(Silicon Valley)

Finding growth stocks seems difficult with many of the tech giants at their peak, but robotics and artificial intelligence is the route many investors are peering down in order to hit the next big growth company. The biggest ETFs in the space are ARK Autonomous Technology Robotics ETF (ARKQ), Global X Robotics & Artificial intelligence ETF (BOTZ), Robo Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO), iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF (IRBO), and First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF (ROBT). Cathie Wood’s ARKQ has outperformed this year in large part due to a bet on TESLA, but the ROBO ETF has outperformed the SPY over the last 5 years. Intuitive Surgical and Nvidia are the only stocks held by all five ETFs, and Chinese tech underpins most of these ETFs, which could be worrisome as regulation is erratic lately. However, Wall Street has the highest upside with most of the Chinese companies, with Alibaba Group and Baidu Inc. leading the way with over 60% appreciation anticipated. In the U.S. its TuSimple Holdings and PTC Inc. that have the largest consensus upside.

FINSUM: These robotics stocks are some of the best bets to be staples in the Nasdaq in the next decade, and should be part of your momentum portfolio.

(New York)

Income investors and many wealthy clients have struggled to find the outlet post-pandemic for relatively safe capital accumulation, but real estate investment trusts are that release valve. Reflation trade, stimulus-driven output in the economy, is driving a boom in commercial and residential properties. Reopening of the parts of the economy is driving REITs like EPR Properties, which hold movie theaters, ski resorts, water parks, indoor skydiving. It’s not limited to just adventure opportunities, data centers, cannabis cultivation, and crypto mining facilities are all burgeoning opportunities in REITs. David Auerbach of World Equity Group says that capital raising is ‘in vogue in the REIT sector because they proxy traditional capital appreciation vehicles. Ground leases in particular are one of the best investments in this sector. Along with additional measures that can be taken for a tax advantage, ground leases offer the upside of equity with maturity risks and capital structure to bonds.

FINSUM: The flight to safe assets is driving a groundswell of opportunities in REITs. With the economy reopening, and stimulus pumping through it, REITs are an opportunity to hit the safe return of bonds with the equity upside. 

(New York)

Markets are fretting over a variety of concerns: spreading delta variant, Chinese regulator crackdown, and Fed taper. However, Goldman Sachs says these risks are overblown, as delta variant will likely be less worrisome economically and their Fed forecast is dovish. They see a sharp turnaround for cyclical assets such as higher equities and higher bond yields in the short run. Near-term optimism will fuel US and Euro equities and most likely boost Japanese stocks as well. Going so far as to recommend shorting long-term euro bonds, and buying economically sensitive currencies like the Norwegian krone and South Korean won, which will appreciate relative to the dollar. This near-term cyclical rally won’t last long as they expect 2022 to deal from a different deck that won’t be as friendly to investors.

FINSUM: Weaker jobs growth will also delay the Fed’s taper, aiding in the cyclical rally.

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(New York)

The market was hit hard by bad economic data this week and yet markets barely budged. Consumer sentiment, Chicago Purchasing Managers Index, and Home Prices all swirled a whirlwind of bad news for markets and yet they hardly budged. This is because markets are convinced more than ever that bad news is good news because it will have the Fed kick the tapering can down the road. Powell made it clear that the new Fed environment will accommodate higher inflation and that while tapering might start this year, the Fed is a long way from rate hikes. This means growth-oriented interest rate-dependent stocks will do well as the Fed favors employment over inflation in its dual mandate.

FINSUM: Powell has all but confirmed a slow transition in monetary policy, don’t look for economic data to be the breaking point in your portfolio.