May 10, 2021

AMAZING EARNINGS SEASON

Jeffrey Buchbinder, CFA, Equity Strategist, LPL Financial

Ryan Detrick, CMT, Chief Market Strategist, LPL Financial

It’s embarrassing to admit this but in our earnings season preview on April 12, when the consensus estimate reflected a nearly 24% increase, we wrote that S&P 500 Index earnings growth for the first quarter could potentially exceed 30%. Fast forward to today and earnings growth for the quarter is on pace to double—yes, double—that 24% growth rate, which would mark one of the biggest upside surprises ever recorded. Here we look at how corporate America produced such a blowout earnings season and what it could mean for the outlook.

BLOWOUT NUMBERS

To call this earnings season a blowout would be an understatement. We wrote in our earnings preview that the combination of strengthening economic growth, booming manufacturing activity, rising estimates and positive guidance could potentially lead to double-digit upside, which implied earnings growth of about 35%. As shown in [Figure 1] , with nearly 90% of S&P 500 constituents having reported, S&P 500 earnings growth is tracking to a 49% year-over-year increase.

May 3, 2021

TIME TO SELL IN MAY?

THE WORST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR

“Sell in May and go away” is the seasonal stock market pattern in which the six months from May through October are historically weak for stocks, with many investors believing that it’s better to avoid the market altogether by selling in May and moving to cash during the summer months.

April 26, 2021

IS ALL THE GOOD NEWS PRICED IN?

Jeffrey Buchbinder, CFA, Equity Strategist, LPL Financial
Ryan Detrick, CMT, Chief Market Strategist, LPL Financial

Last week we discussed whether stock prices might be reflecting peak optimism. In that commentary we noted that while sentiment may be overly optimistic and a pickup in volatility would be totally normal, strong breadth measures suggest stocks still may have more upside. This week we tackle that same topic of peak optimism, but by looking at some valuation metrics. While valuations are elevated, they still appear reasonable when factoring in interest rates and inflation.

VALUATIONS APPEAR ELEVATED ON TRADITIONAL METRICS

Based on the most commonly used valuation metrics such as the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E), stock market valuations are elevated. This is hardly a controversial statement when considering the S&P 500 Index is trading at a P/E of 22 times the consensus earnings estimate for the next 12 months (source: FactSet). Even against the 2022 consensus earnings estimate, which may be a better measure given the strong earnings growth anticipated this year and next, the P/E of 20 is still several points above the long-term average of 17 since 1980. By that measure, we would say a lot of good news is priced in.

VALUATIONS LOOK QUITE REASONABLE WHEN FACTORING IN RATES

But we shouldn’t evaluate stock valuations in a vacuum. Going back to your Finance 101 days, the fundamental value of a stock is the present value of its future cash flows. When we discount future cash flows—a similar but purer measure of profits—interest rates come into play. That means we want to incorporate interest rate levels into our evaluation of P/E ratios. History shows higher interest rates have translated into lower stock valuations—and lower rates, our current situation, justify higher valuations.

To get this fuller picture, we calculate what’s called an equity risk premium, or ERP. This statistic compares the earnings yield on the S&P 500 (the inverse of the P/E) to the 10-year US Treasury yield. Essentially, an ERP compares the earnings generated by stocks to the income generated by bonds (in this case, the yield on the 10-year Treasury). By putting stocks and bonds in the same terms, they can be compared on an apples-to-apples basis.

As of April 21, 2021, the ERP for the S&P 500 Index was 1.9%, which is above the long-term average of 0.8% but well below the post-pandemic peak of 5.3% on March 31, 2020 [Figure 1]. (Higher values mean stocks are less expensive relative to bonds, and vice versa.) Using the earnings estimate for the next 12 months rather than the last 12 months pushes the ERP up to an even more compelling 3%. So, while we acknowledge stock valuations are elevated, compared to still-low interest rates they are quite reasonable.

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March 29, 2021

ARE WE ON THE BRINK OF AN INFLATION CRISIS?

Barry Gilbert, PhD, CFA, Asset Allocation Strategist, LPL Financial

Nick Pergakis, Analyst, LPL Financial

There is a growing debate over whether an expanding economy, in conjunction with historic fiscal and monetary stimulus, may cause inflation to overheat. Adding to the intense debate, the Federal Reserve (Fed) has shifted its policy framework, potentially allowing inflation to run a little hotter than it has in the past. Despite vocal calls for runaway inflation, we believe that any uptick in inflation will ultimately prove transitory due to slack in the labor market and other structural forces.

WHAT’S DRIVING THE INFLATION DEBATE

Concerns over an inflation scare are rising as investors question whether an accelerating US economy supported by pent-up demand will overheat amid a backdrop of historic fiscal and monetary stimulus. With roughly $3 trillion worth of fiscal stimulus set to take effect in 2021 and a Federal Reserve (Fed) that has expressed its commitment to maintain extraordinary monetary support until its objective of maximum employment is achieved, the concerns are reasonable. Adding to inflation fears, the Fed’s strategy to allow inflation to modestly overshoot its 2% target raises the concern that it may end up scrambling to raise interest rates to control inflation—potentially tightening financial conditions in the process. While we do believe inflation may run hotter than it has in recent years, we believe worries of runaway inflation are overdone and that the upside risk for core inflation will be capped at around 3% for the full year in 2021—and likely will run meaningfully lower.

NEAR-TERM PRESSURES APPEAR WELL CONTAINED

The US economy has come a long way, but it will take synchronized global growth before economic risks truly begin to abate, and this should limit inflationary pressure as well. Europe, Japan, and other regions have not been able to make the same progress on vaccination efforts, and mixed success in their prolonged battles against COVID-19 has led to slower economic activity relative to the US. We’ve also discussed how some areas of the economy have not participated in the recovery to the same degree, and the bifurcation between goods and services in the US is a perfect example. It’s no secret that service industries have borne the brunt of the economic impact of the pandemic, and this relationship is well illustrated by the changes in the core consumer price indexes (CPI) for goods and services [Figure 1].

February 22, 2021

SUSTAINABLE INVESTING YEAR IN REVIEW

Jason Hoody, CFA, Head of Investment Manager Research, LPL Financial

Jeffrey Buchbinder, CFA, Equity Strategist, LPL Financial

Increasingly more people realize that their sustainability concerns can be address through their investments. As more investors embark on the sustainable investing journey—learn what it is, why one pursues it and how to do it—assets into sustainable funds will continue and investors will have more choices from which to construct sustainable investing portfolios.

Individuals and institutions are increasingly concerned about sustainability issues. A World Economic Forum survey from the fall of 2020 concluded that 79% of American respondents agreed with the following statement: “I want the world to change significantly and become more sustainable and equitable rather than returning to how it was before the COVID-19 crisis.” We take a look at the growth of investor interest in sustainable investing while answering some common questions about it.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE INVESTING

You may have heard various terms used to describe sustainable investing—socially responsible investing, ethical investing, impact investing, among others. Although each of these terms is relevant to specific financial industry actors, types of clients, investment strategies, or subsectors of activity, they fundamentally describe the same thing:

Investments made with the intention of generating a positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact alongside a financial return.

Investors commonly use sustainable investing to pursue two overarching goals:

•To protect and enhance long-term financial value through addressing ESG risks or investing in solutions to solve environmental and social challenges.

•To protect, enhance, or otherwise positively impact the long-term health of the environment or society through expressing ESG values.

Some examples of ESG issues that may be considered in an investment strategy:

Environmental: Greenhouse gas emissions, energy management, and water and wastewater management.

Social: Access and affordability, labor relations, and diversity and inclusion.

Governance: Compensation and benefits, data security, and supply chain management.

March 8,  2021

RISING RATES AND STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE

Barry Gilbert, Ph.D., CFA, Asset Allocation Strategist, LPL Financial

Lawrence Gillum, CFA, Fixed income Strategist, LPL Financial

The 10-year Treasury yield continues to climb higher, but remains low by historical standards. Still, the size of the move since July 2020—and the more recent acceleration—has some market participants worried about the potential impact on stock markets if rates continue to rise. Historically, the S&P 500 Index has endured extended periods of rising rates well. If an improving growth outlook is part of what’s driving rates higher, it should also support corporate profits, creating a positive fundamental backdrop for stocks.

RISING RATES ARE USUALLY BULLISH FOR STOCKS

Bond yields have been on the move lately, but stock prices have also been rising. And while some market participants are expressing increased concern that rising bond yields may begin to weigh on stock returns, stocks have usually been resilient in rising rate environments.

LPL Research looked at major extended periods of rising rates dating back to the early 1960s [Figure 1]. We found 13 periods in which the 10-year Treasury yield rose by at least 1.5%, a move the current increase hasn’t even reached yet. These rising-rate periods lasted between six months and almost five years, with the average a little over two years. In nearly 80% (10 of 13) of the prior periods, the S&P 500 Index posted gains as rates rose, as it has so far in the current rising-rate period. In fact, the average yearly gain for the index during the previous rising-rate periods, at 6.4%, is just a little lower than the historical average over the entire period of 7.1%, while rising rates have been particularly bullish for stocks since the mid-1990s. Not all rising-rate periods are the same, though, and we believe stocks may tolerate the current rising-rate period well.

March 1, 2021

HERE COMES THE EARNINGS BOOM

Jeffrey Buchbinder, CFA, Equity Strategist, LPL Financial

Ryan Detrick, CMT, Chief Market Strategist, LPL Financial

Fourth-quarter earnings season is in the home stretch, and it’s been a good one. After raising our 2021 earnings forecast for the S&P 500 Index in our Weekly Market Commentary on February 8, our upgraded forecast may now be too low, based on what we have learned from corporate America during the three weeks since. In this commentary, we recap earnings season and share our latest thoughts on just how strong the earnings rebound could be in 2021 and beyond.

OUTSTANDING NUMBERS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER

Coming into fourth-quarter earnings season, investors had plenty of reasons to expect that companies would deliver better-than-expected results. The US economy grew at a solid 4% annualized pace in the fourth quarter (source: Bureau of Economic Analysis GDP data). Strong manufacturing surveys signaled better earnings ahead. Analysts’ earnings estimates rose during the quarter, as companies issuing fourth-quarter guidance mostly raised expectations.

Now that all the numbers are pretty much in the books (93% of S&P 500 companies have reported results), it’s clear that optimism was warranted as earnings impressively grew during the quarter [Figure 1].

In our earnings preview on January 19, 2021, we wrote:

Consider that the bar has been raised substantially over the past two quarters, making it tougher to clear. That probably takes  positive earnings growth off the table, but a low-to-mid single digit decline in earnings would be a positive outcome, especially if forward estimates hold up as fresh guidance is provided.

After the bar had been raised, with the prior two quarters following similarly strong results compared to expectations, it made a lot of sense to expect more limited upside as estimates catch up to reality. But it turned out another quarter of huge upside—and earnings growth—was in the cards as corporate America again blew by expectations. S&P 500 companies delivered more earnings during the still-pandemic plagued Q4 2020 than in (pre-pandemic) Q4 2019.

Here are the impressive numbers:

•Fourth-quarter earnings growth for the S&P 500 is tracking to 3.5%, more than 12 percentage points above the consensus estimate at quarter-end (December 31, 2020).

•A near-record 79% of S&P 500 companies have exceeded earnings estimates, above the five-year average of 74%.

•Five sectors grew their earnings by double-digits: communication services, financials, healthcare, materials, and information technology.

•Sales for S&P 500 companies in aggregate impressively rose more than 3% year over year.

•During earnings season, the consensus earnings estimate for the next 12 months rose 4%, compared with the average 2-3% reduction historically.

All earnings data is sourced from Fact Set

These results were particularly impressive given the wave of COVID-19 that brought some new targeted restrictions late last year.