Groundhog Day (Lockdown Edition)
Posted August 23, 2023
Chris Campbell
Alex Jones.
The name alone is enough to spark heated debates in homes and social circles across the nation.
It’s synonymous with conspiracy theories, fiery rhetoric, and a style of journalism that is unashamedly provocative.
When Jones speaks, people either seethe… or cheer… or run away… or tiptoe closer with feigned disinterest.
As usual, Jones has stirred the pot yet again…
Igniting a flurry of speculation on Musk's former bird app, X.
And… what if he’s right?
(Broken clocks. Blind squirrels. And all that.)
The Informant!
In case you missed it:
According to Jones, a “high-level manager in the TSA,” risking much to break rank and step into the light, has confided in him.
The word from the informant? By the time the leaves turn and October graces us, travelers might find themselves once again ensnared in the tangled weave of face masks.
And…
As winter's icy grip approaches, and December takes hold, there may be a return to the all-too-familiar dance of restrictions and lockdowns.
Normally, we’d shrug it off. Claims of “secret whistleblowers” are a dime-a-dozen online.
But, the thing…
The media is indeed ramping up the rhetoric on lockdowns, booster shots, and masks.
To wit:
No less, major Hollywood studio Lionsgate… George Morris Brown College… Rutgers University… and more have already announced fresh new mandates.
What if we are in for another round of lockdowns?
Who stands to benefit? What are the paranoids doing to prepare?
And what’s the one “variant-proof” investment that should do well either way?
The Groundhog Day Portfolio
Let’s take a trip down memory lane.
As lockdowns halted travel, astute investors eyed put options on major oil companies, foreseeing a decline in oil demand.
Meanwhile, the heightened demand for personal protective equipment due to lockdowns increased the allure of stocks from key PPE manufacturers.
The global urgency for vaccination thrust pharmaceutical giants into the limelight, particularly as new COVID-19 variants emerged.
The year also marked a pivotal shift towards remote work and telehealth, with companies like Teladoc Health and Zoom becoming integral to this new normal.
But one investment on the “covid 2.0 watchlist” stands out.
By many accounts, it could be poised to succeed regardless.
It’s natural gas.
Extended winter lockdowns boosted the need for heating, favoring investments in natural gas entities. But a cold snap would do that regardless.
Also, since a lot of natural gas travels through the Panama Canal -- which is, of course, experiencing a drought -- that could also push prices up, too.
Should you believe the hype? That’s up to you.
But the point is to win no matter what.