Cash Rich, Balance Sheet Poor

Reached out a hand to touch your face
You're slowly disappearing from my view
Appearing from my view
--A Flock of Seagulls

Interesting weekly comment by John Hussman, particularly the back half devoted to corporate balance sheets. Many bulls claim that corporations are 'flush with cash' and that corporate balance sheets 'have never been stronger.' As Dr J demonstrates, these claims have little merit.

When compared to the amount of debt on corporate balance sheets, cash has been coming off historical lows. Cash as a fraction of net worth and total assets is also small (in the 5-10% range).

As such, much of the 'cash' on corporate balance sheets comes from debt. Corporations have been building cash in this manner due to cheap financing terms.

Make no mistake, the dominant feature of today's corporation continues to be debt and leverage, not cash.

John also comments on another eye-opening trend: the decline in tangible assets in non-finance corporations. The fraction of tangible assets to total assets is now below half. The remaining assets are financial assets such as debt securities and stocks.

As John notes, "This is striking, in that we presently have a menu of prospective returns on financial assets that is among the most dismal in history."

This is another argument for tangible assets (e.g., commodities) over financial assets, and for companies that are weighted toward more tangible assets.

position in commodities