Report
Valens Research

QQQ - Embedded Expectations Analysis - 2018 03 28

The QQQ currently trades at levels relative to UAFRS-based (Uniform) Earnings not seen since 2003, with a 24.4x Uniform (Fwd V/E'). However, even at these high valuations, market expectations are low relative to recent performance, suggesting reasons to believe companies in the QQQ could exceed market expectations

Nasdaq companies have seen Uniform ROA plateau around 36%-40% levels the past five years, as they have focused on accelerating Uniform Asset growth to consistent double-digit levels. As such, market expectations for ROA' to decline from current 36% levels to 34%, with Asset' growth falling to 10%, appears relatively pessimistic. If the companies can just maintain fundamental trends for growth and returns seen over the last several years, there could be potential for equity upside

Valens Market Phase Cycle analysis highlights reasons to think that QQQ companies could sustain fundamentals and exceed market expectations. Corporate management teams are growing more confident about investing in growth, implying Asset' growth may continue closer to recent levels. Also, there are no significant credit headwalls or risks for a credit freeze that could negatively impact corporate profitability, and declining corporate tax rates should boost earnings. Finally, while valuations appear high relative to the past 15 years, there are specific factors, such as currently low inflation and investor tax rates, that warrant higher-than-normal valuations
Underlying
PowerShares QQQ Trust Series 1

Provider
Valens Research
Valens Research

In 2009, just as the dust was settling from the last major equity and credit market crises, we launched a boutique research firm with the intention of breaking Wall Street’s biases and broken incentives:

  • GAAP and IFRS have failed to provide rules for reliable financial statement reporting
  • Stock analyst recommendations are not grounded in disciplined financial analysis
  • Credit agencies have been set up to grossly fail in their responsibilities to investors and the public markets
  • Utter lack of willingness of major research firms to employ the the most advanced forensic analysis available

We sought to provide investors and company analysts with a source of information that changed all that.
Many years later, our business model remains because little has changed on Wall Street.

  • Corporate credit ratings remain years behind the fundamental underpinnings of company performance
  • Stock analysts continue to make recommendations with deeply inherent biases
  • Research firms have failed to break down the walls between credit, equity, and macroeconomic research
  • The governing accounting bodies have created more leeway for mis-estimates and mis-classifications as financials have become unwieldy and overwhelming

The integrity of Valens Research is founded in our disciplined processes and analytics. No “star” analysts. No corporate advisory relationships. No-nonsense opinions and recommendations.

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