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A Quarterly Publication March 31, 2014

Capital Investment Services of America, Inc.

700 North Water Street, Suite 325 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4206

414/278-7744 800/345-6462

info@capinv.com www.capinv.com

In This Issue . . .

Major economic trends continue to

diverge from the patterns

established over the past 10-15

years.

Slower and less commodity

intensive growth in China may

well mean the “commodity super-

cycle” is over.

The Federal Reserve (i.e. the Fed)

is signaling they are about to

diverge from the zero interest rate

policy.

Manufacturing, the dollar and the

trade deficit may offer pleasant

surprises.

Economic growth is slow but high

quality and durable.

A low economic expectations

backdrop exists in the U.S.

No Fed-induced sugar high.

Higher interest rates won’t kill the

expansion anytime soon.

U.S. demographics are not a

headwind for economic growth.

Student loan worries are

overblown.

Stock market corrections are more

common than Christmases.

Divergent

The movie release of the popular book of the same title, Divergent,

has now hit the “big screen”. While we confess to knowing little

about the storyline of the book and movie, we suspect it is safe to say

that it is not about the contemporary investment environment. Yet,

the term divergent strikes us as both a timely and apt description of

the current investment and economic scene.

Consider:

Major economic trends continue to diverge from the patterns

established over the past 10-15 years. For much of this period,

emerging market economies, particularly the so-called BRIC

nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China, drove global growth.

Now these economies are saddled with growth-smothering

excesses that accumulated in the boom years. To varying

degrees, the economic troubles in these countries will likely

require a considerable amount of time to remedy. In contrast,

with few signs of similar excesses that are a threat to the

domestic economic expansion, the U.S. looks set to become

(once again) an economic growth leader.

Slower and less commodity intensive growth in China may well

mean the “commodity super-cycle” is over. Rising and volatile

commodity prices lifted the fortunes of most commodity

exporting countries, while triggering commodity inflation for

developed nations’ economies. Commodity price relief as it

unfolds will be very beneficial to U.S. consumers, producers,

and the valuation of U.S.-traded stocks.

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The Federal Reserve (i.e. the Fed)

is signaling they are about to

diverge from the zero interest rate

policy that has been in effect since

the 2008 Financial Panic.

Improving fundamentals

underlying the U.S. economy have

increased confidence that

extraordinary monetary policy

actions are no longer appropriate.

The Fed policy shift represents a

significant divergence from the

policy actions of many of their

global counterparts. The European Central Bank looks poised to join Japan in pursuing still more

extraordinary monetary policy actions in hopes of keeping deflationary pressures at bay. Meanwhile, a

different constellation of issues—inflation along with bad debt, over-capacity, and commodity excesses-

-are forcing many emerging market economies towards more restrictive credit policies.

Manufacturing long has been considered a sore spot within the U.S. economy. We believe evidence

continues to mount that a productivity-driven manufacturing renaissance is occurring. Some analysts

are even making the claim that investors’ new “emerging market” may well become that area of the U.S.

often derided as the “rust belt”—middle America!

The trade deficit—as measured by economic statistics—has been a persistent drag on U.S. economic

growth. Here, too, indications suggest trends are set to diverge from the long-run pattern. U.S. based

manufacturers are at the forefront of adopting new technologies that are remodeling both the production

and nature of an increasing number of goods and services. The domestic energy revolution continues to

blossom as well. Trade no longer may be a drag on domestic growth measures.

A common forecasting technique we humans

use to deal with uncertainty is to simply

extrapolate the recent past into the future.

And, while this technique often works well,

when trends diverge from past patterns,

investment expectations and risk/reward

profiles of investments shift—often

dramatically.

We suspect the economy and financial markets are in the midst of one of these periods. And, while some of the

divergent trends have already been underway for a while, it is still “early innings” investment-wise, as we now

discuss.

High-quality economic growth

The slow pace of the economic expansion is not news, of course. The fixation on the pace of growth is

understandable, but overlooked has been an important attribute about the character of growth.

BMW said it will spend $1 billion to boost production at

its South Carolina assembly plant by 50 percent in the

next two years. One more sign that the United States

has become a competitive site for manufacturing and

an attractive staging ground for exports.

Forbes, 3/28/14

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One of the underlying “drivers” behind these divergent growth trends is technology-induced productivity gains.

Technology has enabled an unprecedented ability to share information and “idea recipes” for innovation.

Virtually any problem is now open to the free market of creative minds across most of the world’s population.

Innovation is the oxygen which productivity growth needs to

“breathe”. And, productivity gains are, in turn, the raw

ingredients for a rising standard of living via both rising wages

and the increasing affordability of goods and services.

As a result, productivity-inspired growth is high-quality,

resilient growth. This stands in contrast to growth fueled by unsustainable borrowing-to-consume behavior

such as that which defined the prior U.S. economic expansion, or borrowing-to-build excessive capacity as now

appears to afflict China (see quotes nearby).

Since the current economic expansion began, there have been threats to growth from geopolitical developments,

economic troubles abroad, and economic intrusions from Washington D.C. Throughout, the underlying growth

trend has proved resilient.

There will, no doubt, be more unpleasant bumps in the road ahead, and the implications of each will have to be

assessed along the way. But, the resilient character of the underlying growth dynamics suggest the duration of

the expansion from this point forward will still likely be measured in years rather than days or weeks.

A low expectations backdrop remains From an investment perspective, an important question to keep in mind is: how is reality unfolding relative to

expectations? Investor sentiment tends to rise, along with stock valuations, when reality consistently exceeds

expectations.

The stage still remains set for “better than expected” outcomes in the U.S. economy. With the rise of the

perceived “emerging markets century”—to borrow a bold book title published during the emerging markets

boom, the view that “our best days are behind us” has been a common U.S. economic sentiment. The Financial

Panic only reinforced the view about domestic prospects.

This downbeat and fragile state of the general psyche still persists. Five years into the economic expansion, a

recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll indicates that nearly 60% of polled adults believe the U.S. economy

is still in recession.

“China has 95 Empire State Buildings

worth of empty office space.”

Cornerstone Macro

Most analysts believe that the Chinese economy will once again expand by more than 7 percent

this year, despite ballooning private sector debts. But the pessimistic minority has history on its

side. Only five developing countries have had a credit boom nearly as big as China’s. All of

them went on to suffer a major economic slowdown.

Five years ago it took just over $1 of debt to generate $1 of economic growth in China. In

2013 it took nearly $4 – and one-third of the new debt now goes to pay off old debt.

“China’s Dangerous Credit Addiction”, Financial Times, 1/15/14

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Nor is such sentiment confined to the general public. Market “bubbles” are being fretted almost constantly as

Chart 1 suggests.

Chart 1: Investors are alarmed by both good (new highs in stock prices) and bad news.

While the level of fear, uncertainty, and doubt we have noted over the past few years has lessened a bit, and

general valuations of U.S.-traded stocks have risen, expectations about the future of the economy remain

modest at best. Against a backdrop of low U.S. expectations, the divergent trends still have a rather “low bar” to

clear to deliver favorable surprises and trigger more improvements in general investor sentiment.

Investment opportunities

Stock valuations are also likely to get a boost from additional factors, as well. The normalization of interest

rates and a narrowing trade deficit will likely help fuel a rise in the exchange value of the dollar. A rising

dollar, along with productivity growth and commodity price relief, provides a favorable backdrop for corporate

earnings growth, profit margin durability, and the overall valuation of U.S.-traded stocks.

Chart 2 nearby reflects the interplay we have noted on prior occasions between stock valuations (P/Es or

price-to-earnings multiples) and commodity inflation. While commodity price inflation compressed P/Es of

U.S.-traded stocks last decade, we expect commodity price relief will provide a tailwind behind general

stock valuations in the period ahead.

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Chart 2: Commodity Prices and P/Es

Source: FactSet

So far, most price relief has occurred in non-energy related industrial commodities. An unusually cold and

snowy winter across much of the U.S. has boosted prices of natural gas and many agriculture products. Mean-

while, although oil price volatility is down substantially from prior years, geopolitical issues have kept oil prices

firm.

More seasonal weather should help take the edge off heating costs and the price of ag products. Oil price relief

may also be on the horizon as the nearby Barron’s magazine cover story suggest.

Moving from the general to the more specific We believe favorable risk/reward investment

profiles exist in many firms that are providing

the modern-day “tools” that enhance

productivity growth. Such tools may include

sophisticated measurement instruments, product

design software, big data, and cloud-based

applications, as well as direct digital

manufacturing and 3-D printers.

Opportunities to benefit from the manufacturing

renaissance also may be found in select

construction/engineering and transportation

businesses. In addition, lenders that provide the

financing that enable manufacturers to buy the

new tools and fund necessary capital expansion

plans stand to benefit as well.

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Lastly, opportunities also exist in select growth businesses that are driving transformative changes in selective

niches in the retail, healthcare, and technology markets.

Investment worries

In the material that follows, we offer a bit of perspective on some of the investment worries of the day.

Commodity producers and some multinationals

Not all companies stand to benefit from commodity price relief and stronger dollar trends. Unless they have

sufficient unit volume growth, the earnings of commodity producers and their suppliers will likely be hard

pressed to overcome falling product prices. And for those companies whose growth engine relied upon global

commodity expansion, earnings disappointments may occur as weaker international end markets and

unfavorable exchange translation take a toll.

The new divergent trends are creating a different set of investment “winners”. What “worked” well investment-

wise last decade, may no longer be so rewarding.

What happens when the “sugar-high” ends?

Two potential risks revolve around the Fed’s movement towards normalizing monetary policy. One risk

concerns the view that the economy and market are only being held up by the Fed’s extraordinary actions.

Absent the Fed induced sugar-high of additional asset purchases, bad times are ahead, according to this view.

Table 1 nearby is offered as “proof” of this thesis. Since the Financial Panic of 2008, stock price advances all

have occurred during episodes of Fed bond buying programs. When prior Fed bond buying programs

concluded (identified as QE1 and QE2 in the table), stocks prices suffered sizable declines.

Table 1: Fed induced sugar-high?

Federal Reserve Asset Purchase Programs

S&P 500

Program Start End Change

QE 1 11/25/2008 3/31/2010 36%

Period between 3/31/2010 8/27/2010 -9%

QE2 8/28/2010 6/30/2011 24%

Period between 6/30/2011 9/21/2011 -12%

Operation Twist 9/21/2011 12/31/2012 22%

QE3 to taper announcement 9/13/2012 12/18/2013 24%

Since taper announcement 12/18/2013 3/31/2014 3%

Source: Bespoke Investment Group

While the risk of a stock market setback is always present, we are not in the sugar-high camp. The resiliency

argument offered earlier partially shapes our more favorable expectations, but other important factors contribute

as well.

The Fed of the 1930s allowed the financial system to collapse and trigger the Great Depression. The modern-

day Fed learned from that disaster and fulfilled a “lender of last resort” role in the aftermath of the Financial

Panic of 2008. Their liquidity-providing actions and the associated expansion of the Fed’s own balance sheet

filled a hole that developed within the financial system as private sector credit demands staged a sharp decline.

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But unlike the prior two periods when the Fed ended extraordinary bond buying programs (highlighted in red in

Table 1), private credit demands are now rising. Chart 3 below reflects this development. Incidentally, this

chart and additional analysis are provided in a recent Market Commentary entitled, “Household Deleveraging

Ending”, posted at capinv.com. To receive these concise, topical commentaries, a “Subscribe” feature is

provided at the lower left of the capinv.com home screen.

Chart 3: A rise in private sector credit demands means the Fed can and should back off.

Source: FactSet

With no hole left to fill, it is both appropriate and timely for the Fed to wind down its lender-of-last resort

activities. The economy no longer requires extraordinary support. The stock market’s relative resilience since

the Fed announced the tapering of its latest bond buying endeavors in December (last line in Table 1), suggests

“this time is indeed different”.

Higher interest rates and bond yields

The second risk associated with the Fed diverging from its long-standing zero interest rate policy relates to the

normalization of interest rates. Can the economy withstand higher interest rates?

With credit conditions gradually moving towards something resembling normalcy, we believe probabilities are

very much on the economy’s side. It is also important not to confuse the Fed’s current policy shift with the type

of “tight” money policies that typically render an expansion vulnerable to recession. The Fed is likely a long

way from tight policy of that magnitude and will remain so as long as inflation remains modest.

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History indicates the stock market handles rising interest rates reasonably well as long as the change in rates

signals growing confidence in the prospects for corporate earnings and the economy.

The investment implications for the bond market are less sanguine, however.

The rise in bond yields that has transpired over the past year has helped improve the risk/reward profile of

bonds in general. However, Treasury securities across the maturity spectrum remain priced with little cushion

to withstand the higher yields the normalization process will likely bring.

By the way, many municipal bonds (which experienced stiff price declines last year in the wake of the Detroit

bankruptcy and the fear that Puerto Rico will suffer a similar fate), and our remaining preferred stock

investments possess much more favorable risk/return profiles than most of the bond market in our assessment.

Generally unattractive bond market prospects beg the question, why own bonds? The answer is two

dimensional. First, low interest rate/risk exposure via short-term bonds, floating rate securities and the select

munis, and preferred stocks we own in varying amounts should weather the yield normalization process

relatively well. In addition, significant liquidity provides ample dry powder for bond purchases when the

risk/reward profile of the bond market improves.

Secondly, despite low yields, bonds continue to fulfill their portfolio role within blended bond/stock portfolios

by dampening stock volatility when it is needed most. To show this point, we reproduce Table 1 below, but

have added a column that provides bond returns during those periods when stock prices suffered downturns. As

the data reflect, even with low yields, bonds provided returns that cushioned the sting of stock market setbacks.

Federal Reserve Asset Purchase Programs

S&P 500 Bond

Program Start End Change Market*

QE 1 11/25/2008 3/31/2010 36%

Period between 3/31/2010 8/27/2010 -9% 6%

QE2 8/28/2010 6/30/2011 24%

Period between 6/30/2011 9/21/2011 -12% 5%

Operation Twist 9/21/2011 12/31/2012 22%

QE3 to taper

announcement 9/13/2012 12/18/2013 24%

Since taper announcement 12/18/2013 3/31/2014 3%

Source: Bespoke Investment Group, Bloomberg LLP

*Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND), Total Return

The U.S. has “bad” demographics from an economic growth perspective

Aging populations represent a potential issue for many nations. From an economic growth perspective, the

situation could become particularly acute in countries where either the working age population is at risk of

being dwarfed by the retired, or outright population declines may occur. Europe and China face the first

headwind while Japan is potentially threatened by both conditions (see chart next page).

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In the U.S. the situation is much more favorable, despite concerns to the contrary. The baby boomers and their

retirement from the work force are already having a profound impact on the economy. However, it is important

to keep in mind that as large as boomers are in number, younger demographic “cohorts” outnumber them:

Where Will Future Prosperity Come From?

Demographic cohort Profile Estimated Size

Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) 75-80 million

Generation X (born 1965-1981) 45-50 million

Millennial (born 1982-2000) 80-85 million

Source: Cornerstone Macro

Historically, the age groups currently occupied by “GenXers” and the “Millennials” have been characterized by

starting the greatest number of new businesses as well as purchasing the greatest number of homes, autos, and

household furnishings. We suspect these same tendencies will be displayed with those currently in these age

groups. Lots of pent up demand already exists as the next charts suggest.

Source: Cornerstone Macro

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For those worried that the younger cohorts will not be able to find jobs, we note that employment in the 25-34-

year-old group now exceeds its pre-Panic peak and is headed in the right direction.

Many are worried that student loan debt is an insurmountable problem for this group. The following

commentary recently provided by Economist/Demographer, Dick Hokenson, of ISI Group suggests these fears

are overblow:

"The conventional wisdom appears to be that the vast majority of student loan borrowers are

being crushed because their loans are so large. The reality is quite different. Only 3.7% of those

with student loans have balances in excess of $100,000. A very sizeable minority (39.9%) have

student loan balances that are less than $10,000. As a result, the figure for the average student

loan that is quoted in the press is very misleading. According to calculations done by the Federal

Reserve Bank of Kansas City, the median student loan debt in the first quarter of 2012 was

$13,662 while the average debt was $24,218! The vast difference between the average and the

median reflects the impact of a very small percentage of borrowers who have very high debt

levels.” (ISI 3/6/14)

ISI offers other information (see housing chart below) as some food for thought for those worried the housing

recovery is over.

Source: ISI

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Stock market corrections more common than Christmas

Financial writer, Morgan Housel, offers some useful perspective on stock market movements:

“During the last 100 years, there have been more 10% market pullbacks than Christmases.

Everyone knows Christmas will come: think of volatility the same way.”

Lest anyone think we are Pollyannas.

It is not likely that business cycle dynamics have been, or ever will be, repealed. There is no doubt in our minds

that the current business expansion will end at some point as will the current stock market advance. It is also

likely that before then some current worries will indeed become big issues and financial market volatility will

occur.

Business cycles end when the combination of tight money policies of the Federal Reserve and accumulated

excesses of debt, inflation, product inventories, and over-optimism render an upswing brittle.

We are a long way from such conditions. In the meantime, investment opportunities beckon from the changes

unfolding from new and divergent business trends.

Established in 1981, Capital Investment Services of America, Inc. is a Milwaukee, WI based independent investment

counsel providing custom tailored portfolio management to individuals, businesses, and charitable institutions.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list, email us at: info@capinv.com or call us at 1-800-345-6462.

For additional information, visit our website at: www.capinv.com

The information contained in this report is based on sources believed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. The information is published

for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation of an investment or advisory services.