When I saw todays unemployment number, the first thing I did was to figure out how to short some of the biggest stocks Silicon Valley has produced.
Were betting against Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) now in our Turbo Trader and High Octane Trader services, respectively. It isnt so much that I think either of these trillion-dollar behemoths is on the brink of disaster since the recent earnings cycle has proved that these companies are run by smart people with vast resources. Both companies will thrive.
But with so many people on Wall Street crowding into the top of the technology tree in the pandemics wake, these stocks have simply gotten too far ahead of themselves. After all, the NASDAQ is up a stunning 25% year to date in what government economists still consider a recession, while the S&P 500 is barely positive over the same time.
If anything, MSFT and AMZN have kept the broad market out of negative territory. Thats all right when technology is the only thing working in the global economy. However, when U.S. employers outside Silicon Valley start cautiously hiring again, its time for smart money to come out of the high-tech bunker and get back in the game.
Beyond the Digital Screen
Big Tech gets most of the love with people who spend their lives behind a screen, but for the rest of us, the physical world remains where all the real action is.
Pure technology stocks still only account for 25% of the S&P 500 and only employ a small fraction of the U.S. population. Even if you pull Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) back from the communications sector, technology just isnt the real heart of the economy.
As trite as it sounds to the people in Silicon Valley, the heart of the economy remains small businesses. I am talking about construction, convenience retail and independent restaurants, not to mention local schools, banks, hospitals and professional offices.
When the local economy starts suffering, it doesnt really matter how much cloud computing capacity Amazon and Microsoft sell. Sooner or later, well all feel the chill.
And when the local economy strikes back, smart money breathes a sigh of relief. I cant wait to start buying airlines, mall retail and community banks again.
Every step the job market moves forward takes us closer to that moment. Progress is good.
But investors who convinced themselves that Big Tech and vaccines are the only things in the world that are still working now see good news as a bad thing. Suddenly, their stocks need to compete for capital and market leadership.
Today demonstrated that good news for Main Street is now seen as bad news for Silicon Valley stocks. Look at AMZN and MSFT today. Theyve come a long way and now its time they step back.
My Turbo Trader subscribers booked a 25% win today on a put option trade in MSFT. All we had to do was acknowledge that this gigantic stock would find it difficult to push much farther beyond $210 in the immediate future.
Thats all it takes to make money in a brittle market environment. Maybe one day far from now, MSFT and its peers will rule the world. Today, theyre still subject to the basic law of gravity.
Where are we rolling our money instead? For me, the strongest investment strategy always starts by locking in enough income to pay the bills.
Value Authority is where we concentrate on solid old-economy stocks that pay bigger yields than what youd get from MSFT or the U.S. government, for that matter. Until Big Tech takes a big dip, we need to be patient before those stocks are attractive.
When regular dividends are coming in, we can afford to be patient. Thats the approach I recently recommended for TD Ameritrade clients. (Watch the video.)
And as for Main Street, we look at the real business of America every week on my Millionaire Makerradio show. (Click here for recorded episodes and local stations.)
Read the original here:
The Time Has Come for Main Street to Show Big Tech How Its Done - Stock Investor
- Stocks Close Higher With Amazon and Netflix Making Big Gains - Barron's [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2020]
- Samsung needs a splashy product for its splashy product launch - The Verge [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2020]
- Big Tech's Washington hearing will be a spectacle for the ages - Financial Post [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2020]
- Dow gains more than 400 points after big tech rally, Amazon and Netflix hit records - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2020]
- Here Come the 4 Horsemen of the Techopolypse - The New York Times [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2020]
- New records show 5,000+ contracts between big tech and the Pentagon - Business Insider - Business Insider [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2020]
- Stock market rising on the indispensable companies - Minneapolis Star Tribune [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Tech Stocks Have Been the Markets Stars. Are They Overbought? - Barron's [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Tech Stocks Are Getting Scary. Why Theres No Way to Escape Them. - Barron's [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Big Tech companies have got universities in their sights - Telegraph.co.uk [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- The National Research Cloud: Big Tech And Academic Research - Seeking Alpha [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Nasdaq At Record as Investors Bet on Big Tech to Weather Virus Storm; Dow Falls - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Big Tech saved the day. We still dont trust them. - BetaBoston [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Big tech, even bigger heart, provides shields to Hatzalah - The Riverdale Press [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Cramer's earnings watch: 'If the banks get hammered, things could get ugly' - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Big Tech joins fight against Trump's restrictions on international students - The Logic [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Pittsburgh Big tech companies are flocking to Pittsburgh. The foundation was laid over decades - Technical.ly Pittsburgh - Technical.ly [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Ask the Rational Investor: Is big tech too large? - Massillon Independent [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Big Tech went from growth stocks to Wall Street's Treasury bond substitute during the coronavirus - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Thousands of contracts highlight quiet ties between Big Tech and U.S. military - NBC News [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- The Information's Takeover Target List - The Information [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- The Tension Between Competition and Tech Are Gaining Global Attention - JD Supra [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Cloudflare DNS goes down, taking a large piece of the internet with it - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- As the Revolving Door Swings - The American Prospect [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Big Tech is Poised to Pounce on Banking - Global Banking And Finance Review [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- The Biggest Problem With Investing in Teladoc - The Motley Fool [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- How Palantir and Peter Thiel might lead the biggest tech IPO of the year - Vox.com [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Here's what happened to the stock market on Monday - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- 'Big Tech' Pullback Explains Why Bitcoin Rally Has Paused in Q3 | NewsBTC - newsBTC [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Advertiser alliance, media companies, and Big Tech to collude and create a definition of hate speech - Reclaim The Net [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Congress has the legal power to investigate Silicon Valley. Let's make it count - The Guardian [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- The Problem with Big Ideas (and Some Ramblings on Virtual Desktops & Tech's Blurred Lines) - www.waterstechnology.com [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Here are all the battlefronts TikTok is currently fighting on - KTVZ [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Exxon has topped North Texas' biggest-companies list for 3 decades. Now there's a challenger to the throne - The Dallas Morning News [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- G20 Finance Officials Eye Solution to Digital Tax Row This Year - The New York Times [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Earnings and fiscal debate could be catalysts for stocks in the week ahead - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Big Tech firms back suing Trump administration over rule that could drive out foreign students - Axios [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Big Techs latest reckoning is coming as it continues to rack up record valuations - MarketWatch [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Here's a new reason to invest in Europe - WICZ [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Recovery from Covid-19 will be threatened if we don't learn to control big tech - The Guardian [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Tech watchdog calls on Facebook Oversight Board members to demand real power or resign - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Roku Is A Strong Gatekeeper In Streaming, But Could Be Crushed By Big Tech Analyst - Deadline [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- The Conservative Inc. to Big Tech Pipeline - The American Conservative [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- Are Facebook and Alexa really listening? 6 common tech myths debunked - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- New Emails Reveal Warm Relationship Between Kamala Harris And Big Tech - HuffPost [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Amazon-led rally boosts Jeff Bezos and Big tech"s billionaire boys - Proactive Investors USA & Canada [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Invited To Testify In Congressional Big Tech Hearing - The Federalist [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- EU-wide digital tax on big tech touted as best resource - EURACTIV [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2020]
- Cramer says this tech stock rally is not like 1999 but here is what could stop it - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2020]
- Report Doorcast: Big Tech antitrust hearing preview and the Xbox Games Showcase breakdown - Report Door [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2020]
- The one big thing each tech CEO will tell Congress - Axios [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2020]
- Big Tech Unmasked as Anti-conservative by Project Veritas - Newsmax [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2020]
- Antitrust Hearing Involving Apple Chief Tim Cook and Other Big Tech CEOs Reportedly Postponed - MacRumors [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2020]
- Amazon To Invest In Reliance Retail: Is Big Tech Joining Hands To Conquer India? - Inc42 Media [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2020]
- Zuckerberg, Bezos, other tech CEOs to testify at anti-trust hearing - Toronto Star [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2020]
- Lily Allen says she feels sad and calls out big tech amid Wiley antisemitism row - The Independent [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- Big Tech feels the heat from Washington and small agency leaders dish: Tuesday Wake-Up Call - AdAge.com [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- Overzealous government officials should stay out of big tech's way - Washington Times [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- Mint Lite | India covid tally, protests across globe, big tech CEOs & other news - Livemint [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- Big tech antitrust probe report from US Congress likely by early fall - Times Now [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- Antitrust Hearing Involving Apple Chief Tim Cook and Other Big Tech CEOs Reportedly Postponed [Update:... - MacRumors [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- Congressional antitrust probe of Big Tech expected by early fall - The Globe and Mail [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- Big Tech chiefs get brief reprieve from govt hearing into their growing power - ARNnet [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- Lawmakers keen to break up 'big tech' like Amazon and Google need to realize the world has changed a lot since Microsoft and Standard Oil - Fairfield... [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Stock futures are flat ahead of Fed decision and Big Tech testimony - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Ahead of hearing with big tech CEOs, Cicilline says a Biden presidency would lead to regulation next year - Yahoo News [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Democrats hurt small business when they attack Big Tech | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Tech leads stocks higher as CEOs testify and Fed keeps rates near zero - Fox Business [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- WATCH LIVE: Heads Of Amazon, Apple, Facebook And Google Testify On Big Tech's Power - NPR [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Big Tech to Testify: What Jim Cramer Is Watching - TheStreet [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Apple, Google, Amazon, other Big Tech companies have a climate problem; now being forced to clean up - Firstpost [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Commentary: Big Tech is engaged in a hostile takeover of our country - TheBlaze.com [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Slog AM: Big Tech's Anti-Trust Hearing, COVID-19 Goes to College, Boeing Is Boned - TheStranger.com [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Big tech antitrust probe report from Congress likely by early fall - Reuters [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2020]
- Vergecast: Big Tech antitrust hearing preview and the Xbox Games Showcase breakdown - The Verge [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2020]
- Biased Big Tech algorithms limit our lives and choices. Stop the online discrimination. - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2020]
- Big 5 Tech Stocks Have Trounced the Market. So Have Their Fundamentals. - Barron's [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2020]
- Top antitrust Democrat opens hearing by comparing big tech firms to past monopolies | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2020]
- Big Tech antitrust hearing could be colossal or mere theater - Roll Call [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2020]
- Stop with the egg metaphor in discussing Big Tech break-ups | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2020]