Should investors spend more time considering the upside risks? – Expert Investment Views: Invesco Blog

Since the dark days of March and April, I have remained steadfast in looking across the valley to better times ahead, and this time is no exception. Regardless of near-term turbulence, I continue to favor portfolio positioning for optimistic, long-term outcomes by emphasizing the “recovery” trade and embracing cyclicality. Fortunately, key barometers of global growth have validated this positive outlook.

Each month, the JPMorgan Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) takes the first pulse of business conditions and executive sentiment across the worldwide manufacturing sector. Not only has the PMI enjoyed a literal V-shaped recovery, but it has achieved levels of optimism higher than those immediately preceding the Great Lockdown (Figure 1).

Similarly, South Korea is the first major exporting nation to release monthly trade data, providing an early gauge of international commerce. Improving planetary demand for chips, computers and cars are supporting shipments from this high-tech, industrialized and global growth-sensitive economy. Indeed, South Korean exports are growing faster now than they were before the pandemic (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Key barometers of global growth have validated the ‘recovery’ trade

In North America, US retail sales have rebounded to a high single-digit pace unseen since the aftermath of the Great Recession and Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009. Clearly, fading government support, delays over further stimulus payments, and still over 700,000 people filing for initial jobless claims each week haven’t stopped American consumers from spending.

Downside risks

Have my views changed given the recent risk-off tone in markets? No. But responsible stewards of capital must contemplate the downside risks. In order to derail the cyclical advance, I believe something devastating would have to happen.

True, the rise of new COVID-19 cases has been weighing on risk assets, including the overall stock market. In response to increasing infection rates, Germany, France and Canada have renewed lockdowns and social restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Despite virus-related concerns, however, S&P 500 industries that previously profited from the shutdown (i.e., Biotechnology, Hypermarket & Super Center, Interactive Home Entertainment, Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, and Internet Service & Infrastructure stocks) have been underperforming those that stand to gain from reopening (i.e., Airline, Casino & Gaming, Hotel, Resort & Cruiseline, and Restaurant stocks) since early July. In other words, when the dark blue area declines, it means the “reopening” beneficiaries outperformed the “shutdown” beneficiaries (Figure 2).

Perhaps these leading indicators of potential economic activity are sensing another peak in the case count, as they did back in June/July and February/March? If so, I would prefer to take a cue from such intra-stock market trends and stick to the broader “recovery” trade.

Figure 2. Despite virus-related concerns, the US ‘reopening’ trade has been outperforming the ‘shutdown’ trade since early July

Upside risks

Is it possible to spend too much time worrying about the downside risks and not enough time considering the upside risks? For this exercise, let’s explore some “what if” scenarios:

• What if potential treatments and/or vaccines for the virus materialize, and meaningfully alter trends in the case count? According to CNBC, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved Gilead Science’s remdesivir as the first COVID-19 treatment.¹

• Granted, there’s a stalemate in Washington over the next round of fiscal stimulus, but I see this as an ebbing tailwind for now rather than a gathering headwind. What if a “blue wave” materializes on Election Day, but delivers another round of significant fiscal stimulus as opposed to higher taxes? Recall that Obama extended the Bush-era tax cuts a few times in the recovery stage of that business cycle.

• What if volatility were to decrease and stocks were to increase following the election, helped by typical year-end seasonal patterns (read: the “January” effect) and election-year tailwinds? In spite of all the fears about persistent volatility around the election, history shows that the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Volatility Index (VIX) has fallen the most in November (during all calendar years since 1986) and even more in US presidential election years (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Historically, volatility has fallen the most in November during US presidential election years

As a result, I’m inclined to interpret the recent shakeout as a temporary risk-shedding event, as opposed to a sinister change of trend, and I continue to treat such short-term pullbacks as buying opportunities for stocks. In fact, this technical indicator suggests S&P 500 industry breadth or participation has essentially fallen to washout levels (Figure 4), and a playable rally may ensue.

Figure 4. US stock market breadth has fallen to washout levels, and a playable rally may ensue

Stick to cyclical growth

Within the economy-sensitive sectors of the stock market, the real debate still centers on “growth” cyclicals (e.g., Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary) versus “deep value” cyclicals (e.g., Financials, Energy).

I’m watching the yield curve or spread between 10- and 2-year government bond yields for signs of a persistent rotation into deep value cyclicals. True, the yield curve has steepened a bit recently, but has failed to break out above 0.7% so far in the economic recovery.²

From my lens, Financial and Technology stocks seem unconvinced the economy’s about to rapidly shift into sustainably higher gears. Until it does, I’m staying committed to cyclical growth. (No, the bottom of the chart doesn’t equal technical support.)

Figure 5. Technology was ground zero for the recent sell-off, but I’m unconvinced the economy’s about to rapidly shift into sustainably higher gears

For price-conscious investors, it might be more palatable — and maybe just as effective — to consider participating in this prolonged, low-altitude recovery and cyclical advance through the Industrial and Material sectors.

Footnotes

1 Source: CNBC, 10/22/20.

2 Source: FRED, 10/28/20.

Definitions

The CBOE VIX or investor “fear” gauge is a real-time index that measures expectations for US stock market volatility over the coming 30 days.

The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted measure of 500 stocks representing leading companies across the major industries of the US economy.

The S&P 500 Financials Index is a capitalization-weighted measure of large-cap stocks within the financial sector of the US economy. It’s a sub-component of the broader S&P 500 Index.

The S&P 500 Information Technology Index is a capitalization-weighted measure of large-cap stocks within the tech sector of the US economy. It’s a sub-component of the broader S&P 500 Index.

The S&P 500 Value Index measures the performance of US large-cap value stocks as defined by companies with lower price-to-book ratios.

The S&P 500 Growth Index measures the performance of US large-cap growth stocks as defined by companies with higher forecasted earnings growth rates.

Important Information

Blog Header Image: Lucas Ottone / Stocksy

All investing involves risk, including risk of loss.

In general, stock values fluctuate, sometimes widely, in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions.

The opinions referenced above are those of the author as of Nov. 2, 2020. These comments should not be construed as recommendations, but as an illustration of broader themes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions; there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations. This does not constitute a recommendation of any investment strategy or product for a particular investor. The opinions expressed are those of the authors, are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice. These opinions may differ from those of other Invesco investment professionals.

Talley Léger is an Investment Strategist for the Global Thought Leadership team. In this role, he is responsible for formulating and communicating macro and investment insights, with a focus on equities. Mr. Léger is involved with macro research, cross-market strategy, and equity strategy.

Mr. Léger joined Invesco when the firm combined with OppenheimerFunds in 2019. At OppenheimerFunds, he was an equity strategist. Prior to Oppenheimer Funds, he was the founder of Macro Vision Research and held strategist roles at Barclays Capital, ISI, Merrill Lynch, RBC Capital Markets, and Brown Brothers Harriman. Mr. Léger has been in the industry since 2001.

He is the co-author of the revised second edition of the book, From Bear to Bull with ETFs. Mr. Léger has been a guest columnist for The Big Picture and for “Data Watch” on Bloomberg Brief, as well as a contributing author on Seeking Alpha (seekingalpha.com). He has been quoted in The Associated Press, Barron’s, Bloomberg, Business Week, Dow Jones Newswires, The Financial Times, MarketWatch, Morningstar magazine, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Léger has appeared on Bloomberg TV, Canada’s BNN Bloomberg, CNBC, Reuters TV, The Street, and Yahoo! Finance, and has spoken on Bloomberg Radio.

Mr. Léger earned an MS degree in financial economics and a Bachelor of Music from Boston University. He is a member of the Global Interdependence Center (GIC) and holds the Series 7 registration.