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Morning Commentary

APPLE SHINES BUT SHORTS TAKE A BITE

By Charles Payne, CEO & Principal Analyst
1/29/2020 9:28 AM

Tuesday was a solid rebound for the market, especially Technology-led NASDAQ, which got a big lift from Apple (AAPL) ahead of the company’s earnings release. It looks as if the market was onto something.

“…and another blowout quarter in wearables.”

-Tim Cook

Revenue: $91.8 billion versus $88.4 billion consensus

Earnings $4.99 versus consensus $4.54

Guidance: Apple provided the following for its fiscal 2020 second quarter:

"During the holiday quarter, our active installed base of devices grew in each of our geographic segments and has now reached over 1.5 billion. We see this as a powerful testament to the satisfaction, engagement and loyalty of our customers — and a great driver of our growth across the board."

- Tim Cook

For years, folks talked about the Apple “halo effect” with respect to higher sales for things such as iPads, but the installed user base means revenue streams that one day could outstrip iPhones. On that note, some bears say the hardware did too well last quarter, considering current valuations; therefore, the earnings report is a bust. That kind of quibbling is mostly sour grapes. 

Cook also mentioned Wuhan and the safety of workers, noting there is only one supplemental plant in the area, but also admitting there has been a customer slowdown in the region.

Stocks in Apple Universe Traded Higher:

Most companies saw shares lower after reporting earnings after the bell:

All sectors were higher yesterday, even as the rally faded into the close. 

S&P 500 Index

+1.01%

Communication Services (XLC)

+1.15%

Consumer Discretionary (XLY)

+0.98%

Consumer Staples (XLP)

+0.13%

Energy (XLE)

+0.45%

Financials (XLF)

+1.17%

Health Care (XLV)

+0.49%

Industrials (XLI)

+0.65%

Materials (XLB)

+1.13%

Real Estate (XLRE)

+0.25%

Technology (XLK)

+1.91%

Utilities (XLU)

+0.41%

The Fed Steps Up to the Plate

The coronavirus moved the rate cut needle this week, but conventional wisdom sees the rate remaining unchanged at today’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

 

Manufacturing Rebound?

The Richmond Fed saw a sharp increase in January, led by the largest increase in local business conditions since February 2013. New orders also improved nicely to +13 from -13.

The news from the Richmond Fed mirror trends seen in other regional Fed manufacturing releases.

 

Empire Fed

 Philly Fed

The question-and-answer period will see Jay Powell grapple with the role of the coronavirus in Fed modeling. We are eager to hear if his business sources feel good enough after the “Phase One” signing to stop hoarding money and make investments in their businesses.

Portfolio Approach

Today’s Session

Today and tomorrow are the busiest earnings days.  So far, so good, and the futures are pointing to another higher open, ahead of the Fed's policy decision this afternoon. 


Comments
Thanks for your reporting. Your APPLE UNIVERSE should include Qorvo (QRVO). Qorvo was born from a merger of TriQuint Semiconductor and RFMD. It is known that Qorvo, like SWKS, is a key supplier of semiconductor content inside many Consumer, Industry, and Military communication products. Although Qorvo's product line and customer base is well diversified, the correlation to AAPL stock price is quite tight. Thanks, Anonymous in Dallas

Dallas Texas on 1/29/2020 11:01:06 AM
 

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