Weather Creates Opportunity

Written by Rob Goldman   

August 28, 2012
Volume 3, Number 14

The Goldman Guide

Weather Creates Opportunity

In some circles it is considered a taboo subject.  However, there is no mistaking it. When major weather events or events in general strike, they have an impact on the global economy and stocks, and usually present a specific buying opportunity in the stock market.

Almost exactly 20 years ago, Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5        hurricane, slammed into Florida essentially leveling small towns such as Homestead and others.  I recall the vivid images of the destruction path it left in its wake. It was horrific and sad and was a major reason why certain commodities shot up in price shortly thereafter. Lumber, steel, orange juice and other commodities made a quick and          sustained jump higher while Home Depot (NYSE – HD) and Lowe’s (NYSE – LOW) made huge gains as Floridians attempted to rebuild. As the cost estimates began to roll in however, the insurance stocks dropped sharply. 

At the time, Hurricane Andrew was the costliest hurricane ever in the U.S., with a price tag if over $26 billion.

Seven years ago tomorrow is the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina    hitting New Orleans. The fallout from the mess there is legendary, as is the cost. It is referred to as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, with an estimate expense of $81 billion, and the deadliest, with over 1,800 lives lost. 

Follow Your Instincts

Oil prices shot up as did many other commodities related to           construction, while thousands of new cars were later sold at auction to buyers not fearing the hurricane damage.

Four years ago this September, Hurricane Ike ravaged southeastern Texas. I remember it like it was yesterday as my sister, who was pregnant and due any day, had to flee Houston, only to give birth 2 days later and have no home to go to with power for nearly 10 days.  Ike was the second costliest natural disaster.

How ironic is it that tomorrow, 7 years to the day, it looks like another hurricane will pack a wallop in the Gulf Coast, and Louisiana in       particular?  Moreover, aside from helping potential victims rebuild     after the fact through prayer, donations and physical help, what should investors expect and what action should they take?

Oil prices could see a spike if rigs are damaged or offline for a     meaningful period of time. Commodity prices, especially those related to construction will rise. Maritime transportation of goods up-and-down the Mississippi, which has already been problematic due to the drought upstream, may be delayed and perishable items go unused and wasted.  Insurance companies may take it on the chin, depending upon the level of damage.

Perhaps selling property and casualty insurers with exposure to the region should be sold, while oil E&P providers with no exposure to the region, such as Double Eagle Petroleum (NASDAQ – DBLE - $3.86), should be bought.  Abraxas Petroleum (NASDAQ – ABAX - $2.04), which has assets in the Rocky Mountains, the Permian Basin and     Alberta, Canada may also be a good play, but it has a very small amount of exposure to the Gulf.  Buying construction services firms or residential production providers, along with regional consumer        discretionary firms are a good bet. Goldfields (NYSE –GV -$2.27) is a heavy construction firm in the region, with expertise in transmission lines, concrete foundations, etc. 

There are usually a number of plays that emerge after the damage is assessed.  While we believe that these stocks may be solid beneficiaries of a hurricane, it is wise to monitor the industry closely as well.

Until next week…

Analyst: Robert Goldman
Rob Goldman founded Goldman Small Cap Research (GSCR) in 2009. Rob has over 20 years of investment and research experience as a senior research analyst and as a portfolio and     mutual fund manager. During his tenure as a sell-side analyst, he was a senior member of Piper Jaffray's Technology team. Prior to joining Piper, Rob led Josephthal & Co.'s Emerging Growth Research Group. Rob has also served as Chief Investment Officer of two boutique investment management firms, where he managed Small Cap Growth and Balanced portfolios and The Blue and White Fund.  As an investment manager, Rob's model portfolio was once ranked the 4th best small cap growth performer in the U.S. by Money Manager Review. In addition to his work at GSCR, Rob is the editor of Penny Stock Junction (www.pennystockjunction.com.)

Analyst Certification
I, Robert Goldman, hereby certify that the view expressed in this newsletter accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities and issuers. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the recommendations or views expressed in this research publication.

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