Friday, 27 June 2014

Coca Cola VS Pepsi?



I would personally choose Coke anyday. 
Not cuz it's Buffet's favourite of the 2.. but cuz it's not a sugary-saccharine reminder of fake movie-lines.


1.       PepsiCo might look like a better investment than Coca-Cola, with higher dividends of $2.62 than Coca-Cola's $1.22 a share. To note: Their yields match at 2.9%.




2.       52-week price range of Pepsi Co is wider $77-$90 than Coca Cola’s 36-42 (Double the difference). This wide difference shows us the volatility and elasticity of PepsiCo and how it can easily reverse the bullish trend.

3.       Unlike Coca-Cola, which has a heavier presence in global markets (Emerging Markets like China and India means it is well diversified), PepsiCo is overly exposed to the US market. PepsiCo although is better brand diversified, as it can claim a better portfolio than Coca-Cola.
Widely known Lay’s and Doritos, non carbonated drink like Lipton Tea, Gatorade and Quaker Oats.

4.       Considering Pepsi Co’s high exposure in Russia and having received its maximum growth from Russia & Brazil, it is a risky pick at the present situation of the chill between U.S.-Russian ties; therefore it could create new uncertainty.

5.       Coke outsources it’s business unlike Pepsi Co. Pepsi Co, therefore has some negative correlation to commodity prices, which is, if commodity prices rise, then Pepsi suffers.

6.       Coca Cola knows how to adapt, It made a diet version of it’s classic and has been consistent. Instead of moving from Carbonated to Healthy Drinks to Snacks.

7.       Coca-Cola is making the right move by partnering with Green Mountain. In addition, Coca-Cola recently increased its stake in Green Mountain to 16%.

8.       Next five years, Coca-Cola's earnings are expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.70%, which is better than the growth of 6.05% seen in the last five years.


COCA COLA
PEPSI
Market Cap (intraday)5:               
184.73B
134.34B
Forward P/E (fye Dec 31, 2015)
18.76
18.12
PEG Ratio (5 yr expected)
3
2.71
Profitability
Profit Margin
18.22%
10.35%
Operating Margin
23.93%
15.22%
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets
7.72%
8.27%
Return on Equity
25.78%
30.55%
DEBT


Total Debt/Equity (mrq):
116.77
140

Saturday, 14 June 2014

Restless Iraq and Thirsty China

Jack & Jill went up the hill
to fetch a million oil barrels,
There broke a fight,
and oil rose its price,
That first them, their indices came tumbling after.



INDIA - The biggest loser!

Currency, that India had been stabilizing for more than 4 months, plummeted to it's 4-month low in one day; due to Iraq tensions that caused Oil prices to rise. Currency that had appreciated itself against ever-so-strong US Dollar could not walk through this chaos, bullet-proof.

(Source: www.seekingaplha.com)

Highly dependent on oil imports, India saw it’s INR and Indices fall the most in over 4 months due to the escalating violence in Iraq which sent crude oil prices to their 10-month high.
Possibly the only country amongst Emerging Markets (EEMs) that felt the tremor of Iraq’s unrest was India. Possibly the only country that kept pacing towards growth was China. Let us question (and answer) - Why..

(Source: www.seekingaplha.com)

So, how is China not affected by Iraq's unrest?
How is Turkey safe from geopolitical tensions in Iraq?
How is South Africa not affected?
How is Brazil untouched? 

(Source: www.etfscreen.com)
ETF Indices as follow:
MCHI- China
EZA - South Africa
EWZ - Brazil
EIDO- Indonesia
TUR - Turkey
INP & INDY - India



CHINA - Thirst is real!

China has been on a hoarding spree for more than half a decade now. Has already bought more than 600,000 barrels a day of surplus crude from January to April, saving itself against world "instability".
By the end of last year, China had collected 141 million barrels of strategic reserve capacity, China National Petroleum Corp said in an annual report released in January.
As China's thirst for crude grows, the International Energy Agency estimates, that by 2030, it will be the world's largest oil consumer, overtaking US.

So, how is China not as affected by the Turkey tensions when it's one of the biggest oil importers in the World?
Porbably becuase most of it's oil is imported by other countries than Iraq.. Saudi Arabia being it's largest crude oil supplier; and also Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Angola, Venezuela and Russia.
ALSO
China's markets' better performance is also the result of release of better than expected Factory production data, which rose 8.8 percent in May YTY, up from 8.7 percent in April. Retail sales increased 12.5 percent and January-May fixed-asset investment growth was little changed at 17.2 percent.


OTHER EEMs:
Why did South Africa and Brazil not tumble down the hill, like India?
Because they are not as highly dependent on oil imports as India, or even China. 
Turkey has been safe and Taner Yildiz, Energy minister of Turkey, has been balancing market sentiments in his country by assuring: “Latest developments in Iraq related to energy sector do not affect Turkey’s crude oil security supply."

Look how US Natural Resources Funds saw a long-time high after oil prices rose this Friday:-

IEO - iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Expl & Prod
IEZ - iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil Equip & Svcs
USL - U.S. 12 Month Oil Fund
USO - US Oil Fund ETF
Chances are the defense sector would see a price hike too, in the near future, if the war-situation gets more tensed.

Thursday, 12 June 2014

INDIA: CONFUSING ‘SONG OF DEBORAH’ TO ‘TAPS’


Unless you find beauty in walking away, you shouldn’t walk away from this beauty.
I clearly remember Modi’s swearing Assembly.. I was at work and everyone was going long and buying Calls; Nifty had closed at 7367 last trading day and opened at 7428; remained at 7400s and suddenly fell back to 7300s.
I was hoping a bullish trend like many others, now that Modi was officially our Prime Minister, but I returned to work next day to Nifty still at 7300s and difference of a billion traded shares (168599276 shares from 26th May’s 273236339).
If noticed, an all time high of Nifty (in its 7500s) and Sensex (in it’s 2500s) have only been witnessed on 16th May 2014 and 26th May 2014 (until 5th June 2014); Election Results Day (Modi’s victory) and Modi’s Swearing Assembly respectively.
It clearly is MODI WAVE! Known for his pro-business attitude, business-friendly policies, speedy clearances; He was everyone’s favourite horse to bet on, be it a Gujrati or a foreign analyst. Then why did the prices fall later?
Because everyone was booking profits.  So, would investors be tempted to book profits again and exit the markets?
Probably, but so what? Isn’t that what Stock Markets are all about? Buy and Sell, Long and Short, Call and Put? A fall (and rise) in market prices is as inevitable as the scorching June heat in North India and as routine as a January blizzard in Colorado. If you are prepared, it can’t hurt you. And when else must you buy stocks if not when prices drop? How else would one make gains?
Sensex and Nifty are the Indexes of the most famous Stock Exchanges of India – BSE and NSE respectively. The following Charts show us the current P/E Ratio of Indices, Nifty and Sensex. P/E Ratio is the price (in Rupees/Dollars) an investor is willing to spend for each rupee/dollar earned from the investment.

NIFTY P/E RATIO 2014

Date
P/E
P/B
Div Yield
Close
1 Apr '14
18.91
3.24
1.37
6,721.05
16 Apr '14
18.79
3.22
1.38
6675.3
23 Apr '14
19.2
3.3
1.34
6840.8
30 Apr '14
18.79
3.23
1.37
6696.4
07 May '14
18.56
3.18
1.43
6652.55
30 May '14
19.82
3.43
1.34
7229.95
2 June '14
20.27
3.5
1.31
7362.5
10 June '14
20.86
3.62
1.26
7656.4
(Source: http://www.bseindia.com/)

Currently, markets are behaving like an ocean on a full moon night taking both the small boats and the ships, to the top of its tides. With Sensex at it’s current P/E Ratio of 18 and Nifty at it’s current P/E Ratio of 19(average), is definitely a country and an ocean away from “cheap”.
Credit Suisse’s Robert Parker thinks going long India (and short China) was a good investment decision as the markets were cheap yesteryear; now markets appear expensive, slightly over-bought and up by 20%, which is when investors would want to book profits.
Whether over-valued or not, investors apparently are willing to pay more expecting the market to outperform, causing the P/E Ratio to have moved up 16 times from last year (Sensex). Nevertheless, India definitely has, very proudly, managed to take off it’s tag of “Emerging Markets”, “Fragile 5” and other Acronyms like BRICS while riding the bulls.

 (Source: SeekingAlpha.com )

The following Comparison Chart shows India (INP) outperforming all other “Fragile 5” economies and iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (IWM); where INP- India, EZA – South Africa, IWM – USA, EWZ – Brazil, TUR – Turkey, EIDO – Indonesia.


Indian Rupee (INR) has trekked the top of the mountain from its spot of World’s weakest currency last August against the dollar (USD/INR – Rs 69) to a very stable and consistent USD/INR Rs 59 for some time now. GDP Growth is presently at 4.6%. WPI is at 5.2%,
Raised interest rates, a dollar-swap program, narrowed CAD, whether that was due to more demand in exports from a fallen Rupee or/and due to oil and gold import curbs imposed by the Government, a pro-business ruling party, easing inflation and a stable currency have resulted in attracting money through FIIs, and helped our markets to rise.

Year
GDP
USD/INR
CAD
1999
8
45.9
-4.1
2000
4.15
45.7
-2.7
2001
5.39
47.7
3.4
2002
3.88
48.4
6.3
2003
7.97
45.9
14.1
2004
7.05
45
-2.5
2005
9.48
44.3
-9.9
2006
9.57
45.2
-9.6
2007
9.32
40.2
-15.7
2008
6.72
46
-27.9
2009
8.59
47.4
-38.2
2010
8.91
45.6
-45.9
2011
6.69
48.1
-78.2
2012
4.47
54
-88.2
2013
4.86
61.5
-36.8
(Source: CSO, RBI, EAC to PM, Ministry of Finance

Enthusiasm has returned to India, with a lot of NaMo slogans and bulls. If this is not the time to go long, then you could be waiting on snowflakes, just to realise the window was shut.
Pessimists might worry about investors’ exit, but that’s the thing about Stock Market.. it’s a Zero-sum game. Someone’s loss is equaled by someone’s gain. Just as a longer winter in the hilly terrain upsets farmers; thrills Hotel industry.
Depreciated INR results in a happy exporter, a rapturous expat; meanwhile vexes citizens planning trip/studies abroad, importers, etc.
Nevertheless, India (along with a few other “Emerging markets”) has proved every short-EEM and catchy Acronyms lover to be someone who was listening to a “Song of Deborah” and condescendingly kept judging it as a tune of “Taps”.