Zacks Investment Management

The first quarter of the new year was an encouraging one for equity investors. Stocks rallied strongly, and the media buzz over trade wars and recessions slowly faded into the background. The S&P 500 soared +13.6% in the first three months led by Technology stocks, which rose +19.9%.

In order for investors to participate in this strong performance, however, it meant being invested in stocks at the turn of the year – which would have likely meant participating in the steep and sharp correction in Q4 2018.

In my view, successful investing over time often means taking the good with the bad – enduring difficult patches with the knowledge that brighter days aren’t far ahead. This type of investor mindset comes with experience, but it also helps to take a step back from time to time to take in ‘lessons’ that can help us recognize patterns in the markets. Doing so often helps us make smarter decisions, keep our focus on the long term, and make fewer mistakes over time.

What is In Store for the Remainder of 2019? – Find Out in Our Stock Market Outlook Report

It’s free but also time-sensitive, so you are encouraged to download Zacks’ Stock Market Outlook Report right now.

This 22-page report is packed with some of our key forecasts and facts to consider as you look at the remainder of Q2 and the rest of 2019:

• For how long will 2019 stay bullish?
• Zacks global markets’ outlook
• What sectors show the best opportunity?
• What industries within those sectors most merit your attention?
• Forecast for the S&P
• Small-cap vs. large-cap returns
• And much more.

If you have $500,000 or more to invest and want to learn more about these forecasts, click on the link below to get your free report today!

IT’S FREE. Download the May 2019 Stock Market Outlook Now¹ >> 

Here are three lessons I took away from Q1.

Lesson #1: “V-Shaped” Bounces are Real!

By the numbers:

I point out the technology sector’s performance because it offers a good case study in another lesson – that, often, what gets hit the hardest on the way down often bounces back the strongest on the way back up.

The S&P 500 hit its high-water mark in 2018 on September 20, at the 2,930 level. From there, equity investors endured steep declines all the way through to December 24, when the S&P 500 bottomed out at 2,351. That’s a nearly 20% price decline over the course of three months and one week, for readers keeping score.³

But taking a look at the chart below, it becomes clear that the market followed a “v-shaped” pattern – recovering almost as quickly as it declined. The red arrow on the chart represents about three months and one week, while the green arrow represents just under four months – almost an equal amount of time! The key lesson for investors to remember: volatility works both ways.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Lesson #2: Late in an Economic Cycle, Fed Policy Matters (A Lot)

The Federal Reserve’s shifting position on monetary policy has been a crucial driver of market movements in the last six months, in my view.

The synchronization is almost aligned to the day. On September 26, the Federal Reserve raises rates a quarter point, and the market enters a downturn.⁴ On December 19, the Federal Reserve raises rates again, and some of the steepest drops occur leading up to Christmas Eve.⁵ Then, between Christmas and the new year, the Federal Reserve starts to tone down hawkish language, vowing “patience” and giving the market a signal that it may pause hikes in 2019 (market starts to rally). Finally, on January 30, the Fed says “the case for raising rates has weakened somewhat,” with the market seeing this statement as the Fed fully walking back its previous position. With the market now expecting no further rate hikes in 2019, the market arguably locked into an uptrend that has now seen it reclaim an all-time high.

As mentioned, no further rate hikes are expected in 2019. But investors would be wise to keep an eye on all Fed meetings and minutes moving forward. Since the interest rate ‘pause’ has given stocks more runway for moving higher, we believe that once rate hikes re-enter the picture, we should reasonably expect the headwinds to return.

Lesson #3: Beware the Temptation of Technology IPOs

2019 is by many accounts the “year of the IPO,” with several of the biggest and trendiest names in tech set to start trading on the public markets (think Uber, Lyft, Pinterest, Slack, etc.). These are exciting names for market watchers, particularly those who follow the tech sector closely. Some of these companies have revolutionary technology that could change the nature of the economy and jobs in big ways.

But most of them aren’t profitable yet, and I believe investors should proceed with caution.

According to University of Florida finance professor, Jay Ritter, in 2018 “81% of American companies were unprofitable in the year leading up to their public offerings.” 81%!⁶

Remember that at the end of the day, billion-dollar valuations for new IPOs is by no means an indication that the company is stable and has a bright future. A billion-dollar valuation does not mean the company is producing billions of dollars in revenue or that it makes a nickel of profit! A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research concluded that, on average, “unicorns” are approximately 50 percent overvalued. And when a company is overvalued, the market won’t take long to adjust its share price.⁷

Our research clearly shows that the stock of profitable companies as measured by either historical or projected earnings per share outperform the stock of unprofitable companies. We think this could contribute to why recent IPOs underperform over time – until profitability is consistent the stock of a recent IPO is being purchased on the story being told not the fundamentals.

Bottom Line for Investors

The first quarter delivered a much-needed respite from the downside volatility endured during Q4 2018. But it also serves as a key reminder that volatility works both ways, and that trying to time the markets or predict what will happen is often a feckless pursuit. Similarly, investors may try to get in front of a Fed policy decision or to get in early on an IPO, but there are substantial risks to both. Sometimes the best results are achieved by stepping away from the noise and choosing patience and a long-term mindset instead. That’s what I would do.  

In the meantime, I recommend keeping an eye on stay fundamentals and staying focused on the entire market picture. To help you do this, you are invited to download our Just-Released Stock Market Outlook report for May 2019.

This Special Report is packed with our newly revised predictions for Q2 and the remainder of 2019 that we believe can help you base your next investment move on hard data.

For example, you’ll discover Zacks’ view on: 

• For how long will 2019 stay bullish?
• Zacks global markets’ outlook
• What sectors show the best opportunity?
• What industries within those sectors most merit your attention?
• Forecast for the S&P
• Small-cap vs. large-cap returns
• And much more.

If you have $500,000 or more to invest and want to learn more about these forecasts, click on the link below to get your free report today!
 
IT’S FREE. Download the Just-Released May 2019 Stock Market Outlook⁸

Disclosure