Navigating uncertainty with dividend growth stocks: Expert

In this article:

Uncertainty is top of mind for many investors with the upcoming election, the Federal Reserve’s November meeting, and ongoing geopolitical instability. Market Domination hosts Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton sit down with David Bahnsen, The Bahnsen Group's chief investment officer, to discuss how he navigates the market amid seemingly unending uncertainty.

Bahnsen tells Yahoo Finance that the recent economic data is “reasonably benign. It doesn't reflect a red-hot economy. It does reflect some degree of slowing down the pace of advancement. But nevertheless, we are still hanging in there.”

He says he does push back on the idea that Jerome Powell stuck the soft landing. “This is totally unrelated to the Fed activity for the very reason that the Fed shouldn't have to try to stick that landing. It's impossible for 12 people around a conference room table to guess what every nuance and variable from employment to prices, wages, all the other factors.”

The chief investment officer explains that investors should accept “the idea that geopolitical instability is a permanent part of human nature, that there's some form of domestic political uncertainty is a permanent part,” though it’s likely to be heightened as the election approaches.

He notes that “the issue of monetary policy, for the first time, I actually think there's quite a bit of certainty,” explaining, “We know that [the Fed is] going to be taking another 50 to 75 basis points out of the Fed funds and pursuing more of the same next year."

“Our solution is always in dividend growth equities because we simply believe cash flow is one element that allows you to not have to try to guess exactly what's happening in the macroeconomic environment for income investors. They get consistent growing cash flow for accumulators. They actually benefit from volatility. So we've just philosophically centered our money management around dividend growth equity,” Bahnsen says.

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Market Domination.

This post was written by Naomi Buchanan.

Advertisement