Take A Breather
Stock prices are now up an impressive 12.6% year to date. After eye-opening results in February, March and April, prices were more muted in May: up only 0.5%. The push and pull taking place behind the scenes is between those investors buoyed by the stimulus and high growth expectations, and those concerned with the threat of runaway inflation. Of course time will tell but I am in the growth camp until evidence mounts to show that excessive inflation is here to stay.
Since mid-April, the stock market has been moving in a sideways pattern and interest rates have stabilized. This period of consolidation is a good sign and supports favorable expectations going forward, while I think stronger economic growth over the next few years will both steepen and shift the yield curve higher. Yield curve shifts can result from either increased inflation expectations or increasing rates of real GDP growth. Markets have a long history of generating healthy returns in both rising and falling rate environments.
From a more fundamental perspective, the current backdrop supports attractive earnings forecasts. Q1 ‘21 earnings data from FactSet Research indicate the highest percentage of companies reporting positive EPS surprises and the highest net profit margins (12.8%) since FactSet began recording this data in 2008. The forward P/E ratio is 21 (5 year average is 16). FactSet bottom-up EPS estimates for CY22 are $210 per share (and recent J.P Morgan research indicates $225 for CY22 and introduces $245 for CY23). These earnings estimates are the foundation of today’s stock prices.
There are concerns brewing with respect to peak earnings and peak margins, causing some rotation in investor focus, though it is not a threat to the broader outlook (it’s more akin to a head-fake than a true deceleration or change in the directionality of the market). There is also the concern that the Federal Reserve will modify its guidance with respect to interest rates. This is a question of when, not if. As long as any policy changes are well communicated and incremental, rising rates may have a short-term impact on stock prices but should not produce a long-term effect.
Inflation is a natural occurrence in a growing economy. When a tariff war and then a global pandemic cause breaks in supply chains, and shuttered businesses come back online, there is reason to expect a period of adjustment before production, distribution and pricing realign. It is premature to label the global economic restart as the onset of systemic inflation and I think it will prove to be less of an issue than many, on Wall Street and off, are postulating.
The meme-trading frenzy continues, making it difficult for many investors to keep their eye on the ball. Skyrocketing stock prices and energized news reports are quick to catch investors’ attention, however this type of stock trading is not investing. It is no more grounded than playing the tables at your local casino; not many beat the casino and being lucky once is no assurance of winning again. In the stock market, making informed bets, managing risk and managing one’s emotions are critical to producing long term investment results.
In a similar vein, Crypto has reared up again with a related conversation over digitized central bank currencies. Institutional investors are getting on board, and I expect the regulators will initiate some oversight. I think the many crypto currencies are akin to an emerging market – an asset class with expanding influences, particularly in fin tech. The narrative is compelling (similar to the dot.com era) and participation is broadening. We are centering our attention on businesses that can thrive from the continued establishment of crypto assets and blockchain technology.
Our focus in this market remains on owning a full weighting in quality stocks well positioned in their respective markets. We are focusing on a mix of big growth and technology stocks, as well as more economically cyclical value stocks. We are less incentivized to buy fixed income with interest rates as low as they are, though a nice positive to the low-rate backdrop has been the enhanced interest in high dividend yielding stocks and REITs.
Take good care and please be safe out there.
Bruce Hotaling, CFA
Managing Partner
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions stated herein are those of Bruce Hotaling, are as of this date, and are subject to change without notice. Information contained in this report was received from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy is not guaranteed. Investments are subject to market risk, including the possibility of loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The PE ratio (price/earnings) is a common measure of relative stock valuation. This note contains forward-looking statements, predictions and forecasts (“forward-looking statements”) concerning our beliefs and opinions in respect of the future. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on them. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.