Notes From All Over, Part 1 -- January 15, 2020

Love him or hate him: I've never seen such a successful presidency despite 93% of all news reports on Trump being negative. Amazingly, guys like Schumer are now saying that Trump did not go "far enough." Not nothing that no previous president has taken such incredible action in the past. Most presidents seem to be reactive; Trump is proactive. Success stories:

• USMCA
• China-US trade
• Iran
• the southern surge
• tax overhaul 
  

$13 trillion: since president took office, the wealth effect on the stock market -- $13 trillion added to Americans' wealth. Check your retirement funds.

Dissed: no Democrat senators, reps are in attendance at the signing of the Chinese - US trade deal.

Present: in attendance at the White House trade deal signing ceremony, the CEOs of Conoco, Devon, Cheniere, Tellurian, and of course, Harold Hamm of Continental Resources.

The Chinese - US trade deal is a huge, huge deal, and apparently all the cable news networks -- except Fox Business News -- are talking about impeachment. Truly amazing how Pelosi orchestrated the timing of the Articles of Impeachment to be delivered to the US Senate. Or maybe not. The place to be today? In the East Wing of the White House. Folks not watching the coverage are really missing a historic event. Amazing how magnanimous Trump's remarks are. Gives podium to VP Pence. Huge shout-out to Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. Trump says he will be going to China "shortly," probably about the time the US Senate votes to acquit/find guilty Trump. Watching this historic signing makes Pelosi's comments seem incredibly petty, short-sighted.

Buttigieg: a $1 trillion infrastructure program. The US does not need another trillion-dollar program. The country needs the government to get out of the way. Example: Trump says after this East Wing event he will be signing approvals for new Texas pipelines -- says he shortened the process from 15 years to two months. 

North Korea, Iran: will see that China is working with the US. I doubt North Korea will change, but there's a possibility that Iran will change. Not much change, but possibly.

Target: missed expectations. Shares drop over 7%. More on this later, perhaps. But this was a huge story. Target has been the media darling for quite some time. I visit Target periodically. Compared to Walmart floor traffic in Target is pathetic. Buying opportunity? Two data points:

• holiday sales grew just 1.4%
• digital sales grew 19% this past holiday season compared to 29% in 2018

Disclaimer: this is not an investment site.  Do not make any investment, financial, career, travel, job, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here.

Exodus: Trump's SALT cap fuels a wealth exodus from high-tax states. CrainsNewYork.

Jamie Dimon: again has it right. No pun intended. Unfortunately you can only find the story over at Fox News.

EPD: rewards unitholders with distribution hike. This represents a rate hike for 62 quarters in a row. EPD is up today and pays 6.15%.

AAPL: currently paying less than 1% now due to huge jump in share price. It had been paying 1.97% at one time (or thereabouts). Currently paying $3.08/share the dividend would have to go to $6/share. Won't happen but hope springs eternal.

ENB: up a bit today and pays 6%.

Again the disclaimer: this is not an investment site.  Do not make any investment, financial, career, travel, job, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here.

Trade deal beneficiary: UNP -- up $1.09/share on the day the trade deal gets signed. Near its 52-week high. Pays 2.2%.

CMCSA: up a bit today; trading near 52-week highs.