News

Top 10 Investment Themes for 2025

December 26 2024

Happy New Year, everyone! As you may recall, our overall macro theme for 2024 was "An Expansion of the Rally." The theme ultimately proved to be accurate, as the dominance of the "Magnificent 7" stocks (Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon.com, Alphabet, Tesla, and Meta Platforms) dissipated during the second half of the year as the other "Not So Magnificent 493" stocks (i.e., the remaining stocks of the S&P 500 Index) took over the leadership role. The "Magnificent 7" accounted for 62% of the total return of the S&P 500 in 2023 and 59% during the 1st half of 2024, but just 9.20% during the 3rd quarter of 2024. This passing of the baton is important, healthy, and constructive for the continuation of the current bull market run, which is now over 2 years old, with a cumulative return of 74.22% as of November 29, 2024. For perspective on this front, prior to the current bull market, according to data from Yardeni Research and Yahoo! Finance, there have been 12 bull markets since 1946, and the average duration of those bull markets was 5.3 years, with an average cumulative return of 177.5%. Of course, this time could be different, and past performance is not indicative of future results ... Read More

Tags: 2025, 2025 Investments, Bill Walsh, e-commerce, Energy, FED, Fundamentals, Hennion & Walsh, Infrastructure, International, International Equities, Investment Themes, Investments, Kevin Mahn, M&A, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, Technology, value

Top 10 Investment Themes for 2024

December 19 2023

Happy New Year, everyone! As you may recall, our overall macro theme for 2023 was "Better Days Ahead." The theme proved to be relatively accurate, at least as it relates to the stock market, although the better days were enjoyed primarily by just seven large cap technology stocks – the "Magnificent 7" stocks, if you will, belonging to Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla. 2024 should see a widening of the rally's breadth for stocks (although the stock market will likely not experience the heights of the overall gains that took place in 2023) and bonds, provided that the Federal Reserve shifts from tightening to accommodation as inflation continues to moderate and the economy slows. ... Read More

Tags: 2022, 2023 investments, Bill Walsh, e-commerce, Election Day, Energy, FED, Fundamentals, Hennion & Walsh, Infrastructure, International, International Equities, Investment Themes, Kevin Mahn, M&A, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, Technology, value

Top 10 Investment Themes for 2023

December 21 2022

In this regard, below are our "Top 10 Investment Themes for 2021" for your review and consideration, remembering that while 2021 may turn out to be less volatile than 2020, the days of heightened bouts of volatility are certainly not behind us. ... Read More

Top 10 Investment Themes for 2022

December 23 2021

Tags: 2020, 2021 investments, Bill Walsh, e-commerce, Election Day, Energy, FED, Fundamentals, Hennion & Walsh, Infrastructure, International, International Equities, Investment Themes, Kevin Mahn, M&A, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, Technology, value

Top 10 Investment Themes for 2021

December 21 2020

Remaining 2020 Market Outlook – Leading up to Election Day and Beyond

October 20 2020

The 2020 election outcome will undoubtedly have a significant impact on both the markets and the economy. As a result, different pre-election polling results could induce more stock volatility leading into Election Day ... Read More

Tags: 2020, Bill Walsh, e-commerce, Election Day, Energy, FED, Fundamentals, Hennion & Walsh, Infrastructure, International, International Equities, Investment Themes, Kevin Mahn, M&A, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, Technology, value

Learning from the Ups and Downs of the Stock Market

May 27 2020

The S&P 500 Index (S&P 500) closed at a level 2991.77 on May 26, 2020, representing a daily gain of 1.23%, thanks in large part to renewed optimism on economic re-openings and the potential for additional vaccine candidates from the likes of Novavax and Merck. ... Read More

Tags: 2020, Bill Walsh, e-commerce, Energy, FED, Fundamentals, Hennion & Walsh, Infrastructure, International, International Equities, Investment Themes, Kevin Mahn, M&A, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, Technology, value

Top 10 Investment Themes for 2020

January 03 2020

Happy New Year everyone! As you may recall, our overall theme for 2019 was “Slowing but Growing” and while this will likely become “Slower but Still Growing” in the New Year, we believe that 2020 will be “The Year of the 3 Big E’s” – Earnings, the Economy and the Election, given the interconnected nature of these three factors. In this regard, below are our “Top 10 Investment Themes for 2020”. ... Read More

A Strong Jobs Market Lends Itself to Consumer Spending

July 22 2019

When we at SmartTrust® discuss the current state of the jobs market in the U.S., it is always important to reiterate that there are many different measures of unemployment (or employment) and understanding the differences in each measure can be helpful in gaining a full understanding of the complete employment picture. ... Read More

Tags: 2019, Bill Walsh, consumer spending, Hennion & Walsh, International, Investment Themes, jobs, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, unemployment rates

Could the Trade War Escalation Create an Attractive Entry Point for Investors?

May 13 2019

Let me start by saying that we, at Hennion & Walsh, wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. Secondly, as we turn the page from 2018 to 2019, below are 10 investment themes that we expect to be influencers of market performance, and therefore in the mindsets of investors, in the New Year. ... Read More

Tags: 2019, Bill Walsh, China, e-commerce, Hennion & Walsh, International, Investment Themes, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, tariffs, Technology, Trade-Wars

Top 10 Investment Themes for 2019

December 31 2018

Tags: 2019, Bill Walsh, e-commerce, Energy, FED, Fundamentals, Hennion & Walsh, Infrastructure, International, International Equities, Investment Themes, Kevin Mahn, M&A, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, Technology, value

Midterm Elections could Bode Well for the U.S. Stock Market

October 29 2018

As we are in the midst of the 2018 midterm election season, many investors are wondering what potential impact these elections might have on the stock market. Based upon our review of historical data related to stock market performance and mid-term elections, we are optimistic that the midterm elections could help provide some additional steam to this bull market, which has hit a volatile stretch during the month of October ... Read More

Tags: 2018, Bill Walsh, election, Fed Rates, fivethirtyeight.com, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust

Fed Now Hints at Four Potential Rate Hikes in 2018

June 14 2018

As expected, the Federal Reserve increased interest rates for the second time this year, raising the Federal Funds Target rate on June 13, 2018 by 25 Basis Points (i.e. 0.25%). This leaves the Fed Funds Target Rate in a range of 1.75% - 2.00%. ... Read More

Tags: 2018, bear market, Bill Walsh, cnbc, Fed Rates, Hennion & Walsh, International, Kevin Mahn, M&A, MSCI EAFE, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust

We’re in a new bull market driven by earnings and economy: Kevin Mahn

May 11 2018

The stock market should continue to move higher thanks to a strong economy, Kevin Mahn, President and Chief Investment officer of Hennion & Walsh, Inc., told CNBC on Wednesday. ... Read More

Tags: 2018, bear market, Bill Walsh, cnbc, Hennion & Walsh, International, Kevin Mahn, M&A, MSCI EAFE, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust

This could be ”The Year of M&A”

January 23 2018

2017 was a good year, but not a great year, for global mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity as global M&A fell just short of 2016 results with a 3.2% decline in value according to Mergermarket. 2018, on the other hand, has started off great with a series of large M&A announcements. ... Read More

Tags: 2018, Bill Walsh, Hennion & Walsh, International, Kevin Mahn, M&A, MSCI EAFE, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust

Investment Themes for the New Year

January 05 2018

Let me start by saying that we, at Hennion & Walsh, wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. Secondly, as we turn the page from 2017 to 2018, below are 10 investment themes that we expect to be influencers of market performance, and therefore in the mindsets of investors, in the New Year. ... Read More

Tags: 2018, Bill Walsh, e-commerce, Energy, FED, Fundamentals, Hennion & Walsh, Infrastructure, International, International Equities, Investment Themes, Kevin Mahn, M&A, Rich Hennion, small cap, Smarttrust, Technology, value

Macron Victory Lifts Potential Cloud over International Equities

May 09 2017

Emmanuel Macron won the run-off contest this past weekend over Marine Le Pen and will become the next president of France this upcoming weekend on May 14, 2017 ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, ECB, Euro, European Union, French Elections, Hennion & Walsh, International, Kevin Mahn, macron, MSCI EAFE, Q3, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust, U.S. stock market indices, UK

Happy New Year

January 01 2017

The year is new, the hopes are new, the aspirations are new, but our warm wishes for happiness and prosperity remains the same for you and your family ... Read More

Tags: 2017, Bill Walsh, Happy New Year, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, New Years, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust

Happy Thanksgiving

November 24 2016

A special greeting of Thanksgiving time to express to you our since appreciation for your confidence and loyalty ... Read More

Tags: 2016, Bill Walsh, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust, Thanksgiving, Turkey

On This Veterans Day…

November 11 2016

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of out country can never be repaid. they have earned our undying gratitude America will never forget their sacrifices." - Harry S. Truman ... Read More

Tags: 2016, Bill Walsh, Harry S. Truman, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust, Thank You Veterans, Veterans Day

Can Brexit lead to International Investment Opportunities?

October 26 2016

International stock markets provided impressive returns for the third quarter of 2016, surpassing those of two widely recognized U.S. stock market indices (i.e. the S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average). For example, in terms of international developed markets, the MSCI EAFE (net) finished the third quarter with a gain of 6.43%. ... Read More

Tags: 2016, Bill Walsh, Brexit, currency, David Cameron, DJIA, Dow Jones Industrial Average, ECB, England, Euro, European Central Bank, European Union, Great Britian, Hennion & Walsh, International, Kevin Mahn, Mario Draghi, MSCI EAFE, Q3, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust, U.S. stock market indices, UK, United Kingdom, volatility

Happy Labor Day!

September 05 2016

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer. However you chose to spend the holiday weekend, we hope you enjoyed your time with family and friends ... Read More

Tags: 2016, Bill Walsh, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, labor day, labor day weekend, ldw, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust

How Will this Election Affect the Stock Market?

August 02 2016

With the national political party conventions now behind us, many investors and financial advisors have been asking us for our prediction on whom we believe will likely occupy the Oval Office for the next four (and possibly eight) years and the likely impact on the economy and stock market of such a victory. ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, Congress, Democrat, DJIA, Donald Trump, Dow Jones Industrial Average, election, Election Day, Hennion & Walsh, Hillary Clinton, Kevin Mahn, November, Oval Office, political party, Presidential Election, Republican, Rich Hennion, S&P 500, Smarttrust, stock market, U.S. Economy, U.S. election

U.S. Stocks hit Record Highs….now what?

July 13 2016

The S&P 500 index (S&P 500) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) both hit record highs on July 12, 2016 with the S&P 500 reaching 2,152.14 and the Dow climbing to 18,347.67. While some were celebrating these new highs and the extent of this current secular bull market run following the market meltdown of 2008 and ensuing “great recession”, others are concerned that this bull market run may now be a little long in the tooth and that current market valuations may be too high. ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, bull market, Dow, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, P/E Ratio, Price/Earnings Ratio, Rich Hennion, S&P 500, S&P Midcap 400 Index, secular bull market, Smarttrust, u.s. equities, U.S. Large-Cap stocks, U.S. mid-cap, U.S. small cap, U.S. Stocks, U.S. Treasuries

Happy Fourth of July!

July 04 2016

What It Means to Be an American To believe in the promise of a better tomorrow, and stand united in our efforts ... Read More

Tags: 1776, 4th of July, America, Bill Walsh, Fourth of July, Hennion & Walsh, Independence Day, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust, USA

How Investors Can Prepare for the Brexit Vote

June 15 2016

Delivering on an earlier campaign promise to let the people decide the fate of Great Britain and the European Union (EU), current Prime Minister David Cameron will bring the referendum to a vote on June 23, 2016. The stakes are significant and could have both short and long term implications on worldwide stock markets as well as the economies of Great Britain and the Euro zone as a whole. ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, Brexit, David Cameron, ETFs, EU, Euro Zone, European Union, Great Britian, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust, UK, uk economy, United Kingdom

Thoughts on Memorial Day…

May 30 2016

This year, as on every Memorial Day, we celebrate by honoring and remembering those who have fought to protect our freedom and liberties ... Read More

Tags: 2016, America, Bill Walsh, Freedom, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, Memorial Day, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust, USA

Opportunities abound in Healthcare Sector

May 13 2016

When reviewing current investment opportunities in the Healthcare sector, one should start by looking at the overall demographics of our society and the forces driving the need for innovation in the field of medicine altogether. ... Read More

Tags: big pharma, Bill Walsh, biotech, biotechnology, chronic diseases, chronic illness, clinical trials, Healthcare, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, medicine, patent cliff, pharma, R&D, research & development, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust

Earth Day 2016: ESG Investment Strategies Continue to Evolve Across the Globe

April 25 2016

As we celebrate Earth Day in 2016, I thought it was appropriate to reflect on how much the investment industry has evolved to keep pace with the evolving marketplace for sustainability and impact investments in general across the globe ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, climate change, Earth Day 2016, Environmental, ESG, Europe, governance, Hennion & Walsh, Impact Investing, investment strategies, Kevin Mahn, new SRI, old SRI, Return on Investment, Rich Hennion, ROI, Smarttrust, Social criteria, Socially Responsible Investing, sustainability, sustainable, United States

The Ins and Outs of Municipal CEFs

April 20 2016

Given the likely continuation of the record low fixed income yield environment for the foreseeable future, potential periods of heightened, future stock market volatility and attractive current yields versus comparable taxable investments, municipal bonds and municipal bond-oriented investment strategies, including closed-end funds (CEFs), have been in high demand of late. ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, CEFs, Closed-end funds, Hennion & Walsh, investment strategy, Kevin Mahn, municipal bond funds, Municipal CEFs, Rich Hennion, Smarttrust, tax-free income, taxable bond funds, UIT, Unit Investment Trust

Is Now the Time to Invest in the Energy Sector?

March 08 2016

The energy sector has been mired in a historic decline of crude oil prices essentially since 2014. This has largely been due to an oversupplied market in the face of relatively flat global demand. ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, Brent, Brent Blend, crude oil prices, EIA, Energy, Energy Information Admistration, energy sector, fracking, Hennion & Walsh, Investors, Kevin Mahb, natural gas, oil, OPEC, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Rich Hennion, Saudi Arabia, Smarttrust, West Texas Intermediate, WTI

Reasons why this Market Selloff is Overdone

January 21 2016

Concerns over a slowdown in Chinese economic growth and plummeting oil prices have been credited with being the major factors contributing towards the dramatic volatility in global stock markets thus far in 2016. We believe that this January selloff, the extent of which has surprised many, appears overdone based upon the following factors ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, Central Banks, China, Chinese Economy, Earnings, federal reserve, GDP, Gross Domestic Product, Hennion & Walsh, Housing Market, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, Selloff, Smarttrust, stock market, U.S. Economy, Unemployment, volatility

7 Key Forecasts for 2016

January 13 2016

While 2016 may end up looking a lot like 2015 in terms of stock market returns in the U.S., intermittent periods of stock market volatility, endless debates over potential Federal Reserve interest rate hikes and overseas economic uncertainty, we believe ... Read More

Tags: 2016, Bill Walsh, federal reserve, GDP, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, oil, oil prices, REITs, Rich Hennion, S&P 500, Smarttrust, U.S. Economy

Putting China in Perspective

January 07 2016

The precipitous fall of the Chinese stock market in the initial trading days of 2016 has certainly resulted in a degree of shock and awe across the globe for investors. While the pace of the decline in prices of the ... Read More

Tags: 2016, Bill Walsh, China, European market, GDP, Gross Domestic Product, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, Rich Hennion, S&P 500, Smarttrust, U.S. Dollar, U.S. Economy, volatility, Yuan

Putting Closed-end Fund Discounts into Perspective

October 22 2015

I often hear from advisors that one of their primary selection criteria for closed-end funds (CEFs) is whether or not the CEF in question is trading at a discount or premium to its current net asset value (NAV). I then ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, CEFs, Closed-end funds, discount, Kevin Mahn, NAV, Net Asset Value, premium, secondary market, Smarttrust, UITs, volatility

A Choppy September Could Lead into a Strong 4th Quarter

September 09 2015

Coming off of a volatile month of August, where the S&P 500 index fell by over 6% on a total return basis, many stock market investors are looking for indications of what lies ahead for the final four months of ... Read More

Tags: Bill Walsh, China, Choppy September, federal reserve, Hennion & Walsh, Investors, Kevin Mahn, S&P 500, Smarttrust, stock market, Strong 4th Quarter, US economy

With much Volatility, comes great Opportunity

September 01 2015

I have always said that, “with much volatility comes great opportunity.” Well, there was certainly a great deal of market volatility during the month of August (typically a quite uneventful trading month each summer). This volatility, in my opinion, creates ... Read More

Tags: Big Market, Bill Walsh, Capital Market, China, FED, Hennion & Walsh, Kevin Mahn, Opportunity, September, Smart Trust, stock market, volatility

Is this THE Big Market Correction?

August 25 2015

In addition to global economic contagion fears related to ongoing activities in China and market impact fears over what was presumed to be a likely interest rate hike by the Fed in September, we believe that a large part of ... Read More

Tags: Big Market Correction, Bill Walsh, CIO, GDP, Investors, Kevin Mahn, Price Gain, S&P, S&P500, Smart Trust, US economy, US Stock Market

Fed Lowers Interest Rate Target for 2016 but now is ready to Start Raising Rates in 2015

March 25 2015

We have updated our projected Federal Reserve timeline based upon outtakes from the last Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting earlier this month. As a result of what we know, based upon what the Fed has communicated and what we ... Read More

UITs Continue to Surge Ahead in 2014 as Assets Exceed $100 Billion

February 23 2015

According to the Investment Company Institute (ICI), data on the market value of unit investment trusts (UITs) issued and outstanding as of year-end 2014 indicates a total of 5,381 trusts with a value of $101.14 billion. According to reports submitted ... Read More

Tags: Kevin Mahn, Smarttrust, UITs, Unit Investment Trusts

Considering a GARP Strategy for your Investment Portfolios?

January 27 2015

Considering a GARP Strategy for your Investment Portfolios? Growth at a reasonable price (“GARP”) investment strategies are nothing new on Wall Street. Legendary investors such as Peter Lynch, who was the former portfolio manager of the Fidelity Magellan mutual fund, ... Read More

Tags: Cash Flow, GARP, investment strategy, P/B Ratio, P/E Ratio, PEG Ratio, Return on Equity, Smarttrust, UITs, Unit Investment Trusts

Top 8 Market Predictions for 2015

January 18 2015

Here is a summary of our eight (8) key forecasts for 2015 at SmartTrust® based upon data available to us and subject to change based upon any worldwide events that are not known at this time and cannot be planned ... Read More

Tags: bull market, ECB, emerging markets, Europe, FED, federal reserve, GDP, oil, oil prices, REITs, stock market, US economy, US Treasury

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26 2014

We are very thankful for your continued trust and business. From our family at SmartTrust® to yours, best wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving ... Read More

Investing in Business Development Companies (BDCs)

November 25 2014

There has been a lot of buzz about Business Development Companies as of late so we thought it was appropriate to provide an overview of the product type and the industry as a whole. A Business Development Company (BDC) is ... Read More

Tags: Kevin Mahn

News

News

Recent Posts

Archives