I realize that China may be an intimidating place to invest in, especially given the recent volatility. It's hard to ignore a country with four times the population of the United States in any truly diversified portfolio, but I sense the trepidation in your hesitation.
I'm saying that I hear you.
China is at the other end of the world. The government doesn't exactly have a sparkling track record when it comes to defending free markets. Shenanigans are always a threat, and the cultural divide can be vast if search giant Baidu
The country's heady economy has also slowed since the Beijing Olympics' afterglow has dimmed.
However, I'm going to show you a bullish market indicator that you probably won't find anywhere else. Go into your quote engine of choice and punch in the letters J-R-J-C.
That is the ticker symbol for China Finance Online
Follow the research
The Chinese stock market data provider has been on a tear in recent weeks. The stock closed 8% higher yesterday -- on no major news -- but that's just more icing on the cake. Since the stock bottomed out at $4.48 on Nov. 25, the stock has soared 121%. There aren't too many stocks that have more than doubled in that time.
Don't say that I didn't tip you off.
"What does a diaper change and Tuesday's trading in China Finance Online have in common?" I wrote on Nov. 28. "They both smell like bottoms."
The company hit rock bottom after posting disappointing third-quarter results, but the bearishness felt overdone. CFO -- short for China Finance Online -- is packing the cash equivalent of $4.16 for each depositary share.
CFO's bread-and-butter business is servicing the 10.9 million registered users -- and perhaps more importantly, its 115,000 premium subscribers -- at its jrj.com and stockstar.com portals. CFO warned that subscription trends began to deteriorate in September, projecting a sequential top-line decline in the fourth quarter. Analysts, understandably, slashed the company's near-term earnings prospects.
I have warmed up to CFO as a leading indicator of China's trading activity. If investors are beginning to bet on CFO, it is also a wager on the improving health of Chinese equities.
It's a contrarian opinion, for sure. The rare analysts following the company haven't raised their forward expectations. However, until proven otherwise, I will argue that as CFO goes, so will the Chinese markets.
Bring in the bull during the year of the ox
I also have a few more reasons to get excited about China again, just in case you feel that I'm going out too far on the limb with the CFO worship.
Even the darling stocks have reasonable valuations
Remember when Chinese speedsters like Baidu and travel portal Ctrip.com
Optimism is brewing, if you know where to look
There are actually several Chinese stocks where analysts have been raising their bottom-line targets lately. For-profit educator Noah Education
Be one with the yuan
As stateside investors have been burned by leveraged banks and debt-saddled retailers, many of China's growth stocks have balance sheets flush with cash. CFO was quick to bounce off a 52-week low that was barely more than its liquidity, yet another stock like second-tier travel portal eLong
Healthy balance sheets are important, and not just from a value-investing angle. During this market lull where going public is a challenge and buying companies for stock is an insult, the public companies in China hoarding cash can orchestrate sector consolidation at attractive price points.
In short, the signs are there. Rolling up your sleeves, diving into the required due diligence, and smoking out some more winners is entirely up to you.
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