Cult of the Bear III: Getting to Dow 6800

Today, the economy has far greater structural imbalances. As the markets get further extended, they become increasingly less able to absorb what has become euphemistically described as "an externality." As the current account deficit rises and the U.S. fiscal deficit worsens, so too does our ability to shake off an economic disturbance. Nouriel Roubini, professor of economics at New York University's Stern School of Business, calls this an "increased probability of a systemic risk episode."

Getting to 6800

What would have to occur for 2006 to be the strong year for the Dow many are expecting? Forget Goldilocks, we would need a Cinderella scenario, where nothing goes wrong, and many things go precisely right: Earnings must stay robust, while energy prices and inflation moderate. The consumer would have to keep spending, despite signs of tiring. Businesses would need to build on third-quarter capex spending, and begin to hire in earnest. All of the vulnerable Dow stocks would have to avoid their major issues, or even a minor hiccup.

None of the negative "externalities" currently contemplated -- from a major bird flu outbreak to protectionist legislation or other policy mistake to an energy shock to a dollar crash to a geopolitical crisis over Iran's nuclear ambitions -- can come to pass, much less something currently not on the radar. Finally, equities would somehow manage to avoid the regular corrections so common in secular bear markets.

If Cinderella fails to show, how might the Dow work its way down toward 6800?

The momentum from the beginning of the year should carry stocks higher into February. But a series of earnings disappointments and a few negative surprises from select names -- think DuPont (DD Quote) and Alcoa (AA Quote) -- creates a wobbly market. Disappointments after the close Tuesday from IBM (IBM Quote), Intel (INTC Quote) and Yahoo! (YHOO Quote) won't help matters and may prevent the early 2006 momentum from carrying as far as I originally thought.

Investors start to gradually recognize that all is not well in the economy. The P/E multiple compression discussed in part II only adds pressure to stock prices, as does options-expensing. Companies on calendar years are required to expense options, starting this quarter. The effects of expensing options will be seen in first-quarter and full-year guidance.

Vulnerable Giants A host of risks complicate the rosy '06 Dow forecast of most Wall Street strategists.
Dow Component		Risk Assessment
GM		Any dividend cut will lead to selling by income funds.
Home Depot		Will feel the impact of the housing slow down more than most.
AT&T		VOIP continues to eat into core business.
Verizon		What happens when Google or Yahoo offers free phone service?
Alcoa/DuPont		Inability to pass along price increases is squeezing profits.
Wal-Mart		Core clientele vulnerable to rising rates, energy prices and minimum credit card payments.
Hewlett-Packard/ Microsoft/IBM/Intel		Option expensing will crimp earnings; high P/Es.
Citigroup/American Express/JP Morgan		Flat yield curve hurts transactional business, as does slowing housing market.
Boeing		Commercial aviation market recovery fully priced in; not priced for any slowdown.
Pfizer/Merck/Johnson & Johnson		No blockbuster drugs in pipeline; fund managers prefer biotech.
GE		Stock in a rut for five years.
Coca-Cola		Pricey, and losing share to Pepsi.
McDonald's		Nice rebound from the teens is over.
Disney		Core customers are economizing.
Exxon Mobil		Increasingly expensive to explore for oil; downside risk to oil prices.
Honeywell/P&G/United Technologies		Pricey.
Caterpillar/3M		Growth is slowing.
Source: Barry Ritholtz