What We're Reading

With Inauguration Day here, politics and government policy will continue to be a focus area for the markets. Over the past few months, President Trump has outlined a number of areas for potential changes in government policy.

During each corporate earnings season, it is not unusual for companies to comment on subjects that had an impact on their earnings and revenues for a given quarter or may have an impact on earnings and revenues for future quarters. While the majority of S&P 500 companies will report earnings results for Q4 2016 over the next few weeks, approximately 8% of the companies in the index (42 companies) have already reported earnings results for the fourth quarter (through Wednesday). Have companies in the S&P 500 been commenting on government policies that may change under the Trump administration during their earnings conference calls for the fourth quarter?

To answer this question, FactSet searched for the terms “Trump” and “administration” in the conference call tran

A plan, which on the surface, appears to be very Reaganesque and commendable however business (in my opinion) has mutated since the '80s and I immediately envision Congress ripping this to shreds eliminating the following:

• Eliminating tax loopholes while lowering the Corporate tax rate to a "fair" 28%  - seriously?  As if Corporations suddenly want to pay what someone may deem their  fair share?  It's all about profits baby and low-to-no taxes means profits.
• Removing incentives to relocate overseas.  Corporations have and will continue to shift their mfg to wherever costs are lowest.  What's he smoking and why isn't he sharing?

Give them incentives TO manufacture here (more tax breaks)

He also proposes the sale of America Fast Forward (AFF) bonds to attract private capital to invest in infrastructure investments.  This reminds me of the bonds which were sold in the 50's...........which I don't recall anyone raving about what a great investment they turned out to be.  Just say