular owns airports. Right. Um, 592 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 1: I want to just focus on American airlines because you 593 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 1: brought that up for a second. I mean, this is 594 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 1: a stock that was trading your fifty dollars to share 595 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 1: in January. Also in December, it's down, you know, it's 596 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:25,040 Speaker 1: down almost from those highs. But this is stock that's 597 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,799 Speaker 1: pretty volatile. Airlines are volatile investments, right, I mean this 598 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,080 Speaker 1: was a twenty five dollar stock back in last summer. 599 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: So you've got to be aware of that, don't you. Absolutely, 600 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 1: And the data on on the airline's industry is much 601 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: greater than the overall market and it reminds me of biotechnology. 602 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,319 Speaker 1: And it's also like gold stocks. I was gonna say, 603 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,560 Speaker 1: do you balance this out with your goal position, because 604 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: I know that you you're gonna talk about gold, But 605 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 1: I mean, if you want, if you want volatility, go ahead, 606 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:54,719 Speaker 1: get an airline. But will the gold at around an ounce? 607 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 1: Would that in mitigate any of the volunt that has 608 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 1: a different set of animals to drive the the gold space. 609 00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:04,480 Speaker 1: So energy is what happens in oil prices. Oil was 610 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 1: rising until a couple of weeks ago and then it 611 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: started petering out and falling below fifty dollars, So it's 612 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: psychologically has an impact on the evaluations. Oil won't have 613 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:16,480 Speaker 1: a real significant impact on their cash loollness it's over 614 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:20,080 Speaker 1: sixty dollars in barrel for a period of time, I 615 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:22,920 Speaker 1: don't see that. I think it vacillates in between forty 616 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:26,359 Speaker 1: and sixty dollars price of oil. So these companies are 617 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:30,719 Speaker 1: throwing off lots of cash flow. American is just one 618 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:32,960 Speaker 1: of those those animals, and you're right, they are just 619 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:36,600 Speaker 1: more volatile. But the basket itself, when you own the 620 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:40,520 Speaker 1: e t F lowers that volatility. And that's what's really 621 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:44,279 Speaker 1: important for investors that you are capturing the trend in 622 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:47,120 Speaker 1: the industry. And it's really important to follow middle class. 623 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 1: A rise in the middle class is very important for travel. 624 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:54,200 Speaker 1: Uh two million people a day flying America. The biggest 625 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:56,600 Speaker 1: tourists in the in the world have been Americans because 626 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:59,200 Speaker 1: of the strong middle class of almost a hundred million people. 627 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:03,560 Speaker 1: Now China is an equal of size in middle class, 628 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:05,960 Speaker 1: and so you're seeing the Chinese or they just had 629 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 1: the report of American Airlines. What wanted to take a 630 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:13,719 Speaker 1: potential taken in China Southern Airways, correct, and that's all 631 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:18,200 Speaker 1: trying to cater to this cross the Pacific travel opportunity. 632 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:22,600 Speaker 1: And so I think that we have some unique opportunities 633 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 1: here in this industry because they're much most important for 634 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:29,919 Speaker 1: us as investors. They're much more disciplined on driving high 635 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:32,520 Speaker 1: returns investor capital. Which region in the world do you 636 00:36:32,560 --> 00:36:37,480 Speaker 1: think is the best potential place for airlines right now? 637 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:41,480 Speaker 1: I would think Asia. Uh. You saw how fast last 638 00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:45,000 Speaker 1: year Delta and United cut back a lot of flights 639 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:48,280 Speaker 1: to Europe as a europe euro was falling and trade 640 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:52,719 Speaker 1: coming over here Europeans slowing down. Um. But Asia, the 641 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:56,040 Speaker 1: Hong Kong dollars pegged to the dollar. Uh, it's much 642 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,200 Speaker 1: more stable. And they all want to come to America. 643 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:03,880 Speaker 1: They love America, right, Franklin, thank you so much for 644 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 1: joining US. I really appreciate it. CEO and Chief Investment 645 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:10,360 Speaker 1: Officer of US Global Investors based in San Antonio, Texas, 646 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:17,880 Speaker 1: which is a beautiful, beautiful city. Thanks for listening to 647 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:20,880 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg P and L podcast. You can subscribe and 648 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 1: listen to interviews at iTunes, SoundCloud, or whatever podcast platform 649 00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:28,840 Speaker 1: you prefer. I'm pim Fox. I'm out there on Twitter 650 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:32,680 Speaker 1: at pim Fox. I'm out there on Twitter at Lisa Abramo. 651 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:35,359 Speaker 1: It's one before the podcast. You can always catch us 652 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 1: worldwide on Bloomberg Radio