Doug Kass: 10 More Reasons To Buy American

We excerpted a post by noted investment writer & investor Doug Kass over a month ago where he made a strong argument to Buy American.  Kass is back with some more reasons to buy our markets.  Below I've excerpted a piece from an article he originally penned for Real Money Pro {subscription required} and later posted here  at thestreet.com.  {My highlights in green!}.  Here it is:

"Europe's economies are moving in reverse -- at best, a deepening recession is in the cards. (Europe used to rule the world, but it no longer dominates.) The U.S. economy is moving forward, with a 3%-plus real GDP for fourth quarter 2011 expected and growing signs that the domestic recovery will be self-sustaining (albeit, at a moderate pace).

I believe, more than ever, that the events over the past decade have highlighted the likelihood that the U.S. stock market will be favored among most other investment markets in the world. As I have written, the U.S. stock market has become the best house in a bad neighborhood.  Below are 10 reasons for my optimism.

U.S. relative and absolute economic growth is superior to global growth. The U.S. economy, though sluggish in recovery relative to past expansions, is superior to most of the world's economies (with the exception of some emerging markets) in terms of diversity of end markets, quality of global franchises, management expertise, operating execution and financial foundations.

U.S. banks are well-capitalized, liquid and deposit-funded. Our banking industry's health, which is the foundation of credit and growth, is far better off than the rest of the world in terms of liquidity and capital. Our largest financial institutions raised capital in 2008-2009, a full three years ahead of the rest of the world.....

U.S. corporations boast strong balance sheets and healthy margins/profits. Our corporations are better positioned than the rest of the world. Through aggressive cost-cutting, productivity gains, external acquisitions, (internal) capital expenditures and the absence of a reliance on debt markets -- most have opportunistically rolled over their higher-cost debt -- U.S. corporations are rock-solid operationally and financially. Even throughout the 2008-2009 recession, most solidified their global franchises that serve increasingly diverse end markets and geographies.

The U.S. consumer is more liquid and stable. An aggressive Fed (through its extended time frame of zero interest rate policy) has resulted in an American consumer that has re-liquefied more than individuals that live in most of the other areas in the world. (Debt service and household debt is down dramatically relative to income.)

The U.S. is politically stable. ....Our democracy, despite all its inadequacies, has resulted in civil discourse, relatively balanced legislation, smooth regime changes and law that has contributed to social stability and a sense of overall order.

The U.S. has a solid and transparent corporate reporting system. Our regulatory and reporting standards are among the strongest in the world. Compare, for example, the opaque reporting and absence of regulatory oversight in China vs. the U.S. (It is beyond compare.)

The U.S. is rich in resources.

The U.S. has a functioning and forward-looking central bank that is aggressive in policy (when necessary!) and capable of acting during crisis.

The U.S. dollar is (still) the world's reserve currency that is far more solid than the euro.

The U.S. is a magnet for immigrants seeking a better life. This and other factors have contributed to a better demographic profile in our country that has led to consistent population growth and formation of households. (Demographic trends in the U.S. are particularly more favorable for growth than those population trends in the Far East.)

In summary, conditions that have evolved over the near- and intermediate-term have conspired to favor risk assets in the U.S. over many other areas of the world.  In the period ahead, look inward (not outward), as I expect a powerful reallocation trade out of non-U.S. equities into U.S. equities.

Buy American, I am."

Doug Kass writes daily for TheStreet's premium service Real Money Pro.