Leading Independent Investment Research, Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar

Leading Independent Investment Research

Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. We offer an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, and retirement plan providers and sponsors. 

Morningstar provides data on more than 500,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 16 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with more than $180 billion in assets under advisement or management as of June 30, 2015. We have operations in 27 countries.

Download the Morningstar Fact Sheet : http://corporate.morningstar.com/US/documents/MarketingFactSheets/AboutMorningstarFactsheet.pdf

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li class="p1">Exploration and production companies have long relied on capital markets to fund stellar growth, perhaps assuming that persistently high commodity prices would drive sufficiently strong returns in the future to justify their initial excesses.</li><li class="p1">But with crude prices now at once-in-a-generation lows and with a recovery still probably several quarters away, shale producers have been forced to adapt to an environment that few (if any) were built to profitably operate in.</li></ul>Analyst: David Meats

Exploration and production companies have long relied on capital markets to fund stellar growth, perhaps assuming that persistently high commodity prices would drive sufficiently strong returns in the future to justify their initial excesses.But with crude prices now at once-in-a-generation lows and with a recovery still probably several quarters away, shale producers have been forced to adapt to an environment that few (if any) were built to profitably operate in.Analyst: David Meats

Given the large discrepancy that has emerged between 2017-18 Brent futures prices (currently $40-$47 per barrel) and the Morningstar energy team's outlook for midterm oil industry fundamentals, we are amending our methodology for forecasting near-term oil and gas prices.Based on our current expectation that oil supply and demand will come into balance in mid-2017, we are launching updated Brent forecasts of $50-$55 for the second half of 2017 and $55-$60 for 2018 (approximately 20% higher than current strip prices on average). We will update our oil and gas producer valuations with this new pricing by the end of the current earnings period.Analyst: Lorraine Tan, CFA

Given the large discrepancy that has emerged between 2017-18 Brent futures prices (currently $40-$47 per barrel) and the Morningstar energy team's outlook for midterm oil industry fundamentals, we are amending our methodology for forecasting near-term oil and gas prices.Based on our current expectation that oil supply and demand will come into balance in mid-2017, we are launching updated Brent forecasts of $50-$55 for the second half of 2017 and $55-$60 for 2018 (approximately 20% higher than current strip prices on average). We will update our oil and gas producer valuations with this new pricing by the end of the current earnings period.Analyst: Lorraine Tan, CFA 

Oil and Gas Price Outlook: Updating Our Near-Term Methodology for Forecasting Prices

Equity Bottom-Up

Australia & New Zealand Bankin / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>The most compelling equity ideas globally from Morningstar's coverage universe.</li><li>Updated for February 2016.</li><li>Recent Asian additions: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/443" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:443">ANz Bank,</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/914" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:914">Platinum Asset Management</a>.</li><li>Recent Asian deletions: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/711" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:711">Santos</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/693" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:693">Brambles</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/917" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:917">Csl Ltd</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/958" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:958">Qube Holdings</a></li></ul>Analysts: Michael Holt CFA

The most compelling equity ideas globally from Morningstar's coverage universe.Updated for February 2016.Recent Asian additions: ANz Bank, and Platinum Asset Management.Recent Asian deletions: Santos, Brambles, Csl Ltd &amp; Qube HoldingsAnalysts: Michael Holt CFA

FX Strategist

Greg Gibbs

Fundamental analysis of topical themes in FX

Amplifying Global FX Capital

Amplifying Global FX Capital was founded in 2015 and is fully owned by Greg Gibbs. It is a registered company both in Australia and Colorado, USA and is a licensed in Australia to provide financial services.

We are producing a regular trading view orientated macroeconomic analysis of topical themes in global financial markets, with a particular focus on foreign exchange. We invite you to view an “executive summary” of these reports in “AmpGFX Reports” under our “Research” menu.

These reports are drawn from the analysis of Greg Gibbs and inform the capital management he undertakes on behalf of the company. The trading performance is posted periodically on our website. We aim to build our company into both a research and capital management business. We are currently in the planning phase for managing capital for wholesale customers.

Greg Gibbs has spent his working life of more than 26 years in financial markets, beginning in 1989 at the Reserve Bank of Australia, after completing a Bachelor of Economics Degree (Honours) at the Australian National University. He has been a CFA Charterholder since 2005. He has worked in Sydney, Singapore, New York and London for major global banks and presented on foreign exchange markets to major financial institutions and companies around the world, and maintained a high profile in the financial media.

Before Amplifying Global FX Capital, Greg was the Head of Asia Pacific Market Strategy at the Royal Bank of Scotland based Singapore. He now resides in Breckenridge Colorado.

Macroeconomics

S interest rates have fallen significantly this year (-36bp) reducing the USD yield advantage.  This has been matched by the GBP and CAD, but AUD and NZD rates have been much more stable than previous episodes of global risk aversion. The Fed is sticking to its outlook for gradual policy tightening, but weak growth is expected to be reported in Q4, activity indicators are weak heading into 2016, medium and longer term inflation expectations are down sharply, and the only plank left supporting rate hike forecasts is the solid labor market.  However, recent unemployment claims have drifted up, and a considerable pause in US rates appears likely.  The US economy has been dragged back to the pack to some extent by the deep fall in oil prices.  While the US energy sector is not all that large, it is much more cyclical than OPEC countries, and activity in this sector has been a factor slowing the US economy.   We may be moving into a phase where confidence in the US economy is waning.  This may tend to weaken the USD in 2016.  Global risk aversion and weaker commodity prices may also weaken commodity and emerging market currencies, but if perceptions on US monetary policy change enough, even these currencies may recover at some point.

S interest rates have fallen significantly this year (-36bp) reducing the USD yield advantage.  This has been matched by the GBP and CAD, but AUD and NZD rates have been much more stable than previous episodes of global risk aversion. The Fed is sticking to its outlook for gradual policy tightening, but weak growth is expected to be reported in Q4, activity indicators are weak heading into 2016, medium and longer term inflation expectations are down sharply, and the only plank left supporting rate hike forecasts is the solid labor market.  However, recent unemployment claims have drifted up, and a considerable pause in US rates appears likely.  The US economy has been dragged back to the pack to some extent by the deep fall in oil prices.  While the US energy sector is not all that large, it is much more cyclical than OPEC countries, and activity in this sector has been a factor slowing the US economy.   We may be moving into a phase where confidence in the US economy is waning.  This may tend to weaken the USD in 2016.  Global risk aversion and weaker commodity prices may also weaken commodity and emerging market currencies, but if perceptions on US monetary policy change enough, even these currencies may recover at some point.

Founder Evidente. Top rated quantitative analyst, Evidente

Sam Ferraro

Founder Evidente. Top rated quantitative analyst

Evidente

Evidente is an independent financial education firm that delivers innovative financial advice to wholesale investors, including active long only funds, hedge funds, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds, in Australia and globally.  Drawing on academic research in asset pricing, behavioural finance and portfolio construction, Evidente provides wholesale investors with commercial solutions to stock selection and asset allocation decisions across equities and other asset classes.

iShares MSCI Australia / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>In May, I published a report citing recent journal literature that sought to decompose Buffett&rsquo;s Alpha.&nbsp; The authors attribute Warren Buffett&rsquo;s long track record of strong returns not to luck but to reward for leveraged exposure to safe or low beta, quality stocks that are cheap.&nbsp; I applied these principles to the ASX200 stocks and constructed long and short portfolios of around ten stocks each.</li><li>Given the passage of over six months since the initial&nbsp;report was published, this note is designed to report on the performance of the two portfolios as well as expand and update Mr Buffett&rsquo;s investment methodology as applied to the ASX200 stocks.&nbsp;&nbsp;The strategy has been impressive,&nbsp;with the long portfolio yielding an equal weighted return of around 3%, well above the ASX200 (-10%) and short portfolio (-20%).&nbsp; Thus the strategy has produced a long-short return of +23%.</li><li>Evidente has made a number of enhancements to the methodology, including the addition of a market sentiment measure to assist with market timing.&nbsp; The updated&nbsp;long portfolio represents a diverse mix of sectors while energy stocks&nbsp;are still&nbsp;dominate&nbsp;the short portfolio.&nbsp; Thus the key macro risk for the shorts&nbsp;is&nbsp;the prospect of renewed strength in&nbsp;global oil prices in 2016.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>

In May, I published a report citing recent journal literature that sought to decompose Buffett&rsquo;s Alpha.&nbsp; The authors attribute Warren Buffett&rsquo;s long track record of strong returns not to luck but to reward for leveraged exposure to safe or low beta, quality stocks that are cheap.&nbsp; I applied these principles to the ASX200 stocks and constructed long and short portfolios of around ten stocks each.Given the passage of over six months since the initial&nbsp;report was published, this note is designed to report on the performance of the two portfolios as well as expand and update Mr Buffett&rsquo;s investment methodology as applied to the ASX200 stocks.&nbsp;&nbsp;The strategy has been impressive,&nbsp;with the long portfolio yielding an equal weighted return of around 3%, well above the ASX200 (-10%) and short portfolio (-20%).&nbsp; Thus the strategy has produced a long-short return of +23%.Evidente has made a number of enhancements to the methodology, including the addition of a market sentiment measure to assist with market timing.&nbsp; The updated&nbsp;long portfolio represents a diverse mix of sectors while energy stocks&nbsp;are still&nbsp;dominate&nbsp;the short portfolio.&nbsp; Thus the key macro risk for the shorts&nbsp;is&nbsp;the prospect of renewed strength in&nbsp;global oil prices in 2016.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lifting The Lid On Warren Buffett's Investment Secrets (Update)

Australia

Santos Limited explores for and produces natural gas, crude oil, condensate, naphtha and liquid petroleum gas.  The Company conducts major onshore and offshore petroleum exploration activities at oil and gas fields in Australia (Cooper/Eromanga Basins), the United States (Gulf of Mexico), Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The Company also transports crude oil by pipeline.

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Santos Ltd (STO AU)

Moat or Mother Fracker?

Exploration and production companies have long relied on capital markets to fund stellar growth, perhaps assuming that persistently high commodity...

Morningstar, Inc.

Oil and Gas Price Outlook: Updating Our Near-Term Methodology for Forecasting Prices

Given the large discrepancy that has emerged between 2017-18 Brent futures prices (currently $40-$47 per barrel) and the Morningstar energy team's...

Morningstar, Inc.

Equity Best Ideas

The most compelling equity ideas globally from Morningstar's coverage universe. Updated for February 2016. Recent Asian additions: ANz...

Morningstar, Inc.

Confidence in Fed Hikes Waning

S interest rates have fallen significantly this year (-36bp) reducing the USD yield advantage. This has been matched by the GBP and CAD, but AUD...

Greg Gibbs

Lifting The Lid On Warren Buffett's Investment Secrets (Update)

In May, I published a report citing recent journal literature that sought to decompose Buffett’s Alpha. The authors attribute Warren Buffett’s...

Sam Ferraro

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