Reliable Statistic Shows 73% Probability 2014 Will be a Bad Year for S&P 500

There are helpful statistics and there are bogus statistics. This is a helpful one and it actually confirms the message of a variety of other indicators. In the process we also clear a big misconception.

It’s official, the S&P 500 lost 3.6% in the first month of 2014, the Dow Jones (DJI: ^DJI) closed 5.3% lower.

According to the January Barometer (as January goes, so goes the year), that’s bad news for the entire year of 2014.

There is a lot of truth, but also a lot of misconceptions about the January Barometer (JB).

Here are the facts, and nothing but the facts, based on S&P 500 (SNP: ^GSPC) data going back to 1970.

JB Truths

1) The JB has been correct 27 out of the last 44 years, or 73.3% of the time. As far as investment odds go, that’s pretty good.

2) In addition to the JB, I also track the Santa Claus Rally (SCR) and First 5 Days of January (F5J) indicators. In 2013/14 the SCR had a positive return, F5J and JB were down.

As the S&P 500 return table below shows (rows shaded red), there have been three such instances since 1970 (1974, 1977, 1981) when the F5J and JB were down, but the SCR up. All three early warning signals were followed by sizeable full-year losses (29.7%, 11.5%, 9.7%).

JB Myths

3) Stock Trader’s Almanac, which does a good job tracking various seasonal patterns, claims that: “Most remarkable is the record following down Januarys. Every down January on the S&P 500 since 1938, without exception, has preceded a new or extended bear market, a 10% correction, or a flat year. This is the only Stock Trader’s Almanac indicator with a perfect record.”

Let’s take a look at that ‘perfect record.’ Since 1970, there have been 17 prior down Januarys. Only eight of them were followed by full-year losses, an accuracy ratio of only 47%.

January losses in 1982, 2003, 2009, and 2010 were all followed by 10%+ corrections and full-year gains of 12.8% – 26.4%. To call this an indicator with a perfect track record doesn’t seem quite right.

It’s also possible to run the numbers based on the Dow Jones and/or go back to 1950, but the basic takeaway remains the same: Statistics suggest the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) and Dow Jones (NYSEArca: DIA) have a tough year ahead.

Statistics like this are interesting and they are a piece of the market forecasting puzzle, but they aren’t a stand-alone indicator.

Nevertheless, even if we cast a wider net, we’ll get similar feedback. Here are three more indicators and their messages:

Watch for a Bounce! But 3 Reasons Why a Larger Correction is Likely

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Incredible VIX Indicator Triggered Surprising Signal

Market’s sold off following the Fed’s taper announcement and Wall Street was bracing for lower prices, but this trusty little VIX indicator triggered a surprising signal.

 

The December 13 article on the incredible VIX indicator drew a lot of feedback and requests for updates. Now is an appropriate time for an update.

Before we look at the actual indicator, here’s a quick nutshell summary on how this particular VIX indicator works.

The ‘incredible VIX indicator’ is a simple ratio of two short and long-term ‘fear gauges.’ We use the VIX (Chicago Options: ^VIX) and VXV.

The VIX reflects how volatile traders expect the next month to be. The VXV reflects how volatile traders expect the next three months to be.

The expectation of increased short-term volatility relative to long-term volatility (VIX/VXV ratio above 1) is usually a contrarian indicator, which means short-term volatility is about to level off and the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) or other indexes are about to move higher.

The chart below plots the S&P 500 Index against the VIX/VXV ratio. Over the last four trading days the VIX/VXV ratio (based on closing prices) peaked above 1 three times.

The red lines highlight the S&P 500’s reaction to VIX/VXV ratios of 1 or higher.

The current bounce is in harmony with the Profit Radar Reports January 27 assessment that: “A new low should still be forthcoming (perhaps around 1,760 for the S&P 500) before we see a larger bounce.”

The hourly S&P 500 chart below shows some of the trend lines and key levels we’ve been following.

Although the current bounce should move higher, the weight of evidence confirms the Profit Radar Reports 2014 Forecast, which proposed a correction starting at S&P 500 1,855. Today’s rally should have further to go, but ultimately lead to lower lows.

This article (make sure to look at the publishing date) provides more details about the S&P 500’s future path:

Watch for Bounce! But 3 Reasons Why a Larger Correction is likely

If you trade VIX vehicles like the iPath S&P 500 VIX Futures ETN (NYSEArca: VXX) or VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX ETN (NYSEArca: TVIX), you’ll find the trading tip offered here insightful.

Record Bet: Trader Sells $18 Million in VIX Calls

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Are Gold and Silver Revving Up for Another Leg Down?

Believe it or not, gold is one of the best performing asset classes of 2014, but today’s drop is the biggest this year. Here’s the simplest explanation of today’s drop and why eventual new lows are likely.

Gold hasn’t gone anywhere fast in a few weeks, but is down 20 points today.

According to the financial media, there are various reasons why gold is down:

“Gold falls 2% as dollar climbs on Fed” – Reuters
“Gold lower on stronger U.S. dollar, rebound in stock market” – Forbes
“Gold edges lower as Chinese support fades ahead of holiday” – CNBC
“Gold prices fall on stimulus, demand outlook” Economic Times

Wow, there are many reasons, but no unanimous consent. According to Forbes, gold is down because the S&P 500 and dollar are up. CNBC blames ‘Chinese support,’ whatever that means.

Simple but Effective

The following piece of gold trivia shows that every investor could easily see why gold is down today.

All the information needed is contained in the gold chart below. Can you see why gold is down today?

If you can’t see it, look at the second chart. What a difference just one line makes.

The silver chart paints the same picture, even more compelling.

The Profit Radar Report has been watching the gold and silver trend line for weeks. Initially they acted as a magnet and drew prices higher. Lately, they have acted as resistance and rejected price.

Although I prefer to analyze the purest representation of an asset, it’s noteworthy that the chart for corresponding gold and silver ETFs, the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEArca: GLD) and iShares Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SLV), look similar.

Long-Term Outlook

What about the longer-term outlook for gold and silver?

The December 29 Profit Radar Report featured this longer-term forecast:

“Gold prices have steadily declined since November, but we haven’t seen a capitulation sell off yet. Capitulation is generally the last phase of a bear market. It flushes out weak hands. Prices can’t stage a lasting rally as long as weak hands continue to sell every bounce.

Gold sentiment is very bearish (bullish for gold) and prices may bounce here. However, without prior capitulation, any rally is built on a shaky foundation and unlikely to spark a new bull market.

We would like to see a new low near-term resistance is at 1,255 +/-. “

Any gold and silver rally prior to a new multi-year low seems doomed. Nevertheless, the string of higher highs and lower lows has yet to be broken and a close above the highlighted gold and silver trend lines would temporarily extend the current bounce and unlock higher targets.

How low will gold and silver have to go? There is a strong confluence of trend lines (similar to the ones highlighted above) that should act as a magnet for prices and serve as a foundation for a sizeable rally.

Detailed targets for a lasting low are outlined by the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Fed Needs Help of its Worst Enemy to Unload QE Assets

Talk about a classic catch 22. The Federal Reserve has been buying Treasuries to depress interest rates and spark the economy. With a bloated balance sheet, the Fed needs the help of its arch enemy to unload assets.

1,273%. That’s how much the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet has mushroomed since 1990.

As of January 22, the Federal Reserve owns $2.228 trillion worth of U.S. Treasuries and $1.532 trillion worth of mortgage-backed securities.

Various other holdings bring the Fed’s balance sheet to $3.815 trillion.

The chart below provides a visual of the sharp balance sheet increase since 2008.

Buying those assets is the easy part, but how will the Fed unload them?

The Fed’s Enemy – Who?

The Federal Reserve engaged in massive quantitative easing (QE) to depress interest rates. Low interest rates forced investors into stocks and defrosted the frozen credit markets.

By extension, QE drove up stock indexes like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones (NYSEArca: DIA). Bernanke termed this the ‘wealth effect,’ which the Fed hoped would spill over into the economy.

The Fed’s biggest enemy is interest rates, rising interest rates to be exact. Particularly important is the 10-year T-note yield.

Rising interest rates make Treasuries and Treasury Bond ETFs like the iShares 20+ Year Treasury ETF (NYSEArca: TLT) more attractive than stocks.

Rising interest rates also result in higher loan and mortgage rates, which are speed bumps for the economy and real estate.

The chart below, published on December 12, plots the S&P 500 against the Fed’s balance sheet and 10-year Treasury Yields. Yields are inverted and the chart shows that the Fed has lost control over yields.

How The Fed’s Arch Enemy Can Help

The Federal Reserve is the biggest buyer and owner of Treasuries. The Fed can print money and buy securities all day long.

But, who will end up buying all the Treasuries the Federal Reserve has amassed? What happens when the Fed becomes the seller? The Fed can’t print buyers. There has to be a demand or the Fed (if possible) has to create a demand.

Irony at its Best

What makes Treasuries attractive? High yields, which ironically is exactly what the Fed is trying to avoid. High yields are bad for stocks and bad for the economy, but may be the Fed’s only hope to eventually unload assets.

There’s another caveat. High yields translate into lower prices. As yields rise, the Fed’s Treasury holdings – and Treasury ETFs like the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury ETF (NYSEArca: IEF) – will shrink.

Are there other alternatives? How about doing nothing and let the free market do its thing. Perhaps that’s what Bernanke and his inkjets should have done all along.

There is another problem largely unrelated to QE and the Federal Reserve. It’s ownership of U.S. assets (not just Treasuries).

We know that the Federal Reserve owns much of the Treasury float, but more and more U.S. assets are falling into the hands of foreigners. More and more U.S. citizens have to ‘pay rent’ to overseas landlords.

Here’s a detailed look at this economically dangerous development:

US Assets are Falling into the Hands of Foreign Owners at a Record Pace

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Record Bet: Trader Sells $18 Million in VIX Calls

Trading is tough business, but trading the VIX is even tougher, because you are betting ‘against the house’ many times. Here’s how to avoid the force that eats into your profits and make it work for you.

Based on Bloomberg data, an unknown trader sold about $18 million in VIX (Chicago Options: ^VIX) calls on Monday.

At the time of the trade execution the VIX was trading near 19. Many of the sold calls had a strike price of 22 with February expiration.

This is a gutsy trade, but is it gutsy smart or gutsy stupid?

The seller of a February 22 VIX call commits to selling the VIX at 22 on or before the third Friday of February. Obviously,  no one wants to buy the VIX at 22 as long as it trades below 22.

Therefore, the above trade will be profitable (seller gets to keep the premium) if the VIX remains below 22.

Based on the weight of evidence, this is a smart trade for the following reasons:

1. The VIX chart below (published in Sunday’s Profit Radar Report) shows overhead resistance at 18.60 and 20.30.

Sunday’s Profit Radar Report proposed that: “Resistance at 18.60 – 20.20 should cap the immediate VIX up side.”

2. The VIX often peaks before the S&P 500 bottoms, creating a positive divergence. This means that even another minor S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) low may not translate into a higher VIX high.

3. Bearish VIX strategies benefit from contango.

Contango is a condition where the VIX futures (price of VIX in the future) trade at a higher price than the VIX spot price (current price). Contango is in essence a premium. The further away the expiration of the futures, the higher the premium.

Some research on the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-term Futures ETN (NYSEArca: VXX) suggests that the cost of contango is about 0.25% – 0.45% per day. Contango usually occurs when the VIX trades below 25.

The opposite is true as well. Contango erodes gains of bullish VIX strategies.

To illustrate: For my personal account (more or less as an experiment) I bought a March 12 VIX call, which gave me the right to buy the VIX at 12. I bought the call on January 13 for $3.20 when the VIX traded at 11.84, and sold it on January 27 when the VIX traded at 18.40.

The VIX surged 55%, but my VIX call, a highly leveraged vehicle, gained ‘only’ 40%.

The iPath S&P 500 VIX ETN (NYSEArca: VXX) gained a maximum of 20% over the same period of time, and the 2x leveraged VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX ETN (NYSEArca: TVIX) returned no more than 37%.

Keep in mind that this was an extremely well timed VIX trade. If you get the timing wrong, contango will eat into profits and emphasize losses.

The VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX ETN (NYSEArca: XIV), an inverse VIX ETN, tends to benefit from contango when the VIX is trending lower. XIV somewhat mirrors the call selling strategy explained above.

Based on S&P 500 analysis, the VIX is in for a rocky ride … and many profit opportunities. Here are three reasons why:

Watch for Bounce! But 3 Reasons Why a Longer Correction is Likely

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Stock Buying Climaxes Soar as Stocks Reverse

It’s said that buying climaxes take place when stocks are passing from strong hands to weak ones. The facts tend to support this thesis and the notion that late-coming mom and pop retail investors bought their ‘ticket’ just before the roller coaster ride starts.

90 S&P 500 component stocks saw a buying climax last week.

That means that 18% of all S&P 500 stocks made a 12-month high last week, but ended the week with a loss.

More S&P 500 buying climaxes were only seen three times in the last decade (November 2004, April 2010, May 2013).

22% of Nasdaq-100 (Nasdaq: QQQ) companies also saw a buying climax. Some of the more popular Nasdaq reversal stocks include high-flying Amazon and Priceline.

Investor’s Intelligence reported 495 NYSE buying climaxes.

The chart below plots the number of buying climaxes reported by Investors Intelligence against the S&P 500 Index.

Historically, the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) and Nasdaq have rarely been as overbought as in December/January.

The high amount of buying climaxes caution that the smart money is exiting while the not-so-smart money has come late to the party.

Buying climaxes are one reason to worry about a deeper correction. Here are three others:

Watch for a Bounce! But 3 Reasons Why a Longer Correction is Likely

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Rejected: S&P 500 Destroyed These 2 Bullish Patterns

For much of 2013 the S&P 500 adhered to two repetitive bullish patterns. In 2014 it rejected both patterns. The effect of this change of character is already visible, but will it lead to much more damage?

During much of 2013, the S&P 500 followed two predictably repetitive bullish patterns:

1. Persistence below resistance leads to higher prices.
2. Quickly recovered dips below trend line support lead to higher prices.

The S&P 500 chart below illustrates the bullish outcomes of both patterns with green rectangles and circles.

The red box highlights a change in character.

For much of 2014 the S&P 500 was bumping against resistance at 1,855.

In 2013 that kind of persistence around resistance would have been followed by a bullish break out. Not in 2014.

Furthermore, the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) dipped below trend line support on Friday. Unlike the October 2013 instance (green circle), where a dip below trend line was quickly reversed, the S&P 500 of 2014 continues to head south.

The Dow Jones even sliced below significant long-term support.

The weekly Dow Jones (DJI: ^DJI) bar chart below shows a 15-year support/resistance line.

The Profit Radar Report referred to this support/resistance line many times and warned that a drop back below it would spell trouble.

No doubt we’ll soon see a powerful bounce, but there are persuasive additional reasons why this correction will ultimately have further to go.

3 Reasons Why a Longer Correction is Likely

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Watch for Bounce! But 3 Reasons Why a Longer Correction is Likely

Everybody knows that everything that goes up must come down. Stocks usually come down when least expected, which is what happened last week. Here are three reasons why this correction should last longer than what we’ve seen in 2013.

“The trend is your friend”
“Stay long until you’re long”
“Don’t fight the Fed”

You’re a happy man (or woman) if your most recent five-year plan was based on any of the above idioms.

Here’s another one, a German one:

“Everything’s got an end, only sausages have two”

Yes, even the post 2009 QE bull market will come to an end. Is the anemic 2014 performance the beginning of the end?

Three Bearish Tell Tale Signs

Bull market tops are a process, not an event. Fragmentations and divergences are part of the process.

Fragmentation: The Dow Jones topped on December 31, the S&P 500 on January 15, the Nasdaq-100 and Nasdaq Composite  on January 22, the Dow Jones Transport on January 23.

Symptoms don’t lie. A fragmented market is a sick market.

Divergences: The Nasdaq-100 (Nasdaq: QQQ) has been the strongest of all indexes, but even the Nasdaq-100 has shown breadth divergences.

The Nasdaq chart below shows that the number of new 52-highs for individual component stocks could not keep up with the new index highs. This shows that fewer and fewer companies carried the weight.

Bullish Sentiment: The Profit Radar Report’s full 2014 Forecast featured the chart below and warned that: “Investors are roughly as bullish about stocks now as they were in late 2007 and late 2010. Based on the above data, investors are fully invested. A fully invested person can only do one of two things: hold or sell. Neither action buoys prices.”

The Profit Radar Report’s 2014 Forecast is based on technical analysis (which includes divergences, Elliott Wave Theory, and support/resistance levels), seasonalities and cycles (which includes various seasonality charts for the S&P 500 and two long-term cycles that suggest a looming long-term top) and sentiment.

All the indicators combined suggested a correction right around 1,855 (a Fibonacci projection level going back to the 2002 lows).

Conclusion

Last weeks sell off saw a change in character for the stock market (see below for more info). This change of character is a first step towards lower prices.

So far the S&P 500 (SNP: ^GSPC) is following the forecast outlined by the Profit Radar Report’s 2014 Forecast (see chart above with yellow projection).

Our indicators suggest a bounce and more pain ahead. The 2014 Forecast with the full year projection (yellow line) is available via the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Corporate Profits – Born in the US, Taxed Elsewhere or Nowhere

U. S. corporations do what it takes to please shareholders and increase profits. This includes firing long-time employees, cutting costs, and evading taxes. As profits have soared to all-time highs, corporations have found ways to stiff Uncle Sam.

Corporate U.S. profits are higher than ever before.

U.S. corporations have morphed into efficient money making and tax evading machines.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. corporations generated profits of $1.7 trillion in 2013.

The black line in the chart below shows profits at an all time high.

One would think that higher corporate profits equals higher taxes, but that’s not so.

The red line of the chart shows that corporate tax payments in 2013 were no higher than in 2005.

It’s become common practice to park profits overseas where Uncle Sam’s long, greedy fingers can’t reach.

According to a report from the Citizens for Tax Justice, U.S. companies ‘save’ nearly $100 billion a year in taxes by keeping their cash overseas.

Apple’s subsidiary in Ireland enjoys a tax rate of 2%. According to filings, Apple sent the IRS $6 billion in 2012 taxes. Apple’s 2012 pre-tax profit was $74 billion.

I’m always curious to see if there’s a relationship between profits/taxes and the S&P 500 or Dow Jones.

The second chart plots the S&P 500 against the profit and tax data.

The correlation doesn’t allow for any slam-dunk conclusions. The S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) and Dow Jones (DJI: ^DJI) have been climbing higher along with profits.

One thing is for sure: Less taxes means more cash. In fact, corporations hold more cash today than at any other time in history (Reuters reports a cash pile of $7 trillion).

Many economists and analysts believe that all this cash will soon send stocks soaring.

If the Fed’s $3 trillion spending spree sent the S&P 500 175% higher, how much can $7 trillion do to stocks?

This article will tell you everything you need to know about the (U.S.) corporate cash pile and its possible effect (or not?) on the S&P 500: $7 Trillion Corporate Cash Pile – Will it Set the Stock Market on Fire?

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

$7 Trillion Corporate Cash Pile – Can it Set Stock Market on Fire?

Based on recent Thomson Reuters data, corporations around the globe hold a record $7 trillion worth of cash on their balance sheets. This has to be bullish for stocks, right? Not necessarily. Here’s everything you’ll ever need to know about the effect of corporate cash piles on stocks.

Reuters just reported that companies around the world hold almost $7 trillion of cash and cash equivalents on their balance sheets.

The Federal Reserve pumped about $3 trillion into the U.S. economy. This has propelled the S&P 500 ETF (NYSEArca: SPY) by over 175%. Should we imagine what $7 trillion could do?

Let’s take a look at some basic numbers and concepts before we start drooling over the potential stock market profits.

Corporate Cash 101

It is somewhat difficult to find coherent corporate cash figures that allow consistent charting and tracking. Most estimates exclude financial corporations (NYSEArca: XLF), other don’t. Some estimates are limited to domestic cash piles, other are global.

The analysis provided here is based on data from the Federal Reserve for non-farm and non-financial companies.

Based on the latest available data, non-financial U.S. corporations had caches worth $1.76 trillion. As figure 1 illustrates, this is the highest corporate cash pile in history.

Two Sides of the Balance Sheet

However, there are two sides to the balance sheet: Assets and liabilities. Wherever there are assets, there are also liabilities.

Figure 2 shows that corporate liabilities have grown along with the assets. The data suggests that a fair portion of the corporate cash pile is mortgages by liabilities.

Figure 3 pegs the difference between U.S. non-financial corporate assets and liabilities – U.S. corporate net worth – at $1.1 trillion.

The ‘Corporate 1%’

According to the Financial Times (which analyzed the S&P Global 1200 Index), 32% of corporations hold 82% of the aggregate global cash hoard.

Figure 4 shows the top 5 cash richest corporations of 2013. Apple, Microsoft, Google, Verizon, Samsung.

Effect of Corporate Cash on Stocks

Basic logic suggests that corporate cash – if invested – is bullish for the economy and, by extension, major stock indexes like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones (NYSEArca: DIA).

Figure 5 plots the S&P 500 (SNP: ^GSPC) against U.S. corporate ‘net worth.’

The correlation between corporate ‘net worth’ and S&P 500 peaks contradict the assumption that corporate wealth is good for stocks.

The red lines show that major S&P 500 peaks coincided with prior, albeit smaller, corporate cash stockpiles.

Corporations have more money because they are paying less taxes despite record profits.

‘Legal’ tax evasion has become one of the biggest contributors to the growing cash pile.

Here’s how companies do it and how many billions they save (or cost Uncle Sam):

Corporate Profits – Born in the US, Taxed Elsewhere or Nowhere

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (stocks, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.