We were bullish in 2021 and bullishness obviously paid off. As of the Friday close, the S&P 500 is up more than 25% so far this year. Meanwhile, a 10-year Treasury Note purchased at the end of 2020 has generated a negative total return, as interest earnings have been more than offset by capital losses. Bonds have not been a good investment. It has been a little harder this year to match the S&P return.
The reason I was bullish a year ago even amid widespread fears about COVID-19, is because I stick to fundamentals, assessing fair value by using economy-wide profits and interest rates. And, one year, later, I am still sticking with fundamentals. Our year-end 2022 call for the S&P 500 is 5,250 (up 11.4% from last Friday), and we expect the Dow Jones Industrial Average to rise to 40,000. This may seem low compared to the past 5 years, but realistic in the current economic cycle.
A Capitalized Profit Model is the government's measure of profits from the GDP reports, discounted by the 10-year US Treasury note yield, to calculate fair value. Corporate profits for the third quarter were up 20.7% versus a year ago, up 22.3% versus the pre-COVID peak at the end of 2019, and at a record high.
The key question then becomes: what discount rate should we use? If we use 1.50%, roughly the current 10-year Treasury yield, our model suggests the S&P 500 is grossly undervalued. But, with the Federal Reserve still holding short-term interest rates at artificially low levels, the 10-year yield might be artificially low, as well.
So, to be cautious, we plug in some alternative higher long-term interest rates. Using third-quarter profits, it would take a 10-year yield of about 2.75% for our model to show that the stock market is currently trading at fair value. And that assumes no further growth in profits (which we know is not going to happen).
We expect the 10-year Note yield to finish 2022 in the vicinity of 2.00%. Nonetheless, we have chosen to use a more conservative discount rate of roughly 2.50%. Using third quarter 2021 profits, that creates a fair value estimate for the S&P 500 of 5,250. And this does not take into account higher profits in the year ahead.
The bottom line is that although I remain bullish, I am not as bullish as in recent years, projecting an increase in stocks of 11.4% from Friday's level. We haven't had a 10% correction in 2021, and, although we never try to time the market, we wouldn't at all be surprised by one happening at some point in 2022. Moreover, the stock market is likely to grapple with either higher short-term rates in 2022 or, in the alternative, a Federal Reserve that is even further behind the inflation curve, risking a higher peak for short-term rates sometime in the future.
Another issue is the battle between fading fiscal stimulus (printing of money and government spending bills) and a gradual return to normalcy. The budget deficit will still be very large this year even if the Democrats-only "Build Back Better" proposal doesn't pass. But the deficit will be much smaller than in the past two years. That will generate a short-term headwind for growth. Meanwhile, more businesses should be getting back to normal, and small business start-ups gradually replacing businesses that were killed off by overly strict COVID rules.
On net, this adds up to a scenario that is likely to be constructive for equities. Since the secular bull market started in 2017, I have been very bullish. There are clouds on the horizon, in terms of inflation and the political environment. I see those clouds beginning to dissipate in the next 3 to four years and that means the secular bull market is going to continue for several more years. Equities are the clear leader in terms of the valuation if you are looking for growth with less risk of severe downside.
"This material is provided for general information and is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to compile this material from reliable sources however no warranty can be made as to its accuracy or completeness. The information does not represent, warrant or imply that services, strategies or methods of analysis offered can or will predict future results, identify market tops or bottoms or insulate investors from losses. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investors should always consult their financial advisor before acting on any information contained in this newsletter. The information provided is for illustrative purposes only. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Geneos Wealth Management, Inc."