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When Bad is Good! Market Insights Thumbnail

When Bad is Good! Market Insights

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Market Insights for Week Ending Apr 26, 2019

When Bad is Good!  

So far, earnings are showing the first quarterly declines in years while the markets have quietly broken out to new all-time highs.   How can bad news bring good markets?  For one, volatility has settled down to levels last seen during the summer of 2018 and secondly, the news has not been filled with market-moving headlines.  Many investors welcome this as a time to relax while some pundits preach “the end is nigh”.  Regardless of one’s view of what is likely to happen next, corporate earnings are the next market moving catalyst on the radar.  So far, earnings season has been right in line with what most analysts were expecting.  As of April 26th, 46% of companies in the S&P 500 have reported for the current quarter.  Of those, 77% have reported a positive earnings surprise while 59% have reported a positive revenue surprise.  The blended earnings growth rate is a -2.3% which, if it remains, would mark the first year-over-year decline since Q2 2016.  On an absolute basis, these numbers aren’t the type one would expect to drive markets to new all-time highs, but on a relative basis they are better than lowered expectations.  

The chart above shows the year-to-date performance for SPDR S&P 500 ETF(SPY) in blue and the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF(RSP) in orange.  The main difference between these two portfolios is how they are constructed.  SPY tracks the S&P 500 index and has a capitalization weighted allocation, meaning the largest companies (think Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, etc) represent the biggest share of the portfolio.  RSP takes a different approach by giving all 500 stocks in the S&P 500 an equal-weighting.  When we see the return of RSP exceeding that of SPY, it tells us that the broader market is doing better that the largest companies.  That market breadth is a positive sign.

Why Do We Care?

This market is unique in that it has something for both the bull and the bear.  Most would view a negative earnings growth rate as a bearish signal. We would have a hard time arguing against that point.  On the flip side, the chart above shows that so far this year, the breadth of returns has been widely distributed, which can only be viewed as a bullish signal.  Markets that rely on just a few large stocks to support the entire index have an increased chance of collapse.  And, with interest rates still nil around the globe, supported by friendly central banks, the potential for additional multiple expansion is very real.  If we were to enter a “melt-up” stage, multiples could move substantially higher.  

Our current objective is to maintain a neutral policy stance while waiting to see which way the markets break out.  

As earnings continue to roll in, we may see a change in the data that could cause the market to establish a new direction.  Without a definitive move, we expect to see a continuation of the “Goldilocks” scenario, not too hot and not too cold, just enough to keep things the way they are.  In that case our neutral positioning should be just about right.  Even if things do stay calm, HCM will continue to monitor our internal risk and trend indicators.  

Weekly Focus – Think About It 

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

-Winston Churchill

Market Activity

Performance last week for the four major asset classes were:

  • U.S. Stocks – Russell 3000 (IWV) – Gain of 1.21%
  • Developed Foreign Markets (EFA) – Loss of -.33%
  • Emerging Markets (EEM) – Loss of -1.53%
  • Fixed Income (AGG) – Gain of .48%

 (Note: performance is based on the change in price plus dividends)

Last Week’s Headlines

  • First-quarter corporate results have been encouraging, though subdued expectations had lowered the bar for earnings beats.
  • Chinese policymakers’ attempt to temper expectations for more stimulus sent the Chinese stock market to its lowest level in more than three weeks.
  • The US economy grew more than expected in the first quarter, mostly driven by a smaller trade deficit and greater inventory build-up.

Eye on the Week Ahead

-Markets expect little policy change from the Fed’s meeting this week, though Chairman Powell’s comments on inflation during the press conference will be of great interest given the recent shortfalls in core inflation data.

If you have questions about the recent market conditions, please contact a member of HCM’s Wealth Advisory Team:

Disclaimer
 Any tax or other advice contained in this document, including any attachments, is not intended and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding penalties under Internal Revenue Code. No action should be taken on any information contained in this message without first consulting with your tax/legal advisors regarding the tax/legal consequences for your particular circumstances.

Additional Notes:

  • The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
  • Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
  • Past performance does not guarantee future results.
  • You cannot invest directly in an index.
  • Consult your financial professional before making any investment decisions.
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