Powerfund Portfolios Performance Review

Powerfund Portfolios Commentary

December 2018 Performance Review

January 10, 2019
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

Any way you slice it, December was the sort of month where the benefit of not taking on too much risk and avoiding popular strategies worked, basically the opposite tack from the previous months. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)26.35%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)23.40%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)18.59%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-2.97%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-3.36%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-4.12%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-4.86%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-5.18%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-5.37%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-5.70%
iShares Global Telecom ETF (IXP)-6.45%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)-7.94%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-8.27%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-9.04%
Gold Short (DZZ)-9.08%
Vanguard Value (VTV)-9.16%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)8.06%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)4.36%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)2.09%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)1.80%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)1.66%
Dodge & Cox Global Bond Fund (DODLX)0.89%

November 2018 Performance Review

December 6, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

November was a rocky month for stocks and bonds, but it ultimately ended on a positive note. Our portfolios did well compared to the Vanguard STAR fund, which has recently had more downside than our portfolios and potentially less upside as investors shift their portfolio strategies. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)45.61%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)6.48%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)4.45%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)4.42%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)3.92%
Vanguard Value (VTV)3.27%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)2.03%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)1.36%
iShares Global Telecom ETF (IXP)1.22%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)0.51%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)0.39%
Gold Short (DZZ)-0.33%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-0.68%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-0.74%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-3.77%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-10.13%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)2.18%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.90%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)0.85%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.53%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)0.40%
Dodge & Cox Global Bond Fund (DODLX)0.19%

October 2018 Performance Review

November 4, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

Ouch. The good times ended in October and rather suddenly at that. There are many straws out there, and it's impossible to know which one broke the market's back but break it did.  ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)33.42%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)24.56%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)18.60%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)1.17%
Gold Short (DZZ)-3.47%
Vanguard Value (VTV)-4.35%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-6.20%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-6.32%
iShares Global Telecom ETF (IXP)-6.79%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-6.85%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-7.53%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-7.58%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-8.26%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-8.49%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)-9.03%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-9.44%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-0.57%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.73%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-1.65%
Dodge & Cox Global Bond Fund (DODLX)-1.77%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-3.22%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-4.61%

September 2018 Performance Review

October 7, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

In early October unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level since 1969. This is sending interest rates back up to 'normal' levels. The difference this time is the stock market is now sinking along with bonds ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)4.68%
iShares Global Telecom ETF (IXP)3.51%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)2.07%
Gold Short (DZZ)1.69%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)1.14%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)0.73%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.55%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)0.52%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)0.35%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)0.19%
Vanguard Value (VTV)-0.04%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-0.32%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-0.38%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-1.31%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-1.32%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-8.31%
Bond Funds1mo %
Dodge & Cox Global Bond Fund (DODLX)0.75%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.54%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-0.60%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-0.74%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-1.27%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-4.11%

August 2018 Performance Review

September 6, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

At this stage it looks like the U.S. is winning the trade war, but some of this global stock divergence could be due to frightened international investors moving funds into the U.S. from suddenly scary looking emerging market stocks and bonds.  ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Gold Short (DZZ)4.99%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.25%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)2.83%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)2.13%
Vanguard Value (VTV)1.90%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)1.15%
iShares Global Telecom ETF (IXP)-0.10%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-1.73%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-1.91%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-2.83%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-3.55%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-4.77%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-5.56%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-8.11%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-9.20%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-9.27%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)1.65%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.52%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.50%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)0.48%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-0.62%
Dodge & Cox Global Bond Fund (DODLX)-1.20%

July 2018 Performance Review

August 5, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

We're still underperforming for the year, with too much interest rate exposure and too little stock exposure, but for the month we were basically in line with the benchmark Vanguard total portfolio fund while still taking less risk in both our portfolios. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Homestead Value (HOVLX)6.84%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)6.77%
Gold Short (DZZ)4.79%
Vanguard Value (VTV)4.65%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.71%
iShares Global Telecom ETF (IXP)3.53%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)3.40%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)3.39%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)3.18%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)2.56%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)2.32%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)2.28%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)2.04%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)0.30%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-3.27%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-11.76%
Bond Funds1mo %
Dodge & Cox Global Bond Fund (DODLX)1.68%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)0.41%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)0.29%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.03%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-0.05%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-2.21%

June 2018 Performance Review & Trade Announcement

July 3, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

At the end of June we made some trades in the Conservative portfolio largely because one of our holdings, ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS), was liquidated for lack of investor interest. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Gold Short (DZZ)7.94%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)2.83%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)1.53%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)1.22%
Vanguard Value (VTV)0.21%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-0.83%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-1.22%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)-1.34%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-1.40%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-1.64%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-1.88%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-2.99%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-4.44%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-4.91%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-19.41%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)1.35%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.08%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.33%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-0.58%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-1.02%

May 2018 Performance Review

June 2, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The market was rolling along just fine in May with the volatility from earlier in the year seemingly easing and good economic data slowly pushing up stocks and interest rates (and inflation). Then, at the end of the month, Italy returned as a potentially destabilizing force to foreign investing, sending Italian stocks (which we own directly through iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)) down sharply and taking the euro and most other foreign markets down with it. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)2.89%
Gold Short (DZZ)2.81%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)2.39%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)0.98%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)0.93%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)0.74%
Vanguard Value ETF (VTV)0.61%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-0.31%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-1.09%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-1.43%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-1.60%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-2.42%
Vanguard Telecom Serv ETF (VOX)-2.63%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-2.86%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-4.57%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-9.27%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-9.77%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-11.09%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)2.33%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)1.28%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.74%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.61%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)0.42%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-2.03%

April 2018 Performance Review

May 5, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

Our slant towards longer-term bonds didn't help in April compared to benchmarks. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)4.64%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)4.42%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)2.65%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)2.47%
Gold Short (DZZ)2.30%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)1.64%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.55%
Vanguard Telecom Serv ETF (VOX)1.36%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)0.61%
Vanguard Value ETF (VTV)0.42%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.37%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)0.28%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)-0.28%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-2.03%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-2.39%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-2.66%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-7.51%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-10.65%
Bond Funds1mo %
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)0.38%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-0.49%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.83%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-2.04%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-2.77%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-2.80%

March 2018 Performance Review

April 4, 2018
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The relatively tame overall decline of 2.56% in the S&P 500 in March belies the extreme swings that have occurred in the market lately. In the last two months we've seen a fairly quick 10% drop followed by a very quick recovery and then another collapse just recently. Hot tech stocks actually moved to new highs in the bounce back. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)6.77%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)6.46%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)4.02%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)1.39%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)1.15%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-0.47%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-0.73%
Gold Short (DZZ)-0.76%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-0.76%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-0.84%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-0.88%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-1.19%
Vanguard Value ETF (VTV)-2.44%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-2.56%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)-2.67%
Vanguard Telecom Serv ETF (VOX)-2.86%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-3.08%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-9.26%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)4.11%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)1.77%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)1.51%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.63%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.56%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)0.10%
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