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07 December, 2020 Audacity Strategy

Audacity Strategy - December 2020 Update


ALL BLOG CONTENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. ANY REFERENCE TO OR MENTION OF INDIVIDUAL STOCKS, INDEXES, OR OTHER SECURITIES ARE NOT RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE SPECIFICALLY NOT REFERENCED AS PAST RECOMMENDATIONS OF PATTON WEALTH ADVISORS. ALL GRAPHS, CHARTS, AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION ARE ALSO NOT RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE IN REACTION TO SHIFTING MARKET, ECONOMIC, OR POLITICAL CONDITIONS.  IT IS COMMON FOR US TO USE A FUND AS A PROXY FOR AN INDEX OR ASSET CLASS.  FOR MORE DETAILS SEE OUR FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

The following is to provide some insight and perspective on the performance of the Audacity Strategy for March and more. For more information on the strategy, visit our website here.

The Audacity Strategy is most often recommended as only one component of a Super-Diversified Portfolio. Therefore the information in this blog only pertains to one component of a Super-Diversified portfolio. For more on Super-Diversification, visit our website here.

Performance Summary

Audacity Strategy performance

Note: the Year-to-Date return is back-tested through 3/31/2020

A Demonstration of Low Correlation

Our Audacity Strategy is demonstrating exactly how low correlation works. Unfortunately, this is one of those times that it doesn’t feel so good.

Low correlation to the stock market means that one of three things can happen:

What to expect from low corrlation

Stock Market UP Months

We’ve seen it all in 2020. As this linked table shows, the stock market has been up 6 of the 11 months so far in 2020. Of these 6 up months for the market, Audacity was up 3 months and down 3 months. November was one of these 6. Sometimes Audacity gained more than the market during these up months, sometimes significantly more, and other times Audacity’s gains were smaller than the market’s.

6 up months for stock market in 2020

Stock Market DOWN Months

The stock market has been down 4 of the 11 months in 2020. As can be expected from the Audacity Strategy with low correlation, Audacity was up twice during these market down months and was down during the other 2. 2020 has given us examples of everything low correlation is designed to deliver over time.

4 down months for stock market in 2020

Click to see all 2020 monthly returns

November 9th

Everything changed on November 9th. This was a great day for the world with reports of the first successful COVID-19 vaccine fueling a stock market rally and huge gains in stocks such as airlines, cruise lines, and energy companies that have suffered the most during the economic lockdowns. Unfortunately for our Audacity Strategy, it was short many of these stocks losing money when they went up in price.

As the accompanying table shows, the entire loss in November was the result of the short positions. The long positions, those that we profit form when they go up in price, rallied with the market but the short positions rallied more resulting in the month’s overall loss.

November 2020 performance breakdown

We’ve Seen this Before

There is nothing unusual about November and the performance of Audacity. For example, we had nearly identical performance earlier this year from early May through early June when our long positions gained +8.0% and the short positions lost -29.3% resulting in a negative performance for Audacity when the market was sharply higher. Within less than a month Audacity had fully recovered. The same thing also happened in mid-September 2019 but this time it took 5 months for Audacity to again reach new highs.

Our research and experience make it clear such short-term performance like we experience in November is to be expected. I have total confidence it will fully recover and again reach new highs and deliver continued great long-term returns.

Contact Mark A. Patton :

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. Any specific securities or investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own situation before making any investment decision including whether to retain an investment adviser.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions.  Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed. This content was created as of the specific date indicated and reflects the author’s views as of that date. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Any comments about the performance of securities, markets, or indexes and any opinions presented are not to be viewed as indicators of future performance.

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Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on specific indexes please see full disclosure here.

Any charts, tables, forecasts, etc. contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research, and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

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