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As the prime election day is drawing closer, the gap between Republican and Democrat presidential candidates is narrowing, though Clinton is still ahead. As per Real Clear Politics poll average, the lead of Clinton over Trump shrank from 19.6 points (on July 2, 2015) to just 2.8 points on July 20, 2016.
Though throughout the campaign period, Clinton has mostly maintained a strong lead, recently Trump is all over with his popularity picking pace. Against such a scenario, Trump’s economic and political agenda, and its impact on the investing world deserve a look.
Tax Cut into the Play?
Donald Trump is a believer of tax cuts and plans to bring the top individual tax rate down to 25% from 39.6%, abolish the estate tax, slash ‘the corporate tax rate to 15% from 35% and tax business profits of high-income households at a lower rate than their wages’, as per Wall Street Journal. However, he noted that despite such widespread cuts, the economy will not face higher budget deficits.
On the corporate level, a notable impact would be felt on the tax inversion deals. U.S. companies often resort to the cross-border merge route to shift headquarters to a foreign base and avoid higher U.S. taxes. Notably, such deals have been rampant in the Health Care sector (read: New Tax Inversions Rules: Threats to Healthcare ETFs?).
With a cut in the tax rate, companies may not have to rush to tax havens. This might benefit Health Care companies and related ETFs like Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) to some extent.
On the other hand, Trump is a believer of the fact that medicare could save as much as $300 billion annually through negotiation with drugmakers. This may turn negative for the healthcare sector.
On a different note, tax cuts would invariably boost consumer spending thus pushing up consumer stocks and the related ETFs like iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (IYC - Free Report) . Income earners who are into the top tax bracket will especially be blessed. Since stock markets in most cases are being accessed by the high-income population, this extra cash received from tax will likely boost stock market activity further.
Infrastructure to Get a Boost
Donald Trump is also in favor of beefing up the infrastructure sector by working on roads, bridges, water systems and the power grid. He has a plan to shell out a trillion dollars on this.
Needless to mention, infrastructure and utilities ETFs should get a boost, if the plan ever materializes. Utilities ETFs like FirstTrust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) and PowerShares S&P SmallCap Utilities Portfolio ETF (PSCU) are likely to benefit from this trend (read: Should You Play these Overvalued Sector ETFs?).
Break-Up of Big Banks
The latest surprise from the Republican platform is to pitch for reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act. The act, which showed up after the 1929 stock market crash, made investment and commercial banking two different segments. This step was taken because it was believed that commercial banks’ excessive stock market investment led to the market crash and the subsequent Great Depression (read: These Big Banks Could Lose If Donald Trump Wins).
The rule was dropped during the Clinton administration, but Trump seeks to revive it to create a wall between big banks' businesses and "try and avoid some of the crisis that led to 2008," as per an article published in CNBC. Needless to say, financial ETFs like (XLF - Free Report) ,(IAI - Free Report) , (KBWB - Free Report) will come under pressure if Trump makes it to the White House (read: Will Financial ETFs Forget Brexit and Gain on Decent Q2 Earnings?).
To Encourage Fossil Fuels
Taking a completely difference stance than president Obama, Trump is ready to push for more fossil fuel generation. Be it crude oil, natural gas or coal, Trump is to help it all. This in turn may hit low carbon and clean ETFs like iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN), PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio ETF (PBW - Free Report) , Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN - Free Report) and First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund (FAN - Free Report) .
Though Trump indicated that he will take a dovish stance on other energy sources, including nuclear, wind and solar, he still said that “solar and wind still required subsidies or had payoff periods too long to be attractive.”
So, coal ETF VanEck Vectors Coal ETF andenergy exploration ETFs likeSPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP - Free Report) should see some surge from this move.
Also, sinceTrump is planning to lift limits on energy production and drill oil at the country’s full potential, oil prices – which are already suffering from higher global output and are finally on the verge of a turnaround – may slip again. Oil ETFs including United States Oil Fund (USO - Free Report) and PowerShares DB Oil Fund (DBO - Free Report) are likely to feel the pinch (read: 5 ETFs for Those Who Believe the Oil Rally is Over).
Idea of Mexico Wall
Trump vows to make Mexico pay for a wall along the border as a part of his immigration plan. If this concept of Trump Wall turns into a reality, it might hamper booming U.S. exports of its natural gas surpluses to Mexico. This suggested move puts the spotlight on iShares MSCI Mexico Capped (EWW - Free Report) while natural gas ETFs like United States Natural Gas FundUNG also draw attention.
35% Tax on Products Built Outside US
With Trump urging U.S. companies to shift their manufacturing plants back home by imposing a 35% import tax, a trend of ‘offshoring’ will eventually fade out and a trend of ‘reshoring’ will be seen. With this, industrial ETFs like Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) and First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund (FXR) may gain traction.
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ETFs to Watch as Trump Races Closer to Clinton
As the prime election day is drawing closer, the gap between Republican and Democrat presidential candidates is narrowing, though Clinton is still ahead. As per Real Clear Politics poll average, the lead of Clinton over Trump shrank from 19.6 points (on July 2, 2015) to just 2.8 points on July 20, 2016.
Though throughout the campaign period, Clinton has mostly maintained a strong lead, recently Trump is all over with his popularity picking pace. Against such a scenario, Trump’s economic and political agenda, and its impact on the investing world deserve a look.
Tax Cut into the Play?
Donald Trump is a believer of tax cuts and plans to bring the top individual tax rate down to 25% from 39.6%, abolish the estate tax, slash ‘the corporate tax rate to 15% from 35% and tax business profits of high-income households at a lower rate than their wages’, as per Wall Street Journal. However, he noted that despite such widespread cuts, the economy will not face higher budget deficits.
On the corporate level, a notable impact would be felt on the tax inversion deals. U.S. companies often resort to the cross-border merge route to shift headquarters to a foreign base and avoid higher U.S. taxes. Notably, such deals have been rampant in the Health Care sector (read: New Tax Inversions Rules: Threats to Healthcare ETFs?).
With a cut in the tax rate, companies may not have to rush to tax havens. This might benefit Health Care companies and related ETFs like Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) to some extent.
On the other hand, Trump is a believer of the fact that medicare could save as much as $300 billion annually through negotiation with drugmakers. This may turn negative for the healthcare sector.
On a different note, tax cuts would invariably boost consumer spending thus pushing up consumer stocks and the related ETFs like iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (IYC - Free Report) . Income earners who are into the top tax bracket will especially be blessed. Since stock markets in most cases are being accessed by the high-income population, this extra cash received from tax will likely boost stock market activity further.
Infrastructure to Get a Boost
Donald Trump is also in favor of beefing up the infrastructure sector by working on roads, bridges, water systems and the power grid. He has a plan to shell out a trillion dollars on this.
Needless to mention, infrastructure and utilities ETFs should get a boost, if the plan ever materializes. Utilities ETFs like First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) and PowerShares S&P SmallCap Utilities Portfolio ETF (PSCU) are likely to benefit from this trend (read: Should You Play these Overvalued Sector ETFs?).
Break-Up of Big Banks
The latest surprise from the Republican platform is to pitch for reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act. The act, which showed up after the 1929 stock market crash, made investment and commercial banking two different segments. This step was taken because it was believed that commercial banks’ excessive stock market investment led to the market crash and the subsequent Great Depression (read: These Big Banks Could Lose If Donald Trump Wins).
The rule was dropped during the Clinton administration, but Trump seeks to revive it to create a wall between big banks' businesses and "try and avoid some of the crisis that led to 2008," as per an article published in CNBC. Needless to say, financial ETFs like (XLF - Free Report) ,(IAI - Free Report) , (KBWB - Free Report) will come under pressure if Trump makes it to the White House (read: Will Financial ETFs Forget Brexit and Gain on Decent Q2 Earnings?).
To Encourage Fossil Fuels
Taking a completely difference stance than president Obama, Trump is ready to push for more fossil fuel generation. Be it crude oil, natural gas or coal, Trump is to help it all. This in turn may hit low carbon and clean ETFs like iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN), PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio ETF (PBW - Free Report) , Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN - Free Report) and First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund (FAN - Free Report) .
Though Trump indicated that he will take a dovish stance on other energy sources, including nuclear, wind and solar, he still said that “solar and wind still required subsidies or had payoff periods too long to be attractive.”
So, coal ETF VanEck Vectors Coal ETF andenergy exploration ETFs likeSPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP - Free Report) should see some surge from this move.
Also, sinceTrump is planning to lift limits on energy production and drill oil at the country’s full potential, oil prices – which are already suffering from higher global output and are finally on the verge of a turnaround – may slip again. Oil ETFs including United States Oil Fund (USO - Free Report) and PowerShares DB Oil Fund (DBO - Free Report) are likely to feel the pinch (read: 5 ETFs for Those Who Believe the Oil Rally is Over).
Idea of Mexico Wall
Trump vows to make Mexico pay for a wall along the border as a part of his immigration plan. If this concept of Trump Wall turns into a reality, it might hamper booming U.S. exports of its natural gas surpluses to Mexico. This suggested move puts the spotlight on iShares MSCI Mexico Capped (EWW - Free Report) while natural gas ETFs like United States Natural Gas Fund UNG also draw attention.
35% Tax on Products Built Outside US
With Trump urging U.S. companies to shift their manufacturing plants back home by imposing a 35% import tax, a trend of ‘offshoring’ will eventually fade out and a trend of ‘reshoring’ will be seen. With this, industrial ETFs like Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) and First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund (FXR) may gain traction.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>