A Tale of Two Forecasts

 

Simmering behind the political intrigue of our fiscal stimulus narrative, and the reassertion of the U.S. military presence in the world as a force for good, lays a hidden paradox: conflicting signals for market growth.

According to Moody’s Analytics, the latest projections for U.S. GDP growth show that the U.S. will grow 2.2% for the full year of 2017.[i] 

US Macro outlook.JPG

Additionally, from a larger vantage point, global GDP growth is projected to grow 3.4% for the full year of 2017. [ii]

world output.JPG

Now, these projections look fairly rosy compared to the numbers we have seen over the last several years, following the reemergence from the global financial crisis.  Valuations seem slightly richer, with stocks trading approximately 17.5x their next twelve months’ EPS estimates, when the average is more in line with 15.5x.  [iii]

PE.JPG

Valuations of this magnitude aren’t completely unwarranted, especially considering the overall EPS for the S&P 500 is projected to grow 9.8% this year. [iii]

Factset EPS.JPG

However, herein lays the conflict.   To add some color, let’s look at the relationship between GDP growth and EPS growth.  Given the current projections, EPS growth should be 0 – 1%, not 9.8%.  [iv]

Goldman EPS GDP range.png

Despite drastically different EPS growth estimates, it’s no secret that we remain in economic recovery mode.  In fact, this has been the longest economic recovery in history, with expectations of the recovery lasting until 2020. [v]

length of us recovery.JPG

What adds to the conflict is that weak economic growth has fueled this recovery, which doesn’t exactly add to either case for EPS growth.  [v]

weak gdp recovery data.JPG

I’ve been doing this a while and it comes as no surprise to see conflicting economic signals.  The one thing that experience has taught me is that these conflicts tend to occur near economic inflection points.  Now, I’m not sounding any alarms yet; the risk of a U.S. recession still remains low. [vi]

rate hike and recession.JPG

As long as the U.S. consumer remains in the driver’s seat, as our Q2 2017 Look Ahead indicates, the larger narrative remains intact. 

If you have questions or comments, please let us know.  We always appreciate your feedback.  You can get in touch with us via Twitter and Facebook, or you can 
e-mail me directly.  For additional information, please visit our website.

Tim Phillips, CEO, Phillips & Company 
Robert Dinelli, Investment Analyst, Phillips & Company 

References:

i.             https://www.economy.com/dismal/countries/IUSA

ii.            https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2017/update/01/pdf/0117.pdf

iii.           https://insight.factset.com/hubfs/Resources/Research%20Desk/Earnings%20Insight/EarningsInsight_040717.pdf

iv.           http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2014/10/Goldman%20revision%20ex%206.jpg

v.            http://realestateconsulting.com/files/JBREC-Industry-Cycles-White-Paper.pdf

vi.           https://phillipsandco.com/files/3214/8399/3505/NFM-13126AO.pdf