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We are now about halfway through earnings season with 42% of companies within the S&P 500 having reported results. According to data from Dow Jones S&P, 71.3% of companies have beaten their estimates, while 23.6% have missed, and 5.1% have met. It sounds like an extremely bullish report, but those results are much worse than the previous two quarters. In the second quarter of 2018, 80% of companies beat estimates and just 14.8% missed.
However, when we dig a bit deeper into those numbers, we find that historically going back to 2012, the range of 70 to 75% of companies beating estimates is within the higher end of the norm. Last years high numbers of beats may have been because of the new tax law changes, and now that those changes are normalizing the number of beats and misses are returning to their historical trends.
(Data from Dow Jones S&P)
Earnings Estimates Fall
Earnings estimates for 2019 continue to decline. Currently, forecasts are calling for growth of roughly 7.8% earnings growth in 2019 to $167.64 per share. That is about 5.3% off the August highs of $177.07. Estimates for 2020 have also fallen to around 190.79, and suggest growth of 13.8% in 2020.
(Data from Dow Jones S&P)
Valuations Rise
With the S&P 500 rising sharply off the lows and estimates falling, the PE ratio of the S&P 500 has increased to 16.1 times 2019 earnings estimates, and 14.2 times 2020 estimates.
Throughout much of 2018, the S&P 500 traded at 17.5 times forward earnings. If the market should repeat that trend, the S&P 500 could rise to around 2,930. Additionally, the index traded at roughly 15.5 times one-year forward earnings, should that happen this year it would suggest the S&P 500 rises to 2,957 using 2020 estimates. It does assume that earnings estimates do not continue to fall meaningfully. Both outcomes would suggest there is about 8.5 to 9% more upside in the S&P 500 for it just to get back to a reasonably fair valuation. At this point, the S&P 500 valuation still seems too low.
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(Data from Dow Jones S&P)
We can also see that still the S&P 500 is trading at the low-end of its historical range when looking at earnings over the next twelve months.
(Data from Dow Jones S&P)
Sell-off Was Too Severe
Again we can also see that the decline in stocks over the past few months is much steeper than the earnings slowdown that we have witnessed to this point. The steep decline in the market would be reflective of an earnings recession, which there is no evidence of at this point.
(Data from Dow Jones S&P)
As earnings continue to pour in should the current trends continue it would at least suggest that fears of a recession were completely overblown and entirely out of line. It would also suggest that stocks continue to rise by as much 10% to return to a historically fair valuation. That does not even include if shares were trading above that range, which is possible should the earnings growth outlook for 2020 continue to look strong at 14%.
I talked about all of this during the week in my a premium article: There Are Still Plenty Of Reasons To Be Bullish On Stocks. This commentary is something I will update reasonably regularly in that area. Plus I do plenty of articles on stocks, such as Align Technologies: Lots Of Risks and Square’s Stock Is Breaking Out.
For those looking for more chart trading orientated commentary I do that on StockTwits in a premium room. Where I post charts like this:
More on Sunday!
Mike
Mott Capital Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Upon request, the advisor will provide a list of all recommendations made during the past twelve months. Past performance is not indicative of future results.