If the United States works out its trade issues, then B. Riley FBR’s Arthur Hogan sees stocks blasting through his 2018 year-end target, on their way to another profitable year ahead.
It’s a scenario reflected in the long-time bull’s current investment strategy.
On CNBC’s “Trading Nation,” Hogan gave three winning picks to get investors through the next 16 months.
According to Hogan, technology’s rapid growth will continue into next year.
“I think technology will significantly outperform and probably be the lead sector in the S&P 500,” the investment firm’s chief market strategist said Friday.
He also believes health care will grab solid gains.
Hogan noted health care will become the second largest sector in the S&P on September 28. That’s when some of technology’s biggest stocks such as Facebook, Netflix and Alphabet officially become part of the newly minted Communication Services sector. He suggested the shift could make health care look more attractive.
He’s also very bullish on financials.
“I think financials will finally catch a leg because of rising interest rates on the long end of the curve. We are going to see some spread, and I think that is something that the financials have been waiting for,” he added. “So, the fundamentals behind the financials are very solid. And, I think they have rock solid balance sheets, and I think they are undervalued.”
His hunch is the S&P 500 will end 2019 around 3200, about an 11 percent gain from Friday’s close and above Hogan’s target of 3000. So, stocks are generally where he wants to be.
“I’d be afraid of anything that looks like a bond,” said Hogan, who expects yields to begin moving higher in the coming months — diminishing the attractiveness of that asset class.