S&P 500 Earnings: Forward Estimate Jumps But Inflation, Recession Risks Remain

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Here’s a part of the earnings spreadsheet (see spreadsheet above this sentence) not shown too much: it’s the annual S&P EPS estimates with the quarterly bottom-up estimates.

Look at Q1 2022: since Apr. 1 2022 or the near start of Q1 22 earnings, the bottom up quarterly estimate has risen 6.5% which is the normal or higher end of the typical “surprise” factor. Q2 2022 hasn’t budged at all. And it usually doesn’t until after July 1 2022.

We (readers / investors) are returning to the normal typical pattern of S&P earnings estimates, and it will become more so after the Q2 2022 results are in since it will be the last quarter of gross Covid distortion we will see. In Q2 2021, S&P EPS grew 96%, while S&P revenue grew 25%. Doubtful we’ll see that compare for a while.

Watch credit spreads: Credit “risk” rallied sharply last week, along with the S&P’s 6% gain. It’s been hard to determine this year in the corporate high-yield and high-grade bond space how much of the price downside has been duration-related and how much has been expected credit deterioration. With economic data holding up, and S&P 500 earnings holding up, you have to assume much of the deterioration in price in those vehicles was interest-rate related.

The LQD and Bloomberg’s investment-grade corporate bond proxies started 2022 with durations over 9%. It was tough to own that asset class for clients and we didn’t and took credit risk in the short-term high-yield bond ETF SHYG  and the Nuveen’s municipal high-yield and short-term high-yield funds, but sold all that by early April 2022.

In 2007, 2008, interest rates were falling but credit spreads were widening. In 2022, interest rates are rising and credit spreads are widening too.

Neither the LQD, the AGG or Pimco's BOND ETF have been able to recover their downward-sloping 50 day moving average. They bounced right off it last week, with the average acting as resistance.

Top 12 Holdings as of 5/31/22:

• Schwab money market fund
• Blackrock Strategic Inc Fund: -3.70% YTD
• S&P 500 equal-weight ETF (RSP): -8.11% YTD return
• JP Morgan Income Fund: -4.62% YTD return
• Microsoft (MSFT): -18.79% YTD return
• Oakmark International: -9.90% YTD return
• Charles Schwab (SCHW): -16.17% YTD return
• Tesla (TSLA): -28.25% YTD return
• JP Morgan (JPM): -15.23% YTD return
• Merck (MRK): +21% YTD return
• Pfizer (PFE): -8.82% YTD return
• Amazon (AMZN): -28% YTD return

As of May 31, the SPY was down -12.79% and the AGG was lower -8.74%. A 60% S&P 500 / 40% AGG balanced benchmark portfolio was lower YTD by -11.17%.

No question the range of outcomes for various asset class returns for retail investors has increased dramatically in 2022, but with the Fed / FOMC looking at two consecutive 50 bp’s fed funds rate hikes on June 15 and then again in July, has clients sitting on more cash than usual. With recession risk growing, clients were told that they would likely see more positions that outperform under economic duress, with those ETf’s or funds or securities added after each rate hike.

As to how long S&P earnings hold up, Apple was a good example today of what one downgrade can do to a stock in a tough tape. EPS and revenue estimates are still seeing positive revisions and yet the stock is 16% from it’s $180 all-time-high.

There are few places to hide in this market, with the dollar (UUP) being one, gold is flat to 2% higher in 2022, and then cash / money markets.

It’s been hard to diversify accounts for clients in 2022: as 2022 started client accounts had 10% – 12% in either the Oakmark International Fund or the EMXC (emerging markets ex-China ETF) and both are negative YTD, with Oakmark International thanks primarily to Ukraine and it’s impact on Europe and EMXC thanks to China’s issues around other emerging markets.

Value funds are even down on the year. Bill Nygren at Oakmark is great value investor and as of 5/31/22 his fund was down -8.5% in 2022.

None of this is a recommendation or suggestion to buy or sell. Client holdings can change quickly and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Capital market conditions can change quickly. Do your own homework and evaluate your own risk appetite towards capital market volatility.

Personally, I dont think this is a repeat of 2001 – 2002 or 2007 – 2008 but the following events would be worrisome either together or separate:

1. The 10-year Treasury yield trading up through the 3.16%, May 9th high yield print;

2. Crude oil trading up through the $130 – $131 high from early March 2022;

3. The S&P 500 trading and closing below 3,800 on heavy volume;

Written By: Brian Gilmartin