The Evolution Of Mark Cuban: From "No Doubt The Market Tanks" To "[Trump's] A Big Plus For The Overall Economy"

It has been an ‘evolutionary’ year for billionaire Mark Cuban as his perspective has shifted from Trump-is-smart, “I’d be his VP” to Trump terror, “no doubt the market tanks,” to acceptance to reality…

2/16/2016 – I think Trump is smart. I’d be Donald Trump’s VP as long as he said he’s listen to me in everything I said we’d be okay.

9/6/2016 – In the event that @realDonaldTrump wins, I have no doubt in my mind that the market tanks. If the polls look like there’s a decent chance that Donald could win, I’ll put a huge hedge on that’s over 100% of my equity positions… that protects me just in case he wins.

.@mcuban: In the event that @realDonaldTrump wins, I have no doubt in my mind that the market tanks. pic.twitter.com/oe1r4KnDix

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) September 6, 2016

11/1/2016 –  If Trump wins I’m already hedged. My hedge is up a little bit this week because the markets have been down multiple days in a row. I put on the biggest hedge I’ve ever put on against all my equities and interest-bearing bonds simply because of what I just said. You know, this is not like Brexit where oh, my goodness, there’s a big reaction, big selloff and then a big bounce back and things just trickle down.

11/9/2016 – We all need to give President-Elect Trump a chance. Support the good. Lobby against what we disagree on. No one is bigger than us all.

We all need to give President-Elect Trump a chance. Support the good. Lobby against what we disagree on. No one is bigger than us all

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) November 9, 2016

And now today…1/23/2017 – I think the discussed economic programs are potentially a big plus for public companies and the overall economy.

As The Wall Street Journal reports, Mark Cuban is now among those who think the Trump administration could be boon to the economy and markets.

The key word: could.

The Dallas Mavericks owner and entrepreneur is “playing it by ear” when it comes to the effect President Donald Trump’s policies will have on the stock market. But he thinks there’s possible upside.

“I think the discussed economic programs are potentially a big plus for public companies and the overall economy,” Mr. Cuban said in an e-mail Monday morning.

The potential policies Mr. Cuban is optimistic about: corporate tax cuts; getting rid of the “friction” for small businesses; and reducing and simplifying administrative activities.

The big question marks, though, are whether the Mr. Trump’s policies actually get passed, and whether his communication tactics, “create social issues that overwhelm the economic upside.”

“The devil is in the details,” Mr. Cuban said. “We will see what actually happens.”

So, how is he investing in this new era? As he always does, he said: He’s long the stock market but hedged against “something catastrophic.” He declined to discuss further.