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Stocks Can Still Outperform During Periods of High Interest Rates, Says New Research

  • Higher interest rates don't necessarily mean lower stock market returns, per BMO Capital Markets research that shows returns are a bit below average but less volatile.

  • The S&P 500's risk-adjusted returns have actually been better during periods of high interest rates due to lower volatility.

  • Cash-rich companies with low debt and high free cash flow tend to perform well when rates are high.

  • Stocks in cyclical sectors like tech, energy, and industrials have outperformed in rising rate environments.

  • BMO identified 28 stocks with strong cash flow, low leverage, and outperform ratings that can continue benefiting as rates stay elevated.

businessinsider.com
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Volatility and rising interest rates have caused a pullback in U.S. equity markets, particularly impacting the technology sector, but investors should not panic as pullbacks are normal in a bull market and present buying opportunities. China's deteriorating economic conditions and weak seasonal trends have also contributed to the selling pressure. However, support is expected to be found in the 4,200 to 4,300 range in the S&P 500, and the Federal Reserve's likely end to the rate-hiking cycle and improved earnings should provide fundamental support for investors to buy the dip.
Investors are turning to high-yield cash alternatives, such as savings accounts and bonds, which offer returns of over 5% and are outperforming the S&P 500, prompting some to reconsider their exposure to the stock market's volatility.
The S&P 500 and other major indices are showing bearish signals, with potential for a significant drop, while the dollar is expected to maintain its upward trajectory and strong economic data could lead to a breakout in interest rates. Additionally, Meta's stock is on a downward trend and the KBW NASDAQ BANK Index is at risk of further decline.
Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel predicts that the stock market will continue to rise into the end of the year, with the S&P 500 potentially surging 25% and gaining an additional 9% if the Federal Reserve acknowledges falling inflation and refrains from further interest rate hikes.
Equity markets are higher as investors consider macro data, with Wall Street experiencing a rally fueled by optimism about interest rates and job openings.
The S&P 500 could experience significant gains in the coming months following the end of the current rate hike cycle by the Federal Reserve, with historical data showing positive returns after previous cycles and strong economic indicators supporting this trend. Investors are advised to consider investing in an S&P 500 index fund or industry-leading stocks like Amazon.
Technology stocks appear to be defying the impact of higher interest rates and are continuing to perform strongly.
Higher interest rates are impacting corporate profits, but stock prices remain steady for now.
Investing in the stock market can be simplified by buying high-quality businesses at reasonable valuations and holding them for the long term, and index investing in low-cost funds that track the S&P 500 can outperform professional fund managers while eliminating the need for complex decision-making.
The top 25 stocks in the S&P 500 outperformed the index in the 35th week of 2023, with tech stocks leading the way, suggesting a return of bull markets and a decrease in recessionary fears; however, market health, the balance between developed and emerging markets, and investor behavior still need to be addressed. Additionally, market correlations have dropped since COVID, and on "down-market" days, correlations are 5% higher than on "up-market" days. Market correlations also decrease during upward economic cycles. Retail investors are showing a preference for dividend-driven investing and investing in AI stocks. The global subsidies race is impacting valuations in tech and leading to supply chain inefficiencies. As a result, there are opportunities for diversification and investment in a wide variety of equities and bonds.
Analysts at BMO and UBS predict that the yield on the 10-year Treasury will surpass the S&P 500 earnings yield, indicating a potential fall in stocks and a rise in bond prices.
Investors are becoming increasingly nervous due to concerns about the Fed potentially increasing interest rates, as well as rising 10-year interest rates and the VIX, which may put pressure on stocks; however, there are also positive factors emerging, such as improving S&P 500 profit estimates and a shift away from data dependence by Fed officials, which suggests a better finish to September is probable.
John Hussman warns that stocks are overvalued and investors buying into the S&P 500 now are likely to experience abysmal returns for the next decade. He cites high valuations and poor investor sentiment as indications of a forthcoming steep sell-off, and predicts an annualized return of -4% over the next 12 years.
Stocks are expected to open the week higher, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% in premarket trading, as investors look ahead to key U.S. economic data and show interest in companies such as Lennar, Arm, Tesla, and Oracle.
Wall Street stocks opened higher as investors assessed strong retail sales and wholesale price inflation data to gauge the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rates, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.5% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticking up 0.4%.
A period of higher interest rates won't derail the bull market in stocks, as historical analysis shows that the stock market performs well during elevated interest rate periods, with slightly lower but less volatile returns compared to lower interest rate periods, according to BMO's chief investment strategist Brian Belski.
Despite a perceived undervaluation of the S&P 500, analysts warn of potential volatility in both the stock market and the Bitcoin market due to the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which could shape narratives and challenge conventional wisdom. The S&P 500 appears oversold while Bitcoin consolidates with a potential target of $22,000.
Stocks tumbled after the Federal Reserve announced that interest rates will remain higher for longer; however, some analysts believe that the market's reaction was overblown and that higher rates and economic growth could actually lead to higher stock valuations.
Stocks may not be as negatively impacted by higher interest rates as some fear, as the Federal Reserve's forecast of sustained economic growth justifies the higher rates and could lead to increased stock valuations.
The Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO) invests in momentum stocks across various sectors, with a high turnover ratio and relatively low price multiples, generating strong total returns but exhibiting higher volatility and bias towards specific industries. Despite its low yield and recent underperformance, the fund has potential for long-term growth.
Stocks are falling sharply as the fantasy of rate cuts turns into the nightmare of higher rates and inflation, potentially leading to a significant decline in the S&P 500 and the end of the summer rally.
Bitcoin and the S&P 500 are likely to end the third quarter lower due to the strong case for owning bonds over stocks, with government bonds offering a higher return, making them more attractive than risk assets like cryptocurrencies.
Higher interest rates are causing a downturn in the stock market, but technological advancements in recent decades may provide some hope for investors.
The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain high interest rates has caused concern in the financial markets, with the S&P 500 and Bitcoin potentially underperforming; however, there appears to be a decoupling between the S&P 500 and Bitcoin, which could be attributed to factors such as regulatory concerns and the anticipation of a spot Bitcoin ETF introduction. This decoupling may favor Bitcoin.
Investors are concerned about a potential showdown for the S&P 500 as stock market commentator, Heisenberg, shares a chart indicating bearish patterns and a major trend line off the October lows, suggesting a sharp drop in the index. Rising bond yields, climbing oil prices, and fears of slowing consumer spending are also factors contributing to investor unease.
Investors may want to consider increasing exposure to dividend stocks, such as those in the S&P Dividend Aristocrats, as rising long-term interest rates have the potential to push the broad stock market down again.
The S&P 500 has been hit hard by the September Effect, but investors should remain optimistic as history suggests the market will rebound, and there are compelling buying opportunities in certain growth stocks like Block and SolarEdge with upside potential of 93% and 127% respectively.
Surging bond yields are causing concern among investors that the highly-valued shares of tech and growth companies, known as megacaps, may be vulnerable to a stock market decline. The seven megacap stocks, which include Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, account for over 80% of the S&P 500's total return for the year, but rising bond yields could deflate their value and impact the broader index. Higher bond yields increase the cost of borrowing for corporations and households, while also presenting more competition for stocks as an investment.
Stocks are essentially long-term bonds with a variable coupon, and the bond nature of stocks will result in the S&P 500 returning to last year's lows following new lows in the price of long-term bonds.
Stocks on Wall Street are drifting as higher interest rates continue to impact the market, with the S&P 500 remaining largely unchanged and the Dow Jones down slightly, as investors grapple with the prospect of high inflation and the Federal Reserve's efforts to lower it.
The S&P 500 closed out the quarter with a 3.6% loss, attributed to factors such as rising interest rates, a slowing housing market, and businesses preparing for tough times, resulting in a slow decline in stocks. Additionally, the resumption of student loan payments and expectations of more rate hikes from the Federal Reserve are expected to impact consumer spending power and business cutbacks. However, as the year comes to an end, traders and investors may look forward to 2024 for possible rate cuts and a return of strength in the market.
The Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes have resulted in a decline in the profitability of S&P 500 companies, with the return on equity ratio falling this year, and the trend could worsen if interest rates remain high.
The major stock indexes are expected to open lower as the 10-year Treasury yield hits a 16-year high, with investors monitoring employment data for potential impact on interest rates; meanwhile, stock futures in Asia and Europe slumped as the Federal Reserve's message of higher interest rates reverberates worldwide.
S&P 500 utility stocks are currently undervalued and offering attractive dividends, making them an appealing opportunity for value-focused investors, despite competing with Treasury yields.
JPMorgan's Marko Kolanovic predicts a 20% sell-off in the S&P 500 due to high interest rates, highlighting cash as a protective strategy and warning that the "Magnificent Seven" stocks are vulnerable to steep losses.
The rise in Treasury bond yields above 5% could lead to a more sustainable increase and potential havoc in financial markets, as investors demand greater compensation for risk and corporate credit spreads widen, making government debt a more attractive option and leaving the stock market vulnerable to declines; despite this, stock investors appeared unfazed by the September jobs report and all three major stock indexes were higher by the end of trading.
J.P. Morgan's U.S. Head of Investment Strategy Jacob Manoukian believes that the recent volatility in the stock market has created good value for investors, and he predicts that the S&P 500 will reach a new all-time high next year due to positive earnings growth and inflation fading further. As for specific stock recommendations, JPMorgan analysts recommend investing in Apellis Pharmaceuticals, which has promising drugs in its pipeline, and Live Oak Bancshares, a digital bank with a focus on small-business loans.
The U.S. stock market is currently trading at a discount to fair value, and Morningstar expects rates to come down faster due to optimism on inflation; strong growth is projected in Q3, but the economy may slow down in Q4, and inflation is expected to fall in 2023 and reach the Fed's 2% target in 2024. The report also provides outlooks for various sectors, including technology, energy, and utilities, and highlights some top stock picks. The fixed-income outlook suggests that while interest rates may rise in the short term, rates are expected to come down over time, making it a good time for longer-term fixed-income investments. The corporate bond market has outperformed this year, and although bankruptcies and downgrades may increase, investors are still being adequately compensated for the risks.
J.P. Morgan's Jacob Manoukian believes that despite the recent market volatility, there is good value in the market and predicts that the S&P 500 will reach a new all-time high by the middle of next year; analysts at JPMorgan have identified two stocks, Apellis Pharmaceuticals and Live Oak Bancshares, as potential investment opportunities.