Topley’s Top Ten – November 15, 2018

1.Earnings…Positive Sales Surprise Slow Down.

Jefferies

3Q earnings did not materialize as the positive catalyst investors were hoping for following Powell PBS, Pence China speech & US-China sentiment deterioration, PPG pre-announcement, IMF global growth downgrade, etc – all in early October.

The qualitative commentary from Q3 included slowing demand in China/EM/Europe (particularly auto), margin pressure, and trade war impact.

The average sales surprise was the lowest going back to 1Q17 – breaking a largely positive surprise trend over the prior 6 quarters.

Source: Jefferies Trading Desk

Through and following Q3 earnings, 2019 consensus EPS has been revised lower.

Again, the trend is more worrisome than the dollar amount – thus far – reduced.

Source: Jefferies Trading Desk
Percy Allison vix
Equity Trading, Desk Strategist
Jefferies LLC

2.All The Technical Traders Talking About Testing the October Low.

S&P vs. October Low.

www.stockcharts.com

VIX Volatility Index..Will It Break to New Highs?

 

3.Trucking Loads Hockey Stick Growth Since Bottom and Spike in Mid 2017

Source: Cass Information Systems

https://blogs.wsj.com/dailyshot/

4.Interesting Look at Chinese Tech Premium Shrinking.

Time to consider Chinese tech stock

Richard TurnillBlackRock Global Chief Investment Strategist

The long-term potential in Chinese tech firms may be underappreciated amid strained U.S.-China relations. Richard explains.

It’s been a tough year for Chinese technology stocks. The fast-growing sector has led emerging market (EM) indexes down amid rising U.S.-China tensions. The upside: The decoupling of Chinese tech from U.S. peers is set to accelerate amid a struggle for tech dominance, giving it diversification benefits. And valuations have fallen.

Full Read

https://www.blackrockblog.com/2018/11/13/chinese-tech-stocks/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=hero&utm_campaign=hero

 5.Oil 12 Straight Days and Counting…Not Even Close to 1 Yr. Lows Yet.

Crude oil…Still well above 2017 levels.

www.stockcharts.com

6.Dollar Has Been Following FED Holding of Treasuries…Could Be More Upside.

QT vs the US Dollar:  One potential consequence of quantitative tightening is a stronger US dollar. The chart below lays out a potential scenario of a dollar surge, and the economic logic makes sense. (source)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-5-charts-week-callum-thomas-8d/

7.Fed’s Favorite Inflation Gauge Hovering Right At Target…Watch for Move Above.

Greenspan Says U.S. May Be Seeing the First Signs of Inflation By Sarah Foster

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-14/greenspan-says-u-s-may-be-seeing-the-first-signs-of-inflation?srnd=premium

8.Rising And Falling U.S. Dollar Environments Since 1985.

From Nasdaq Dorsey Wright.
www.dorseywright.com

9.Uber lost nearly $1 billion last quarter as the ride-hailing giant’s growth slows

Graham Rapier

  • Uber reported its third-quarter financials to select media outlets on Wednesday.
  • The numbers show widening losses and slowing growth as the ride-hailing giant races towards a public stock offering.
  • It’s the first time the company has provided specific data for Uber Eats.

Uber has released its in-house financials for the third quarter. The numbers show widening losses and slowing growth for the ride-hailing giant as it races towards an IPO as soon as next year.

Here are the important numbers:

  • Revenue: $2.95 billion, up 38% from the previous year.
  • Adjusted net loss: $939 million, up 38% from the previous quarter.
  • Gross bookings: $12.7 billion, up 34% from the previous year.

While revenue is still climbing steadily, the increase is much smaller than its 63% year-over-year jump in the second quarter, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“We had another strong quarter for a business of our size and global scope,” CFO Nelson Chair said in a press release. “As we look ahead to an IPO and beyond, we are investing in future growth across our platform, including in food, freight, electric bikes and scooters, and high-potential markets in India and the Middle East where we continue to solidify our leadership position.”

Uber Eats accounted for $2.1 billion of overall gross bookings, and is growing at more than 150% annually, according to Tech Crunch. It’s the first time Uber has broken out specific data points for the service, which is also now included in Uber for Business, allowing employees to expense meals in addition to rides.

As it eyes an IPO as early as next year, the company is looking to trim its losses and increase recurring and diverse revenue streams, both of which Wall Street will be looking for. It’s even reportedlyconsidered selling off a minority stake in its cash-intensive Advanced Technologies Group, which handles things like self-driving cars, to help with cash burn.

Uber is racing towards an IPO as soon as next year, with reported valuations as high as $120 billion. Lyft, its much smaller but still closest competitor, is also aiming to go public, with a valuation near $20 billion. Lyft has already signed on Credit Suisse to assist in the book-running for its listing, with others reported to also be on board.

There’s still no word on when exactly the company may file its registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but investors will likely be clamoring at the gate when Uber heads to Wall Street. In October, Uber sold $2 billion worth of high-yield bonds in an oversold auction that had more demand than could be fulfilled.

https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-quarterly-losses-expand-while-growth-slows-ahead-of-ipo-2018-11

Uber Lost $1B a Quarter Back in 2016

10.A Life Lesson for Everyone

WHY RYAN ARCIDIACONO NEVER GETS OUT OF THE WAY

“I TRY TO BE THE HARDEST PLAYING GUY ON THE FLOOR NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS”By Sam Smith4 MIN READ

Ryan Arcidiacono has this annoying little flaw. He often doesn’t get out of the way when you think he’s supposed to, like Saturday in the United Center, when the Cleveland Cavaliers with 13 seconds left in the game lined up a play to go at Arcidiacono for a win. Arcidiacono forced rookie Collin Sexton into a miss and Jabari Parker followed up with a block on Sexton’s second effort to insure the Bulls 99-98 victory.

“I love all my teammates, especially Archie,” said Parker. “He plays hard, and that’s the person I aspire to be. I look up to him a lot.”

 

Arcidiacono also was supposed to get out of the way two years ago when no NBA team chose to select him in the 2016 draft, when he was waived in training camp by the San Antonio Spurs and spent the season in the G-league. And then when he tried to go play in Italy the deal fell through and he ended up with the Windy City Bulls. An NBA player? Nice kid, tries hard, but, really? This is the NBA.

Well, Arcidiacono not only got there with the Bulls this season, but Saturday the 6-2 point guard started his first NBA game, set a career high with 15 points making three of four three pointers and had as big an impact on the game as any of his teammates, recording a team best plus/minus game rating.

“Ryan was awesome,” agreed Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. “He was the best plus/minus guy we had, a plus-11. And he shot it well. He’s playing with a ton of confidence right now. He’s our best talker out there on the floor right now with Bobby (Portis) on the bench. He was really good all across the board.”

Arcidiacono’s development and improvement, as unlikely as it’s seemed, is one of the feel good stories of the NBA and another encouraging G-league narrative, that if you commit yourself to compete and improve, even you can be an NBA player. Well, not quite everyone. But no one thought Chicagoan Alfonzo McKinnie was an NBA player. But with stints at Windy City and the Toronto G-league franchise, McKinnie is now a vital player in the rotation of the champion Golden State Warriors. Most believed when Arcidiacono made that game winning pass to Kris Jenkins for Villanova’s 2016 NCAA championship, the hard working little guard was going to have some great stories to tell his insurance clients.

Look, nice story, but let’s get serious. It’s the league of LeBron and KD and, OK, Steph, but did you see how he shoots?

Arcidiacono had herniated disc surgery in high school and finally made second team all-East as a senior. Second team? He never averaged more than 12.5 points in college and not double figures in Summer League. Summer League? C’mon kid, you almost could hear the NBA guys saying, you’re in the way.

Which is perhaps the best thing about Ryan Arcidiacono. He doesn’t accept assumptions or defeat. So he fell in love with Hoffman Estates.

“I embraced it fully,” Arcidiacono says about his time with the Windy City Bulls. “It’s an opportunity to be seen by a lot of teams. I knew I was spending most of my time there, so I wanted to see if I could keep improving my game and just try to contribute when I was up here. But at the end of the day, I thought, ‘You are just playing basketball for a living. So why not make the most out of it.’”

 

It’s not the attitude of some G-league players who resent the circumstances. But the G-league is becoming a vital feeder for the NBA, and Arcidiacono is one of the prime examples.

“You definitely have your fair share of guys who think that (they shouldn’t be there),” Arcidiacono agreed. “But it’s more about embracing it and making the most of it. Because if you have one foot out of the door while you are there you’re not going to get what you can out of it and improve.

“I liked it a lot,” said Arcidiacono, who is now 24. “I got my foot in the door with an NBA team. I think the league itself is a good transition from college to the NBA and a professional life-style. It definitely fit me. Charlie (Henry, coach) worked on my shooting a ton with (assistant) Jannero Pargo. I was with Fred all summer, coach Nate (Loenser). They really tried to emphasize things in my shot, to shoot with confidence and put me in situations to be successful. They helped me extend my range and have that solid base. I really learned.

“I couldn’t really envision this from a year ago,” Arcidiacono admitted. “I feel I’m a confident person and I felt I could play in this league. So I’ve been chipping away at it. A player like me—I don’t want to beat on myself about the athleticism I don’t have—but it’s probably a little bit tougher (to make the NBA). So you grind away and take it day by day and just try to find the little things you can do to help a team in a game, in practice, trying to help in any way you can.

“I never took it as ‘No one wants me,’” Arcidiacono said. “I just tried to get better. From where I was last year, it shows anything can happen. So stick to it and try to make the most out of it and not give up on that NBA dream. If someone like me can make it here and have an impact, it shows you can be a leader without playing a lot, that you can help a team without playing a lot, which I felt I did last year and this year and this summer, and you gain respect. Whether you are playing a lot or a little, you can still be the most vocal and the hardest worker.

“I try to be the hardest playing guy on the floor no matter what the situation is,” Arcidiacono says. “If everyone could do that I wouldn’t have a job.”

Something for everyone to think about.

https://www.nba.com/bulls/features/why-ryan-arcidiacono-never-gets-out-way