Growth is Dead, Long Live Growth!
Key Observations:
- Growth stocks have rebounded with a record return in June.
- The financial markets are pricing in “transitory” inflation.
- The Federal Reserve has calmed inflation fears with a more hawkish tone.
Market Commentary
Growth is dead! Long live growth! Just when most had settled in with expectations that growth stocks would be the laggards of the stock market for the foreseeable future, they staged a historic rebound in June. According to data from Morningstar, after declining 2.0% through May, growth stocks have returned a stellar 7.7% thus far in June. Conversely, value stocks are down 2.0% in June after returning a remarkable 19.1% through May. That is an incredible 9.4% spread in the return of growth versus value. As you might expect, the technology and communication services sectors are leading the way, up 7.4% and 3.7% respectively during the past 30 days. Meanwhile, the value-heavy sectors of basic materials and industrials have declined 5.2% and 1.9% during the same period.
Foreign stocks continue to perform well although lagging U.S. equities. Year-to-date, foreign developed stocks, as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index, are up 7.3% versus 14.4% for the S&P 500 Index Not to be forgotten, emerging market stocks have gained 7.1% so far in 2021.
Following modest positive returns in May, the bond market shows signs of stabilization as interest rates are flat to slightly lower. For June, the Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index rose 0.7% so far in June. Long-term Treasuries lead the way, up 3.6% followed by a strong performance for investment-grade corporate bonds at 2.0%. Short and intermediate-term Treasuries are basically unchanged.
Commodities have certainly cooled. The S&P North American Natural Resources Sector Index is flat in June after returning 7.0% in May and 19.3% during the first five months of 2021. It is far worse for gold. Following a robust 7.5% rally in May, the precious metal has given it all back, declining 7.2% in June.
Economic Commentary
Growth stocks are killing it as the market is shrugging off lofty valuations, the bleeding has stopped in the bond market, and gold is getting crushed. It must be that inflation has waned and the economy is back to slow growth. Right? Not even close. Consumer and producer prices continue to hit historic highs, and the economy continues to grow at an impressive rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand increased 6.6% for the 12 months ended in May, the largest increase since that data was first calculated in 2010. Fewer foods and energy, the index jumped 5.3%, the largest increase since this measure was first calculated in 2014. (1)
When the cost of doing business increases (i.e., PPI), businesses tend to pass this cost onto their consumers. We have all become very aware of this reality in 2021, and the data validates it. According to the BLS, the Consumer Price Index soared 5.0% year-over-year, the fastest pace since the summer of 2008. The core inflation rates, a measure that excludes food and energy, rose 3.8%, the sharpest increase in nearly 30 years. (2)
Of course, none of the elevated inflation data would exist if it were not for strong consumer demand. We know the story – in 2020, consumers saved more and spent less and borrowed less. Pent-up demand and the ability to satisfy it appear to be fueling this early-stage economic expansion. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in Q1 national GDP rose at an annualized rate of 6.4% as GDP rose in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. (3) The consensus is for GDP to remain at elevated levels for the remainder of the year. The Conference Board Economic Forecast for the US Economy projects Q2 GDP will increase to 9.0% and 2021 year-over-year growth to come in at 6.6%.
So what is going on with the stock and bond market given economic data that points to strong growth and high inflation? As highlighted in May’s Insights, the Fed is adamant that current and near-term inflation is transitory. While more market participants may be moving in that direction, the Fed’s most recent two-day policy meeting likely had a greater impact. The Federal Open Market Committee startled investors when it reported that 13 of 18 officials saw a likely need for higher rates by the end of 2023, with seven of them seeing a need to begin raising rates as soon as next year. This was music to the market’s ears as the Fed signaled it is prepared to raise rates if necessary to slow an overheated economy that would give rise to persistent inflation. (4)
Final Thoughts:
Just how impressive is the rebound in growth stocks? You must go way back to October 2001, nearly 20 years, to find a month where growth stocks had better relative performance over value stocks. Don’t forget, this occurred with significant headwinds for growth stocks. Expectations of higher interest rates and an early-stage economic expansion that favors value stocks were the headline risks. Now that growth stocks seem to have climbed that wall of worry and are back in vogue, does it mean investors should pile on once again? Of course not, but that isn’t the lesson we should carry forward from June’s market performance.
June highlights the most important fundamental of portfolio management – diversification. Consider the opportunity to invest in 10 distinct asset classes. While it is a fact that the person who invests all their money in only one asset class only has a 10% chance of picking the worst performer, it is also a fact that they have a 90% chance of eliminating the biggest winner.
Yes, diversification is a tool for avoiding significant losses by not putting all your eggs in one basket. More importantly, extensive diversification means your portfolio will always include exposure to better-performing securities, and this is the key to long-term success.
At Concord Asset Management, we believe in extensive portfolio diversification that seeks to provide clients a rate of return consistent with their risk tolerance. Sure, we will adjust the exposure to various equity asset classes at times depending on where we are in the economic cycle, valuation levels, and other factors. However, clients’ diversified portfolios will always include exposure to growth and value stocks, small and large-cap stocks, and domestic and foreign stocks. They will also own stocks in every major economic sector from technology to healthcare. At the end of a month like June, our clients can be confident that their diversified portfolio has served them well.
Author
Mitch York
CIO
Sources:
All performance data is generated through Morningstar.
- https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ppi.nr0.htm
- https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf
- https://www.bea.gov/news/2021/gross-domestic-product-state-1st-quarter-2021
- https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcprojtabl20210616.htm
Note: All performance data in the following two charts were drawn from Morningstar.
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The information provided in this commentary is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status, or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.
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